[NLA] NIFL Board nominees

[Elsa Auerbach]

These are fabulous suggestions, as were Andy's previous ones and those of
many others who have weighed in.  My concern is that these suggestions are
floating into cyberspace.  At this point, it seems that it would be good if
a small group of folks could develop an actual plan, with specific action
steps and people to carry them out.

I'm wondering if some of the folks who have weighed in might volunteer to
'actualize' a plan (off of the list, through email and/or phone
conferencing) and then give the rest of us concrete tasks, drafts of
letters to circulate to specific people, etc.  Some of those who taken
policy leadership in the past and seem to have grasp of how things work
(my nominees for an informal group): Jon Randall, Andy Hartman, David Rosen
and/or Bob Bickerton, Gail Spanenberg, Heide Wrigley (to make sure the ESOL
perspective is represented), Jay Cretella, Debby D'Amico, John
Comings??????

Is someone willing to take the initiative to coordinate this?

I'm wondering, too, if a media campaign (press release and/or letters to
editors/ contacts with specific reporters) is in order to draw attention to
this.

Elsa Auerbach

hartman wrote:

> It is always encouraging when David and the Massachusetts gang send the
> signal, "let's move!"
>
> In my last email I laid out a rationale and strategy (bare bones) for
> weighing in on the NIFL Board Members.
>
> I just wanted to share a few more things that might be useful if the
> field decides to proceed with a set of action steps (and, thanks to the
> MA Patriots, it sounds like activity has already begun).  First of all,
> between the nomination and eventual confirmation of the two previous
> slates of Board members, at least one of the nominees asked to be
> dropped from the process or resigned from the Board soon after being
> sworn-in.  There is a long and somewhat torturous road between "intent
> to nominate" and confirmation.  Lots of paperwork!  Also, personal
> issues can arise that cause people to reconsider or leave the Board.  If
> this were to happen, it would be important for us to have weighed in and
> made people realize that an "adjustment" needed to be made through any
> subsequent nominations.
>
> In the meantime, it is probably more important to weigh in soon with the
> general concerns than to spend a lot of time coming up with an
> alternative slate of candidates.  However, we could be asked, "What are
> the kinds of people you would have liked to have been nominated?"  So,
> it would be good for the people actually making the contacts to at least
> have a few names in their "back pocket."  It would be best if they were
> of the "beyond reproach" variety.  For example, someone posted a message
> about a person from TX who knows the Bushes and has been an advocate for
> adult literacy.  In addition, they could be a committed business person,
> a Hispanic leader, former (GOP?) legislator, etc.
>
> It is important in thinking about these people that we be strategic.
> That is, we need to recognize that the Bush Administration has the
> prerogative to nominate their own people, however they choose to define
> that.  This is a bipartisan prerogative.  The Clinton Administration
> used it very effectively as well.  Congressional staff and others we
> might contact will understand that, so, to be helpful to them, we need
> to work within the realities of the situation.
>
> The main points of leverage right now are: (1) the Congress and
> especially the Senate HELP Committee, (2) the White House Office of
> Personnel, and (3) the people who are following this for the Secretaries
> of ED, Labor and HHS (especially at ED).  Letters, etc. should be
> directed and copied to these people to be most effective.
>
> Finally, a well orchestrated (to the right people, at the right time,
> and not too over the top) write-in and call-in campaign can be effective
> as part of an overall strategy.  But we need to know what that strategy
> is (especially what we are asking for) before we start calling and
> writing.
>
> Andy Hartman
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org
> [mailto:nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of David J. Rosen
> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 3:21 AM
> To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
> Subject: Re: [NLA] NIFL Board nominees
>
> NLA Colleagues,
>
> "George E. Demetrion" wrote:
>
> > 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 .
>
> I agree.  Now is the time to respond to legislators, raising concern
> that
> the proposed NIFL board is not balanced, does not reflect its statutory
> *adult* literacy mandate.
>
> > 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.
>
> Thanks for the vote of confidence, George, but I am afraid I won't have
> time
> to take on a voting process right now.
>
> > 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.
>
> I agree.
>
> > 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.
>
> A call was placed yesterday. This process is under way.
>
> > A while back I somewhat facetiously placed the names of Tom Sticht
> > andArchie 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?
>
> I want to make clear that posting to the NLA list a recommendation for a
> nominee is not the same as an actual nomination.  Formal nomination is
> not a
> function of the NLA list.  However, individuals may certainly suggest
> possible nominees here, and others on the list may wish to write letters
> recommending those individuals.  Those letters, I think, would first
> need to
> raise the issue that the present slate is not broad enough in its
> background, does not represent the expertise needed to carry out NIFL's
> statutory mission to address adult literacy. I presume those letters
> should
> be sent to your two Senators, perhaps with a copy to the President, but
> I
> would like clarification on this from someone who understands the
> nomination
> process better than I.
>
> Once that is clear, I am glad to know that you will write letters
> nominating
> Archie Willard, Tom Sticht, and Gail Spangenberg.
>
> David J. Rosen
> NLA List Moderator
>
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