Posted on 08/18/2002 5:18:22 PM PDT by Auntie Mame
Dear Freepers:
I just returned from the First Annual Free Republic Network Convention in Las Vegas.
The Free Republic Network Cruise last October was the most fun I've ever had in my whole life. The Free Republic Network Conference I just attended was the most informative and inspiring two days I've ever had in my whole life.
The Free Republic Network is stretching its muscle, not by talk, but by action. The Free Republic forum is liberty's college. The Free Republic Network is liberty's workplace.
If you attended, please use this thread to post your observations, comments and highlights of the conference. I will give mine below. But before I do, I'd like to take this time to thank Bob Johnson and the FRN board for putting on this conference. It's hard for me to find the words to adequately describe how great this experience was--and how much I learned.
I sure as heck am lucky to have him as my husband.
That would have been excellent. If you HAD taken my money I would have just handed you off to my wife. She plays a better DEFENSIVE game than I do. She'll snooker you and make you LIKE it. ;^) HAHA
It was so great seeing you there. Now I know who you are when I'm asking for my Scotch in the Smokers' Lounge. LOL!
This thread is great. A lot of information has been given. I missed the fundraiser on Saturday afternoon. My head was already too full. Now I see Strela has posted the information on that. FReepers are great people!
I can't adopt. I can't even be a foster mother. I'm not married and don't have the ability to be mothering anyone, save the dog perhaps. Squeezing in quality time with the canine around my work schedule is one thing. I don't think it's the way to go with a human being. Not my child, anyway -- whether conceived or adopted by me.
That's one reason being a guardian ad litem has been an attractive option and I trained with the Each One Save One program. Unfortunately, transport proved an impediment to ready placement over the years and I'm restricted to the rare cases which can be handled almost exclusively by bicycle.
Volunteering any time in teen pregnancy centers? How much time? Doing any volunteerism in homeless or vocational programs? Showering the benefit of 10 dollar words on people who can use them for practical guidance in their lives?
My Mom instilled a very strong obligation to volunteer. Throughout my childhood, she pressed us into service as extra hands at church, school, Camp Scott, the Red Cross, Tulsa Little Theatre, as Christmas elves for the old folks and daycare centers, bulk mailers extraordinnaire and (believe it or not) proofreaders for her publishing projects. I even played an "abused child" for one of her PSA spots on television.
In addition to being the sort of woman both old family friends and perfect strangers will come up and tell you "came out of nowhere just when I needed her most and then disappeared without waiting for a thank you", she was a homeroom mother, Girl Scout leader, Junior Leaguer, board member of the Friends of DayCare, taught Sunday schoool, drove Meals on Wheels, did audio-visual work for the Tulsa Library and others, etc. and generally made herself available to any and all who needed help.
She was even the "Service to Mankind" award in Tulsa one year. None of us ever knew about that, though, until years later someone looked closely once at the collection of old bowling trophies she'd let my baby sister have for her room. My Mom doesn't go around tooting her own horn and avoided like the plague any recognition for the work she did.
I try to take after her as best I can although my talents, organization, free time and transportation capabilities don't quite match hers.
Besides, I prefer devoting time to friends and strangers in my own neighborhood who need help rather than joining the organized efforts of which I've been a part over the years. Primarily because many organizations -- even the Catholic ones -- increasingly require almost oppressive red tape and politically correct parameters. And too, I'm not the most disciplined or organized person in the world. It's better I keep to what few habits I can perform faithfully and simply remain vigilant for and open to opportunities to be of service on the fly.
It's not the ten-dollar words that do the trick, OPH. Take abortion, for example. A subject extremely important to me.
I have a good friend here who once contemplated that knowing her boyfriend was going to make her abort. My counsel to her was consistent: I would love her and stand by her no matter what she did but she could not in good conscience kill her child whose heart was beating by the time she told me she was pregnant.
When she finally told him, he indeed pressured her and it was I who ended up babysitting her daughter the day she went to go get the abortion. Can you imagine what an awful day that was? Entertaining the daughter all day knowing her Mom was in the process of killing her unborn little sister? But by the time she told him and he packed her off to the clinic, it was going to be a two-day procedure and cost over $600 instead of $300. She just couldn't do it.
It's possible I can claim some responsibility for the "delay tactic" but -- more importantly, I think -- was the fact that I could be perfectly consistent, objective, confident of the truth and concerned for the child but still evidence an unconditional love for her that precluded my abandoning her on principle. That's how I operate in real life.
(And therein lies a clue as to why all your nastiness and baiting has no effect on me.)
This is a political forum where ten-dollar words ostensibly are understood as educated folks debate Issues, hone their consciences and inspire others to action ... whether through organized activism or individual witness. I see no reason to apologize -- EVER -- for introducing or focusing on the Right to Life in the course of a discussion herein.
The right to life is the one right on which all others are based. It is the source and guarantee of our essentially equal claim to human dignity and Respect ... regardless of age, sex, race, faith, intelligence or perfection. You get it right, and all may go well. You get it wrong ... stumble right out of the gate ... and the rest is skew as a matter of course. It is that important.
Are you saying that children should be killed if she doesn't?
What about women who are born without the ability to bear children? Nuns? Lesbians? Betty Friedan - who has less of a chance to become pregnant than Pardek (because of not being able to find a willing partner and because she's as barren as The Sahara)?
I might be persuaded to go along with this "women's issue" tripe, as long as they fasten a muzzle over the respective maws of those harpyish broads in Congress the next time conscription is discussed.
I say, "When in doubt, go long" and enter the whole link, old-style.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
And then the casino cleaned my clock.
PR is not a dirty word - it is simply the art of doing good and getting credit for it.
Good PR:
- Is a shortcut to connect with voters.
- Lends credibility and believability to your cause.
- Is free.
Some tips to attract positive PR:
1. Look for the media angle. For example, if you want more attention when you speak on veteran's issues, schedule your press conference or Freep on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day. This ties in nicely with 3) below.
2. Frame the issues. Don't let disruptors pull you off-topic - talk about what you came to talk about.
3. Ride the wave. Conservatives get considerable mileage and favorable coverage talking about terrorism post 9/11 - this is true because terrorism has become an issue that is foremost in the minds of voters.
More trivially, don't let an event with a lot of public buzz pass you by if you have something to say. Let public events help you make your points - strike while the iron is hot.
4. Be creative. In an earlier post on this thread, I alluded to an individual present at a Sore Loserman Freep bringing her dog with her, carrying a sandwich board sign. The unusual and funny sticks in people's minds, and you'll not get that sort of favorable publicity by simply being a talking head.
Miss Slippy and I enjoyed meeting you the other night....
Welcome, friend! Hope your trip home was uneventful.
There were some rather good-looking young ladies in the vicinity of the Venetian across the street that bore further investigation. Then it could have been a case of:
"We saw, we conquered, we ..." ;)
It was a pleasure meeting you and to see the art you are capable of producing.
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