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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
leadership-bounces@acb.org [mailto:leadership-bounces@acb.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mitch
Pomerantz<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 23, 2009 1:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> leadership@acb.org; acb-l@acb.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Leadership] ACB and the Treasury Department Suit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Colleagues:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I
have followed the discussion on these lists for the past several days regarding
ACB's action, or inaction, relative to our successful suit against the U.S.
Department of the Treasury. Clearly, a short refresher as to our position
in this matter and the judge's charge to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
is in order here.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Firstly,
it was always our position not to specify a particular accessibility solution
to the Treasury. Some have posted that given what other nations have
done, it's a "no brainer" to do what every other country has
done. In fact, and as the variety of suggested changes mentioned on this
thread have demonstrated, there are several options being used around the
world, and little unanimity of thought as to which of those options would be
best, even among our own members. That is absolutely why ACB did not want
to propose a unilateral "best" choice.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As
a consequence, it was understood and expected that the Treasury Department
would, by necessity, need to conduct a survey of blind and visually
impaired persons to attempt to obtain some sort of notion as to which of
several options was prefered by the greatest number of folks. Many
of you participated in that survey during the 2008 ACB Convention and other
surveys were conducted at the NFB Convention, the Carroll Center and other
venues. Now the report based on those surveys has come out, albeit
several months later than originally proposed. ACB has some criticisms of
that report, particularly in regard to the current and projected numbers of
blind and visually impaired persons who would benefit from accessibility
changes to U.S. currency. I and others have speculated that this
undercount is due to a bias in favor of an electronic solution to the problem,
but speculation is all it is for now. We will be forwarding our concerns
through our attorney, Jeffrey Lovitky at the appropriate time.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I
must ask, perhaps rhetorically perhaps not, would it have been better to
"dictate" an accessibility option? Would it have been better to
tell the Treasury Department what it should incorporate in future
currency? My personal belief is that had we done that, two things would
have happened: most importantly, the case would likely have been thrown out of
court, and a significant number of ACB members would have vocally and
justifiably criticized the leaders and staff for dictating such an option.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Secondly,
in his final ruling, the Judge directed the Treasury Department's Bureau of
Engraving and Printing in its next distribution of new currency to incorporate
accessibility features. As I indicated in my 2008 President's Report and
subsequently in several other speeches to affiliates, we know that this means
that we will not see changes in our currency for from three to five years,
which is the standard cycle for designing, manufacturing and distributing new
currency. Hence, and despite some comments here to the contrary, there
is, indeed, a deadline; one which was stipulated by the Federal District
Judge.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I
hope that this has clarified where matters stand and ACB's position. I
believe that a lot of misinformation about both issues has been disseminated.
While I thoroughly understand the endemic mistrust of our government, it
troubles me when a few choose to extend that mistrust to ACB's handling of what
is still a tremendous, landmark victory which will result in accessible United
States currency. It won't happen tomorrow or next week, but it will
happen and I believe a bit of forebearance and patience is in order. And,
should ACB believe that the Treasury Department is dragging its feet on
implementing the Judge's ruling, please be assured that we will strongly and
unequivocally communicate this belief through our outstanding attorney, Jeffrey
Lovitky.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Mitch
Pomerantz</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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