[nfbwatlk] my opinion only

[Mary Ellen]

Mike,
There have been a few questions and comments, but certainly not a flood of
them. I think the near silence is *not*
 caused by lack of interest or lack of thought. I don't live in Washington,
so my reaction may be due to lack of familiarity with the details of the way
the agency operates, but I find myself pondering the options and not knowing
how to react. 
It was difficult for me to understand exactly what was meant by some of the
language in her report, since it included some terms which sounded like
in-house vocabulary (in other words, jargon) to me. I suggest there will be
more reaction on the list when members understand what the various proposed
options will mean on a practical level.
It was encouraging to read that the residential component of the OTC will be
retained. The discussion of new ways to structure Independent Living and
services to older blind people will have a great impact on staff, but it's
hard to understand what it will mean from the point of view of a blind
person in Oroville.
It may be that the list isn't the best place for people to get their
questions answered. It may also be that the whole thing is so overwhelmingly
confusing that most people did what I did when I read it. I thought "It
sounds as if they're listening about the residential training, that's great.
I don't know enough about the other things mentioned in her report to have
an informed opinion." I admit that isn't the best response, but people
frequently respond to feeling overwhelmed with information they don't
thoroughly understand by shutting down and hoping the more knowledgeable
among us will summarize and analyze it.
You provided a useful service to those on the list by sending the report.
Don't be discouraged by the lack of instantaneous response. I'm sure people
are asking questions and figuring out where they stand. Sometimes democracy
works slowly, and sometimes imperfectly, but never doubt that members of the
NFBW are working toward developing the organization's position. My guess is
that chapter meetings make for a better give and take discussion than
listservs.

Mary Ellen
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Mello
Sent: April 17, 2009 5:27 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] my opinion only



Joanie, nothing is wrong what so ever with talking about cooking. However
when I post information about changes to programs and services offered by
the Department of Services for the Blind, 
and no-one says anything about that topic I start to wonder why that is.
That is why I posted my question in hopes that when Lou Oma askes me in the
hallway at work (I am an employee of the 
department) what the NFBW feels about the changes that are going on I can
have something to say other than well... "after asking you if you would have
any problem with me posting your 
director's updates on the listserv Not a single person said a damn thing...
so I guess We have no thought as a group." Thank you. Mike Mello

On Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:23:48 -0700, Joanie wrote:

>Hi Mike Mello and all,
>I probably should have ignored your message about people commenting on
>thetopic of cooking. However, the Mariners have been discussed on this
list, 
>so what's wrong occasionally with us talking about how we prepare food? 
>Besides, it's Friday.
>Take care. 


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Michael J. Mello

mike at mello.com

(208) 301-0565

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