From: ksmith@utah-inter.net (Karl Smith)
Subject: National leaders or convention
Hi folks,
I have been reading and not responding to all the recent posts about how
the NFB national leadership leads all of us members around by the nose and
tells us what to do and we do it.  I've been going to conventions for
twenty years now and have heard all kinds of disagreement and controversy
over a lot of things.  I believe that it is natural for people who have
been around a while and have been elected to leadership positions to have a
greater influence than any single member without the following developed by
a leader.  This is no different from any other political organization.  
I can tell you of an instance when the national leadership was caught
completely off guard over a decision they made for fund raising.  At the
1985 convention in Kentucky the board of directors announced a program for
selling small scrolls with horascopes on them in convenient stores.  the
NFB would make a small percentage of the sales.  Near the end of convention
someone got up and expressed their concern that some people consider
astrology as a kind of religion and that selling these scrolls was
offensive to them.  Much to my surprise as I think of these things as a fun
game, there was a ground swell of support for this individual.  I remember
Dr. Jernigan stating, finally,  that it was obvious that this matter was
causing enough discontent among the membership that the program would be
scrubbed.  I remember that they had sample scrolls at the convention and I
believe a contract had already been signed with the distributer.
Nevertheless, we didn't sell horascopes scrolls.
Finally, if anyone doesn't think something is right it is their right and
responsibility to voice their opinion.  The important thing as I see it is
to be prepared to put your full support behind any decisions which are made
according to policy even though you may not think it is the right one.
This is the responsibility of all of us if we intend to get anywhere.  We
can't go on with something if it is clearly not the will of the majority
simply because we didn't get our way.  If we do this there is no point in a
national organization.
Karl Smith
CSA Adaptive Products and Services
4304 South El Camino St.
Taylorsville, Utah 84119
Phone		801-967-5655
Toll Free	800-335-4995
Fax		801-969-4357
E-mail		KSMITH@UTAH-INTER.NET
	"Never confuse an open mind with an empty head."
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