RE: Fall COMMON conference focus

Trevor, I think that airing things in public often gets thing done,
especially with recalcitrant groups that consider themselves somehow above
those whom they serve.  Whether COMMON fits that, you'd have to ask the
folks who are concerned.

And if anybody at COMMON wants to label Al as a whiner, then it's pretty
clear that they have no concept of Al's contribution.  For you to say Al has
a "responsibility to encourage" people, I disagree; that's the job of the
board.  And I daresay the last thing Al is, is "silly".

Finally, as to MY statement, it had nothing to do with COMMON.  It had to do
with other people taking Al to task for airing his opinion.  Sort of like
what you're doing.

Respect. 

Joe 

P.S.  If airing personal beliefs in a public forum were outlawed, then there
would be no bloggers.

From: trevor perry

Joe,

It seems obvious from your previous postings about your issues with COMMON
that you would side with a complaint about the processes at COMMON. That
does not make it right to complain in a public forum about a personal beef
with an industry association - even if you think by doing so, you can
affect the process.

I would suggest that no matter what your stature, or your stature at
COMMON,
or your stature in the industry, airing a personal complaint about the
scheduling process at COMMON in a public forum is simply a bad choice. It
can definitely tailor you as a whiner, and someone not willing to work
with
the volunteers and staff at COMMON who are in charge of the process.

Besides, the final schedule has not been set for the fall conference. When
it is completely finished, if Al were to have more of his sessions
scheduled, he would look sillier for having complained. As a speaker of
excellence, I believe Al should have a responsibility to ~encourage~ more
speakers to COMMON, and his email was not encouraging in any way.

It is my opinion that Al should use the influence he keeps for positive
impact. And he knows I think that.

Trevor