[YouthConvention] business

[peter altschul]

Greetings:

Thanks, James, for your note.  A couple of quick conments:

1.  Re the keynote: I personally would prefer hearing from two 
different keynote speakers; I would propose scrapping Matt and 
find another MCB member to give the second keynote.  Perhaps 
DeAnna Noriega or Naomi Seoule - or I could talk about my 
professional experiences and musical stints playing in marching 
bands, rock bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, etc.  and what I 
learned playing drums in all these groups.  If we really want to 
promote MCB as a place to join, let's showcase MCB talent.  I'm 
sure there are other MCB members who I am unaware of who have 
something to share.

2.  I propose spending part of lunch for participants to hear 
about MCB committees either through SHORT public presentations or 
through the video/audio clip you propose.

Best, Peter



> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "James Hollins" <jlhollins21 at hotmail.com
>To: <YouthConvention at moblind.org
>Date sent: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:00:08 -0500
>Subject: [YouthConvention] business

>Okay troops, first let me start by once again thanking you for 
your work and support on this venture.  Second, it saddens me to 
report that Patti is resigning from assisting with planning of 
the program.  She feels as if her professional and personal 
integrity will potentially be compromised if she continues or has 
her name openly attached to the program.  She also was not at all 
happy by being referred to as to old at one point during the 
conference call last evening.  So for now she is removing herself 
from the planning process of the event.

>Alright, this is the part that is not easy for me because I am 
usually not this person, but I have got to become this for a 
second.  The board of the Missouri Council put me in a position 
to organize an event for young adults with the hope of increasing 
the membership of our organization among this age group.  So what 
this first means is all things stop at me, not to say I do not 
want help and the committee to continue but do be prepared if I 
do not feel like something on the program or some idea is helping 
in what I am wanting to accomplish for the weekend.  This means 
that if I disagree then the final decision comes from me.

>So with that, programming committee, I appreciate all of your 
hard work, however, there are a couple of things I would like to 
see more of on the agenda.  The slogan you came up with is a good 
one, however, your program does not really reflect the statement.  
I would like to see some space to have more committees of MCB get 
addressed.  So this might mean we make a short video or some 
audio clips to be played through out.  This needs to be done so 
as to show what each committee does and make a fun charge to join 
and help be a part.  It really will not work with just a 
description at the beginning in the morning for a few minutes.  
Next, I would like to go back to having the main speaker be 
allowed to have 2 different times to speak.  Logically, we cannot 
and should not be spending the money it is going to cost to take 
care of him only to have him speak once in the morning.  Another 
thing, let's get into the habit of referring to the people 
attending the conference as attendees or participants and try and 
get away from calling them kids..  I know some of them are but 
not all of them will be.  Also let us try and use the word 
direction or guidance rather then monitor or control.  Keep in 
mind we are wanting them to see a softer more relaxed side of the 
council.  We are dealing with a generation who are not typically 
joining groups unless they are getting something from it right 
away.  Again, you are working extremely hard and I appreciate 
that but the program as it stands does not reflect MCB but in a 
couple of spots.  I understand everyone working it is MCB, but 
the program should show more of MCB.  So after you have taken a 
second to reflect on this message I am asking you to change a few 
things on the program, if any of you have any specific questions 
or would like to talk further to get a better feel for what I am 
looking for, please call or email me.  I thank you for taking the 
time to read this and look forward to hearing from all of you.
>jlhollins21 at hotmail.com
>816-739-6097