In a message David Andrews typed to Kathy Neufeld  
 DA> Well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree.  The Seeing Eye had 
been 
 DA> made aware of the change in policy, and had been asked to conduct 
 DA> themselves in a given way.  they did not.
 DA> I think their sneaking around a room full of blind persons, handing out 
 DA> something they had been asked not to do, shows a blatant disrespect for 
 DA> blind persons.  It was our convention and meeting, not theirs.
I also disagree with the N.F.B.'s position.  Granted, Seeing Eye could have 
handled things better for example staying for the entire convention and 
making certain that their representatives registered for the convention, but 
I think in view of the circumstances Seeing Eye had no other choice but to do 
what they did.  This charge for networking breakfasts is nothing but a fund 
raiser in disguise.
When a person rents a meeting room and buys food, the hotel usually waives 
all room rental charges.  Therefore, Seeing Eye was complying with the hotel 
rules.  The N.F.B. does not own the hotel and I believe it is illegal for us 
to come along and say that someone has to fatten our wallet before they can 
meet with conventioners.  
I have heard complaints from exhibitors that the limited time given to 
exhibit is more often than not, not worth all the bother to set up.  We are 
turnning off vendors and exhibitors with our stupid policies and we need to 
look at them closely.
In the days of the Nac pickets when we engaged in our own brand of subtrifuge 
and trickery to get into Nac meetings or obtain information we all thought 
our tactics were so clever and wonderful.  It is interesting how we react now 
when the shoe is on the other foot and we get a taste of our own medicine.  
I think it strictly between the hotel and the Seeing Eye or any other vendor 
as to purchasing food at a private function for whomever they choose to have 
one and we have no business being any kind of a middleman.
Finally, the bible says that the lust for money is the root of all evil.  
Since we began to put money first in 1976 after loosing our mailings income 
we have become less sensitive to our own members and far less a grass roots 
organization.  I know that some things must change with the times and 
logistics, but we have carried our lusting for money too far and it is 
hurting us.  
Harvey   
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