Hello, Melanie,
A DB rally would be a good idea. Just remember how tough it is for a DB or
D/B person to get around in the US. Transportation? Well, if you can get
around that problem the rest should be easy. Just remember another thing,
too. How many DB people will you have at the rally? Where they going to
stay for one or two nights? You have a lot of logistic problems to solve.
But, before it all overwhelms you, deligate things out. One person or
committee for everything that is going to be done. Then, stay on top of them
to make sure things are progressing. I am all for it. You got a real plan
there.
Dick Myers
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Rally Time?
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 14:10:11 EST
Hello again Dick Myers,
Can I ask you and everyone else something? What do you think of the idea of
having a peaceful DB rally march on Capitol Hill with signs and banners and
spokespersons to speak on our behalf with the media and legislators? Will
that
give us the public exposure we need, besides stretching our legs and
learning to use our voice?
If truth be told, I am trying to drum up support for this rally idea to
occur in June 2006 when AADB holds their national conference in Baltimore,
MD
(during the week of June 17-23).
I am the moderator of an online group called "DBAction" which is short for
"DB Citizens for Political Action" and we're trying to stir things up a
little
bit. We've already submitted several proposals to AADB to consider the
rally
idea in Washington, DC along with suggestions for other activities such as
meeting our legislators and having politically-oriented workshops. One of
the
main issues I want to push for is a national SSP program NOW, not in 5-10
years or never! Unfortunately, AADB has not responded yet and it may be
another
couple months before I hear anything from them. I'm afraid the longer they
stall, the harder it will be to put something like this together in time
for
the June 2006 AADB conference.
I am looking for someone with vision (I'm not talking about the sighted
kind!) to replace me as moderator of DBAction. mostly because I'm not a
public
person; politics scare me; my networking skills stink; I'm not very
diplomatic;
I'm not a people-pleaser (the nicest way to say this!); and besides this,
my
life will be uprooted in the next few months when my family and I pull up
stakes in Tucson and move to either BC, Canada, or northern Washington
state.
We'll probably be homeless for 2-3 months while we scout around for a place
to
call "home". I don't want DBAction to lose momentum when I'm gone.
I'm just wondering . . . can ALL the DB groups come together as ONE
political voice in Washington, DC? Is it possible for all the DB
organizations,
agencies, groups and allies to form a DB coalition of groups to push for
national
legislation that will benefit ALL DB Americans? Isn't it time we introduced
ourselves to national media, members of Congress and the President of the
U.S.? It's time they knew who we are!
Melanie
In a message dated 3/16/2005 2:33:41 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Hello, Melanie,
The only way to find out how many blind and deaf and DB people there are in
your state is to go public on TV and newspaper and tell everyone who you
are
and what you are trying to do. If those people's families will not push
them out into the limelight, the won't be counted, and they will get
nothing, let alone holding back those who are really trying. Do not dare
to
just inflate your figures without having positive proof. That will get you
on everyone's blacklist.
Working at good enough salary to become independent is something else
entirely. SSI makes it so difficult to do that and lays such a heavy
penalty on you that in many cases it just isn't worth it.
Dick Myers
(8):[(8)
