by Christopher Gray
As you read this article in May, it is still not too late to make your plans to come to Houston for ACB's 2002 convention. It promises to be a festive time with many wonderful program items and much work to do to continue the activities and programs of the American Council of the Blind. In this article, I am going to tell you a little about the upcoming program and convention schedule in case this might help you with your attendance plans. First though, I'd like to address an area that is already generating a lot of discussion and that promises to carry with it some degree of controversy at our convention. Several people, including some affiliate presidents, have asked me to write about this issue and so I will address some salient points.
The issue at hand concerns how affiliates currently pay dues to the national organization. Right now, each state and special- interest affiliate pays $3 dues for each of its members. This amount will increase to $5 in 2003. However, a cap is placed on the number of members for whom each affiliate must pay dues. The cap equals 625 members. This means that if you are an affiliate that has over 625 members, you pay only for the first 625 members, and you can keep the whole dues collected for the rest of your members. It is important to point out that all of the members of any ACB affiliate are treated equally and an affiliate does not pay for any specific members, but all its members are considered to be paid members of ACB. Many larger affiliates feel that this allows them to safely begin building programs in their states that they might otherwise not initiate since every new member represents to them a greater funding source for their internal work and activities.
How and why, one wonders, was such a formula adopted by the authors of the ACB constitution? The answer is quite simple and straightforward. It comes directly from the voting structure of our organization. No affiliate within ACB can have over 25 votes for their affiliate: one vote for every 25 members up to 625 members. When the voting formula was reached, those affiliates with over 625 members asked why it should be that they should pay for their members who could not garner them affiliate votes within the organization. After considerable discussion, the cap on voting was agreed to along with an identical cap on affiliate dues. Historically, this is how the cap came into being on ACB affiliate membership voting and dues. Any charter member of ACB who was involved in the creation of the original constitution and bylaws of the organization can verify this set of events and discussions.
These actions were taken in 1961 and the structure they represent is now almost 41 years old. The question that will come before the convention in Houston is whether it makes sense to sever the link between a cap on the casting of affiliate votes and a cap on the payment of dues. The discussion is that simple.
In order to be clear about certain facts that should be considered before we engage in a discussion of the matter in Houston, let me present some figures to help the membership assess the overall impact of dividing voting from the payment of dues. The fundamental questions to be considered here seem to me to be how many affiliates and members are affected and is such an effect worth any incumbent difficulties this change may bring either to our affiliates or the organization as a whole. So first of all, who will be affected?
Let's look at several affiliates that currently have 25 affiliate votes and over 625 members within their organizations. The most extreme case is California, an affiliate with approximately 3,000 members. They have 2,375 additional members for whom they would pay an additional $11,875.00. If the cap on voting were removed, California would also receive an additional 95 votes for a total of 120 affiliate votes. One has to wonder whether California would reiterate its 2001 contribution of $10,000 to ACB if it had to pay these additional dues. You don't need to be a psychic to be pretty certain the answer is "no;" in fact it is a resounding "no" as far as Californians are concerned. Further, the president of the California Council of the Blind has made it clear that California will not pay such a dues increase without an equal increase in voter representation within ACB. Taxation (in this case, financing) without representation is not an American or an ACB ideal as far as Cathie Skivers is concerned. How do we in ACB fairly address this consideration? We must think carefully about this: philosophically and practically.
Another case, less extreme, is that of Pennsylvania. Last year, they certified 1,074 members. Thus, they would pay for an additional 449 members, $2,245, and were the voting cap removed have a total of 43 votes.
When all is said and done, approximately 5,000 members would be added to the number for which dues are assessed by the national organization. A total of approximately $25,000 would be realized. The votes for these members, if the voting cap were also removed, would accrue to the hands of nine affiliated organizations. Given the contributions previously made by these nine affiliates, which would likely no longer be available to us, we could still be looking at new income which might amount to as little as $5,000. Thus, an important question to be considered is whether $5,000 is really worth the possible disruption and ill will that such a change could create.
Another key issue to be considered is that of affiliate growth. With our renewed emphasis on membership development within ACB, it is likely that many more affiliates can surpass the 625-member mark in the next year or two. There is considerable incentive for an affiliate to do this because financial growth is more and more achievable with an increase in membership accordingly. Removing the dues cap could have the effect of discouraging some of this growth, which would be unfortunate.
Finally, while this concept has the potential to bring at least some amount of additional money into ACB's treasury, it is disturbing that this represents no new money within the work that needs to be done in our organization and its affiliates as a whole. We are just trading our money around in a new way. Looked at in that light, this is not a win/win situation between the national organization and its affiliated members. If we are to embark on this new way of doing business within ACB, we must create a win/win situation.
This and probably other issues will lend excitement and debate to our 2002 convention. It is my intention to ask the constitution and bylaws committee to report to us on this issue early in the week and we will probably devote one of our early morning sessions, 8:30-9:15, to our discussion and action on this matter.
In addition to this, we have many exciting program items to be shared and enjoyed by all. I am particularly excited to let you know that Sunday evening will feature a presentation by Linda Braithwaite, president of our Utah affiliate, about her 20-year experience as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, one of the world's leading groups of singers. Linda has a wonderful, inspiring story to tell, and she does a beautiful job of presenting it and herself.
This year, our featured international speaker will be Jia Yang, a blind woman who will tell us of her work and conditions for blind people living in China. She is currently studying at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia and I know her presentation will be fascinating to hear.
This year, we are expanding the number of topics you will be able to choose among during the Thursday morning break-out sessions. This array of choices will give you a chance to have more of a hands-on experience and interaction directly with speakers in topic areas of particular interest to you.
Finally, please note that on Friday, we will devote the entire day to ACB business. In doing so, it is my hope to conclude the business portion of the convention on Friday afternoon. This will make our 2002 banquet a true celebration of our work: past; present; and future. Hotel space is filling up fast, so don't delay in making your plans to come to Houston and join in the fun and activities of the American Council of the Blind.