The contents of this column are a reflection of the letters we had received at the time of publication, December 15, 2003. We received so many letters during October and November that this column reflects only a representative sample of our mail. We hope to include additional letters from those which were received in the next issue of the magazine. Opinions expressed are those of the authors, not those of the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. “The Braille Forum” is not responsible for the opinions expressed herein. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, style and space available. We can print your letters only if you sign your name and give us your address.
About Charlie Crawford’s Resignation
October 26, 2003
Dear Readers of the Forum:
I am writing today for two reasons. First, I would like to express my appreciation for all Charlie Crawford has done as ACB executive director. On issues ranging from pedestrian safety, access to information, expanding employment opportunities to video description, Charlie eloquently represented us before the powers that be in Washington. Charlie also showed the membership that he was willing to try to help any of us with our own struggles. Finally, “News Notes from the National Office” provided a good summary of what ACB staff had been doing for the past week.
Second, I would like to express my concern over the factors that led to Charlie’s resignation. He is said to have left due to “irreconcilable philosophical differences” between himself and Chris Gray. I find it appalling that Charlie and Chris could not work together. It also bothers me that much of the negotiations that went on between Charlie and the board of directors took place during executive sessions. Now the board says they can’t discuss what happened. I never knew that “philosophical differences” could be so sensitive as to warrant executive session. When some of us expressed our concerns on ACB’s e-mail discussion list and demanded to know exactly what those “philosophical differences” were, we were told by members of the board to
“get over it.”
While I understand that it is sometimes necessary for the board to use executive session, I think they went too far in this case. While I don’t expect to learn all of the details of what went on in eight recent executive sessions, I do expect to learn just exactly what the “philosophical differences” were that caused us to lose a top-notch executive director. Without this information, I will not be in a good position to cast my votes in future elections for board members and officers. If one is to choose leaders intelligently, one must know something about their management styles. Information concerning viewpoints of our leaders will make us all better informed about just exactly where they stand.
I am not content to just sit back and trust that what has been done is best for ACB. Perhaps I’ll reach that conclusion if given more information about just what the heck has been going on in the past few months. If such information is not forthcoming, then I have no choice but to urge that we elect leaders who are willing to be more open with the membership of ACB.
— Bob Hachey, Waltham, Mass.
Good Man, Great Leader and ‘The Braille Free Press’
There have been some strong discussions on phone trees, listservs and other media related to the resignation of Charlie Crawford. Most important, we the membership wish to know what circumstances led up to that resignation. Some members have even called for the creation of an Internet version of “The Braille Free Press.”
We need not build an Internet “Braille Free Press.” It is right here! It is in the pages of “The Braille Forum” — if members take advantage of the pages of our magazine, and if their voices are not silenced, but allowed to flow forth in our grand tradition of free expression.
It is said that it is more difficult to be a good man than to become a great leader. Charlie Crawford has shown us he is and can be both. Charlie is a humble man, not in that he is a lesser man, but rather because he values the ideas of all. He sees merit in people, even through some of their quirks.
This humility has made him a great leader in the truest sense of that word. Charlie never tells us that we have to do this or that. He shows us how to do it for ourselves or how to accomplish a task through collaboration. That is the empowerment model of leadership.
False leaders demand fealty, loyalty and subservience without any exceptions. False leaders cannot accept inquiry, let alone advice or recommendations from the rank and file, as they are so insecure. Very false leaders seek to stifle inquiry, for they fear only for their positions and altars of ego.
Charlie’s heart has always been a spot where everyone has a place. So is ACB in general. Charlie has taught us this. He has not resisted questions. He answers them. He has not resisted being approachable. He has always been a phone call or e-mail away. And he always responds personally. He has never responded with defensiveness or deflections. Instead, he has responded with forthrightness. He has responded with action.
Now I suggest that all ACB patriots use this “Braille Free Press:” the e-mailing lists, phone trees, ACB Radio and all of our media, to build the truth, to engage our leaders of all stripes in the truth. To honor the truth just as Charlie Crawford always has.
I urge rank-and-file members to remember that Charlie has said that he is a member of this great organization first, foremost and always. Our power is derived from its members. Each has a voice and substantial contributions to make. That is what Charlie Crawford taught us.
— Joe Harcz, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Asking Questions and Seeking Answers
Dear Editor and ACB family members:
I have been observing with consternation the unfolding of the events swirling around ACB for the past month. While I understand that we are a pluralistic organization, there are some troubling aspects to this whole situation which I would like to put into perspective. I plan to ask some hard questions in the hope that people will stop and examine this situation. Why has some of the flailing about been based on personalities and camouflaged itself in not having information? Only now are people thinking they did not have information. How free is speech if we don’t have respect for each other’s point of view? Whose interests are we upholding if we keep suspecting a personnel decision any board of directors is entitled to take?
Why do many membership organizations have long discussions about giving out membership lists? How involved should the membership be in personnel decisions? Are folks who are concerned about the process aware that public debate hurts the credibility of this organization, when we have this kind of disrespect for our elected leaders?
Some people believe that the resignation of Charlie Crawford was some isolated event in time. Again, let’s remind ourselves of history. Tensions between board and staff have been apparent for some time now. I have been friendly with board and staff over my many years in ACB. I have always understood that the board sets policy, and the staff implements that policy. Who owns the process? When Oral Miller left, did anyone think that was strange? Did anyone ask any questions? Our communications have become increasingly complex and over many new platforms, so now it is easier for all of us to interact with each other. Some perception as simple as the sharing of minutes has been distorted. Many people forgot that minutes only went to the board members in the Paul Edwards administration. In those years, some board members undoubtedly shared these minutes with their own affiliates. Now, Donna Seliger, for the first time, in accordance with the ACB constitution, is sending the minutes out to every affiliate president. We forget history, and in our rush to blame and name, some assume that a tighter lid is being kept on communications.
The national office staff and board have been relatively stable for a couple of years. When did some of you start lacking confidence in this board?
An incident occurred at mid-year in 2003. A meeting occurred concerning the future of ACB, and Charlie Crawford and others raised concerns over the Dohmen case, and that board decision. That discussion oozed over to the leadership list. I was quite surprised at the emotion generated and displayed through my screen reader!
Finally, this July it seemed that the public discord had reached its zenith. Many elections were contested, and people decided whose leadership styles and what priorities they would endorse for two years. Amendments and resolutions were hotly debated, and almost seemed to be a referendum on the perceptions members had about ACB. Three amendments were proposed to augment the purview of the board of publications, and appeared to diminish the board. Another amendment tried to clarify the role of the national office staff in entering into debate. Crawford was very concerned about the impact of this amendment, and said as much on the convention floor.
The other backdrop during July 2003 was that Christopher Gray won re-election by the widest margin of any candidate running in last year’s election. Was that an accident, or the will of the membership?
It is ironic that the discussion is about what people knew, why they didn’t know, and why they should have known. Why do we want control over all things? Is it reasonable to want to know everything our leaders do?
We need to get beyond the emotionally charged language, and be reasonable communicators. We saw some real dialogue in the two phone calls President Gray arranged for 20 members of the ACB-Leadership e-mail discussion list, unduplicated each time. Forty people participated in these calls. Some who have expressed regret and doubt in recent e-mail messages never requested participation on these calls. Winter is nearing, and the winds are blowing colder. The temperature is dropping. It’s a good thing, because the pot was kept on the stove for too long, and our house was in danger of burning down. Let the pot cool, and stop calling the kettle black if you’re the one whistling.
— Lynne Koral, Anchorage, Alaska
Zenith VCRs No Longer Available?
Dear Editor:
There is something I want to tell you about that readers of “The Braille Forum” should be aware of. I just found out early this summer that the Speak Easy talking VCR from Zenith hasn’t been available for at least two years. The one I have now was in the shop getting repaired, and I was able to get it fixed. If something happens to it again and I am unable to get it fixed I will be out of luck.
I checked around several places such as Speak to me, Circuit City, Sears and Fred Meyers and they don’t have them anymore. It seems every time manufacturers come up with something like the talking VCR, it is on the market for awhile and then it is discontinued. This is the second time this has happened to me; the first time was when Sharp Electronics came out with the first talking VCR.
Will someone come up with a talking DVD player and a talking DVD recorder?
I think that blind people should write to the manufacturers who make products such as VCRs and cell phones and tell them to make their products accessible to people who are blind, so we can run the products we need independently with instructions in braille, cassette tape and computer diskette without sighted help.
Thanks for including my letter in the magazine.
— Joan Ladeburg, Seattle, Wash.