[acb-hsp] ACB-HSP Status Update

[peter altschul]

Hi:

Donna's comment reminds me that ACBHSP can do a lot without any 
connection with conventions through listserves, and perhaps a 
Facebook page and Twitter feed.  We can do a lot of good by 
sharing information.

Best, Peter



> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Donna Rose" <wild-rose at sbcglobal.net
>To: "'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals'" 
<acb-hsp at acb.org
>Date sent: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:01:30 -0500
>Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] ACB-HSP Status Update

>Hi All,

>I love our email list and think we should keep that.  I get a lot 
of
>interesting posts from here, many which I pass on.  This is the 
strongest
>part of our affiliate in my opinion.  The thing is that many of 
us work, and
>we have responsibilities with our local chapters and affiliates.  
This means
>our time for personal stuff and family and friends is often 
limited.  Many
>of us just don't have any more time to devote to ACB.  We are 
small, but
>could be larger which would allow for more people to step forward 
in a
>leadership role with us.  I think we could do just as much 
mentoring if we
>promoted our email list more and for now don't turn in a 
membership list or
>dues.  I never paid my dues this year because I owned two homes 
for about
>three years and just didn't have a penny extra.  I think we 
should advertise
>our email list in the convention newspaper and in the national 
magazine.  I
>believe if we do this we can build up a larger membership base 
and then we
>can re-examine our affiliates viability somewhere down the line.  
Thanks for
>listening, even if you disagree.



>Go Bravely,
>Donna Rose, LMSW


>"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the 
narrow
>confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns 
of all
>humanity...."--Martin Luther King, Jr.



>-----Original Message-----
>From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On 
Behalf Of
>Linda Porelle
>Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 12:39 PM
>To: Discussion list for ACB human service professionals
>Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] ACB-HSP Status Update

>Dear HSP Members~
>I'm observing this discussion with sadness.  What I'm hearing is 
that
>members, at least most of those who have responded so far, have
>offered compelling reasons why they won't be available to revive 
this
>affiliate.  In addition, very few have responded at all.
>Although it might be seen as a kind of palliative care that 
simply
>postpones the inevitable dissolution of the affiliate,I support 
the
>option of not sending in a roster and dues for this year.  This 
gives
>us a bit more time to review our situation.
>As for any attempt to revive the affiliate, I will go on record 
here
>with a possibly controversial proposal.
>I suggest seeking consultation with the ACB mechanism, whatever 
that
>might be, which is in charge of supporting affiliates in crisis.
>In addition, I recommend that all current officers offer their
>resignation as a prelude to re-organization.  In my view, this 
might
>create an opening for change.  Of course, I would support a plan 
for
>new elections that would include current officers as candidates.
>I suspect that this may cause an uproar.  I offer it in the 
spirit of
>bringing in air and light to our troubled affiliate.
>Sincerely,
>Linda
>PS I'm currently planning to  attend the las Vegas convention.
>PPS I also agree that the affiliate needs to be active outside
>conventions but our conference calls have not been well attended 
in
>the past couple of years.
>We will need lots of new ideas and many hearts and minds to carry 
them
>forward.


>On 1/21/13, Peter Altschul <paltschul at centurytel.net> wrote:
>> Hi:

>> Congratulations, Marilyn, on your election!

>> For what it's worth, the Convention Coordinator told me that she 
is going
>> to
>> make a major effort to encourage affiliates to work together on 
their
>> program planning so the competition won't be so horrendous.

>> Best, Peter



>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] 
On Behalf
>Of
>> MARILYN LUTTER
>> Sent: Monday, January 21, 2013 8:50 PM
>> To: Discussion list for ACB human service professionals
>> Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] ACB-HSP Status Update

>> Hello Darien and other members

>> I believe this affiliate could potentially help younger human 
service
>> providers, and students with much assistance and mentoring.  
However, the
>> events of the past few months, dating back to the 2012 
convention make me
>> wonder whether there is enough leadership and participation for 
the
>> affiliate to continue.  We are not the only affiliate having 
such
>problems.

>> I am aware of at least one other affiliate having very similar 
problems.

>> I have been retired for several years now, and do not feel my 
current
>> situation would allow me to take a leadership role.  I have just 
moved
>into

>> a retirement community and am still adjusting to this move.  
Additionally,
>> I

>> was recently elected President of the District of Columbia 
Council of the
>> blind.  There is a lot of work to do in
>> relation to this
>> .
>> I would not gbe able to take on any other leadership 
responsibilities at
>> this time.

>> I would certainly be willing to continue my membership.  and pay 
my dues.
>> I

>> will be going to the convention, but could not take on a lot of 
planning
>> responsibility for it.  Last year I was unable to attend the 
business
>> meeting because I was   program  chairperson for another 
affiliate and our
>> major program time conflicted with the business meeting.  I see 
the
>problem

>> the affiliates are having as related to the fact that so much is 
packed
>> into

>> so little time at the convention.  I have serious doubts about 
any
>> affiliate

>> being able to run, based solely on annual meetings.  Any 
affiliate needs
>to

>> have leadership involved throughout the year.

>> Another thing which is making it difficult for the affiliates is 
the fact
>> that it seems every national committee seems to find it 
necessary to do a
>> presentation during the convention     which adds to the 
competition for
>> meeting time.

>> If we are going to dissolve, and do this through an annual 
convention it
>> may

>> be difficult to get enough members there to make this decision.  
Maybe the
>> best approach would be not to send a membership list and dues 
this year.
>>   How many people have paid dues at this point?

>> I hope my thoughts  are of some help in figuring out what to do.

>> Marilyn Lutter

>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Darian Slayton Fleming" <darehart56 at hotmail.com
>> To: "Discussion list for ACB human service professionals"
><acb-hsp at acb.org
>> Cc: <abayzyn at bazyncommunications.com
>> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 10:38 PM
>> Subject: [acb-hsp] ACB-HSP Status Update


>> Hello List:


>> There has been talk on this list about the affairs and status of 
the ACB
>> Human Service Professionals (ACB-HSP) Organization.  I am 
writing to update
>> you on the status of this special interest affiliate.  In 
addition, I am
>> asking for your recommendations about how this organization 
should proceed
>> based on this information.


>> At the 2012 conference, ACB-HSP held a networking session that 
was
>attended

>> by only seven or eight people.  Most were new and some of them 
joined the
>> affiliate.  The conversation was meaningful, but our treasury 
took a hit
>> since we did not have enough attendees to pay for the event.  We 
ended up
>> owing ACB $45.


>> The diversity session was better attended, but not by much.  
About ten
>> people

>> were present for Peter Autchul's excellent presentation.


>> The business meeting, in contrast, was attended only by our 
treasurer,
>> Deanna Austin, two people who joined the organization and me.  
We were to
>> hold officer elections, but we did not have a quorum.


>> This was followed by a conference call that I planned.  Those of 
you who
>> have

>> been following this know that I forgot to attend the call.


>> Since then three of the five officers on the board have 
resigned.


>> I attempted to hold a membership only conference call to explore 
remedies
>> and to decide how to proceed.  Again, Deanna Austin and I 
attended along
>> with

>> one other member.  It was not possible to make any decisions 
with a lack of
>> participation.


>> At previous times, with lulls in participation and other 
problems, the
>> organization has floundered.  Then interested members have taken 
leadership
>> roles and revived the organization.  I am at a loss as to what 
to try next.
>> Deanna Austin believes in this organization.  However, she had 
not planned
>> to

>> run for election again and wishes to step down.  This would 
leave the
>> affiliate with only one officer.


>> Some people have suggested dissolving the affiliate.  According 
to our
>> bylaws, the affiliate can only dissolve officially at an annual 
convention
>> affiliate business meeting with the vote of four fifths of the 
membership
>> present and voting.


>> It is time to begin planning for the 2013 Human Service 
Professionals
>> affiliate program.  I have had an inquiry about whether HSP 
wants to
>> participate in a program activity that has been publicized on 
the
>> convention

>> planning list.  I am very interested in seeing Human Service 
Professionals
>> survive.  I attended convention last year because of my 
position, despite
>> financial difficulties and the fact that three of the five 
officers were
>> not

>> attending due to finances and other obligations.


>> I believe ACB Human Service Professionals serves as a forum for 
providing
>> education and support to students who are future professionals 
and to
>human

>> service professionals who are blind.  Through networking, we 
educate
>> ourselves and potential employers and community partners.  We 
have
>sponsored

>> some wonderful programs.


>> Although I have made mistakes, I am willing to try to work on 
reviving our
>> organization.  However, I am only one person and cannot make 
decisions
>alone

>> for this affiliate.  Due to current circumstances, I am not 
willing to plan
>> programs, incur further financial hardship attending the 2013 
convention
>to

>> implement programs or continue to pursue support for the 
affiliate if
>> participation continues to be minimal.


>> I would welcome comments on this list about your thoughts about 
how we
>> shall

>> move forward.  Do you think we should allow the affiliate to 
dissolve?
>There

>> are only two ways the affiliate can dissolve.  According to our 
bylaws,
>> there

>> must be a vote of four fifths of the members present and voting 
at a
>> national convention.  Would any of you members plan to attend a 
business
>> meeting in July 2013 in order to vote to dissolve?


>> Otherwise, we can fail to submit a membership roster and dues 
for three
>> years; then the credentials committee could recommend to the ACB 
that our
>> charter be lifted.


>> If you believe we should attempt to move forward in a positive 
direction,
>> do

>> you plan to attend convention? Do you plan to join the 
organization or
>> renew

>> your membership by paying your dues by February 15th, 2013? 
Please let us
>> know what you think by replying to this E-mail.


>> If we want to revive our affiliate, we could also have someone 
from the
>> membership committee work with us to resolve differences and 
difficulties.


>> If you plan to join or renew your membership, please send a 
check for $10
>> to

>> Deanna Austin, treasurer, by February 15 so she can send our 
information
>> and

>> money to ACB before March 15, 2013.  Deanna's address is 5248 
Spring Creek
>> Court., Indianapolis IN 46254.


>> If you believe we should continue the organization, please let 
me know if
>> you would take a position on the board.  The vacancies are 
vice-president,
>> secretary, treasurer and program director.  The board has the 
authority to
>> appoint officers, if vacancies occur between annual conventions, 
and
>Deanna

>> and I would convene a meeting to do so.  You must be a paid 
member to be
>> appointed to a position.


>> Your ideas are welcome.  I will need to make a decision about 
whether to
>> plan

>> programs and whether I am in a position to attend the 2013 
convention.


>> I look forward to your feedback.  Thank you.


>> Sincerely,


>> Darian Slayton Fleming

>> ACB Human Service Professionals President

>> (503) 253-9543 (home)

>> (503) 522-3272 (cell)

>> Darehart56 at hotmail.com




>-----------------------------------------------------------------
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>> ----


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