Flo: Re Contacts

[Guest guest]

Thank you Flo for saying what I have been thinking for a VERY long time.

You expressed it perfectly!!! I too, feel honored to be asked to be a

contact, and

happily respond. But also like you, I NEVER respond to a general request.

Thanks for giving my thoughts a voice!

Hugs,

Pat Lyle

>>Flo wrote:

If you need contacts, the best way to do it is to write to

individuals and ask them specific questions. Or to ask one general

question, such as, can you tell me about your MGB experience.

Let me tell you why I say this. If you just post a thingie on the

list and say you need contacts, you are (without meaning to) dumping

your responsibilities on folks to come through for you. To be a

contact you have to sit at your computer, organize your thoughts and

spend a little time writing to help someone. In the manual, Dr. R

tells you to make contact with at least ten people who have had

surgery. What he wants you to do is contact people, not just throw

out a post and assume that others will carry your ball.

I don't mean to lecture here. It's not my nature as most of you know.

But if you want to change your life and have this surgery, please

take some responsibility for that. Please show some personal courtesy

for that and be polite enough to write to people, on an individual

basis, and ask them to be your contact. I am always flattered when I

am asked to be a contact. I NEVER respond to general requests to the

list for a contact for two reasons: 1. Being fat for 50 years leaves

you with the feeling that you're not good enough and that no one

really wants you for a contact and 2. I don't assume others

responsibilities that are thrown at me. I told my daughter that the

proper way was to write individually to people...and that's what she

did. She wrote to 12 people and got 12 contacts back in less than 24

hours.

I'm stepping down off the soapbox now and hope to hell I don't fall

on my butt while doing it. You can start throwing the flames now.

This is not directed at anyone but just a gentle reminder that we all

have lives and that a little courtesy goes a long way!

Flo>>