[Mt-blind] Future of the MAB/NFB of Montana

[dmgina]

Hi Jim,
Yes I understand about just voicing opinions.
but in time we will have to change the constitution so that across board, 
all will read the same.
this is good.
This is what is happening today.
We can't just stay on what happened many years ago.
The more people or persons we can get involved across not just the state, 
but work together with NFB  I feel we can get much accomplished.
Yes each state will have to do their own part, because we all have different 
problems happening.
Example the Braille bill that we got passed.
I just learned that in Colorado, the school for the blind, doesn't want to 
teach Braille in the school system.
This is where we could help Colorado as an example, if they would ask for 
our help.
And the same back in return.
Or any state, when we become NFB of Montana.
This is where in the school system roll models take place.
Not just for the kids in the homes.
But these are the same kids that will want to help us out as well.
And keep the organization moving as smooth as possible.
We can't predict the future,
but we do know, we want blind persons to get what ever help is necessary.
Thanks for a swell post.

--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every Saint has a past
Every Sinner has a future

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
To: "'Montana Association for the Blind List'" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 3:13 PM
Subject: [Mt-blind] Future of the MAB/NFB of Montana


> Jerry Hutch hits the nail on the head when he asks, what will the identity
> of our organization be?  We started talking about this stuff to give 
> members
> a chance to discuss and think about the issues.  I doubt very much that
> Jerry and I will be able to convince one another of much.  As such, please
> read the discussion as a way of measuring how you want our organization to
> function.  Ask yourself this:  Do you want the MAB/NFB to be a closed or
> open organization?  Read carefully what Jerry is saying, and you see that 
> he
> would have us close our organization.  Take, for instance, the parents
> division issue.  Jerry said that he voted against a parents' division
> because he fears that sighted members will take over the organization.
> While Jerry's point of view did not prevail, and we voted overwhelmingly 
> to
> support the parents division, Jerry expresses exactly the kind of thinking
> that, in my opinion, hurts our organization.  If we shut out parents, we
> would shut out blind children.  Children are our future, and their future
> hinges on the informed advocacy of their parents.  The organized blind
> provides the best information parents can get.  We need to link arms with
> parents so that we can make sure each child gets the education basics.
> Those children will grow up and become tomorrow's leaders.  The parents 
> need
> us, and we need the parents.  But if we were to listen to Jerry, we would
> turn our backs on parents and children and our future, and we would be 
> doing
> so out of fear.  If it were up to Jerry, the organization would put all 
> the
> emphasis on the summer school, which is only one of the many programs our
> organization supports.  Yes, the summer school is very important.  But it 
> is
> not so important as to give it such a priority that we would exclude
> potential members or quality alternative programs.  Jerry also attempts to
> give us a lesson on civics, saying that we have to get busy with the
> legislature.  At this, I just have to scratch my head.  I can't help but
> wonder where Jerry was when we passed the Braille Literacy for Blind and
> Visually Impaired Children Act and other equally important legislation.
> Jerry is telling us to do what we are already accomplishing as if he is
> totally unaware of what is going on in the organization.  But, setting 
> this
> aside, the issue really comes back to identity.  Who is the MAB/NF B of
> Montana?  I hope we will be strong enough and visionary enough to expand
> ourselves in common sense ways so that we construct a better future. 
> There
> is much to be proud of, and certainly we should honor and respect the past
> and current contributions of all members.  But our future depends on
> thinking more broadly and openly than we ever have previously.
>
> One last thing to mention is that there is, to my knowledge, no effort 
> afoot
> to change the constitution or bylaws.  However, if the members want this,
> then that is what we will do.  For right now, we're just talking is all.
> Please be clear about this so that we don't go puffing ourselves into
> silliness and wasted energy.  It's just an exchange of ideas at this 
> point.
>
>
>
> Jim Marks
> blind.grizzly at GMail.com
>
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