From: Pete Donahue 
Subject: more AMway literature and WEb access information
Hello listers,
This message is of concern to the AMway DIstributers on these lists, and
to the individuals to whom the message is being sent.  Last WEekend, mary
and I along with our entire distributer organization attended our FRee
ENterprize DAy CElebration in Houston.  While there we had the Opportunity
to meet Dick DEvos, the Son of Co-Founder Rich DEvos, and now the
President of Amway Corporation.  WE weighlayed him after he finnished
speaking, and introduced ourselves to him.  WE ppounced on the opportunigy
to discuss with him the issues that have plagued blind AmwayDistributers
for years; the lack of sales and product information in accessible
meedia..  WE made him aware of the problems we discovered with The ABN
@Web Site which I told you all about last week as making them aware of the
need to design Amway's computer Software so it is blind friendly.  After
some discussion he agreed that we had some serious matters that needed to
be examined, and he introduced me to Mr. Bill Payne; one of his
assistants.  SInce DIck was audographing his new book 2which was being
sold at the function he asked Mr. Payne too get all the information from
us, and to discuss a possible cource of action for addressing the needs of
disableed AMway DIstributers in the Future.  WE discussed the creation of
a task force made up of DIsabled AMway DIstributers to look in to the
unique challanges faced by us, and how the company can address these
concerns.  He told us that he would discuss this matter further with Mr.
DEvos.  Anmd this is whare you all come in.  BIll Payne's E-mail address
is: billp@windquest.com.  ALl of you are strongly urged to drop him an
E-mail message and let him know of the problems you may have or may have
had in ggetting material in accessible meedia in a timely mannor.  Let him
know of the challanges you may have had with this matter, and how Amway
could remedy it in the future.  Most importantly, we need to let them know
that we are out there trying to build our businesses, and that we have
concerns that need to be addressed.  Distributers; please remembedr to
include your ADA Numbder in your message.  WE would also encourage thgose
of you who are customers, or who may have, or are considering AMway as a
business for yourselves to write and let your concerns with respect to
literature accessibility be known.
The following information will be of interest to Distributers in the Yager
Organization.  WE also had the opportunity to talk with representatives of
Internet SErvices; the company that produces the busijness building tools
that the Yagers make available to their distributers.  WE were told that
during the next year Intternet SErvices will begin putting the reckemended
books they distribute on cassette tape and on compact disk.  WE urged them
to do this as this would at last make this information available in a form
we can access independently.  Those of you who are planning to attend your
FRee ENterprize DAy Function are strongly urged to look up the folks from
Internet SErvices, and urge them to move forward with this project.
Infact, they all ready have a few titles available on audio cd.  check
with your upline for more information.  THe url for Internet SErvices web
site is www.internet-services.com.  You could leave an E-mail message
there making your voice heard on this, and other information access
matters of concern to Internet SErvices.  Like THhe AMway Business Network
this too  is a secured site and requires a password which you must obtain
from your upline in order to access it.  WE have not yet had the
opportunity to check it out so we can't tell you how blind friendly it is.
Those of you in other DIstributer Organizations would do well to check
with your upline, and find out what efforts are being undertaken to
make their business building tools such as books available in meedia other
than print.  But don't forget too that some of these titles are salso
available from your cooperating NLS library,  or from REcording for the
BLind and Dyslexic.
Okay people.  WE began opening the door to ge;tting something done about
our concerns with respect to information access, but we can't do it alone.
WE got the ball rolling. Now you too must give us a hand and let your
concernes be known.  Please take the time to write to BIll Payne
concerning the availability of AMway SAles and product information in
accessible meedia produced by AMway Corporation.  Materials access to
information produced byy specific distributor organizations must be
addressed to those individuals, and companies that produce this literature
for these groups.  Working together we can at last get something about
this situation, and enhance the AMway Opportunity for other blind persons.
One more thing bears comment.  We hear people complain about the high cost
of attending major functions such as FREe ENterprize day; that the cost of
the tickets, in our case it was $115.00 per person.  But put that along
side the above information.  If being willing to invest in our business in
this way will result in our eventually having rgreater access to the
information we need to grow our businesses we will have gootten more than
our money's worth.  ANd not just for ourselves, but for those who will
come after us.  REMember that this is a money making business so attending
these functions should not be a problem.  So before you complain about how
expensive going to major functions can be remember what we were able to
accomplish during this past weekend.  Together  we need to see to it that6
AMway follows through and we have an easier time of getting the
information we need in meedia we can access independently..
Mary and I once more want to urge you to let your voice be heard on this
matter so write Mr. Payne as soon as possible.  REmeember that working
together we've got the power!!!  TAke care all and we'll see you on the
beaches of the World.
Peter Donahue
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