[nfb-talk] another lawful request for information

[joe harcz]

January 13, 2005

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI  48458

E-mail: michiganadapt at peoplepc.com

 

Re: Official request for public information in accessible format

 

Mark Maurer, JD

President, National Federation of the Blind, Inc.

(Also dba Blind Federation of America.)

EIN: 02-0259978

1800 Johnson St.

Baltimore, MD 21230

Via e-mail: officeofthepresident at nfb.org

 

 

Dear President Maurer,

 

I am writing you today to officially request information that should be available to the public under a variety of laws and should be made available to people who are blind in accessible formats, upon request.

 

Specifically, I am requesting all schedules of your organization's IRS Form 990(s) for NFB's last three fiscal years. In addition, I'm requesting all minutes of NFB's Board of Director meetings for the past three fiscal years.

 

As a legally blind person I am requesting this information in accessible format. Specifically, I am requesting that this information is remitted to me as either Word or plain text documents and sent to me via either e-mail attachment or enclosure to the e-mail address listed above.

 

As you undoubtedly know NFB is a Title III entity under the meaning of the law (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) as it engages in commerce and operates educational programs. 

 

Moreover, it is subject to obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as it is a recipient of copious federal funds including substantial infusion of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just to name a few. Thus it is obligated to follow the "auxiliary aids and services" requirements of that act.

 

Moreover, such a large recipient of federal funds should be transparent in the public interest precisely as to how those federal funds are employed. This is a simple matter of public accountability of an organization employing public funds.

 

I would appreciate a written and accessible response to this inquiry within three (3) working days.

 

As an additional aside I've yet to receive any information related to a similar request made to your person regarding the activities of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. I would have thought that an individual who secures almost $100,000 per year from such a high profile and again federally funded entity as AAF would be a little bit more responsive to such a request for information especially as you are paid as a General Counsel.

 

Regardless, if I can be of assistance in meeting the bottom line here please do not hesitate in writing me.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

Cc: file

Fw: Internal Revenue Service

Fw: U.S. Department of Justice

Fw: Several Attorneys at Law

 

 

 
-------------- next part --------------
January 13, 2005
 
Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.
Mt. Morris, MI
 
48458
E-mail:
mailto:michiganadapt at peoplepc.com
michiganadapt at peoplepc.com
 
Re: Official request for public information in accessible format
 
Mark Maurer, JD
President, National Federation of the Blind, Inc.
(Also dba Blind Federation of America.)
EIN: 02-0259978
1800 Johnson St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
Via e-mail: officeofthepresident at nfb.org
 
 
Dear President Maurer,
 
I am writing you today to officially request information that should be available to the public under a variety of laws and should be made available to people who are blind in accessible formats, upon request.
 
Specifically, I am requesting all schedules of your organization’s IRS Form 990(s) for NFB’s last three fiscal years. In addition, I’m requesting all minutes of NFB’s Board of Director meetings for the past three fiscal years.
 
As a legally blind person I am requesting this information in accessible format. Specifically, I am requesting that this information is remitted to me as either Word or plain text documents and sent to me via either e-mail attachment or enclosure to the e-mail address listed above.
 
As you undoubtedly know NFB is a Title III entity under the meaning of the law (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) as it engages in commerce and operates educational programs.
 
Moreover, it is subject to obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as it is a recipient of copious federal funds including substantial infusion of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just to name a few. Thus it is obligated to follow the “auxiliary aids and services” requirements of that act.
 
Moreover, such a large recipient of federal funds should be transparent in the public interest precisely as to how those federal funds are employed. This is a simple matter of public accountability of an organization employing public funds.
 
I would appreciate a written and accessible response to this inquiry within three (3) working days.
 
As an additional aside I’ve yet to receive any information related to a similar request made to your person regarding the activities of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. I would have thought that an individual who secures almost $100,000 per year from such a high profile and again federally funded entity as AAF would be a little bit more responsive to such a request for information especially as you are paid as a General Counsel.
 
Regardless, if I can be of assistance in meeting the bottom line here please do not hesitate in writing me.
 
Sincerely,
 
Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
 
Cc: file
Fw: Internal Revenue Service
Fw: U.S. Department of Justice
Fw: Several Attorneys at Law
 
 
 
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