Re: Quote - and Call to Action

[Guest guest]

You are awesome . Thank you.

Quote - and " Call to Action "

" To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against

it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor. " - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Dear Listmates and Friends,

I came across the above quote the other day and it really made me stop and

think about this list and what we are trying to accomplish through this

networking tool for Texas.

To me - our " port " is Autism Awareness and appropriate changes and supports

to assist families and caregivers who have a child with an Autism Spectrum

Disorder in Texas. This list is, in my mind, a means to an end. It is a

place for anyone to come together and learn - no matter where they are on their

journey. It is a place for information, support, resources - on ALL areas of

Autism Spectrum Disorders.

From this list - other lists have been created - simply because of the

numbers we reach on this list. Our official " membership " is 1,453 - but I know

that we reach more than that in all the forwards that go to other groups and

lists in Texas.

The website that corresponds to this list - is barely 2 years old and we are

approaching 95,000 web hits.

My point is - we have a potential to be to Texas - what the Schafer Autism

Report is to the World-wide Autism Community.

To reach that " port " in Texas - it will take all of us working together.

A handful may indeed make a difference. A handful of parents HAVE made a

difference in Texas. But as in the above quote - when the wind is against us -

as it is in Texas Legislatively and Educationally right now -- it will take ALL

of us together to make an even bigger difference.

Fellow Texans - we, as a community, are drifting when we create so many

individual networks that we lose sight of unity in one place. We are lying at

anchor if we don't ALL start rowing in doing what we can!

On this list - there are MANY different parents representing different

stages on the journey. New parents on this list are just trying to cope with

the diagnosis. Veteran parents are worn out from the journey. I do understand

that - as well as all those stages in between.

There are a dozen or more listmembers who are doing some amazing things

behind the scenes in working with Senators and Representatives in Austin. We

all need to step up and do what we can - wherever we are on that journey - to

help them.

I know for a fact that some of those women are worn out. We need to all

step up and help them by doing what we can. Writing letters, making calls,

doing some research, etc.

To help them - I am hoping to get a page on the website very soon where all

those women can post what needs to be done. An " Action Alert " page so to speak.

Projects in the works - and what volunteers can do to assist.

When those things are posted - please remember that quote. Please step

forward to help.

When we ask you to write a letter or give input - please do that.

We can't complain about how things are - if we are not willing to do what we

can to make them better.

The 80th Legislative Session will be upon us soon. There are many Autism

Task Forces that may need your assistance in research and support letters on

issues.

Get ready to pull up your anchors and get moving!

Watch for a menu bar on www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org called: " A Call to

Action " - and check there for postings on what parents need help with and for

Action Alerts that you can act on.

This list will still focus on ALL areas: Biomedical, Educational, Therapy,

Resources, Referrals, ABA, Support, - but it is the Legislative that needs us to

come together as a force!

Sincerely,

Guppy

M. Guppy - " God doesn't look at how much we do, but with how much

love we do it. "

What we do for ourselves lasts only a moment; but what we do for others ~

lasts a lifetime...

Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!

Listowner & Facilitator of: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org