[AAACE-NLA] Re: Scope of adult education activism
Kathleen Muro
kathleenmuro at aol.com
Fri Aug 13 20:10:48 EDT 2004
Robert:
I would not presume to tell any other program what to do, but from what
I have seen, large corporations spend far more advertising their good
deeds than they do on the efforts they fund. For example, Toyota runs
full page ads in Newsweek and other publications almost every issue
touting their literacy efforts. Those ads do not go cheap. Even a minute
on TV can run over a million dollars.
So let me suggest that we use as a yardstick the ratio of the cost of
advertising about a company's literacy efforts to the actual literacy
expenditure made. If a company awards a million dollars in literacy
grants a year, and then spends 10 million dollars advertising their good
deed, maybe we ought to not let ourselves be used. However, if they
donate $10 million to literacy and spend only a million on ads, then we
got the better end of the deal.
This is like the old joke:
Person 1---Will you have sex with me for a million dollars?
Person 2---Yes.
Person 1---Will you have sex with me for $20?
Person 2---No, what do you think I am, a prostitute?
Person 1---We've already established that, now we're just haggling about
the price.
I'm afraid using this kind of a yardstick says we go cheap, way too cheap.
irrobert at swbell.net wrote:
> Marie :
>
>
> To begin with I have forwarded your email to Peter Waite at
> ProLiteracy and I'm certain he will help provide you with additional
> information. I will offer this until you hear from Peter.
>
>
> It is my understanding that Wal-mart simply felt that with their
> capabilities that perhaps they could improve on the job being done by
> others. Nothing more than that.
>
> As far as being surprised that a company like that has expertise in
> the data collection business, most major businesses as well as
> government are in the information business. You would probably be
> surprised to discover what your telephone company knows about you !
>
> Since Wal-Mart launched its national literacy initiative three years
> ago, the company has donated more than $16 million with no strings
> attached and served more than 40,000 individuals through its national
> literacy helpline. Nearly 16,000 students have been referred to
> literacy centers in their communities for individual assistance.
>
> This doesn't even quantify what value the $ 16 million produced!
>
> My suggestion here is that we don't speculate about some
> conspiratorial motives and let programs decide for themselves what
> does or doesn't have value for them.
>
> With all due respect ,I would venture a guess that in actuality ,you
> have absolutely no idea what Wal-mart's intentions are . Since Peter
> Waite and ProLiteracy have had face to face contact and a better
> understanding of this situation it would seem prudent to wait and hear
> " facts" before making speculative conclusions.
>
> Robert
>
>
> Robert Pinhero, Social Entrepreneur
>
> Closing the gap between the " REAL" and the "IDEAL" ™
> Education & Training Consultant
> PO Box 684031
> Austin, Texas 78768
> Voice: 512-236-1052 Fax: 512-478-8208
> Member of the National Governance Council for ProLiteracy America
> Board Member - Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations
>
> http://www.robertpinhero.com <http://www.robertpinhero.com/>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
> [mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org]On Behalf Of
> Marie Cora
> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 8:37 AM
> To: 'National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE';
> robert at robertpinhero.com
> Subject: RE: [AAACE-NLA] Re: Scope of adult education activism
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> I’ve been following this thread about Wal-Mart, and I have to say
> that what I know about that chain makes me instantly question the
> motives of the company. And after Mary’s experiment, I feel more
> confident that my suspicious attitude towards them has merit. I
> also wonder why, if they are truly interested in helping advance
> the education of the general public, they are not connecting to
> existing, professional organizations that already do what they
> appear to be trying to duplicate.
>
>
>
> A company that is the largest censor of music in the U.S., that
> appears to advance males over females in position and salary, that
> evidently practices uneven policies with their benefits, that
> bulldozes local small business – if this is who contributes toward
> the larger scope of how literacy is understood and promoted in
> this country, then I am truly alarmed. It makes me understand
> that their motive is republican in nature.
>
>
>
> What if we as the literacy professional realm, approached Wal-Mart
> to ask some questions about all this? I don’t think that we
> should just watch what’s going on there. Part of what our mission
> has to be is to corral the efforts to help adult ed, and try as
> best we can to be singular in voice and mission.
>
>
>
> It’s pretty clear that in my mind, Wal-Mart’s intentions are not
> quite the same as NIFLs for example. But I’ll also concede my bad
> attitude towards them, and be open to hearing how this can all be
> something useful and positive.
>
>
>
> marie cora
>
> Moderator, NIFL Assessment Discussion List, and
>
> Coordinator/Developer LINCS Assessment Special Collection at
>
> http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment/
>
>
> marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
> [mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of
> Mary Dunn Siedow
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 10:31 AM
> To: robert at robertpinhero.com; National Literacy Advocacy List
> sponsored by AAACE
> Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Re: Scope of adult education activism
>
>
>
> Robert, et al
>
> After reading the article about Wal-Mart's interest in literacy, I
> called the "hot line" number. I was told that it would take two
> days for them to locate a literacy program in my town. The person
> to whom I spoke wanted a good deal of personal information (name,
> phone number, reason for seeking a program) and said she would
> call me back in a couple of days. I declined.
>
> Now this is curious. The National Institute for Literacy has a
> "hot line" as well. And it maintains an on-line directory of
> programs at http://www.literacydirectory.org/ . I called that
> toll free number and reached a person in the Department of
> Education who was able to give me the name of a program
> immediately with just my zip code. I thanked her and explained
> that I was simply checking the "hot line" because I'd read about
> another one.
>
> So, my question is - if Wal-Mart and Pro-Literacy really want to
> help - why not use the existing "hot-line" instead of confusing
> the issue with a second toll free number and a two day search process?
>
> Mary Dunn Siedow
>
> Robert Pinhero wrote:
>
>In one of my posts a while back I made the following comment
>
>
>
>"I have been told by the Center for Public Priorities here in Texas that the
>
>reason Adult Literacy isn't high on the radar is that the general public is
>
>not concerned with it. "
>
>
>
>Take a look at this Walmart press release today !
>
>
>
>
>
>"Only Half of Americans Fully Aware of Illiteracy Problem; Nearly
>
>Three-Fourths Can't Name a Local Literacy Group" <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
> <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
>http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.html <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
> <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
> <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
> <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
>Robert <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
> <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
> <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
>Robert Pinhero, Social Entrepreneur <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe>
>
>Closing the gap between the " <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040728/lnw009_1.htmlRobertRobertPinhero,SocialEntrepreneurClosingthegapbetweenthe> REAL" and the "IDEAL" ™
>
>Education & Training Consultant
>
>PO Box 684031
>
>Austin, Texas 78768
>
>Voice: 512-236-1052 Fax: 512-478-8208
>
>Member of the National Governance Council for ProLiteracy America
>
>Board Member - Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations
>
>http://www.robertpinhero.com
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org <mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org>
>
>[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org]On Behalf Of David
>
>Rosen
>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:39 PM
>
>To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
>
>Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] Re: Scope of adult education activism
>
>
>
>
>
>Chris,
>
>
>
>Correction. I do have a report from Illinois -- from Colleen Dries,
>
>Illinois Association of Adult Continuing Educators (IACEA) Legislative
>
>Co-Chair.
>
>
>
>David J. Rosen
>
>djrosen at comcast.net <mailto:djrosen at comcast.net>
>
>
>
>On Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at 04:46 PM, David Rosen wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>>Hi Chris,
>>
>>
>>
>>I have no report from advocates in Illinois. Could you get one for us?
>>
>>
>>
>>David J. Rosen
>>
>>djrosen at comcast.net <mailto:djrosen at comcast.net>
>>
>>
>>
>>On Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at 03:46 PM, Chris Francisco wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>David,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>What did Illinois report and who offered the report. I live in
>>>
>>>Illinois and have been an adult educator for more than twenty-five
>>>
>>>years. I would like to know the Illinois response to your questions.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>peace,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Chris
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>At 01:31 PM 7/27/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi Roberta and others,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I am beginning to hear from people now in other states.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The task I have asked people to do is simple.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>1. Here's the main question:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>How did adult literacy/basic education/ESOL do for FY05 in your
>>>>
>>>>state's budget?
>>>>
>>>>Better than last year? Worse? Or the same?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>If you have been doing advocacy together as a coalition, you already
>>>>
>>>>know the answer to this question. If you don't know the answer, you
>>>>
>>>>can find out by asking someone from the advocacy committee of your
>>>>
>>>>state adult education professional development organization. If you
>>>>
>>>>need a list of these contacts, go to:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://alri.org/Rosen/advocacy/advocacy.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Colleague, if you don't know the answer to this most basic of
>>>>
>>>>advocacy questions, and don't care to find out, perhaps you are not
>>>>
>>>>an adult literacy advocate yet. Perhaps you are one of those people
>>>>
>>>>who only like to read or talk about advocacy, not do it. Or perhaps
>>>>
>>>>there is no advocacy for adult literacy taking place in your state.
>>>>
>>>>In any case, you need to know the answer to this question this year
>>>>
>>>>and every year you call yourself an advocate for adult literacy
>>>>
>>>>education.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>2. In addition to answering the main question, I hope someone(s)
>>>>
>>>>from your state will describe what advocacy strategies you used last
>>>>
>>>>year and how they worked.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>3. if you can, describe the climate for next year's advocacy -- does
>>>>
>>>>it look like you will see level funding, funding cuts, or some
>>>>
>>>>opportunities for growth? If there are opportunities, what' are >>
>>>>
>>>>they?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I am not looking for a dissertation, only a paragraph or two. It
>>>>
>>>>would be best to post to the list, but if you aren't comfortable
>>>>
>>>>doing that, and you don't mind my summarizing what you send me and
>>>>
>>>>including it in a post to others who post information, e-mail it to
>>>>
>>>>me privately.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thanks everyone for your help.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>David J. Rosen
>>>>
>>>>Adult Literacy Advocate
>>>>
>>>>djrosen at comcast.net <mailto:djrosen at comcast.net>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at 12:26 PM, Roberta McKnight wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hello David and all,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm sorry to hear you're meeting with low response to your call for
>>>>>
>>>>>information. It occurs to me that folks may be unsure of how to go
>>>>>
>>>>>about providing an overview of adult literacy education activism in
>>>>>
>>>>>their states - both in terms of assimilating this information and
>>>>>
>>>>>understanding the scope of activities involved.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Folks may be unsure of how or in what ways they are participating.
>>>>>
>>>>>Perhaps it would be helpful to provide a survey of some sort to
>>>>>
>>>>>inform both format and scope. This would help folks get there arms
>>>>>
>>>>>around what is possible and helpful.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>My best,
>>>>>
>>>>>Roberta McKnight
>>>>>
>>>>>Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense
>>>>>
>>>>>of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can
>>>>>
>>>>>never be attained. Helen Keller
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Dear state level adult and family literacy advocate,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>So far I have only heard from one state, Illinois. Please let us
>>>>>
>>>>>hear from _every_ state where there are adult literacy education
>>>>>
>>>>>activists! This is important. We need to know -- from each other
>>>>>
>>>>>-- how things are going, what opportunities may be arising, what
>>>>>
>>>>>advocacy strategies have been effective, if and how things may be
>>>>>
>>>>>changing.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>All the best,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>David J. Rosen
>>>>>
>>>>>Adult Literacy Advocate
>>>>>
>>>>>djrosen at comcast,net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
>>>>
>>>>LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
>>>>
>>>>http://literacytent.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
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>>
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>>LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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