[nabs-l] The "state of the student divisions"

Mike Mello mike at mello.com
Tue May 5 06:09:03 UTC 2009


Well put Joe, Thank you for taking the time to post informational data to the list.
-Mike Mello Seattle Wa
On Tue, 5 May 2009 01:07:43 -0400, Joe Orozco wrote:

>Hello all,

>Grants are mistakenly seen as just free money to sponsor an activity.
>People overlook the value grants provide to help groups organize themselves
>to make the activity work.  There are many benefits to learning how to
>clearly define your mission, how to explain your community need, to spell
>out how your group is making an impact...  Grants, if nothing else, help
>people learn about drafting and managing a budget.  In general, there is no
>greater exercise in teamwork than in the preparation of putting together a
>proposal.  For my office I will say we are far more interested in your
>complete story than we are in the perfection of your proposal.

>I do not at all buy the argument that some divisions are too young to apply
>for grants.  Divisions are formed because the affiliate felt there was a
>sufficient number of people and a sufficient need to allow the student
>division to be established.  If neither factor is present, it is okay to
>have a group of students minus the formality of a student division.  There
>are plenty of benefits to an informal group, but at the point a division is
>formed, the students are saying they want to be taken seriously as an
>organization.  As such they should be treated like an organization.  To
>expect anything less is to say we are okay with forming divisions for the
>sake of forming divisions.  People are quick to be fascinated with the
>notion of becoming president of this or treasurer of that but are not very
>amused when the pressures of these positions come to bear.

>Yes, even fully developed divisions face their own troubles with recruitment
>and retention.  I would never claim the work is easy, but the greatest
>obstacle you have to overcome is taking the first step.  If you need help,
>ask for help.  If you don't get the answers you want, keep raising hell.
>Pick up a phone.  Don't give up if your e-mail is not answered.  You know
>there's a NABS board.  They keep talking about regional representatives.
>Make them work.  That's why they ran for their positions, to be put to work
>for your benefit.

>I completely respect Oregon, because Joseph Carter understands where his
>weaknesses lie and is carrying out a plan to address those weaknesses.  I
>don't hear Joseph bitching about how things are just so hard.  Students from
>California and Michigan have written me off list asking how they might be
>better prepared for the next opportunity.  They weren't somewhat offended by
>my tone.  They took their rebuke and are using the opportunity to do
>something to improve their status.  They and others understand there are
>enough examples of the good things that can happen in state divisions when
>students decide to quit whining and start acting.   The founders of
>Invisible Children were nothing more than a few guys with a camera, and now
>they lead one of the most influential grassroots organizations benefiting
>children who are on a completely different continent, and they were students
>when they began their venture.  Don't give me this nonsense that as students
>we're too busy to do anything of substance.

>Here's the interesting point I have not seen anyone mention.  I have told
>you I was disappointed in you for not applying for one of our grants.  I
>told you in my most recent opportunity announcement that I did not want you
>to let me down a second time, but consider this thought:  Who am I to tell
>you to do anything?  What if you were so confident in your ability to do
>great things that you could write to me publicly and say, "Screw you.  I
>don't need your stupid grant to kick ass!"

>Think about it...

>Joe Orozco

>"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
>crowd."--Max Lucado 
> 

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Michael J. Mello

mike at mello.com

(208) 301-0565




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