Hi Folks,

I noticed this on another list and thought folks might find it of interest.
 I'm not trying to fuel the ACB NFB debate, just sharing the opinions of
one of the technology companies many of us know and perhaps use.

>X-From_: [log in to unmask]  Fri Jun 19 02:15:10 1998
>Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 05:12:57 -0400 (EDT)
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>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: Peter Altschul <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: An open letter from Blazie
>Sender: [log in to unmask]
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>
>+== acb-l Message from Peter Altschul <[log in to unmask]> ==+
>Hi, Folks:
>
>Thought many of you would be interested in this open letter from Dean Blazie.
>
>Peter Altschul
>
>Dear Customers,
>        Recently there has been a lot of discussion about Blazie
>Engineering's decision not to participate in the ACB convention the last
>two years. There have been e-mails, letters, Internet discussions,
>stories,
>and proclamations. Many of them have been thoughtful and serious, many of
>the questions have been probing, many of the complaints courteous.
>        Not all of it has been nice of course. In any controversy there is
>rumor, error, innuendo, and misinformation. Some of it arises from
>heartfelt passion, some of it to further personal and professional
>agendas.
>In the hope of answering the questions, and to help in putting the record
>straight, I want to take this opportunity to respond and tell our side of
>the story.
>        First, however, I want to make a critical point. The issues
>involving NFB and ACB have no connection to the relationship Blazie
>Engineering has with its customers. I don't like wasting words and I don't
>like repeating myself, but this point is too important to pass over
>lightly: The issues involving NFB and ACB have no connection to the
>relationship Blazie Engineering has with its customers. None.
>        The relationship we have with our customers is the centerpiece of
>our business. It is the reason we have survived and prospered. Making a
>good product is not enough. You must build trust, create customers that
>become lifelong friends, and you must listen to the people you serve.
>        We do.
>        We DO NOT ask anyone whether they belong to one organization or
>another. We ask them how we can help and that is all we ask because that
>is
>all we need to know.
>        The suggestion that our support of NFB affects how we do business
>is, at best, disingenuous. At worst, it is an attempt to force us to
>change
>our position by frightening our customers. It won't work because we
>believe
>in the rightness of our decision and because our customers know better. I
>am sorry, but not surprised to see this tactic used, but anyone who knows
>us knows how shallow the charge is.
>        Now that we have gotten that nonissue out of the way, we can get
>to
>the question at hand: Why has Blazie Engineering chosen not to attend the
>ACB convention for the past two years?
>        To understand the answer, you need to know a little bit about me
>and
>about the origins of Blazie Engineering. I promise to keep this part
>short,
>but it is important. My introduction to electronics and to the special
>world of the blind started when I was a boy in Frankfort, Kentucky and
>made
>friends with a remarkable man, Tim Cranmer, a name some of you will
>recognize. That friendship was one of the most important in my life and I
>learned a great deal from it. Most important, in the long run perhaps, was
>the role it had in helping me develop a political and personal philosophy.
>        Slightly less than 20 years ago I made my first computer for the
>blind and just over 10 years ago I made the first Braille 'n Speak. In
>fact,
>I made ten of them, using all the money I had, and I took
>them to the NFB convention. From a business point of view I suppose the
>story is that I came home with all ten of them sold and with enough orders
>to start the business for real. But I came away with a lot more than just
>orders. I made friends. I got advice. I got support. Anyone who has built
>a
>business knows that these things are as valuable in their own way as
>orders.
>        I also found kindred spirits, people who had the same views as I
>did about being advocates for the blind, people who were committed to the
>same goals and ideals that Tim and I had discussed. I had found my place.
>        Blazie Engineering grew up with the NFB. Over time, the
>relationship strengthened and we found ourselves active and eager
>participants in many of the their projects. We have supported their goals.
>We believe it is an important and effective organization.
>        Last year we had or ten-year celebration at the NFB convention.
>Because of the commitment that required from us we decided we could not
>attend the ACB convention. The ACB responded by passing a proclamation
>attacking Blazie Engineering. I still do not know why they did that, don't
>understand why they would have bothered.
>        I did not seek to be caught in the conflict between ACB and NFB,
>but I am. Contrary to some of the charges that have been made, this is not
>a business decision. And this is not just about loyalty. This is a
>personal
>and philosophical decision. I have always been a Federationist. I believe
>in the organization. It is the most active, aggressive, effective, and
>important spokesman for the blind in the world.
>        ACB is largely a social organization. It is unfortunate, but I
>believe it siphons off energy and resources from NFB. Despite their
>proclamation, I harbor no animus or ill-will toward the organization and I
>remain personal friends with many of its members. But there can be no
>question about which organization I support. In the end, I am not doing
>this because I was caught in the middle, I am doing it because it is the
>right thing to do.
>
>        I know my position will not satisfy every person. Any time you
>find
>yourself trying to make everyone happy you can be sure that you are doing
>something wrong. It isn't personal. I respect the people who disagree with
>me and I hope they return the feeling.
>
>Deane Blazie
>President, Blazie Engineering, Inc.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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