From: MACK73DEN@aol.com
Subject: Re: Dillon County NFB
It is very interesting what revisionist history can do for a person.  I sat
in the front room of Tony Mannino's home at listened to him plan to remove
Bob Acosta from the state leadership of California Affiliate.  I sat in on at
least one meeting in 1976 when Bob planned on how he was going to get rid of
Jerry Drake, Tony Mannino and Muzzy Marcelino.  I watched as Bob rigged a
West Valley Chapter Raffle in the fall of 1974. I watched as Bob tried to
drive myself and Linda Anderson from the affiliate because he did not like
the company that Linda kept.  He got up in front of the West Valley Chapter
and personally attacked me for defending Linda in 1973.  I watched as Bob
would lie, cheat and betray his family, friends and mentors.  Don't believe
that their was an ethical bone in this man's body.  I was there and I saw
what he was capable of and what he did to destroy the affiliate as well as
individual members.  The untimely death of Tony and the attacks on Mr.
Jernigan in Iowa directly led to Bob taking advantage of this situation to
proceed with his plans to take over the affiliate.  Bob was not charismatic
he was a megalomaniac.  Gary Mackenstadt, Fred Schroeder, Jim Fox had all
left the state to persue employment opportunities.  If all of these
circumstances had not come together as they did Bob would never have done
what he did.  This is old history and it is documented.  I am just happy to
expend some of the disdain I have for what Bob did and is.  However, I am
very quick to say that we now probably have the best affiliate in California
that we have had in 20 years.  So, whoever or whatever Bob Acosta is, is
totally irrelevant to what the National Federation of the Blind of California
is accomplishing today.
Denise Mackenstadt
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