The more money the better, but we could improve our situation with just a
small grant from a foundation or other source, enough to allow us to hire
some organizers who might start to build coalitions of various groups to
pressure FMI or members of congress.
As we've discussed here, there are organizations and interest groups that
could side with us on this issue and be collectively influential, if they
were effectively organized. We are not doing that now, not because there
aren't smart and dedicated people in USMA, but because such work is not our
area of expertise and we all have other full time jobs. We need help, and
help wants to be paid.
Seriously: can anyone explain USMA's fund raising efforts? I'm not talking
about membership dues. Which foundations and philanthropists have been
approached? Have we considered hiring a professional fund raiser? Such
people specialize is writing grant proposals and working the philanthropic
networks.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Pierre Abbat" <[email protected]>
Sent: 03/15/2009 6:38 AM
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:43873] Re: Metric personal data was Re: 24 hour time
On Saturday 14 March 2009 21:52:09 Victor Jockin wrote:
My opinion: it's better to make a measured pitch for limited change
through
carefully chosen channels than to simply ask the President where he
stands.
I'd wince if he were asked about metrication in a press conference,
because he probably will not have thought about the issue until that
moment, and therefore is not likely to have a reasoned and informed
response (he would probably just be safe and advocate the status quo).
These kinds of strategic issues, by the way, is why we need a staff of
political strategists and lobbyists tackling those problems for us. If
we
have no money for that, and therefore no chance of success, then let's
focus on raising that money.
Think about it: We just had a national campaign lasting more than a year,
with both parties fielding candidates, and probably thousands of hours of
discussion and debate, and metrication never came up. Politically, we
don't exist. So we can either (a) pretend, or (b) try to raise money. I
vote for (b).
Does anyone have a list of the grant proposals submitted by USMA in the
last year?
How much money would we have to raise to match the influence of the FMI
and
anyone else? Where would it come from? Where would it go to?
Pierre
