More nominations are certainly needed, and an election, before there is any position to accept, but thanks Paul for your support and belief!
I would also like to call attention to my Secretary Jason Wills comments in defense of the ICPS and the scientific concerns. These are to the point, and
present the problem of "scientific integrity" in a very good light.
I am an ICPS member and am proud to be one. I have always supported the ICPS, and I continue to support them. I stand ready to assist them should they embrace ICPS President Mazur's proposal in any way possible.
The ICPS is the best tool for interfacing with the scientific community, but the ICPS is also not the only CP concern, and not the only CP Society. Although I feel all should offer the ICPS the deference they deserve, at the same time I have some criticism of some aspects regarding the ICPS image and presentation. Other members have similar criticism, and although they are not subscribed ICPS members, they surely are members of a more inclusive CP society and they deserve to have a voice as well. It does not begin and end with the ICPS, despite the thrust of the ICPS to make it so. It begins with the individual. If the individual does not have voice or consideration in the governing process of his society, then such a society cannot serve its members other than in a peripheral fashion, and it's leaders will be out of touch with the will of its membership. I believe in time, support for such a Society will be withdrawn, and it will fail. Without a Floor to open discussion on, the ICPS officers have no way of assessing the will of it's membership.
I really liked the ICPS in the days when Don Schnell was President. It was more laid back. There was less concern with the "Quality" of its membership, and more concern with its members. People were willing to write articles for the CPN, offer opinions and speculations, and interact in a SOCIAL manner. It was a lot like TF, before "Quality" became the dominating thrust, discouraging any but the most elite members from presenting material for publication or discussion on it's listserve.
The dictates of it's Administration now have it bogged down in red tape, schedules, review . Concern with "Image" has certainly been effective. The Society has quite a different image from the days when back yard pitcher plant farmers and Presidents alike got their hands dirty together and shared in the work and pleasure together. I have reread the early CPN's, and find the early publications has an atmosphere very similar to the feeling we have here at TF, complete with speculations, inaccuracies and member contributions. It was a growing thing then, filled with productive enthusiasm .
In the same way the CP Listserve has become a useless discussion tool dominated by the voicerferous few who discourage any non-elite posters, the CPN has drifted towards becoming a scientific journal, rather than a society journal.
The technology is present for the ICPS officers to have closer contact with its membership. At present such communication between the ICPS officers and its membership is via personal email. The problems arise when society members are directed, as Mr. Mazur, ICPS Pesident, has directed, that we all not "bother" Barry with our concerns, ideas and collective will. He is a *busy* man involved with important matters of which we know nothing. There is a "right" way to do things, and this will be decided by those who know better, and can really do something.
The ICPS, although putatively representative of CP society is responsible only to its subscribers. My objection is that CP SOCIETY goes beyond the subscription list of the ICPS.
Who will serve this society of scientific wannabe's, dreamers, back yard growers with no credentials, ignorant newbies? Who will stand up for Joe Wannaplant?
I have suggested many times to Barry, that a union between TF and the ICPS would be a good idea. I believe it remains a good idea. The ICPS needs to attend to the will of its membership, NOT its own perogatives and opinions of its board. ICPS members are not all lettered scientists, not all good spellers, not all completely informed.
The ICPS needs a moderated forum where the needs of the many are allowed free discussion, and the CP Listserve has failed as a communication tool. The ICPS has great potential to act, if it will, for its membership but it's leaders are out of touch with the desires of that same membership, and has no way to learn what these desires are. They have painted themselves into a scientific corner and are constrained by their own self created image of what "Quality" implies.
Well, you can't have your cake and eat it too. In the end, an inclusive CP society will judge a work by the fruit it bears. If the current administrative tenor continues, the ICPS will end up as a scientific Journal serving an elite scientific membership and the bulk of its members will seek a place where true social interaction is fostered, respected and protected. I certainly will remain an ICPS member, but it will be for what the ICPS provides to me, not for what I can offer to it. I am, after all, only Joe Needaplant and what do I know about anything?
I urge the ICPS to act on these considerations. I will not mention them again (other than in MODERATED public debate), since it is not my intention to compete with, defame or demean the ICPS, but rather cooperate with them in areas where our mutual goals coincide. I believe with the employment of real communication and feedback, we will find that there are many such goals. In the end, we are all ONE SOCIETY, if we can but realize it!
Joe Wannaplant is just one little voice without prestige or special interest. What is needed is for an election to demonstrate statistical backing to that small voice, and lend it strength, volume and respect amongst the councils of the Wise. I have accepted the nomination, and now I ask that those who stand by me enter my campaign, and actively work toward my election. Having the backing of 10 votes is good, but having the backing of 1000 is much better. If you will work towards my election, I will do everything I can to work towards determining the will of the majority and towards the implementation of that will.
With your voice I can speak to the ICPS (and others) with some authority, but without it I am just another guy, and can be painted to be seen as such by clever rhetoric and propaganda. As an elected official it will be harder to brush me off, and friends, I do not intend to be brushed off. I am here to stay. One thing I can promise: if you elect me, I will not lead you: you will lead me. Please work on campaigning for me and be active in calling the membership to vote when the time comes.
I am still calling for nominations. I will not have it said I ran unopposed, or that I was a "shoe-in". Nominations may be refused by the nominee's, but thay should be made!
I would also like to call attention to my Secretary Jason Wills comments in defense of the ICPS and the scientific concerns. These are to the point, and
present the problem of "scientific integrity" in a very good light.
I am an ICPS member and am proud to be one. I have always supported the ICPS, and I continue to support them. I stand ready to assist them should they embrace ICPS President Mazur's proposal in any way possible.
The ICPS is the best tool for interfacing with the scientific community, but the ICPS is also not the only CP concern, and not the only CP Society. Although I feel all should offer the ICPS the deference they deserve, at the same time I have some criticism of some aspects regarding the ICPS image and presentation. Other members have similar criticism, and although they are not subscribed ICPS members, they surely are members of a more inclusive CP society and they deserve to have a voice as well. It does not begin and end with the ICPS, despite the thrust of the ICPS to make it so. It begins with the individual. If the individual does not have voice or consideration in the governing process of his society, then such a society cannot serve its members other than in a peripheral fashion, and it's leaders will be out of touch with the will of its membership. I believe in time, support for such a Society will be withdrawn, and it will fail. Without a Floor to open discussion on, the ICPS officers have no way of assessing the will of it's membership.
I really liked the ICPS in the days when Don Schnell was President. It was more laid back. There was less concern with the "Quality" of its membership, and more concern with its members. People were willing to write articles for the CPN, offer opinions and speculations, and interact in a SOCIAL manner. It was a lot like TF, before "Quality" became the dominating thrust, discouraging any but the most elite members from presenting material for publication or discussion on it's listserve.
The dictates of it's Administration now have it bogged down in red tape, schedules, review . Concern with "Image" has certainly been effective. The Society has quite a different image from the days when back yard pitcher plant farmers and Presidents alike got their hands dirty together and shared in the work and pleasure together. I have reread the early CPN's, and find the early publications has an atmosphere very similar to the feeling we have here at TF, complete with speculations, inaccuracies and member contributions. It was a growing thing then, filled with productive enthusiasm .
In the same way the CP Listserve has become a useless discussion tool dominated by the voicerferous few who discourage any non-elite posters, the CPN has drifted towards becoming a scientific journal, rather than a society journal.
The technology is present for the ICPS officers to have closer contact with its membership. At present such communication between the ICPS officers and its membership is via personal email. The problems arise when society members are directed, as Mr. Mazur, ICPS Pesident, has directed, that we all not "bother" Barry with our concerns, ideas and collective will. He is a *busy* man involved with important matters of which we know nothing. There is a "right" way to do things, and this will be decided by those who know better, and can really do something.
The ICPS, although putatively representative of CP society is responsible only to its subscribers. My objection is that CP SOCIETY goes beyond the subscription list of the ICPS.
Who will serve this society of scientific wannabe's, dreamers, back yard growers with no credentials, ignorant newbies? Who will stand up for Joe Wannaplant?
I have suggested many times to Barry, that a union between TF and the ICPS would be a good idea. I believe it remains a good idea. The ICPS needs to attend to the will of its membership, NOT its own perogatives and opinions of its board. ICPS members are not all lettered scientists, not all good spellers, not all completely informed.
The ICPS needs a moderated forum where the needs of the many are allowed free discussion, and the CP Listserve has failed as a communication tool. The ICPS has great potential to act, if it will, for its membership but it's leaders are out of touch with the desires of that same membership, and has no way to learn what these desires are. They have painted themselves into a scientific corner and are constrained by their own self created image of what "Quality" implies.
Well, you can't have your cake and eat it too. In the end, an inclusive CP society will judge a work by the fruit it bears. If the current administrative tenor continues, the ICPS will end up as a scientific Journal serving an elite scientific membership and the bulk of its members will seek a place where true social interaction is fostered, respected and protected. I certainly will remain an ICPS member, but it will be for what the ICPS provides to me, not for what I can offer to it. I am, after all, only Joe Needaplant and what do I know about anything?
I urge the ICPS to act on these considerations. I will not mention them again (other than in MODERATED public debate), since it is not my intention to compete with, defame or demean the ICPS, but rather cooperate with them in areas where our mutual goals coincide. I believe with the employment of real communication and feedback, we will find that there are many such goals. In the end, we are all ONE SOCIETY, if we can but realize it!
Joe Wannaplant is just one little voice without prestige or special interest. What is needed is for an election to demonstrate statistical backing to that small voice, and lend it strength, volume and respect amongst the councils of the Wise. I have accepted the nomination, and now I ask that those who stand by me enter my campaign, and actively work toward my election. Having the backing of 10 votes is good, but having the backing of 1000 is much better. If you will work towards my election, I will do everything I can to work towards determining the will of the majority and towards the implementation of that will.
With your voice I can speak to the ICPS (and others) with some authority, but without it I am just another guy, and can be painted to be seen as such by clever rhetoric and propaganda. As an elected official it will be harder to brush me off, and friends, I do not intend to be brushed off. I am here to stay. One thing I can promise: if you elect me, I will not lead you: you will lead me. Please work on campaigning for me and be active in calling the membership to vote when the time comes.
I am still calling for nominations. I will not have it said I ran unopposed, or that I was a "shoe-in". Nominations may be refused by the nominee's, but thay should be made!