[NLA] NIFL Board nominees

[George E. Demetrion]

Thanks to Andy Hartman for writing this important message.  I echo his
call for the NCL to write a letter issuing the field's concerns to the
President and the Cabinet Members comprising the Interagency Group
overseeing NIFL .

In addition I think it's at least an open issue as to whether the current
slate should be opposed in a principled way (no dispersion against
current nominees) or whether the field should push instead for an
advisory group to the advisory board.  While it is an open issue I favor
the former and recommend that nominations be made on the NLA floor for a
one week period and some voting process allowed that David Rosen might
set up and that the alternative slate and appropriate biographical data 
be included in the NCL letter.

Andy points out the importance of wading in and weighing in not only for
the present, but for the future if the field is going to attain any
respect in the White House and in Congress, and might I add,
self-respect.  As he states it, such opposition to appointees (principled
or otherwise) happens all the time.  Our opposition would be on
principle, to achieve balance at NIFL and to preserve the focus on adult
literacy and family literacy. That principled opposition would be  made
crystal clear in the letter.

In addition, since Senator Kennedy and the President are such close
allies now (witness the recent education bill), perhaps successful
lobbying of his office can be a means of influencing the Senate as well
as the executive branch.  Our friends from MA, so successful in recent
campaigning, can be of help here as well as others close to the policy
scene.

Also, given the "impression" Andy received from high ranking officials
about the direction of NIFL as well as the legislation (rescinded?) about
the composition of the NIFL Board (below), inquiring minds do want to
know, in fact, what was the inside scoop that resulted in the actual
choices made as well as about possible names that did not become
nominees.  We want to know because the politics of literacy are being
defined behind those closed corridors in Washington D.C.  We want to know
because it is our constitutional right as Americans to know how these
politics are being played out.  

As the premier literacy journalist in the field perhaps David Speight can
get that information and shine a bright light of truth upon it. 
Inquiring minds need to know and have every constitutional right to such
information as a fundamental source of basic civic education.  We cannot
remain illiterate about the politics that shape our own field for fear of
publicly accessing and publicizing that  information  because it might be
construed "as an attack on individuals who've done nothing to deserve it"
or because we might be perceived as uppity.  Our own self-respect as a
field deserves more than that.

The following is the relevant snipit from Andy's message:

" NIFL was created to focus on adult and family literacy issues.  The
legal language that authorizes an advisory board is part of the NIFL's
base statute.  Their advisory role is entirely defined in terms of that
statute.  So, questioning whether this group of individuals is the proper
match for the job-at-hand is a very legitimate and well-reasoned position
to take relative to the letter and intention of the law."

A while back I somewhat facetiously placed the names of Tom Sticht and
Archie Willard into nomination for this awesome responsibility because of
their thorough understanding of the issues, their public presence, and
independence of mind.  Today I formally make these nominations in all
seriousness and add the name of Gail Spangenberg for the same set of
reasons.

Who else will place other names in nomination?  Who else will participate
in the voting of an alternative slate right here on the NLA?  Who else
will encourage the NCL to write those letters and include the selected
slate of NLA nominees along with it?

George Demetrion
Literacy Violunters of Greater Hartford



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