Posted by Charlie L on January 07, 1998 at 23:59:35:
In Reply to: Demonstation Target posted by Dianne on January 07, 1998 at 18:14:20:
Diane wrote
"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." etc...
Charlie Responds
A) I get the impression that you think that the Staff of JDF
is not concerned with "our" plight - and perhaps do their job solely for the money... My experience with 99 percent of
the JDF staff that I have dealt with is they are dedicated to
our goals... they share the same pain, in some cases have come
from the private sector giving up better paying jobs in order to find satisfaction in fighting diabetes... the staff at JDF international in NY puts together an excellent walk-a-thon team
and raises larges sums of money to help "our" cause...
B) Most of the folks I know at JDF in nyc, are NOT concerned with driving to a fine dinner... instead they have to catch a bus, train, or subway - or combo thereof to commute in and out of town... they are real people just like us... and as such are
prone to make mistakes (unlike me ! lol)... but in the LONG run
they are a resource that we need to work with... NOT CONDEMB (duh spelling?)...
C) Most successful national/international charitable orgs will have their offices in major cities like nyc because of the potential for direct contact with large donors and "influential"
people...
D) The best demonstration we can make is to become actively involved in the organization of our choice and make it work...
effectively and efficiently - focused on our goal... eliminating
diabetes... uh, perhaps by forming a local presence of the national organization... (I know of one JDF chapter that has operated out of someone's spare room for 23 years - in the
sticks - with just volunteers - and raises about 100,000 dollars
a year help eliminate diabetes).
She also wrote
"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"
Charlie sez,
YOU ARE RIGHT!... Go early and often... make your voice heard
at the local level... at Congressional Offices...
YOU ARE WRONG and RIGHT (go figure) ... do not be lulled into thinking that the charitable org can do it on your behalf without your help... but they ARE doing on behalf of those who don't get off their butts... if we ALL did our part,
then the role of charitable orgs would diminish... unfortnately
a good portion of the population has their head stuck in the sand or bodily orifice of their choice - when it comes to diabetes, cancer, child abuse, etc...
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Cheers,
Charlie...
p.s. - i speak from 23 plus years of volunteer experience
with JDF at the local , state and national level and other local community groups that work with kids... (in sports like BMX racing, skateboarding and soccer).