Hi David,
My post mentioned no names, and I am happy to confirm that you are not
one of the SDS-ers that has been running me around in circles for a
year.
I am unable to understand how editorial contribution requires physically
being in Hawaii or Dallas. (Not that I have seen any notices requesting
volunters to go to either of those places, either...) I've done
editorial review, scoring of grant aplications, etc., via the postal
service, e-mail, plus when neccessary supplementary communications via
the phone. Academia is almost in general, except for a few well-paid
positions (as documented in recent books like "Will Teach For Food"),
becoming a volunteer or semi-volunteer phemomenon, considering that
one's expenses can easily zero out any income, so as one volunteer to
another, I applaud your work.
But the word "volunteer" in no way trumps words like "democractic" or
"open", under any circumstances.
Nothing to do with you, David, but I'm wondering if the new SDS Mission
Statement Draft, (apparently completed before the promised Diversity
Committee has been formed) will be voted on at the upcoming Chicago
Annual Meeting? (I asked if it were possible to read it and vote by
e-mail, if one cannot afford to fly to Chicago. I've yet to get a clear
"yes" on that.) If it IS voted on, only by people physically in
Chicago, then the total cost of whatever the plane, the hotels and the
conference ticket, etc. adds up to, would in effect, be the functional
equivalent of a huge "Poll Tax" required to participate in that, or any
other "vote" on any issue that may occur at the Annual Meeting.
I think my post is clear, that the reason I have yet to see even a
recent Journal, is not simply that the publication schedule got behind,
but (now that you're catching up, which I only learned from personal
e-mail just received today from another kind member)... it is rather,
I haven't seen even the last year's ones, because of the organisation's
casual breach of it's membership contract with me. The org said
(substance -- not exact words) "this fee covers membership including the
subscription" and then after cashing the check, told me -- forget that
subscription, you have to pay again for that.
THAT, is clearly what I said is principly why I have not seen even my
membership year's worth of DSQ issues.
I think any Board Member or official in any capacity, of any org. should
be concerned about what is the equivalent of petty consumer fraud,
beyond just saying "not my doing", or "not my dept." We all have a
responsibility to insist on basic honesty in an org's solicitations for
money. I very much appreciate your offer of one of the several DSQ
issues I have paid for.... (but offering me ALL the issues I paid for 10
months ago, would be what's appropriate, right?)
As for the elusive List of back issues & their themes (and some day
hopefully an Index, since that's needed for SDS to fulfull it's
aspirations for a "multidisciplinary" role).... plenty of ISP's will
give you a web site for free; mine makes creating a website as easy as
sending a letter -- no skills required -- So, if someone else in a
different "dept." at SDS is backlogged on posting your DSQ archives info
to the SDS site.... one could very easily 'post" this stuff to a
separate temporary web site, and simply put a link on the SDS site, and
put notice of the separate web site in any of the org's e-mails or
snail-mailings, plus send the link to anyone inquiring. Such a
quickie-website could also list libraries carrying it, negating the need
for time-consuming e-mail inquiries on that question, too.....
I have seen teh continuum of "volunteer" and "inclusive / exclusive" and
"martyr" and "control" play out in many variations, in many orgs. Just
as someone who lives with snow every day can tell you there's a hundred
different kinds, there are a hundred different levels of how well group
really invites & accepts volunteer effort, or just make gestuires like
that while actually repelling offers to help. One fascinating letter I
just received went into detail about the writer's offers to help an SDS
Committee, which got a run-around leading to the door being locked in
his face.
Nothiog to do with you David, but sometimes what is presented as
volunteer martyrdom, is not a result of no ofers to help, but it can be
a result of offers to help being pushed away. I now know of 4
"departments" of SDS pushing such offers to help, away.
===
Thank to many, for the almost instantaneous directly E-mailed support
from SDS members, saying it's time that some of these things be brought
out into the sunlight for airing. As expected, they don't feel safe
saying those things in public. (I'm reading these in the order sent;
perhaps someone has already, or will "go public" in saying what the
private E-Mails almost all say.)
I'm happy to accept the role of the "outsider" safely beyond the reach
of any possible professional retribution, who's therefor free to "speak
truth to power". (Even the one unsigned hostile letter - did not even
try to dispute any of the information I reported.)
In the age of super-easy mass-E-mailings, websites, conference calls,
overnight messenger services, etc. -- organizations of many kinds are
rapidly losing all their old excuses for keeping information so tightly
held... As one letter-writer just said to me, orgs that don't change,
may find themselves superceded by more open ones....
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|