[tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse

  • From: "djrogers0628" <djrogers0628@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:12:14 -0500

Well Denyce isn't gonna like this, and maybe some of the rest of you won't, but 
I have been in discussion with folks who are responsible for the kind of fund 
it appears we want to set up.

If you don't charge some interest, you have no way of increasing the 
fund--donations alone won't do it all--and there is always a cost to administer 
such a fund.

As it stands now, I won't support it organizationally or financially.

Darla


Darla J. Rogers, B.A. M.S.

djrogers0628@xxxxxxxxxxx
Home phone #:  850-329-7437

Do not allow someone else to be a priority in your life while allowing yourself 
to be an option in theirs.--Ani Difranco



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Chip Orange 
  To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 10:30 AM
  Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


  Darla,

  I'm sorry, but I don't agree adding interest does anything extra for 
someone's credit.  

  if you think it adds dignity, then fine, you're free to add interest to your 
payments and help build up the fund; otherwise, those who don't feel they can 
afford interest should be allowed to have an interest free loan.  not everyone 
is living off of relatively high SSDI payments; many are getting by on nearly 
nothing SSI payments, and I'd like to do something to help.  We could always 
ask each applicant if they preferred to pay interest or not, if that would help 
such a loan fund get going.

  Chip






  ------------------------------

  Chip Orange
  Database Administrator
  Florida Public Service Commission

  Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  (850) 413-6314

   (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not 
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)






----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Darla J. Rogers
    Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 10:14 AM
    To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


    Dear Chip,

    There is nothing saying we have to do as FAAST does; I don't know their 
interest rates, but paying on an installment, with a small simple interest,  
lends dignity to the process and improves a person's credit, and believe me, I 
understand about no credit and bad credit and having my good name and credit 
worthiness restored.

    Darla


      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Chip Orange 
      To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
      Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:14 PM
      Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


      Well, then if that's what a person wants, to pay interest, he/she could 
apply to FAAST for the loan.

      I don't think paying interest has anything to do with your credit history 
however, and I want to keep costs down to the minimum for the person needing 
the loan.

      once you get into interest however, I believe lenders soon get into your 
credit worthiness (a recent person on here reported being denied a loan from 
FAAST because of their credit), and that's just the type of situation I would 
like to work around.  I know most blind people won't have good credit, and 
unless we're prepared to do something to help them get their assistive 
technology, they will likely never get it.

      Chip






      ------------------------------

      Chip Orange
      Database Administrator
      Florida Public Service Commission

      Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
      (850) 413-6314

       (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not 
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)






------------------------------------------------------------------------
        From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Darla J. Rogers
        Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 2:04 PM
        To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


        Dear Chip,

        I am **not** in favor of no-interest loans; I have taken a couple of 
loans from a foundation in California when I lived there, and they did charge a 
small interest fee--remember there is a bit of overhead--and if set up 
properly, might bolster the credit of blind folks who don't get a lot of 
opportunity to develop credit histories, especially if he/she is unemployed.

        Darla


          ----- Original Message ----- 
          From: Chip Orange 
          To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
          Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 2:24 PM
          Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


          Thanks Elizabeth; however, this program does charge interest on their 
loans, and they do evaluate you on the ability to pay back the loan.

          their evaluations may be generous, I don't know, but I was 
specifically thinking of a no interest program.

          anyway, anyone who'd like to pursue a loan for assistive technology 
from FAAST can go to the web page below for some information:

          http://www.faast.org/New-Horizon-Fund/







          ------------------------------

          Chip Orange
          Database Administrator
          Florida Public Service Commission

          Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
          (850) 413-6314

           (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not 
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)






--------------------------------------------------------------------
            From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
On Behalf Of Elizabeth S. Bowden
            Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:41 AM
            To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
            Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


            The FAAST program also has a loan program in place.  

              ----- Original Message ----- 
              From: Lynn Evans 
              To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
              Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 5:54 PM
              Subject: [tabi] Re: I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the 
Lighthouse


              Chip do you think the folks over at FAAST would what to kick 
around the idea. 

              I was just talking with them at the senior center this past 
monday. They had a table at the technology fair.    
                ----- Original Message ----- 
                From: Chip Orange 
                To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
                Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 2:57 PM
                Subject: [tabi] I have an idea for TCB, NFB, and the Lighthouse


                hi all,

                I had an idea I hoped the leaders of our 3 big non-profits here 
in town would take up; I think it's worth doing, and it would give us something 
else to focus on besides the bus system, which is more than a little divisive.

                What I've noticed is that when I'm speaking with many blind 
people, and I mention a possible technical solution to a problem they're 
having, their response is often something like "that would be great, but I 
can't afford it."

                understandable of course; we all know assistive technology is 
expensive, and we need a lot of it.

                so, what if for this area of Florida served by the Lighthouse, 
we began a fund to which we all contributed, which was then used to provide no 
interest loans for the purchase of assistive technology?

                I was hoping one group would take on the administration of the 
fund, and all 3 groups would contribute to it, or fund raise for it, as a joint 
project.  I'll offer to start it off with $100 if someone will take it on.

                I also hoped the fund could be run in such a way that a 
person's need for the technology, or their ability to pay, would not be a 
factor in receiving the loan.    I'd like this to be as free from value 
judgments as possible.  Perhaps just as the person what payment schedule they 
thought that they could afford.

                a lot of microbanks in very poor areas of the world are quite 
successful, with nearly 100% payback rates, when being run like this, by simply 
requiring a family member or friend to cosign the loan application, 
guaranteeing payback if the primary applicant fails to do so.  this seems to 
serve as a screening tool (if you can't produce one person who will vouch that 
you will pay back a loan, then it's likely that you won't), and also as a real 
incentive for the applicant to pay-back the loan (not wanting their friend or 
family to have to do so).

                I'd also suggest, to help those taking on the administration of 
the fund, that they do nothing if payments are missed.  we'll make up losses 
through fund raising.  when you're freed of the effort of collections, then the 
administration should be a very minor task.

                so, what do people think?  will the leaders of these groups be 
willing to discuss it amongst themselves?

                Chip






                ------------------------------

                Chip Orange
                Database Administrator
                Florida Public Service Commission

                Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                (850) 413-6314

                 (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do 
not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)

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