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Re: I needed help--Now Beginners Committee/Mentoring
Mike,
Maybe we ought to start by not calling them "newbies".
I found it condescending years ago and still find it so.
It hardly suggests any sort of equal status and may well
feed our sense of superiority (smugness?).
erny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Schelp" <MikeTeach at msn_com>
To: <killietalk at aka_org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: I needed help--Now Beginners Committee/Mentoring
I'll keep this one short.
Mentoring is different then just handing out advise. Read the previous
posts concerning "Chris". He got pounded. NOT MENTORING.
What have I done? Not much, but I have done something. Read the previous
posts. I've handed out eggs and young pairs to lots of kids. Oh, I also
told them how to feed them, collect the eggs etc. I also told them that
they didn't have to take it so seriously but to have fun.
What beginners committee articles? It's very possible that I missed them,
but I did review a few issues and didn't find any. Again, discussed in
previous postings.
Now, I appreciate the offer for help, and actually am of the opinion that NO
ONE is an expert, myself being part of no one. <G> As to being a
beginner...Not quite. I used to manage a pet (fish) store about 20 years
ago and have kept tropical fish, including killies, for at least that long.
Gularis and walkeri STILL give me fits! LOL Something about those
substrate spawners that just doesn't work for me, BUT, I'm still learning
and trying new things.
Now, having been in the Army, we had a philosophy which I don't totally
agree in, but it DOES make some sense. "Don't just complain about a
problem, come up with a solution" (you can't always do this. It takes
info)
How about this as an idea:
First, highlight the beginners committee info. Make it EASY for newbies to
spot. Won't solve the problem, but it WILL help.
Second, once a person is in the AKA, they are probably already somewhat
knowledgeable. What can we as EXPERIENCED members do to get NON-members
interested? (I don't have a good answer for this. YET) Being a teacher,
I use that as an opening to show my youngin's the variety of killiefish etc.
Not all of us have that option and I'd be willing to try other things.
Hopefully, we ALL would be willing to expand the hobby.
Mike Schelp
----- Original Message -----
From: Greg & Kathleen Simpson
Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 9:29 PM
To: KillieTalk at aka_org
Subject: Re: I needed help--Now Beginners Committee/Mentoring
Snip 1) Well Steve, if your read the BNL and Beginner's Committee you WILL
see that the AKA does have a very active program... The "mentors" are
within most of our states that killie keepers.. As Co-Chair for the Western
Region, basically west of the mighty MISS, I take care of the regions and
Catherine Carney the East, as Lee Harper has expressed. We do our job, but
first and foremost it is for a registered and valid AKA member! While the
list is an open forum, to get the goods you gotta join? Trust me, if one
does, one gets!!!!
> << Mike brought up the idea that we should mentor people. I agree with
him
>100%. Wouldn't it be nice, that if along with your new membership to the
>AKA, you received the name of someone who would be willing to personally
>take you under their wing and show you the answers to your questions? >>
>
>Regards,
>
>Steve Sump AKA # 5406
>" If one strives to treat others as he would be treated by them, he will
>come near the perfect life." - Ming Tzu -
Snip 2) Michael, while I see your are fairly a new member, what could you
have done as an AKA member to "push" a possible new, young member into the
AKA. While we have "mentors" in states to help newbies, can't a newer
member within the capacity of pride, help a possible new member understand
the grand scope of the AKA? I assume you read the BNL just as all others
and have seen Beginners Committee articles???
><<Robert, I agree with you. The "kid" could have been pointed in the right
>direction with a slight nudge and good information, not the intense
>criticism that he got. Also, the pond COULD have been stocked with LOCAL
>natives to the benefit of all involved. Instead, we have sent more then
>just these two guys packing because of some over zealous people who,
instead
>of SOLVING the problem, ostracized newcomers and outsiders.>>
Snip 3) As Lee has mentioned, under his tenure as AKA Chairman, he helped
to bring the Beginners Committee into existence. We all as AKA members can
HELP to get the word out to possible new members that we will help any and
ALL new members! Help to make the AKA a better organization to be involved
in... Come on... Let's work together!
Greg A. Simpson
Billings, Montana
Co-Chair Beginners Committee Western Region
Member, Board of Trustees
Killifish Conservation Committee, Communication Chairman
>Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 14:32:17 EDT
>From: LeeH920226 at aol_com
>Subject: Re: I needed help
>
>In a message dated 8/6/02 2:20:39 PM, spoggy at attbi_com writes:
>
><< I think that the AKA would be very well served by a mentoring
>
>program that would work hand in hand with the Beginner's Committee.
>
> >>
>
>We started one over a year ago and it is in full operation. It was, and has
>been continually publicized, so it is no secret. Catherine Carney and Greg
>Simpson, who are the Beginners Committee Cochairpersons will also probably
>respond.
>
>Lee Harper (AKA Chairman, 2000, 2001)
>Media, PA
>- ---------------
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