From: Andy Baracco 
Subject: Re: Conflict of Interest
Oh Christ with a crutch!  Give me a break!  We're not stupid!
On Sun, 24 Aug 1997 MACK73DEN@aol.com wrote:
> 
> 
> As a political insider I have found the discussion interesting.  To begin
> with we live in a REPRESENTATIVE Democracy not a pure democracy.  I have 
been
> involved in everything from PTA to Statewide Political Conventions.  If you
> think that the NFB is rigid you have had very little experience with
> representative organizations.  It is of interest that there is a clause in
> the model state affiliate constitution that says that Robert's Rules of 
Order
> will not be used to subvert the will of the membership.  I have seen that
> take place in political conventions.  It has always been refreshing to see
> how open and fair our National Conventions have been over the past 20 odd
> years.  The rank and file members of our organization know more about 
orderly
> and respectful meeting etiquette than most of the elected officials that I
> know.  I also know that chaos does not allow for any kind of voice in an
> organization.  
> The National Federation of the Blind in my long experience of 27 years of
> participation is an open, disciplined and orderly organization.  This 
results
> in the effectiveness and influence which we are experiencing at this time.  
I
> can remember many instances of nominations being taken from the floor.  I 
can
> also recall, including this past year in New Orleans, resolutions resulting
> in lively and thought provoking discussion.  I especially recall the
> resolution concerning the setting up of a center in Baltimore that 
eventually
> was defeated.  I remember this discussion very clearly because Gary and I
> were on opposite ends of view.  I must say that I have no patience for
> criticism for citicisms sake.  Constructive criticism proposes a problem 
nd
> then proposes possible solutions.  Our world is no longer very simple and
> issues have many sides.  Until all sides can be observed and dealt with
> solutions are difficult to reach.
> I apologize for the length of this post. Thank you for your time.
> Denise Mackenstadt
> 
> 
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