[Missouri-l] No sighted E.D.

Thu Apr 2 11:33:25 CDT 2009

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 <mailto:phyllisbww at sbcglobal.net>  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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