Re: For a more progressive LPA in 2007 and beyond

[Guest guest]

Ruth makes some excellent points here, and I hope everyone reads her

post carefully. There are a few I will respond to.

On 1/2/07, Rickerruth@... <Rickerruth@...> wrote:

> LPA has struggled in recent decades with providing more services to the

> dwarf community and embracing a more honest image. At this late hour, going

back

> to work tomorrow after a week and half off, I know it will be a stretch to

> try to respond in a thoughtful and comprehensive way. Hopefully others who

are

> more alert and more involved these days will weigh in as well.

>

> I know it sounds hollow, but we've come a long ways on both fronts, but it's

> like watching polar ice melt, especially if one is on the outside, I'm sure.

LPA has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 10 years alone. And

sometimes it seems as if it is trying to be everything for everyone.

It is hard when an organization of over 5000 members has only about

100 (conservative guess) non-paid volunteers doing 99% of the work.

We have two part-time and one full-time paid employee. That's unheard

of even in the non-profit world.

> Speaking of disability rights, it took us some doing to get a handle on that

> too. We have reps on official federal access committees now, and individual

> dwarfs have been involved in the disability movement all along, but as an

> organization, we haven't always been.

This is one area I would like to see LPA get more involved with. I

think we need to network with, and ally ourselves, with more

disability rights groups. There is power in numbers, and lets face

it, from a genetics standpoint, there aren't a lot of dwarfs. I think

Joanna has us headed in the right direction here.

>

> In the late 80's some in LPA began to have quiet discussions about mental

> health issues, addictions, demographic minority groups, etc. We start

things

> at conventions (workshops) that are much harder to translate into ongoing

> services when the lucky few who get to conventions go home and esp. to the

> masses who for some reason don't have the grand it costs to go to convention

when

> it's not in their town.

Another great point. I think the LPA MAB needs to add more

psychiatrist and psychologist to its ranks. And perhaps we should

consider videotaping some of the workshops and distribute them as DVDs

to people who can't attend a conference.

> The financial piece was my weakest suit in my years in LPA board circles, so

> I'm not up on the specifics and certainly not now that I'm totally out of

> it. But surely, part of the challenge has been not having full-time

executive

> staff for much of that time, just here and there. Our board of directors is

> generally leaders in our own community, most are not business tycoons like

on

> many boards. There isn't a problem with that format, necessarily, but it's

> different.

We are a total grassroots organization. A transition to a more

business-like non-profit is slow and sometimes painful. If we decide

to continue heading in this direction, I just hope LPA doesn't lose

sight of what is does do well, and that's the conference and community

aspect of the organization. We are almost a culture onto our own.

I'm hard pressed to find another disability group quite like us (in

regards to the social aspect). Perhaps the deaf community?

> I think Joanna, with the backing of the current Board and officers, may be

> making headway on the grants front. Maybe CoDA, using the American cable TV

> audience and it's sizeable disposable income, will help.

I think we are making headway, but in this day and age of " gotta have

it by yesterday " I would counsel patience. Having attempted

grant-writing at one time in my professional life, I can tell you

getting grants is not easy. We don't really have any one " hot-button "

issue we can appeal to donors with. Although adoptions seems to draw

some support. Perhaps we need to become a religious cult...(that's

just a joke folks).

> Well those are random thoughts. I appreciate the recent postings. Thank

> you for raising such an important issue. I find it fascinating that the

> current moderators of the main online discussion groups in our community are

folks

> who are not from the traditional LPA world. I think that's healthy. I am

> thankful that the internet has served as a way for the LPA community to

> interact with the non-LPA dwarf world. But it's not a full-service thing

and it

> doesn't reach everyone anyway.

What??? We are being led by heathens? ;-)

I agree and think the moderators are doing a great job. And I also

think it is important to keep this list distinct and non-affiliated

with LPA. But I also think it is important for officers of the

organization to stay active on this list. I have been, and promise to

keep doing so.

Bill Bradford

dwarf, LPA life member, LPA VP of Programs

(and step dad and grandad to LPs)

[Guest guest]

.... " I think the LPA MAB needs to add more

psychiatrist and psychologist to its ranks. And perhaps we should

consider videotaping some of the workshops and distribute them as

DVDs to people who can't attend a conference. "

What a terrific idea Bill!

[Guest guest]

I took the time to read and re-read these letters several times.

I just wanted to say that I think both Ruth & Bill are doing an excellent job,

along with ALL the volunteers (and few that are paid) with LPA.

A agree for a group to even exist and grow that fast on mainly volunteer basis,

is pretty amazing. And the complications of such things as legalities,

grant-writing, regulations, etc. -- must conflict with trying to be a more

personal outreach & educational organization.

Thanks for taking the time and letting us all know the history, background,

and what is all involved in LPA. I think that makes us all more appreciate

of the organization, and everyones hard work.

MARY

Bill Bradford <tslug1@...> wrote: Ruth

makes some excellent points here, and I hope everyone reads her

post carefully. There are a few I will respond to.

On 1/2/07, Rickerruth@... <Rickerruth@...> wrote:

> LPA has struggled in recent decades with providing more services to the

> dwarf community and embracing a more honest image. At this late hour,

going back

> to work tomorrow after a week and half off, I know it will be a stretch to

> try to respond in a thoughtful and comprehensive way. Hopefully others who

are

> more alert and more involved these days will weigh in as well.

>

> I know it sounds hollow, but we've come a long ways on both fronts, but

it's

> like watching polar ice melt, especially if one is on the outside, I'm

sure.