Perspective on April 12th Rally (2)

[Faye]

Several members of the steering committee have started threads about some important issues that have been raised about the role of the steering committee in terms of:

1. Who we represent

2. How we want this rally to be a spring board for future activism activities.

It is obvious that the steering committee determines the event planning details to facilitate this historic grassroots gathering of wheelchair activists. Nevertheless as to the overall strategy of who we represent, and the creation of the image of this rally as a spring board for future activism, I wanted to publicly thank the Care Cure Members for their valuable input.

Faye

~ People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. - Franklin D. Roosevelt ~ www.CureParalysisNow.org

[Faye]

Regarding 1.

The numbers discussion has caused me to be shut out from the steering committee. Though it was ok for Betheny an Sue to discuss the numbers, I have been characterized as "betraying the steering committee" for wanting to represent more than just traumatic sci.

My posts have always been informative, well-founded, and sensible.

It is also public knowledge even on the president's bio-ethics committee which members don't agree with their recommendations, and if the block of three members on steering had not been so resistant to input from CC, we could have resolved this a "sensible" numbers issue ( CRPF 2 million paralyzed?) a lot faster.

All seemed resolved yesterday with the announcement to the CC membership by the block of three that the low numbers were indeed to be abandoned and no numbers were going to be used instead.

Apparently this verdict was highly deceptive because behind closed doors the block of three are going to decree what statistics will be used at the rally after all. Some kind of democratic process they claim to use.


~ People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. - Franklin D. Roosevelt ~ www.CureParalysisNow.org

[This message was edited by Faye on 04-04-05 at 10:54 PM.]

[cheesecake]

Many have chosen to quote me on this so I will try it again:

"On this I plead with you, Do not undo the work that Chris Reeve worked so hard on for so many years! CR worked to unify,to build bi-partisan suport to fund research and to cure paralysis, all paralysis. Please, lets honor CR's efforts and make then our own."

Now is the time to put the bickering and fighting behind closed doors. This is a time to unite for a common cause. Lets put the differences aside and move forward and speak as one voice.

Again, please, Please, lets honor CR's efforts and make then our own."

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles"....C. Reeve 1998

[Faye]

The block of three have created a hateful, hostile environment and won't let yesterday's resolution stand. I had so looked forward to a peaceful remainder of rally preparations, but no......the hatefulness resurfaces.

~ People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. - Franklin D. Roosevelt ~ www.CureParalysisNow.org

[This message was edited by Faye on 04-04-05 at 11:15 PM.]

[Faye]

Chris Chappell had an uncanny insight into what was going on:

Betheny, Sue - and why weren't you in CA at either meeting, November - Neuroscience?, March - Meet the Scientists? Or the CRPF dinner in NY? Or the Push For The Cure Dinner in CO? Or the Premedica symposium? etc., etc. We all can't be everywhere but I think I do a pretty good job.

My presence or not in D.C has nothing to do with an opinion on whether a certain validation or number is used or not used when speaking with a legislative representative. If you and the others on the "steering committee" would stop being so goddamed defensive every time someone challenges your so-called "authority" you might realize that conceptually we're all trying to get to the same place. The difference is that you guys want to control every aspect of who says what to whom and when. Sorry, I don't agree nor do I need or want the help. You can do it your way and I'll do it mine. But how about you lighten up on telling people what to do or more importantly how to think.

Pointing fingers solves nothing and I'm tired of being a target. Have your rally, I hope its successful but don't expect me to get behind a group that can't accept constructive criticism, has control issues and an inability to truly provide collective leadership on a subject so personally important. Discounting others opinions does nothing to foster consensus and support. And from many posts written to the contrary of the committee the only consistent reaction I see is frustration and self-rightousness - a bad combination.

On the other hand you never know I may just show up in the back row like the old guy on the muppets and heckle the powers that be.

Have fun.

~ People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. - Franklin D. Roosevelt ~ www.CureParalysisNow.org

[Faye]

Originally posted by cheesecake:

Many have chosen to quote me on this so I will try it again:

"On this I plead with you, Do not undo the work that Chris Reeve worked so hard on for so many years! CR worked to unify,to build bi-partisan suport to fund research and to cure paralysis, all paralysis. Please, lets honor CR's efforts and make then our own."

Now is the time to put the bickering and fighting behind closed doors. This is a time to unite for a common cause. Lets put the differences aside and move forward and speak as one voice.

Again, please, Please, lets honor CR's efforts and make then our own."

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles"....C. Reeve 1998

Thanks cheesecake. Could you please pass this on to the block of three on steering. I've never, NEVER in my life endured so much hostility.

~ People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. - Franklin D. Roosevelt ~ www.CureParalysisNow.org

[Wise Young]

Faye, I am copying this to the members only forum so that discussion can continue. It is an important topic but something that I feel should only be for members. Thanks. Wise.