[Missouri-l] No sighted E.D.

Thu Apr 2 14:55:34 CDT 2009

I understand the concern that people are having about the ED business however I do not agree with the blatant double standard most seem to be getting on board with.  If we should not hired a sighted director then none of us who are blind should be allowed to be executive directors for any sighted organization.  And please do not respond by telling me it is not the same thing, because indeed ladies and gentlemen it is.  How do we have the nerve to say we should be afforded the right to any job but not offer that same right when we have a job available?  Those are just some of my frustrations and questions they are rhetorical so take it for what it is worth!
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Peter Altschul 
  To: Missouri-L at moblind.org 
  Cc: 'Altschul, Lisa Wayland (MU-Student)' 
  Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 11:33 AM
  Subject: Re: [Missouri-l] No sighted E.D.

  Hi:

  I also wasn't going to respond to this thread because I was one of the applicants for the Executive Director position.  However, I did not reapply when the position was reposted because I was unable to relocate to St. Louis.

  While I agree it is important to keep an open mind concerning the candidate the Personnel Committee has recommended, I am disappointed that the chosen candidate is not blind.  I fear it sends the wrong message to the general public: that we blind people are less able to serve in a leadership capacity than those with sight.  I also think it worth pointing out that blind applicants usually gain their experience through less traveled career paths, and that the skills derived from these off-the-beaten-path experiences are viewed as less valuable.  

  And I agree - let's think outside of the box.  If one of the candidates who is blind has the skills but insufficient experience, why not offer him or her the job for a year at a reduced salary (35,000) and invest the balance to hire a coach/consultant to assist him/her to get up to speed?

  Best, Peter 

  From: missouri-l-bounces at moblind.org [mailto:missouri-l-bounces at moblind.org] On Behalf Of Denny Huff
  Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 11:31 PM
  To: Missouri-L at moblind.org
  Cc: 'Missouri Chat'; 'A private list for MCB board members.'
  Subject: Re: [Missouri-l] No sighted E.D.

  I wasn't going to reply to this thread but I feel as though I need to let out some information about the process of how we got here.

  The personnel committee has worked hard on doing the job that was assigned to them and that was to find the best person possible to present to the board.

                  I personally would love to have a blind Executive Director and the personnel committee has expressed that desire also.  Sometimes however, we have to think out of the box and go a different direction than what we want to go.

                  There were 25 applications received for the E.D. position and of that number about half were visually impaired.  The personnel committee took a serious look at each applicant and of those 25; there were only three that possessed the qualifications they felt would meet the criteria we needed.  One of those took another job as E.D. in Wichita Kansas and the personnel committee interviewed the remaining two.  Although both of the applicants looked good on paper, only one stood out as a viable candidate.  His name is Bert Emmons from Webster Groves MO.

              I will have to agree with Linda and John and say, let's give him a chance.  Listen to what he has to say and what he can do for MCB.  The E.D. does not run the organization, but rather it is controled by the board which, with the exception of the treasurer, is made up of visually impaired members.  Just because he is sighted does not mean he can't help us and do a good job at this position.  I look at other blind related organizations around the state and see sighted people in leadership positions and I don't see that it has been a detrament to them.

              We call ourselves an equal opportunity employer so let's give equal opportunity to this person.  If the board interviews him and doesn't like him, then by all means, vote no for him, but don't vote no just because he is sighted.  I want the best person for the job, not the best blind person.  I want what is best for MCB and if the board decides that he is not the best, then I will whole heartedly support that decision and we will begin the application process all over and work until we find someone we can all agree on.

              I want to add here that if you are not able to attend the board meeting then you can listen to the stream by going to: www.moblind.org and clicking on the audio link.  The board meeting begins on Friday night at 7:00 PM with our parliamentarian providing us with some parliamentary procedure training followed by some committee reports.  We begin on Saturday morning at 9:00 and both sessions will be streamed.

  Many thanks!

  Denny Huff

  President

  Missouri Council of the Blind

  (636) 262-1383

  (888) 362-1383

  DHuff at MoBlind.Org

  From: missouri-l-bounces at moblind.org [mailto:missouri-l-bounces at moblind.org] On Behalf Of John and Donna Weidlich
  Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 10:41 PM
  To: Phyllis Lovett; Missouri-L at MoBlind.Org
  Subject: Re: [Missouri-l] No sighted E.D.

  Phyllis, A while back I would have strongly agreed with you but now i think we need to hire the best person, blind or sighted, whoever can do the job that needs to be done. We still have blind leadership in the form of the President and the Board. The ED doesn't run the organization but does represent MCB to the sighted public, which could be a problem if the ED is sighted. It pretty much depends on exactly what you want the ED to do. If MCB is indeed in financial straits and we need the ED to primarily be a fund raiser and if this person being recommended by the personnel committee can do that, then that person should be hired. If we want the ED primarily to represent us, then probably the ED should be blind. I agree with Linda. Let's meet this person, listen to him and judge him on his merits, just as we want to be judged on ours.  If we can't say no blind people need apply, then we shouldn't say no sighted need apply. If this person is good and can do what we need to have done, bring him on. If he can't, then reject him and move on and keep searching until we do find the right person. But if we do hire this person, let's for heavens sake, give him a chance, get behind him and stop this endless bickering and quareling. I, for one, am thoroughly sick and tired of it. If we can't stop arguing about this, let's not have an ED at all. Just run the office, spend the money until we go broke and wonder what happened to this great organization that we used to have. John 

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Phyllis Lovett 

    To: Missouri-L at MoBlind.Org 

    Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 5:28 PM

    Subject: [Missouri-l] No sighted E.D.

    The MCB grapevine is saying that the personnel committee has selected a sighted man for the position of Executive Director.  This move would demean the goals of our organization.  If MCB board hires a sighted director, it gives the impression that we poor, stupid blind people cannot run our organization.  We have worked too many years and too hard to destroy the knowledge of the abilities and capabilities of blind people that MCB promotes.  It would not give a positive statement to other disability groups, city and state officials and other blind people.  MCB members have always been adamant about persons who are blind running our organization.  I feel having a sighted E.D. will lower the esteem of our organization.  Talk to your board members and encourage them to vote NO!  This is my opinion but many others share it.  

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