Guest guest Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 Dearest Friends: Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other’s eyes we see the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and hope for a better future. We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that you will join us. We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get done. We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. And if we were loud before, we will be louder. We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for those with autism does not change. Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You have insisted that this generation is worth saving. We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the future. Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and our children, now. Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, visit the CAN site. To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit our Newsroom . Forward this e-mail to your family and friends M. Guppy Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 Ok, this is just frickin' wierd. The chairman of NBC's grandson get diagnosed with autism, so INSTEAD of joining forces with an already existing organizations like ASA or CAN, he creates his OWN. Now CAN is joining HIS???????????? Hmmmmm, where are our super slueths with time out there? Something just doesn't smell right about this whole sequence of events. While I agree that they should join forces, when is the already established, long standing CAN joining the upstart Autism Speaks????? S. From Cure Autism Now Dearest Friends: Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other’s eyes we see the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and hope for a better future. We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that you will join us. We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get done. We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. And if we were loud before, we will be louder. We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for those with autism does not change. Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You have insisted that this generation is worth saving. We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the future. Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and our children, now. Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, visit the CAN site. To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit our Newsroom . Forward this e-mail to your family and friends M. Guppy Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 1,Money and 2,Politics. Lots of the first mean more power in the second. Just my 2c! -- In Texas-Autism-Advocacy , " Singleton " wrote: > > Ok, this is just frickin' wierd. > The chairman of NBC's grandson get diagnosed with autism, so INSTEAD of joining forces with an already existing organizations like ASA or CAN, he creates his OWN. Now CAN is joining HIS???????????? > Hmmmmm, where are our super slueths with time out there? Something just doesn't smell right about this whole sequence of events. While I agree that they should join forces, when is the already established, long standing CAN joining the upstart Autism Speaks????? > S.> From Cure Autism Now > > > Dearest Friends: > Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You > have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to > cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other's eyes we see > the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and > hope for a better future. > > We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making > at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that > you will join us. > > We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by > joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger > organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the > same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we > are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and > fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. > > Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more > people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not > down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get > done. > We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, > Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are > creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward > research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to > truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with > thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. > And if we were loud before, we will be louder. > > We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay > true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new > organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more > committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be > getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we > will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen > to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop > talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And > whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial > favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for > those with autism does not change. > > Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups > become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have > always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now > might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of > CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was > nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for > autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating > Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and > created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the > national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You > have insisted that this generation is worth saving. > We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe > that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and > powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the > future. > Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help > Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and > our children, now. > > Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack > Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 > > To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, > visit the CAN site. > To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit > our Newsroom . > > Forward this e-mail to your family and friends > > M. Guppy > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! > Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org > > " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to > compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should > live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. > Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right > to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I think it is important to have a united front in our community, and this might be a step in the right direction, regardless of what they call the organization. At least I hope so. I always told my mom that we'd get more attention/funding/research when somebody in a position of power had a child in their family diagnosed with autism. Money talks. In this case it talks about autism, and that suits me just fine. JMO. Aliza Anita K wrote: 1,Money and 2,Politics. Lots of the first mean more power in the second. Just my 2c! -- In Texas-Autism-Advocacy , " Singleton " wrote: > > Ok, this is just frickin' wierd. > The chairman of NBC's grandson get diagnosed with autism, so INSTEAD of joining forces with an already existing organizations like ASA or CAN, he creates his OWN. Now CAN is joining HIS???????????? > Hmmmmm, where are our super slueths with time out there? Something just doesn't smell right about this whole sequence of events. While I agree that they should join forces, when is the already established, long standing CAN joining the upstart Autism Speaks????? > S.> From Cure Autism Now > > > Dearest Friends: > Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You > have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to > cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other's eyes we see > the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and > hope for a better future. > > We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making > at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that > you will join us. > > We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by > joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger > organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the > same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we > are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and > fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. > > Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more > people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not > down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get > done. > We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, > Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are > creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward > research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to > truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with > thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. > And if we were loud before, we will be louder. > > We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay > true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new > organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more > committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be > getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we > will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen > to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop > talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And > whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial > favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for > those with autism does not change. > > Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups > become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have > always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now > might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of > CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was > nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for > autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating > Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and > created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the > national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You > have insisted that this generation is worth saving. > We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe > that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and > powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the > future. > Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help > Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and > our children, now. > > Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack > Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 > > To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, > visit the CAN site. > To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit > our Newsroom . > > Forward this e-mail to your family and friends > > M. Guppy > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! > Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org > > " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to > compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should > live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. > Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right > to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I agree . And as another parent posted on another list, until Autism Speaks takes down their " policy on mercury and autism " they do NOT speak for my child. April --------------------------------- Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I agree. The combination of money, influence, science should be a positive move for our community. The reality is that is what gets things done in our society. Judith > > > > Ok, this is just frickin' wierd. > > The chairman of NBC's grandson get diagnosed with autism, so > INSTEAD of joining forces with an already existing organizations > like ASA or CAN, he creates his OWN. Now CAN is joining > HIS???????????? > > Hmmmmm, where are our super slueths with time out there? > Something just doesn't smell right about this whole sequence of > events. While I agree that they should join forces, when is the > already established, long standing CAN joining the upstart Autism > Speaks????? > > S.> From Cure Autism Now > > > > > > Dearest Friends: > > Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about > you. You > > have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our > shoulders to > > cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other's eyes > we see > > the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless > love and > > hope for a better future. > > > > We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are > making > > at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we > hope that > > you will join us. > > > > We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with > autism by > > joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much > stronger > > organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will > be the > > same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. > But we > > are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more > people and > > fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. > > > > Because even though things are better than they were 10 years > ago, more > > people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are > going up not > > down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must > get > > done. > > We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, > ATN, > > Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are > > creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high > reward > > research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the > ability to > > truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining > up with > > thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as > we are. > > And if we were loud before, we will be louder. > > > > We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to > stay > > true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new > > organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get > more > > committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. > We will be > > getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we > grow, we > > will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we > will listen > > to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or > can't stop > > talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. > And > > whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that > perennial > > favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better > life for > > those with autism does not change. > > > > Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and > coffee cups > > become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we > have > > always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. > Still now > > might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done > as part of > > CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was > > nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation > for > > autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the > Combating > > Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is > done and > > created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism > part of the > > national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no > voice. You > > have insisted that this generation is worth saving. > > We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we > believe > > that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and > > powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much > in the > > future. > > Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we > help > > Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all > of us and > > our children, now. > > > > Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack > > Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 > > > > To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President > and CEO, > > visit the CAN site. > > To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, > visit > > our Newsroom . > > > > Forward this e-mail to your family and friends > > > > M. Guppy > > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! > > Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org > > > > " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right > to > > compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one > should > > live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. > > Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get > the right > > to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 My understanding of the merger of the two is that Autism Speaks (Bob ) has the MONEY, the PR-SAVVY and the POLITICAL SAVVY, and CAN has the RESEARCH and the FOUNDATION-WORKS KNOW-HOW, and that’s why they’ve decided to merge. Apparently he was raising LOTS of $$ and awareness, but didn’t really have a system set up for USING the $$ or managing the $$. Makes sense to me, but then…I can be gullible sometimes… A. Weber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, why didn't he take a road MOST intelligent, savy people would have taken, and join the board or talk to Portia about bringing his know-how to the group? BUT he has the ego that says he's got to create his own group. It just smells wierd. Something is very wierd about the whole thing. S. Re: From Cure Autism Now My understanding of the merger of the two is that Autism Speaks (Bob ) has the MONEY, the PR-SAVVY and the POLITICAL SAVVY, and CAN has the RESEARCH and the FOUNDATION-WORKS KNOW-HOW, and that’s why they’ve decided to merge. Apparently he was raising LOTS of $$ and awareness, but didn’t really have a system set up for USING the $$ or managing the $$. Makes sense to me, but then…I can be gullible sometimes… A. Weber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Yes, CAN's system for using and managing money included holding board meetings (which included extended family members) in places like Hawaii while staying at the most expensive hotels. CAN paid those bills for lavish vacations, among other things. I doubt CAN supporters/walkers were very aware of how the money was getting used. But with their having a foundation status, there was a tremendous amount of waste and fraud, so it may be possible that they were being scrutinized by the IRS, and had no choice but to bail out. I don't know, but I do know that their spending of donor dollars was not always ethical. Perhaps Autism Speaks will have more accountability and better money controls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Very true. But, at least some good has come from it. Doesn't it seem like ever since his grandson was diagnosed, the media finally became aware and started doing more stories? It seems like it all started with NBC. _____ From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Singleton Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 8:10 PM To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: RE: Re: From Cure Autism Now Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, why didn't he take a road MOST intelligent, savy people would have taken, and join the board or talk to Portia about bringing his know-how to the group? BUT he has the ego that says he's got to create his own group. It just smells wierd. Something is very wierd about the whole thing. S. Re: From Cure Autism Now My understanding of the merger of the two is that Autism Speaks (Bob ) has the MONEY, the PR-SAVVY and the POLITICAL SAVVY, and CAN has the RESEARCH and the FOUNDATION-WORKS KNOW-HOW, and that's why they've decided to merge. Apparently he was raising LOTS of $$ and awareness, but didn't really have a system set up for USING the $$ or managing the $$. Makes sense to me, but then.I can be gullible sometimes. A. Weber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 You’d have to ask Mr. that question – I have no idea. The fact that Autism Speaks has now merged with two national autism groups make me think the two (older, established) groups must think highly of Mr. ’s money, influence or power, or they wouldn’t have considered the mergers. Just my humble opinion…. AW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 That's how I feel too, Aliza. I think that so many here are soooo tired of being shortchanged by school administration, insurance, etc., it's easy to be suspicious. But I guess I just don't think that way as a rule. I was impressed with the efforts Bob made with the whole NBC media push on autism, and I'm glad to have someone like him in our corner. Aliza Ratterree wrote: I think it is important to have a united front in our community, and this might be a step in the right direction, regardless of what they call the organization. At least I hope so. I always told my mom that we'd get more attention/funding/research when somebody in a position of power had a child in their family diagnosed with autism. Money talks. In this case it talks about autism, and that suits me just fine. JMO. Aliza Anita K wrote: 1,Money and 2,Politics. Lots of the first mean more power in the second. Just my 2c! -- In Texas-Autism-Advocacy , " Singleton " wrote: > > Ok, this is just frickin' wierd. > The chairman of NBC's grandson get diagnosed with autism, so INSTEAD of joining forces with an already existing organizations like ASA or CAN, he creates his OWN. Now CAN is joining HIS???????????? > Hmmmmm, where are our super slueths with time out there? Something just doesn't smell right about this whole sequence of events. While I agree that they should join forces, when is the already established, long standing CAN joining the upstart Autism Speaks????? > S.> From Cure Autism Now > > > Dearest Friends: > Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You > have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to > cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other's eyes we see > the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and > hope for a better future. > > We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making > at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that > you will join us. > > We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by > joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger > organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the > same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we > are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and > fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. > > Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more > people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not > down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get > done. > We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, > Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are > creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward > research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to > truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with > thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. > And if we were loud before, we will be louder. > > We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay > true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new > organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more > committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be > getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we > will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen > to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop > talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And > whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial > favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for > those with autism does not change. > > Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups > become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have > always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now > might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of > CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was > nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for > autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating > Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and > created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the > national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You > have insisted that this generation is worth saving. > We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe > that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and > powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the > future. > Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help > Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and > our children, now. > > Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack > Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 > > To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, > visit the CAN site. > To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit > our Newsroom . > > Forward this e-mail to your family and friends > > M. Guppy > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! > Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org > > " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to > compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should > live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. > Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right > to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 As CPA myself who has reviewed their independently audited annual financial statemnts for 2006, I can assure you that there is no fraud or existing IRS investigation for either current or prior periods. I'm not sure where your information is coming from, but it is incorrect. ju > > Yes, CAN's system for using and managing money included holding board > meetings (which included extended family members) in places like Hawaii > while staying at the most expensive hotels. CAN paid those bills for lavish > vacations, among other things. > I doubt CAN supporters/walkers were very aware of how the money was getting > used. But with their having a foundation status, there was a tremendous > amount of waste and fraud, so it may be possible that they were being > scrutinized by the IRS, and had no choice but to bail out. I don't know, > but I do know that their spending of donor dollars was not always ethical. > Perhaps Autism Speaks will have more accountability and better money > controls. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 I also agree with both of you. e Slatton wrote: That's how I feel too, Aliza. I think that so many here are soooo tired of being shortchanged by school administration, insurance, etc., it's easy to be suspicious. But I guess I just don't think that way as a rule. I was impressed with the efforts Bob made with the whole NBC media push on autism, and I'm glad to have someone like him in our corner. Aliza Ratterree wrote: I think it is important to have a united front in our community, and this might be a step in the right direction, regardless of what they call the organization. At least I hope so. I always told my mom that we'd get more attention/funding/research when somebody in a position of power had a child in their family diagnosed with autism. Money talks. In this case it talks about autism, and that suits me just fine. JMO. Aliza Anita K wrote: 1,Money and 2,Politics. Lots of the first mean more power in the second. Just my 2c! -- In Texas-Autism-Advocacy , " Singleton " wrote: > > Ok, this is just frickin' wierd. > The chairman of NBC's grandson get diagnosed with autism, so INSTEAD of joining forces with an already existing organizations like ASA or CAN, he creates his OWN. Now CAN is joining HIS???????????? > Hmmmmm, where are our super slueths with time out there? Something just doesn't smell right about this whole sequence of events. While I agree that they should join forces, when is the already established, long standing CAN joining the upstart Autism Speaks????? > S.> From Cure Autism Now > > > Dearest Friends: > Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You > have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to > cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other's eyes we see > the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and > hope for a better future. > > We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making > at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that > you will join us. > > We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by > joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger > organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the > same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we > are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and > fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. > > Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more > people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not > down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get > done. > We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, > Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are > creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward > research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to > truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with > thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. > And if we were loud before, we will be louder. > > We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay > true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new > organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more > committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be > getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we > will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen > to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop > talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And > whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial > favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for > those with autism does not change. > > Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups > become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have > always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now > might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of > CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was > nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for > autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating > Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and > created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the > national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You > have insisted that this generation is worth saving. > We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe > that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and > powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the > future. > Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help > Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and > our children, now. > > Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack > Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 > > To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, > visit the CAN site. > To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit > our Newsroom . > > Forward this e-mail to your family and friends > > M. Guppy > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! > Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org > > " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to > compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should > live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. > Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right > to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Okay, maybe you shouldn't trust me with numbers ... I should have said 2005, not 2006 (since 2006 isn't even over yet!) Judith > > > > Yes, CAN's system for using and managing money included holding > board > > meetings (which included extended family members) in places like > Hawaii > > while staying at the most expensive hotels. CAN paid those bills > for lavish > > vacations, among other things. > > I doubt CAN supporters/walkers were very aware of how the money > was getting > > used. But with their having a foundation status, there was a > tremendous > > amount of waste and fraud, so it may be possible that they were > being > > scrutinized by the IRS, and had no choice but to bail out. I > don't know, > > but I do know that their spending of donor dollars was not always > ethical. > > Perhaps Autism Speaks will have more accountability and better > money > > controls. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 This is a step in the right direction. If all the autism organizations out there merged together, we could accomplish more on all fronts as a united group. Diane From Cure Autism Now > > > Dearest Friends: > Though the word friends hardly does justice to how we feel about you. You > have been our brothers and sisters, our comrades in battle, our shoulders to > cry on, the arms that lift us up. When we look in each other's eyes we see > the same thing--that crazy mix of determination, sadness, endless love and > hope for a better future. > > We are writing today to tell you about a big decision that we are making > at Cure Autism Now; we pray that it will be the right one and we hope that > you will join us. > > We have decided that we can best serve the people we love with autism by > joining forces with Autism Speaks and becoming one much, much stronger > organization. The urgency with which we approach our mission will be the > same, the optimism and creativity and compassion will be the same. But we > are betting that our ability to get the message out, reach more people and > fund more research will be greater. And it needs to be. > > Because even though things are better than they were 10 years ago, more > people are getting diagnosed than ever before. The numbers are going up not > down, there is more sadness not less and there is more that we must get > done. > We are bringing our innovative science programs, including AGRE, ATN, > Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. We are > creating a new well-funded program that will pursue high risk, high reward > research. And we will be adding more money and more reach and the ability to > truly spread the message all over the country. We will be joining up with > thousands and thousands of other families who are as passionate as we are. > And if we were loud before, we will be louder. > > We are writing to say that as we join Autism Speaks, we pledge to stay > true to everything Cure Autism Now is and to bring that into the new > organization. And so we ask you to come with us. We ask you to get more > committed, show your passion with even more power and dedication. We will be > getting bigger and stronger and tougher and more insistent. As we grow, we > will get even faster not slower, our hearts will grow bigger, we will listen > to you harder. Whether our kids are 3 or 30, can't say a word or can't stop > talking about the baseball schedule, we want better lives for them. And > whether we are called Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, or that perennial > favorite in our house, Autism Sucks, our commitment to a better life for > those with autism does not change. > > Is there a downside? Well we suppose all those T-shirts and coffee cups > become memorabilia, but that is a small price to pay. And at CAN we have > always been about building the future, not dwelling on the past. Still now > might be a good time to look, for a moment, at what you have done as part of > CAN. You have created a field of scientific research where there was > nothing. You have written and passed the only important legislation for > autism and are about to make history by doing it again with the Combating > Autism Act. By creating AGRE, you have changed the way science is done and > created the gold standard of collaboration. You have made autism part of the > national vocabulary. You have given a voice to people who have no voice. You > have insisted that this generation is worth saving. > We are so proud of everything we have accomplished so far and we believe > that together, as we become the loudest, largest, most mobilized and > powerful force our community has ever seen, we can do twice as much in the > future. > Join us. Help us in the next part of the journey. Help us as we help > Autism Speaks speak passionately, truthfully and urgently for all of us and > our children, now. > > Portia Iversen and Jon Shestack > Parents of Dov Shestack, age 14 > > To read a message from Bell, Cure Autism Now's President and CEO, > visit the CAN site. > To see the press release about Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks, visit > our Newsroom . > > Forward this e-mail to your family and friends > > M. Guppy > Contact me to order the 2007 Autism Awareness Calendar for Texas! > Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org > > " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to > compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should > live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. > Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right > to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Did you also audit previous years? Have you any idea of the internal politics and waste from certain past board members? Perhaps Bell helped change that when he resumed his position, but prior to that, I've been told first-hand from former staff and board members that the organization was riddled with problems. I would have no reason to make this up; it pains me to know that donors gave to an autism cause which has used money towards personal extravagance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Their financial statements and related internal controls are audited every year by an independent accounting firm, as reflected in their yearly annual reports. (You yourself as a taxpayer can request copies of tax returns and also review their financial statements at any time, since they are a 501©(3) non-profit.) If there were material violations in prior years, they would been uncovered in the audit. Since your allegations are very serious, almost criminal in nature, it is your responsibility to contact authorities. If they are not based on hearsay, you should bring your substantiated allegations to the attention of the California Attorney General as well as the Internal Revenue Service. If they are based on hearsay, I recommend that you substantiate them prior to making such serious allegations. Judith > > Did you also audit previous years? Have you any idea of the internal > politics and waste from certain past board members? Perhaps Bell > helped change that when he resumed his position, but prior to that, I've > been told first-hand from former staff and board members that the > organization was riddled with problems. > I would have no reason to make this up; it pains me to know that donors gave > to an autism cause which has used money towards personal extravagance. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2006 Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 A few years back, it was pretty much common knowledge amongst those directly involved in the organization. And, it was why there was a turn over of certain members on the board, one of whom resigned and will receive the financial gain of her own book and movie deal based upon CAN funded-research. But to get to my point.... Someone posted comparing Autism Speaks (new organization) vs. CAN (about 10 years old) operation and financial management. My point was that just because Autism Speaks is new does not necessarily mean that it will be less able to handle money ethically. I don't know much about Autism Speaks, but it could very well be a change for the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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