And Yet, I am not Free (October Indiana SILC meeting)

      Ramona Harvey  

	We the people with disabilities can think for ourselves.  We can
ask our own questions and come to our own decisions.  We know what it is
like to be treated differently, and we know what it is like to be excluded
because we cannot get in the door or bec ause people are afraid we will be
hurt.  We are important.  Our lives, needs, and dreams are important and
we deserve respect.  We are just like every other person driving down the
road. We demand our needs be met and that we be included in the decisions
that impact our lives - we do not wish to sit on the sidelines anymore and
watch others play.  We want to be allowed on the playground just like
anybody else. 

  http://www.onecandream.com

	To quote one of my own poems written about 6 years ago:

	I am an American Citizen, and yet I am not free.  Nevermind the
freedoms the constitution gives to me. 

	Yesterday, as duly elected Secretary of Indiana SILC, I attempted
to read the statement below, but people refused to allow me the
opportunity to speak and be heard.  In fact, while I was attempting simply
to read the statement, the police were called in. 

	See for yourself what happened
http://everybodycounts.org/icoil/oct2006icoil.htm" Video of ICOIL's
October 11th meeting. 

	I have never been arrested, or even recieved a speeding
ticket...and I never would have imagined police would ever be called in an
attempt to keep me from simply stating the truth.  I just wanted to read
my letter, and was not threatening anybody with phy sical harm....though I
cannot honestly say that I did not feel threatened and a little bit
intimidated. 


Statement from the Secretary 

	As Secretary I have done nothing, but try to do the job I
volunteered to do in accordance with our bylaws.  I have tried to keep
objective accurate minutes.  All of my minutes are consistent with the
source documentation of the council meetings.  Despite an argument to the
contrary, I have been following the direction of the council and at the
direction of the council my minutes only contain motions, points of
orders, votes, quotes (when something was said for the record), and brief
summaries of what occu rred. 

	As Secretary I do not have the authority to change what happens,
only to document what does happen.  I have stated consistently and
publicly that if the council wishes to make changes to the minutes that
are inconsistent with the documentation this needed to be a council
decision which is voted on and not an arbitrary decision I make. 

	I do not want the liability of having independently, as an
individual, endorsed something which is either untrue or has not been
voted on by the council.  While it would be easier for me to go with the
flow, it would be unethical for me and a dereliction of my duties as
secretary to knowingly endorse a documents different then what the council
voted on, (such of the bylaws I received to sign which had a sentence
missing) or to write and endorse official minutes that are inaccurate and
designed specificall y to hide the fact that we, as a council, are not
doing our jobs. 
  
	Many council members wish to hide our dirty laundry, and it has
even been suggested to me that it is best to get rid the source documents
that are used to create the minutes.  The truth is people are trying to
discredit me, not for a breech of ethics, mis conduct, or any dereliction
of duties, but a refusal to play the game.  I refused to sell out my
integrity, objectivity, honor, and most importantly, I have refused and do
refuse to sell out the people with disabilities in Indiana who really do
matter, an d should matter to this council. 

	As secretary, doing a job nobody wished to do, I should be
receiving respect and support, instead, I have been intimidated, bullied,
and people have tried to discredit me behind my back.  I am not the only
one this is happening to.  Independent thought or actual leadership and
objectivity is actively discouraged.  The bylaws give me very specific
responsibilities, and yet when I have tried to do the duties required of
me by the bylaws, I am not supported but criticized and information is
kept from me maki ng it impossible for me to do my job. A prime example
would be when I tried to get information for the membership ledger and
instead of getting all the information required by the bylaws, I was
accused as acting as someone else's puppet and not think for myself. 

	For the record, I dont walk so good, but there is nothing wrong
with my mind and decisions I have made have been based on research,
documentation, knowledge collaborated by multiple sources, as well as
personal experiences of things which have occurred w ithin the time period
I have been on the council. 

	I have done nothing, but try to enforce the bylaws and other laws,
and to make sure the council is actually addressing the concerns
highlighted in the report of findings

	I have been very open with my agenda.  My agenda has been simply
to improve the situation for people with disabilities in Indiana.  Unlike
many on this council, I do not work for a center nor am I trying to get a
center in my community.  There is no point in trying to create new centers
in Indiana unless the situation in Indiana drastically changes.  There are
no protections for current centers, nor is there enough money for those
centers which currently exist. 

	I am not here representing a center, or for my own personal gain. 
I am here representing people with disabilities across the state who we
should be empowering, and who deserve to have their needs met and voices
heard. 

	The fact of the matter is, I have not based any of my decisions on
what would be the most personally beneficial, but rather on documentation
that needs to be followed, especially given our history.  The chair acted
in accordance with the bylaws and with t he support of the majority of the
Executive committee when she cancelled the Sept. meeting and later
re-scheduled the already cancelled meeting to Sept. 22.  (A regular
schedule was never officially set for council meetings.) Everything was
done by the bo ok and I continue to support the chairs decision and her
right to make that decision. 

	I have gone out of my way to be informed and to inform others. I
have tried to be responsive to the council and yet when I follow the
direction given to me by the council through the bylaws, I am personally
attacked.  I have resisted pressures of all type s which would compromise
my ability to be objective, and yet, both Jodi James and I have been
accused of a breach of ethics, misconduct and dereliction of duty of
office. 

	Our integrity and honor has been slandered not to our faces, but
behind our backs, intentionally, when we would not be able to defend
ourselves, or even address any concerns.  We are not the first people to
be victims of this type of character defamation, but we need to be the
last. 

	This behavior must stop.  I demand a retraction of these false
accusations, or proof of any breach of ethics, misconduct, or dereliction
of duties on our parts as well as the opportunity to openly defend
ourselves. 

 
Ramona Harvey

ICOIL Secretary