by M.J. Schmitt
After reading this article, many of you will wonder why it is in “The Braille Forum” and not on some list somewhere. Although I was a computer systems analyst by profession, when I retired, I was totally burned out and wanted no computer in my home. I receive e-mail by phone, which has worked for me. You who are out there on many lists are our techies — our brightest bulbs, so to speak. I wanted this article to be printed in “The Braille Forum” to reach our grass roots membership, not just the microchip crew which inhabits the Internet.
With regard to the current condition of ACB, yeah, it’s pretty ugly! Has it ever been this ugly before? Yes, it has; and, if you want more details, seek me out at the convention and I will be happy to discuss it with you. Are we going to make it? I think so, because ACB is far more important than any person or group of people involved in it. I will give you my opinion on many if not all of the topics which have been on the lists.
On the subject of loyalty, board members support the president when and if they believe him to be right. The board of directors is responsible to you, to each and every one of you. The board has been castigated, but let us be clear about one thing. The board did what it had to do, and they did it for you. It is your right to praise or criticize. If you don’t like what we’re doing, get rid of us. It would indeed be interesting to see how you would have handled our challenges.
I was very disappointed to learn of Dawn’s resignation, especially when she only had six more months to serve. And Steve Speicher, who I always admired because he had the courage of his convictions; it’s a loss. Just think about it. Could someone who couldn’t decide whether to seek an office until Tuesday of convention week after the meeting of the nominating committee possibly make presidential decisions for our organization?
Then there is the former editor of “The Braille Forum,” who now has established a magazine on another web site. Under her guidance, numerous corrections have appeared in the front of our magazine. How many did we see before she entered our employment world? She had little background in ACB. For instance, three or four years ago, I spent much of my time at midyear passing out letters to state and special-interest affiliate presidents explaining that I was chair only of the McDaniel committee, not of awards, because that is what had appeared in “The Braille Forum.” She wrote a lengthy article about Andy Potok who was slated to be a convention banquet speaker. This gentleman had been at a previous convention and was known to many of us. And then there was the guide horse article which was much too long, although eventually you got to the information. Kudos to the board of publications for doing a thorough job.
There are those who have tried to link what is happening today to our history. Truly, there is only one correlation. Those who are demanding all kinds of things in the name of democracy are applying the same divide-and-conquer tactics used on us by the tenBroek administration. Talk with Cathy Skivers, Audrey Hebner, or Alberta O’Shaughnessy — all of whom will be at convention — and they will tell you the same thing.
There will be much to think about at the Birmingham convention — resolutions and constitutional amendments. Think about them before you submit them. Think about them before you vote on them. Remove us, if you must, through the constitutional democratic process. Redirect your thoughts and energies toward what is best for ACB. Please join with those of us who have decided to help ACB through the MMS program and, ultimately, the organization will be OK. I have faith in each and every one of you.