Thank you Christina, you are the first to actually recognize the effort that
FMLA and Shannon have put in to making the transportation to DC more affordable
for UVM students.  I was not so much concerned with the 180 dollars as I was
with the fact that people in the coalition have not recognized FMLA's hard work
and our central role in all of this.

I have brought up this issue with the other FMLA members at our meeting last
night, and we would all like the opportunity to participate in a vote on what
happens with the remaining funds.  Let me know when this is going to happen-
next Monday night?

Tova

Quoting Christina Helene Churchill <[log in to unmask]>:

> I really did not mean to start an argument or offend anyone - when I said
> donate
> to those who organized the march I meant the groups that nationally
> organized
> the march, not in our coalition.  I thought that FMLA could not be returned
> any
> money because they were given an alotted amount by SGA and for that reason
> had
> to use all of it.  If FMLA can recieve funds I think that they should
> recieve
> the $180 verse any other organization for two reasons: they donated a
> significant portion of money and because a basic focus of their agenda is
> reproductive rights.  I do not think enough thanks was given to FMLA for the
> generous help and to Shannon who really pushed in SGA.  They are the reason
> why
> we all only had to spend $40.  Regardless, they also have an account to hold
> the money so that it can be used, whereas R.R.C. does not have a place to
> deposit money (I will not hold it past May 14th because I do not want to be
> responsible for it and I very well may not be returning to UVM in the fall).
> As a final note, I think many of us used our own money to further this
> cause.
> I did, but that cannot consitute a reason to split the money between the
> three
> groups involved.  We were in this fight not for a financial reward but to
> send
> our voice to Washington.  I find my money well spent in photocopies and gas
> driving an hour to Morrisville to drop off the check to pay for the bus.
> This
> is not a well organized paragraph, but I return to the fact that the
> people's
> money will be well spent in a national organization moving for progress or
> in
> the FMLA whose specific agenda includes the March and reproductive education
> and rights.  If people want to put stipulations on the money, fine, but I
> feel
> this coalition has quickly become more concerned in recieving some part of
> the
> money instead of just ensuring it is involved in supporting reproductive
> rights
> nationwide.  Honestly, I was utterly surprised to find such a heated
> argument
> on this listserve concerning this $180.
>
> The only reason I proposed the donation was because I mentioned it on the bus
> to
> a couple people (from a couple different organizations, including members of
> the ISO) who seemed to be in total agreement.  I did not think there was so
> much controversy and I apologize for introducing this issue on the
> listserve.
>
> I am for resolving this in the most efficient and democratic way, but I do
> feel
> that the ISO has the biggest voice in this argument just because of sheer
> numbers.  I hope that everyone is listened to because in the past I have
> felt
> that dissenting views have been lost or ignored because the ISO has the
> majority in the governing of the coalition (I am not placing blame on the
> ISO
> for this; it was something that naturally occured without anyone's prompting
> because the ISO has a strong position on most of the issues discussed in the
> coalition).
>
> Hopefully other people can meet, but right now I cannot because of work,
> finals,
> and family stuff.  If other people have more time just let me know what the
> consensus of the meeting is.
>
> As a side note - there were so many messages I do not know if I missed this
> one,
> but Charlotte when can I get that last check?
>
> I am exhausted.  Hopefully this can be read in a benevolent way even though
> I
> know email is conducive to negative interpretations.  I really hope it is
> understood that I not tied to any organization and that my assessment of the
> money is solely concerned with ensuring it is invested in the most ideal
> situation or fund.
>
> Quoting "Kristofer J. Jenson" <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> > 1) If anyone wants to be removed from the list, please do not Email the
> > entire
> > list asking to be removed.  You can consult the instructions in the Email
> > you
> > first received when you were first put on the list.  If you deleted it or
> > cannot find it, you can Email myself ([log in to unmask]) or Shannon
> > ([log in to unmask]) and we can remove you.
> >
> > 2) We should figure out a time to meet to discuss the leftover money, as
> well
> > as
> > assess the march.  Do we want to meet on Monday, briefly?  Or maybe on the
> > night before a reading day so it won't interfere with our exams?  Perhaps
> > this
> > weekend?  A student (I can't remember exactly who) also made a short film
> > about
> > the march that we should all get together to watch as well.
> >
> > 3) I'm afraid I don't quite understand why the ISO should be exluded from
> > the
> > list of groups between which the funds would be split.  The ISO has played
> a
> > central role in organizing the coalition, the busses and outreach, as have
> > Planned Parenthood, FMLA and the Women's Center.  As a *democratic
> > coalition*,
> > we all worked together for the same end: to get people on the bus to DC.
> >
> > As far as donations, the only donations made to the busses were from
> > individuals
> > who dropped money into our water jug and from the SGA.  The only
> > organizational
> > body that contributed money to the busses was the SGA.  Planned
> Parenthood,
> > FMLA and the ISO did not do any actual donating as far as I understand it.
> > Though members of each did pay from their own pockets for photocopying and
> > whatnot.  FMLA held the money from SGA, but it did not come out of their
> > actual
> > funds as I recall.  ISO members payed the $40 for the bus just like
> everyone
> > else.
> >
> > If the ISO had hijacked the coalition in any way, then I would agree.  If
> it
> > had
> > demanded that a resolution be passed or it would leave the coalition, that
> > would be undemocratic.  If it sent 10 unrelated Emails every day and
> refused
> > to
> > let other organizations or individuals into the coalition, then it would
> be
> > undeserving of credit.  But it did none of these things.  The Emails it
> sent
> > were either announcements (as other groups have done), or wholly related
> to
> > RRC
> > affairs.  This is what a coalition is, and while we still have to decide
> > what
> > to do with the funds, we cannot exclude any group that was critical to
> > getting
> > this coalition off the ground for purely political reasons.  That is *not*
> > democratic.
> >
> > No, this is not the ISO listserv; it is the RRC listserv, of which the ISO
> is
> > a
> > highly active member.  Planned Parenthood and the FMLA have used it
> > accordingly
> > as well.  A coalition is designed so that groups may work together, and in
> > working together we should also feel free to discuss what events the
> various
> > organizations have planned.
> >
> > Solidarity,
> >
> > Kris
> >
> > --
> > "We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted
> > with
> > the fierce urgency of NOW. In this unfolding conundrum of life and
> history,
> > there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or
> > complacency. THIS IS A TIME FOR VIGOROUS AND POSITIVE ACTION."
> >
> > -Martin Luther King, Jr.
> >
>
>
> --
>


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