Re: and other off the collar comments

[Guest guest]

Why don't you do something instead of dropping out? Why don't you

contribute? Let's dispel a notion about LPA and it's leadership...

Many non-profit advocacy groups (such as the Native Americans you refer to)

are MUCH larger than LPA. Thus they have MUCH larger budgets. Thus they

have MUCH larger political clout. In fact, many of them have paid executive

officers. LPA JUST hired it's first paid executive director...EVER. All of

LPA's executive officers, and board of directors, do it as volunteers. They

have REAL jobs and REAL families to deal with. Sure, if we all got paid,

maybe we would be more politically active organization.

It is not for lack of desire LPA does not (can not) do these advocacy

things, it is because of lack of time, money and manpower. And everybody

wants LPA to do something different. Some want parental support, some want

medical support, some want it to be a social club, some want it to be an

advocacy group, yet others want it to be educational and vocational. You

tell us, Donna, what you would do if you were stretched in all directions

(instead of taking the easy route, and dropping out)?

LPA is a grassroots volunteer organization. That means it takes all members

to be active if we really want things to be accomplished. Unfortunately,

90% of all the work in LPA gets done by 10% of the people. It really grates

on me when people complain about what LPA " should be doing " and yet do

nothing themselves. The person who responded to Senator is to be

commended. She did what all members should do -- be proactive and not wait

around for someone to do it for you. Before I became an officer, I wrote

letters and editorials in response to idiots like Jimmy Kimmel. I didn't

sit and wring my hands, saying " whoa is me " and then threaten to quit.

Put up, or shut up, I say.

Bill Bradford,

LPA VP of Programs

(Who, in this past week, sent out 14 responses to scholarship requests, 2

responses to medical grants, began helping to facilitate a difficult

adoption, participated in online meetings and executive sessions, been

appointed to a committee to do performance reviews, organized our district

regional, participated in helping to organize our national conference -- all

this while starting a full load of grad-level classes, working on a

part-time freelance job, writing a book, and helping to teach another class

at a local college. Oh yeah, and I got a surgery coming up in four weeks

too. BTW, our president is as busy, or busier, than I.)

On 9/30/06, Donna <ddicorcia@...> wrote:

>

> Did LPA do anything about the comments Sentor stated? Did our

> president make a statement. This is why I dropped out of LPA. Why

> don't the current LPA president contact the media and go against the

> Senator. The Indian groups did when he made the 'Macau' slur. Where is

> our leadership in matters like this?

>

> Donna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bill you had me until you wrote: Put up or Shut up "

You are an officer of LPA, you offered up your name and tokk a position nobody

else

wanted. I'm thankful. But to tell an LPA member to " Shut Up " is no less than

rude, arrogant

and downright unbecomming of an officer of a 501 c3 organization.

People turn to LPA for help, advice and support. The last impression an officer

should be

doing is telling them to be quiet.

> >

> > Did LPA do anything about the comments Sentor stated? Did our

> > president make a statement. This is why I dropped out of LPA. Why

> > don't the current LPA president contact the media and go against the

> > Senator. The Indian groups did when he made the 'Macau' slur. Where is

> > our leadership in matters like this?

> >

> > Donna

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Donna et all

I have not joined LPA for similar reasons. At the time when " dwarf

tossing " was a front burner item, LPA Executive would not take a position

much less condemn the action. Sooo Afraid of their own membership's reaction

and losing their 5013c (non-profit) status. (i.e. Money) For what profits a

man to loose his soul, in order to save his life?? (Loosely quoted from the

Bible) There is no question what the moral and human rights position on

dwarf-tossing is. My organization, the Congress of Racial Equality, did not

worry about its non-profit status when its members, Cheney,

Goodman, and Schwerner were murdered in Mississippi by the Klan for trying

to register American citizens (mainly black) to vote.

The other crucial issue is the name of the organization, which

infantilizes its members of all ages. In using " LPA " , it still stands for

" Little People of America " , so that is not a satisfactory answer. Kentucky

Fried Chicken changed its name to KFC hoping its customers would forget

" Fried " and its unhealthiness without changing the fat. Too much self

respect is lost when one refers to one's self as a " Little Person " .

On 10/1/06 3:17 AM, " Bill Bradford " <tslug1@...> wrote:

> Why don't you do something instead of dropping out? Why don't you

> contribute? Let's dispel a notion about LPA and it's leadership...

> Many non-profit advocacy groups (such as the Native Americans you refer to)

> are MUCH larger than LPA. Thus they have MUCH larger budgets. Thus they

> have MUCH larger political clout. In fact, many of them have paid executive

> officers. LPA JUST hired it's first paid executive director...EVER. All of

> LPA's executive officers, and board of directors, do it as volunteers. They

> have REAL jobs and REAL families to deal with. Sure, if we all got paid,

> maybe we would be more politically active organization.

>

> It is not for lack of desire LPA does not (can not) do these advocacy

> things, it is because of lack of time, money and manpower. And everybody

> wants LPA to do something different. Some want parental support, some want

> medical support, some want it to be a social club, some want it to be an

> advocacy group, yet others want it to be educational and vocational. You

> tell us, Donna, what you would do if you were stretched in all directions

> (instead of taking the easy route, and dropping out)?

>

> LPA is a grassroots volunteer organization. That means it takes all members

> to be active If we really want things to be accomplished. Unfortunately,

> 90% of all the work in LPA gets done by 10% of the people. It really grates

> on me when people complain about what LPA " should be doing " and yet do

> nothing themselves. The person who responded to Senator is to be

> commended. She did what all members should do -- be proactive and not wait

> around for someone to do it for you. Before I became an officer, I wrote

> letters and editorials in response to idiots like Jimmy Kimmel. I didn't

> sit and wring my hands, saying " whoa is me " and then threaten to quit.

>

> Put up, or shut up, I say.

>

> Bill Bradford,

> LPA VP of Programs

> (Who, in this past week, sent out 14 responses to scholarship requests, 2

> responses to medical grants, began helping to facilitate a difficult

> adoption, participated in online meetings and executive sessions, been

> appointed to a committee to do performance reviews, organized our district

> regional, participated in helping to organize our national conference -- all

> this while starting a full load of grad-level classes, working on a

> part-time freelance job, writing a book, and helping to teach another class

> at a local college. Oh yeah, and I got a surgery coming up in four weeks

> too. BTW, our president is as busy, or busier, than I.)

>

>

>

>

>

> On 9/30/06, Donna <ddicorcia@...> wrote:

>>

>> Did LPA do anything about the comments Sentor stated? Did our

>> president make a statement. This is why I dropped out of LPA. Why

>> don't the current LPA president contact the media and go against the

>> Senator. The Indian groups did when he made the 'Macau' slur. Where is

>> our leadership in matters like this?

>>

>> Donna

>>

>>

>>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

What was said? I didn't catch it. Why would something like that make you drop

out of LPA?

Just asking~ not flaming!

Take care,

Patty

and other off the collar comments

Did LPA do anything about the comments Sentor stated? Did our

president make a statement. This is why I dropped out of LPA. Why

don't the current LPA president contact the media and go against the

Senator. The Indian groups did when he made the 'Macau' slur. Where is

our leadership in matters like this?

Donna

[Guest guest]

List,

Actually LPA - or officer/ex-officers DID take a position on dwarf-

tossing - and as a result - (correct me if I'm wrong, Van Ettens) - a

law was passed in Florida prohibiting it.

The dwarf-tossing issue had two fronts - the obvious demeaning end of

it and the not-so obvious " education " side of it. Remember that when

we fight this issue, we also have to educate the dwarf who is being

tossed. This individual neither sees the demeaning nature of this

nor the physical danger that he is in. He only accuses LPA of taking

away his ability to make money (a valid argument if all you're doing

is serving tortilla chips and salsa from a sombrero).

I vehemently(sp?) support my brother - LPA's VP of Programs - in his

comments toward the 90 percent of the members who complain and do

nothing. In fact, my expression for them is much meaner and more off-

color than his and I cannot repeat on this list. (Any further

discussion of this will be on the adult list for that reason. By the

way, my lack of political savvy is why I am no longer an officer.)

(At the risk of crossing a line here, I have to say the following to

Tony)

Tony, I am very disappointed at your comment toward Bill (although

not surprised). I can remember some of the things you said on this

list when you were an officer - akin to LPA not doing enough. Yes,

they too, were of an accusatory nature. (I'll concede many of them

were true.) Now, I don't want to go and reopen old wounds and I hope

this thread ends here. But, Tony, as former vice president and a

public official, I expect you to be a bit more understanding of the

frustrations of an LPA officer and not be so quick to call the kettle

black.

Tony, you're a decent guy and I love having disagreements with you -

it challenges me and forces me to think out of the box. However,

your tendency to make things personal in an email forum tends to be

counter productive to your whole message and does not help your

position. It's funny, you're not that way in person. Bottom line,

attack problems - not people.

(OK, finished with Tony)

I, too, had (have) my own frustrations with LPA. The biggest one is

that we all seem to want to attack each other instead of building the

consensus, figuring out who we want to be, accessing the resources to

figure out who we can be, and then becoming that organization.

I suppose we're not much different than any other group of

volunteers. Some will work, some will complain, yet they all show up

at National.

Flame away.

Randy_____

(One of three insane brothers who refuses to give up)

[Guest guest]

I accept your comments.

Please note that my comments came after 5 years not after just 8

weeks, Bill is a great guy. I know he'll serve us well.

On Oct 1, 2006, at 6:14 PM, Randy Bradford wrote:

> Tony, I am very disappointed at your comment toward Bill (although

> not surprised). I can remember some of the things you said on this

> list when you were an officer - akin to LPA not doing enough. Yes,

> they too, were of an accusatory nature. (I'll concede many of them

> were true.) Now, I don't want to go and reopen old wounds and I hope

> this thread ends here. But, Tony, as former vice president and a

> public official, I expect you to be a bit more understanding of the

> frustrations of an LPA officer and not be so quick to call the kettle

> black.

[Guest guest]

You need to recheck your facts. LPA did get dwarf tossing outlawed in

Florida (thank-you Van Ettens). Also, LPA has taken public positions

about limb-lengthening, euthanasia, and public portrayals of dwarfs

(don't you remember the " nacho man " controversy; editorials about

Jimmy Kimmel; Matt Roloff shutting down the XXX church's negative

advertising?). Which LPA are you protesting against? Also, do you

think we should go back to calling ourselves M*dgets of America?

Bill Bradford

(And, as an officer, I am pretty sure if a dwarf got murdered for

being short or trying to vote, LPA would be all over it. Drawing a

comparison between the CRE and LPA is patently absurd.)

On 10/1/06, Clipsham <jackiclip@...> wrote:

> Dear Donna et all

> I have not joined LPA for similar reasons. At the time when " dwarf

> tossing " was a front burner item, LPA Executive would not take a position

> much less condemn the action. Sooo Afraid of their own membership's reaction

> and losing their 5013c (non-profit) status. (i.e. Money) For what profits a

> man to loose his soul, in order to save his life?? (Loosely quoted from the

> Bible) There is no question what the moral and human rights position on

> dwarf-tossing is. My organization, the Congress of Racial Equality, did not

> worry about its non-profit status when its members, Cheney,

> Goodman, and Schwerner were murdered in Mississippi by the Klan for trying

> to register American citizens (mainly black) to vote.

> The other crucial issue is the name of the organization, which

> infantilizes its members of all ages. In using " LPA " , it still stands for

> " Little People of America " , so that is not a satisfactory answer. Kentucky

> Fried Chicken changed its name to KFC hoping its customers would forget

> " Fried " and its unhealthiness without changing the fat. Too much self

> respect is lost when one refers to one's self as a " Little Person " .

>

>

--

" Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an

indomitable will. "

- Gandhi

" A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength "

- Proverbs 24:5

[Guest guest]

Tony you have a right to express your opinion (as you often do). I take

back nothing I said and offer NO apologies.

" Put up, or shut up " is a poker phrase which means " make a bet or fold. "

Donna was claiming she quit LPA because our leadership wasn't doing anything

about Senator . As a former officer, you should know that there are a

lot of people willing to sit on the sidelines and snipe at the people who

are VOLUNTEERING a disproportionate amount of time to LPA, for little

gratitude, and certainly no profit and benefit to themselves. These same

people make no more effort to help than firing off nasty emails and

complain. (And I confess to doing the same to some of our former officers,

for which I do apologize). So my comment is message that oft repeated by

elected public officials (something you should know about): " those who do

not register to vote really have no right to complain. " You're right that

people turn to LPA for advice, help or support. And to the MEMBERSHIP of

LPA, I offer all the help, advice and support that I am capable of giving.

But Donna claims not to be a member, so I owe her nothing.

Call me rude, whatever. As a man of professed faith, perhaps you ought to

reread that scripture about the " speck in eye. " If my actions or comments

really bother you, I invite you to run against me next election (should I

choose to run again). Get me voted out of office if you think I am in

error.

(And Donna, I am sorry if you take offense to my message, but I meant every

word I said. I invite you to email privately if you wish to discuss this

off-list.)

Bill Bradford

On 10/1/06, tonysoares551 <tonysoares@...> wrote:

>

> Bill you had me until you wrote: Put up or Shut up "

>

> You are an officer of LPA, you offered up your name and tokk a position

> nobody else

> wanted. I'm thankful. But to tell an LPA member to " Shut Up " is no less

> than rude, arrogant

> and downright unbecomming of an officer of a 501 c3 organization.

>

> People turn to LPA for help, advice and support. The last impression an

> officer should be

> doing is telling them to be quiet.

>

>

>

> > >

> > > Did LPA do anything about the comments Sentor stated? Did our

> > > president make a statement. This is why I dropped out of LPA. Why

> > > don't the current LPA president contact the media and go against the

> > > Senator. The Indian groups did when he made the 'Macau' slur. Where is

> > > our leadership in matters like this?

> > >

> > > Donna

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you Bill! I agree with you 100 %. That is one thing that upsets me

aswell. One thing my parents always told me was in order to make a difference

you must be invovled. The leadership should be in each and every one of us. We

shouldn't have to rely on one person just because they have a title of

president or in charge of an orginization to change the world.

Donna, I feel you also have gone against us. You need to stand up for who

you are and not depend on others to do what you want them to do. Everything I

have accomplished in my life has been because of me and only me. And of course

the great man upstairs. And like Bill was saying, we all have lifes to live.

I have to pay a mortgage, car loans and bills. That is my problem not yours,

the LPA or anybody else. My job is to show the world that I am a person and

hardworking.To provide for my family. And yes, I do agree issues need to be

adressed and be delt with. SO GET INVOLVED AND STOP BITCHEN FROM THE SIDE

LINES!

Joe C.

Proud Parent!

[Guest guest]

People seem to forget! WE HAVE A CHOICE! The dwarf who participated in the

" Dwarf Tossing " had a choice. Do it or not! The person tossing him is not to

blame. We tend to always blame others than our ownselfs. Cheney,Goodman, and

Schwerner were murdered for trying to make this world a better place. Not

because they wanted to be tossed. MLK was murdered because he believed we are

all

created equal and others didn't agree.

[Guest guest]

Did we as citizens of this country do anything?

Did we as members of this community do anything?

Did everyone you know contact someone?

Did you Donna write to the proper authority?

Did you provide this list with contact information so that many could

complain about the knuckle head's comments? I have no doubt that

multiple matches lighting the fire under this one would bring more

attention to the issue than one lone Bic flicking until it's juice

runs out.

This is not only an LPA issue, it's an issue of overall lack of

respect for many. The man seems to be a complete idiot and it amazes

me that he continues to have a constituency that votes for him. We

cannot hang onto a volunteer driven organization to take up the battle

alone.

>

> Did LPA do anything about the comments Sentor stated? Did our

> president make a statement. This is why I dropped out of LPA. Why

> don't the current LPA president contact the media and go against the

> Senator. The Indian groups did when he made the 'Macau' slur. Where

is our leadership in matters like this?

>

>

> Donna

>