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Re: My concern for AER

 

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The messages that have been shared this morning regarding the unfortunate crisis our organization faces have been heartfelt and sincere. I do agree with Dona that ?objective truth is hard to find. I respect both of these gentlemen and consider them friends. I believe the board is trying to act in good faith as well, but certainly there have been mistakes and perhaps ?egos that have driven what has become an existential crisis for our organization. ?We can have debate and work through all of this in the coming months but it does take time to sort through it all and heal. There is no guarantee that our ?leadership or our many members will feel justice and fairness prevailed after all of this but we can all decide to stick with AER and not become polarized. Many of us have strong feelings about what went down from what we have heard and perhaps first hand for some of us. Let¡¯s have the hard discussions and expect the board to go forward with ethical principles in mind¡ª not simply based on loyalty to either individual.

However it turns out.. let¡¯s all take a breath and support each other and AER.

Paul Olson?
ND Vision Services

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Coby Livingstone via groups.io <coby.livingstone@...>
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:43:39 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: Aer O&m Listserv <oandm@...>
Subject: Re: [OandM] My concern for AER
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You don't often get email from coby.livingstone@....

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Dona,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughtful and well recent comments about the operations of the AER. I agree with you that is is a time for civility and collaboration ?among the members of AER.
Sincerely,
Coby ?Livingstone, retired CVRT, OTR/L,?
COAPS, CPSW, MA ?





On Jun 26, 2024, at 11:52?PM, Dona Sauerburger via groups.io <dona@...> wrote:

?Thank you Chris, I appreciate this. ?I¡¯ve come to firmly believe there never is any objective truth, only our perspective of it.

¡ª Dona
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Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
www.sauerburger.org

On Jun 27, 2024, at 12:51 AM, Chris Tabb <chris@...> wrote:

?Dona,

From this one perspective, there are individual personalities that can be so very destructive (at times) they create much duress. There are things you may be unaware of, things that came up in previous tenure that would likely make you reconsider your present perspective. Regardless of whether Lee returns; I believe he acted with integrity in an untenable situation to do his utmost to restore collaborative spirit rather than devisiveness.?


--
Sent from iPhone

Chris Tabb
chris@...
512.660.2750

On Jun 26, 2024, at 9:25?PM, Dona Sauerburger <dona@...> wrote:

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HI guys!? I had hoped to share my concern with AER members but apparently I'm not getting through to the AER listserv so I'll share it with youns (Pittsbughese for "y'all"!) - I know a lot of you are AER members.??
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One of my biggest concerns in this world is the increasing division among people, an "us vs. them" approach with factions trying to energize us with fear or anger (in what Arthur Brooks calls on the national level the "outrage industrial complex") to pressure us to choose and identify with one side or the other.? It is toxic and leads to dysfunctional organizations, where people can't work together and don't trust each other.? This is what is going on with our government.
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I'm very concerned that our AER leadership is going down this path.? As I understand it, several months ago AER's Executive Director, Lee Sonnenberg, told the board he would resign rather than work with President-Elect Mark Richert.? After the board voted not to remove Richert, Sonnenberg reached out directly to the membership, setting in motion a campaign to support him by removing Richert.??
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This is no way to run an organization. If a board member needs to be removed, that is a serious issue that should be carefully considered on its own merits.? It should be separate from any considerations of whether the board member's removal will satisfy the Executive Director's preferences.
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If Sonnenberg's resignation is reconsidered and he remains as Executive Director, I'm wondering what happens if the board does not agree with him on another matter, or there is someone else he can't get along with.? Will he again appeal directly to the members to take his side, further dividing us?
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In my opinion, an Executive Director who asks the membership to choose sides is divisive and not a good fit for an organization whose mission is to work together to find common ground and consensus to "speak with one voice."
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¡ª Dona
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
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On 06/20/2024 9:12 AM EDT AERBVI <memberservices@...> wrote:
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Dear AER Members,
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The Board of Directors of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) held a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the future leadership of the organization. The meeting resulted in a vote to remove Mark Richert as president-elect, which also means he is no longer on the Board of the organization.
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The Board did not make this decision lightly. Only after receiving a significant amount of input from members and other constituents of AER did we take this action.
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The Board will now begin to evaluate new candidates for President and President-Elect. Olaya Landa-Vialard, AER¡¯s current president, has agreed to extend her term until a new President is chosen.
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While change is always difficult, the Board is enthusiastic about the future of AER. We look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming International Conference in July.
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Board of Directors, AER
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This email was sent to?dona@...?by?aer@...
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