Posted by Dianne on January 07, 1998 at 18:14:20:
While not on the forum, I have been reading, writing and trying to get a sense of why we have to beg for a cure, when it all seems so clear to us. I've noted the frustration - to march? to demonstrate ? what's the united message? how do we put together the logistics of a day? who benefits Type 1 or 11? how much money will it cost? and on it goes.
Four days ago, I read the Aug19/97posting from Melissa's forum when Eric Schutt,JDF Asst. Dir. of Gov't Relations was the guest. Does the job title not imply that he is a lobbyist FOR JDF and the people who fund/support it? Does the JDF not have a single goal - elimination of diabetes? Tell me how much information did he have and share with the folks who are writing his pay cheque. If the elected reps. are not informed and as yet have not had the positive aspects of a 'good political position and re-election angle' in mind then it is Eric Schutt who should be getting the poor to failing job evaluation.
Given, I have only been on site less than a month - but my target in any demonstration/march would be those CHARITABLE orgs. that have been telling us they have been riding our cause /message into the ground on our behalf. I honestly feel that they have created job security and a tower of power - how is it , it seems to me, that some of you seem to be begging them for answers on issues that they should be proud to share. In order for us to believe their jobs are so complicated, so heady - they thank you for bringing a matter to their attention- give your head a shake!
Regardless of the province/state/country , we all know that a good lobbyist can get more done in one week than a single elected member can in an entire term. Why? They have more money, a single cause, more potential power for good , and they earn more money than the salary of a politician. So, how many lobbyists are on the payroll of the diabetics of this world ? I recall at that site that Sue Huson reminded someone that any improvements in our maintenance activites came from the for-profit companies who seek to refine products so they can have another sales promotion - and she's right because they didn't come from any CHARITABLE ORG.
Maybe if we moved the headquarters for these ORGS., that presume to speak for us, to 'your hometown' they would find it far less attractive to work for us. They would soon find another job in the big city that needed a spokeperson. And come to think of it maybe speaking and showing up is the major pre-req. Maybe they should drive as far for a fine dinner as you do to take your child to a specialist - now that would be a drag wouldn't it.
And speaking of children - to think that they have someone at JDF who could do a nice display of children's pictures somehow offends me. What would they call that display? Wall of Fame or Wall of Shame? We won't know because the Ass't. Director warned us he couldn't talk out of school. Interesting that he did not 'see' those on that forum as his employers? Is that attitude policy? A diabetic is too fragile to understand all the heady activities ?
All of you have been out there battling for a long time and as such should know best where to focus your energy. I will deal with my political reps. here - on home turf first. Go early and often. I now see it as my responsibility to educate them first and often- until they get it and come to realize that of the total number of eligible voters in his/her district that X number are both directly and indirectly affected by the scourge of diabetes. As far as numbers go, there are probably more diabetics in their district than any other disease and starting in 1998 they are going to hear from them more often. I will never let myself be lulled into thinking that some CHARITABLE ORG. is doing it on my behalf - not after what all you folks have taught me in the past three weeks. Thanks