I agree with you that change is possible.  But let's not forget that at such 
a time as Dr. Jernigan may not be around any more, others will try to take 
advantage of the situation to carv their own power base within the movement.  
But I believe change is possible.  I think that 2 areas in which the national 
would not have gotten its agenda passed were the Mr. Magoo matter and 
paratransit.  The N.F.B. made a king size mistake trying to make a blanket 
statement on the blind's lack of need for paratransit.  It is not because 
dial a ride systems are so eficient that some may need it because we all know 
they are not, but no one person or organization can make that kind of call 
for everyone in every city or town in every situation.  Some have only 
limited public transportation, some can't afford cabs, some have to travel to 
and from jobs late at night and so on.  I do believe we should use public 
transit when we can, but we shouldn't try to make that call for everyone.  It 
is my understanding that Scott Labar went before the Denver paratransit board 
and told them that blind people didn't need it so for a while blind persons 
in Denver couldn't be certified.  Now that policy has been modified somewhat 
and they can have it only during the winter months.  Scott apparently has a 
good enough job that he can take cabs.  But that's not a luxury afforded to 
most of us.
Regarding the A.C.B., I also have friends in the A.C.B. and have for years.  
While I think most are nice, decent people they are of a different ilk 
entirely.  Many of them have no skills to speak of and hang on to volunteers 
like fleas on a dog.  I have even seen some abuse of volunteers with people 
getting them to do jobs for which they do not technically volunteer.  And 
they are at such a high profile at their conventions that it gives them and 
others the idea that blind people are helpless.  The A.C.B. has little to 
offer younger blind people and as such has made few inroads into the 
youngergeneration.  
I also remember one remarking that Dr. Jernigan was such a radical that he 
was stockpiling food in the basement of the Iowa Commission for the Blind in 
case of an attack.  He failed to research his facts because if he had, he 
would have known that the Iowa Commission building was a designated shelter 
in case of a disaster and therefore was storing food for just such an 
emergency.  
But I also know people who have joined the A.C.B. not because it is such a 
great organization, but because of the way they were mistreated by the N.F.B. 
 And I think we need to be cognicent of that fact.
Finally, I think another thing that would help us is if we bring back the 
social aspects of our conventions.  When I first began going in 1975 we used 
to have affiliate parties usually at least one a night during which we could 
meet people.  They have all disappeared now because the hotel was putting 
pressure on us not to have them and also because they got upset about 
cramming people into the smaller hotel rooms.  I admit there were some 
problems with them, but I think with a little work they could be brought back 
with little or no problem.  This stuffy after banquet party and the 
overpriced drinks at the hospitality room are not the answer.  By the time 
the banquet lets out and people get to the "party," they get maybe one drink 
and then the cash bar closes at midnight.  So it is obvious that we are 
getting whatever time is left over between the end of the banquet and 
midnight.  If we're going to have this function, then we need to address this 
even if it means paying overtime to the bar tenders.
Harvey 
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