[Mt-blind] FW: A RESPONSE TO JIM MARKS

Tue Nov 13 12:18:31 CST 2007

Thanks, Cody. We all admire you and are so proud of our "division". this is 
a nourn, not a verb.
Have fun at college.
Joe and Flo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "martin greiser" <blacktail1 at hotmail.com>
To: "Blind Montana" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:32 AM
Subject: [Mt-blind] FW: A RESPONSE TO JIM MARKS

  Cody asked me to forward this to the list. We can't seem to get him signed 
on himself.  Marty

From: cgreiser at msn.comTo: blacktail1 at hotmail.comSubject: RE: [Mt-blind] A 
RESPONSE TO JIM MARKSDate: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:04:50 -0700

Hi everyone,

I agree with Jim concerning the proposed name change of the MAB. The 
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is made up of blind persons 
advocating for other blind people around the country. The word “of” was 
chosen rather than “for” as it is the only one which permits us to be what 
we are—an organization of and for the blind of this nation. If the name of 
the Montana Association for the blind is changed to the NFB of Montana, we 
will truly be an organization made up of blind people and working for the 
improvement of others who are blind or visually impaired. We will see 
nothing save positive results brought about by this name change.

Cody Greiser

From: martin greiser [mailto:blacktail1 at hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 
12, 2007 5:31 PMTo: Cody GreiserSubject: FW: [Mt-blind] A RESPONSE TO JIM 
MARKS

> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 18:55:08 -0700> From: modrepro at mt.net> To: 
> mt-blind at nfbnet.org> Subject: [Mt-blind] A RESPONSE TO JIM MARKS> > To the 
> list,> > When I first saw the message from Jim Marks and some of the later 
>  > threads, I thought to myself, stay out of the discussion, it will do no 
>  > good. Then I thought of an old phrase, "The turtle only makes progress > 
> when he sticks his head out". So.....> > In the business world, a business 
> is known by its name. That name > should reflect who and what that 
> business is. The name, Montana > Association for the Blind has been in 
> proud use for over sixty years. > That name represents who we are and what 
> we are. This is known as > business identity. In an earlier message it was 
> stated that quote > "Blind people need the name recognition in our 
> advocacy to improve our > lives and the lives of blind persons who follow 
> us." unquote. That name > has been the Montana Association for the Blind. 
> It is not now and never > has been the NFB of Montana. > > Our identity is 
> also known by what we have accomplished. First and > foremost is a program 
> for the blind and the visually impaired called the > Summer Orientation 
> Program. This program has done more to enhance the > lives of the blind 
> and visually impaired than any other program > supported or funded by the 
> Montana Association for the Blind. This is > truly the identity of the 
> Association. Through the efforts of MAB > members, reaching out to the 
> blind and visually impaired in our > communities, this is how we are 
> known.> > An earlier message has stated that change is coming. Why? What 
> is so > very wrong about the current goals and aims of the MAB? Does 
> anyone > really think that changing the name of our organization to the 
> NFB of > Montana is going to make a difference? A difference to who? And 
> for > what purpose? To do this is a foolish thing and accomplishes 
> nothing. > The only difference will be that we will be a very small group 
> (or > division; again that word) in a larger group of individuals. Where 
> then > is our identity? > > We currently have a name that has been long 
> used and that has a proud > tradition. Why should we give it up?> > Our 
> membership is low. Is that because past leadership has not done all > that 
> it can to promote the MAB in our local communities? Or is it that > 
> Montana is so large in area and so small in population that it is hard > 
> to get persons with a common cause together in one place. Look at the > 
> attendance at our state conventions. Look at our chapter meetings. If > 
> transportation is not available, members will not attend. This is an > 
> issue that we need to address, not should we change our name. What > about 
> pedestrian safety, for everyone not just the blind and visually > 
> impaired? What about access to the internet for the blind and visually > 
> impaired? What about.....(fill in the blank)? Do you support the > MAB? Do 
> you or your chapter get out and sell MAB calendars? If not, why?> > > I 
> was one of the attendees at the last convention who stood and > identified 
> myself during the vote to oppose the change of the by-laws to > allow a 
> division (that is a very good word) of parents of blind or > visually 
> impaired children to become a separate but equal entity in our > 
> organization. Why do we need a separate entity or division in the > 
> Association. The NFB has many divisions already, one of them being for > 
> the parents of blind children. Is not support for those parents > 
> available from the NFB? Is this not what the NFB states that it will > do? 
> It has been suggested that the Association starts a students > division? 
> Why? The NFB already has a students division. My fear then > and now, is 
> that these sighted parents will change the voting makeup of > the 
> Association and by shear number change what and who the Montana > 
> Association for the Blind is. Our by-laws state that the majority of > 
> voting members shall be blind or visually impaired. Do we need to > change 
> the by-laws? How will we continue to be the association for the > blind?> 
>  > On Sunday morning, September 16th, I stood before the assembled members 
>  > of the Association who had met in convention, and took an oath "to > 
> uphold the Constitution and By-laws of the Montana Association for the > 
> Blind" as an officer elected by the membership of the MAB. I do not > 
> recall that oath saying anything about the NFB of Montana or the > 
> National Federation of the Blind. > > I will, with Bernice and Myrle and 
> many others around the state, > continue to support the Montana 
> Association for the Blind by sitting on > the board of directors and 
> promoting to the best of my ability the > Montana Association for the 
> Blind in any way that I can.> > Jerry Hutch> Capital City Chapter> Helena> 
>  > > As a post script: just before sending this message I was fortunate > 
> enough to read Jim Marks latest posting about the SOP being in conflict > 
> with the NFB national Convention. In my humble opinion, the date for > the 
> SOP will not change! This was discussed at the October Board of > 
> Directors meeting in Butte.> > Please read the minutes of the meeting! 
> Both Carroll College and MSU > before would not host the SOP other than 
> during the summer break at each > of the schools as it currently is done. 
> By not supporting the MAB and > its programs, you are missing an important 
> part of the MAB experience. > It sounds as if the NFB is more important to 
> you than the MAB.> >

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