Re: I needed help--Now Beginners Committee/Mentoring : AKA volunteer efforts

["Steve Sump" <spoggy at attbi_com>]

It would appear I need to clarify the position I took in my initial post.
Just for the record, I do read my B&L, and it IS my fault for not reading
the things I do not "think" apply to me.  Having been a member of the AKA
for 15+ years, I do not look to the Beginners Committee for services.  I am
sorry that the members of the Committee feel I have slighted them in some
way.  Most assuredly, this was not my intent.  I do not need to have people
"read between the lines" of my post to find an ulterior motive, namely that
I am chastising the Beginners Committee.  I have no problem letting people
know what I mean.  I have apologized to Greg and Catherine off-list, and to
Lee on-list.  I now extend that apology to all who may have received the
impression that I was upset with the Beginners Committee.

The fundamental position of my initial post is that the people who subscribe
to this list AND are members of the AKA, present one face, or facet of the
AKA to the world.  The truly mean spirited posts that pop up from time to
time on this list, reflect poorly on the AKA as a whole.  I was asked how
long I have subscribed to the list?  I have been here, on and off, since
it's inception. I recently re-subscribed in April of this year.  The reason
I post very little, is that I have some problems with my hands, and it is
time consuming for me to type messages. That does not mean that I do not
consider myself a "member" of the list, I take some of this to our local
meetings for discussion.  There are those that do not have email access, and
I feel they should also be aware of what is said here.

The reason I have been a "part time" subscriber is when things get a little
"grumpy" here, the less than charitable side of the list comes through.
Quite frankly, I do not like to read these things.  I know I can delete what
I find objectionable in tone, but wouldn't it be easier for all, if we just
took a minute to reflect before we hit the "send" button?  The past few
weeks have seen some rather "spirited" conversation that the AKA could do
without.  I understand a lot of what goes on here is "friendly harpooning"
of longtime acquaintances, but a first time visitor or new member may not
know that.

The AKA as a group, and this list in particular, needs to present itself in
the best light possible to attract new members.  By it's own estimation, the
AKA believes the average age of it's membership to be in the mid to upper
50's.  We need to listen to the Chris Brownings, the Patrick Colemans, and
the Michael Schelps of this list when they say that they feel upset with the
response they receive from what they perceive as the "knowledgeable core" of
the group.  If we continue to ostracize our young membership prospects,
pretty soon we won't have young membership prospects.  I applaud the success
of the group, and Wright, with Kristi, though I think these past few weeks,
we may have lost more than we gained.

I am sorry that I took up so much space, but I did feel the need to clarify
myself.  I apologize to anyone who is upset with what I have written, it is
not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings.  If I have done that, I'm sorry.

As always, feel free to contact me off-list with anything that you wish to
talk about.

Steve

P.S. If anyone is interested, I asked Greg Simpson to please forward my name
to
       Catherine Carney so that I may volunteer as a mentor here in Ohio.

Steve

> Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2002 20:17:01 -0600
> From: Greg & Kathleen Simpson <gksimps at wtp_net>
> 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
> >- ---------------
>
>
> Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2002 19:45:39 -0700
> From: Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>
> Subject: AKA volunteer efforts
>
> I guess the latest one being questioned is the Beginners Committee. We
> have a couple of hard-working Chairfolk, and a host of local
> greeter/mentors they have organized out in the affiliate clubs.
>
> Here in BAKA, Bill Gallagher and I sort of do it, sharing the load. [We
> do have a huge territory.] Most local affiliates have someone in a
> similar role. [I think Sandy Binder does it down south, in that
> not-fit-for-human-habitation area called LA, aka la la land.] We do it
> as we can find time and as the need is apparent or a Chair sends us a
> "heads up."
>
> I just e-mailed a new member in N. CA today, because I finally got
> around to reading my BNL. [I was kindly sent a duplicate BNL, because I
> moved and didn't get the first copy. So yes, my action was late. Bill
> does it way better by monitoring the AKA web site for new member
postings.]
>
> If I don't get a response, I'm not about to sweat it. I have provided
> someone with local contact information and he/she will have to take it
> from there. In the process of doing a lot of these "Strange encounters
> of the first kind," we tend to get a feel for what is going on. Most get
> a strong welcome as they attend their first local meeting. If we don't
> know they are coming, we are sometimes a bit more reserved, but we hope
> no one really gets a cold shoulder.
>
> This list has been a world of help to one of our newest and brightest
> youngsters, Kristi. She expressed no problems with the fat bald old guys
> at our last meeting.
>
> We had a recent case on the list here, of what I tend to classify as a
> "troll." All lists, newsgroups, web sites, etc., are subject to invasion
> by mischievous teen-age vandals. Some are just rude, obnoxious
> individuals. Some are playing a game with their friends to see who can
> cause the most responses and keep the game going longest. I have deep
> suspicions (but absolutely no proof) that that is what we just
experienced.
>
> We have too nice and cordial a hobby to let such criminals-in-training
> get us upset. It is folks like him that finally have made members get a
> suspicious look on their face when new young folks walk in on a meeting.
> I would give a lot if it was otherwise, but we live in a society that
> encourages such behaviour.
>
> I suggest we take a more relaxed view, but keep a wary eye out for the
> person who is deliberately trying to bait us by poking a "hot button."
> It was way worse in the Betta club when we got a big influx of teenage
> boys who were looking for "real fighting fish!" :-)
>
> This note got so long I missed a needed water change!
>
> Wright
>
> - --
> Wright Huntley -- 209 521-0557 -- 731 Loletta Ave, Modesto CA 95351
>
> "I hope we have not advanced to the point in this country where
>   we are jailing people because the government may disagree with
>   their beliefs,"
>
> Naive Comment of the Year by the attorney for a "material witness,"
> being held by the US "Justice" Dept. in violation of the constitution.
>
>               <www.self-gov.org>


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