Reply To: Environmental Awareness

[Rezwan]

Great post, Patientman!

See also my post on the upcoming Gov 2.0 Summit.

As I note there, these events are great! But attending them will cost you. The Gov 2.0 event is in DC – the event itself is $995, not to mention transport and lodging. I will be sending the organizers an email about getting fusion innovation on the agenda and to try and get the fee waived. Failing that, I still think it’s a great idea to attend and get the Focus Fusion agenda out there in that environment, but it would require donations from our membership to be able to attend. Nobody shmoozes for free : )

Alas, attending these events costs money, but has great value as a source of networking. It may not appear to pay off immediately, but over time, connections are made and strengthened, and Focus Fusion can have a real presence and policy impact for fusion generally, and also create awareness about LPP.

This is the sort of thing that requires a budget, and that often is not funded by grants.

Many of you may attend these events on your own dime. If you do and promote Focus Fusion, let us know, because that is actually an “in kind donation” – you’ve taken the time and expense to do something for the cause of the organization you are a member of.

We could also start a fund for these events, some people pay so that others can attend. We need to build in a bit on the website to support this kind of thing so that people can attend conferences in their area and perhaps link in to HQ or to each other…upload feeds of what’s going on at the conference.

Also, I have yet to make the post I keep talking about with Membership and the bylaws. When you attend an event and talk about FFS, that’s great, but at the same time you do have a responsibility as a representative to be cool. How does the Sierra Club put it in their bylaws:

(a) No Club member, present or former leader, or member of the staff shall make
a statement or take a public position in the name of the Club that is contrary to, or
creates a misimpression of a policy or position established by the Board, the duly
authorized chapter, group, committee or other Club entity, or the Club
membership through referendum. When speaking or taking a public position on
their own behalf, or on the behalf of organizations other than the Club, members
shall avoid giving the impression that they are representing the Club and endeavor
to correct any misimpression in this regard.
Adopted 03/01-02/97; amended 11/14-15/98, 05/19-20/06, 02/24/07

Yes, as members take on these responsibilities, we do need to work out a bit of protocol. Just to let you know, I continue to wade through alternative bylaws in trying to generate a better draft of ours. OK, this requires a meeting with the members. It’s really a Board’s job to do that sort of thing. I’m just supposed to execute stuff : ) Separation of powers.

And also, the afore-mentioned board needs to establish official policies and positions.

We still need to develop our organization and website both to be better platforms for action and awareness so that when people engage with us, it’s clearer what they can do.

Before attending, we also need to figure out what we expect to get out of these events.