Guest guest Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Hi all..... When I haven't been job searching, I've been very busy " behind the scenes " with getting as much of GCA as I can done. A few things in the pipeline... 1. The new GCA trifold. I've posted a picture of it in the Photos section. Take a look for yourself to see who my group is and what GCA represents in my area. The left panel is GCA's mission statement. The right panels are the five visions of GCA. The blank space will be for pictures, etc. Should be fun. 2. The new GCA website. We're still in the content phases of writing many of these webpages. The site is bigger than anybody thought it would be, and we're excited at the possibility of what the final product will be like. The website should be online and ready to go around July 1st. 3. The new GCA young adults group and parents' support group for the young adults. After I and another board member kept receiving emails from parents of young adults (16-17 years old), we decided to start up a young adults group (which would go from 16 to the upper 20s). At the same time, we couldn't ignore the parents of the young adults. So, we're starting up a parents' support group, to give and provide encouragement to these parents. Both should be up and running between the spring and summer this year. 4. The new GCA traveling library. Although I'll be writing a grant later this year for more new books, my best friend and I estimate we have 30-40 books ready for use for the GCA library. We will have GCA members bring a check made out for $20 or so, as a means of covering the cost of replacing a book, etc. We want to give adult and young adult Aspies in greater Chattanooga every opportunity to educate themselves and more on AS and to become a better self-advocate. There's much more to be done than what I have listed. Both the trifold and library are debuting on Thursday next week. Although it would be nice to be actually paid for something I am very passionate (GCA), I do it for free anyway. (1) There's an immense need for something as this and there is nothing like it. (2) It's a great way for me to network with many people in the Chattanooga community. (3) It's a great opportunity for me to get myself that much more involved with organizations like the Autism Society of America. A good friend of mine is on the ASA's board of the nearest chapter, and has talked about seeing what my interest of serving on that board would be (since there are a few vacancies). I am considering it, but am not going to commit to that until after the website and young adult/parents groups get going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 , Good news on progress of the GCA. One note of caution as it relates to your statement at the end of your posting: I'd go " slow " with respect to hooking up with the ASA or becoming too dependent working with someone who's on their advisory boards. Becoming too involved with the national organization could involve you in a level and kind of politics you'd find frustrating and disappointing. The national organization is moving, however slowly, into responding to adult issues of less profoundly impaired individuals but is still heavily influenced by the medical establishment and steered by professional service providers whose agendas are markedly different than the average ASA member. Unfortunately, this kind of cross-purposes politicking dominates what the ASA does just as much as what it says and doesn't say. Stick closer to home and to what you know will work, keeping attuned to actual performance and reliability rather than verbal promises of anyone you ally with. With that said, I'd suggest you keep your connections with members of the " Adults With " advisory group to the ASA under wraps and at a level of " plausible deniability. " That means NOT applying for membership on such an advisory group or getting too chummy, publicly, with any of its members. Always keep in mind contacts and connections that will maximize your flexibility and assure participants in your Chatanooga efforts maximum independence and freedom to address what THEY feel is important, rather than being dragged around by the agendas of the national organization or even its advisory board members. If you're interested in providing direct support and direct services, you might look at the organizational model of two entities: the Asperger Association of New England -- its working side rather than merely its board of directors -- and the Asperger Association of Greater Washington (DC). Both organizations are extremely effective but have different member bases and widely different " service objectives. " It's easy to become embroiled in efforts that become too labor or time-intensive and lead to facilitator burnout, so checking with both of these organizations might give you some tips on how to survive becoming sucked into events and activities that could leave you and your active participants drained of energy and interest in expanding your activities. Good luck. N. Meyer Updates on GCA > >Hi all..... > >When I haven't been job searching, I've been very busy " behind the scenes " with getting as much of GCA as I can done. > >A few things in the pipeline... >1. The new GCA trifold. I've posted a picture of it in the Photos section. Take a look for yourself to see who my group is and what GCA represents in my area. The left panel is GCA's mission statement. The right panels are the five visions of GCA. The blank space will be for pictures, etc. Should be fun. > >2. The new GCA website. We're still in the content phases of writing many of these webpages. The site is bigger than anybody thought it would be, and we're excited at the possibility of what the final product will be like. The website should be online and ready to go around July 1st. > >3. The new GCA young adults group and parents' support group for the young adults. After I and another board member kept receiving emails from parents of young adults (16-17 years old), we decided to start up a young adults group (which would go from 16 to the upper 20s). At the same time, we couldn't ignore the parents of the young adults. So, we're starting up a parents' support group, to give and provide encouragement to these parents. Both should be up and running between the spring and summer this year. > >4. The new GCA traveling library. Although I'll be writing a grant later this year for more new books, my best friend and I estimate we have 30-40 books ready for use for the GCA library. We will have GCA members bring a check made out for $20 or so, as a means of covering the cost of replacing a book, etc. We want to give adult and young adult Aspies in greater Chattanooga every opportunity to educate themselves and more on AS and to become a better self-advocate. > >There's much more to be done than what I have listed. Both the trifold and library are debuting on Thursday next week. > >Although it would be nice to be actually paid for something I am very passionate (GCA), I do it for free anyway. (1) There's an immense need for something as this and there is nothing like it. (2) It's a great way for me to network with many people in the Chattanooga community. (3) It's a great opportunity for me to get myself that much more involved with organizations like the Autism Society of America. A good friend of mine is on the ASA's board of the nearest chapter, and has talked about seeing what my interest of serving on that board would be (since there are a few vacancies). I am considering it, but am not going to commit to that until after the website and young adult/parents groups get going. > > > > > >------------------------------------ > > " We each have our own way of living in the world, together we are like a symphony. >Some are the melody, some are the rhythm, some are the harmony >It all blends together, we are like a symphony, and each part is crucial. >We all contribute to the song of life. " > ...Sondra > > We might not always agree; but TOGETHER we will make a difference. > > ASPIRES is a closed, confidential, moderated list. >Responsibility for posts to ASPIRES lies entirely with the original author. > Do NOT post mail off-list without the author's permission. > When in doubt, please refer to our list rules at: > http://www.aspires-relationships.com/info_rules.htm > ASPIRES ~ Climbing the mountain TOGETHER > http://www.aspires-relationships.com > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.