[14710] in APO-L
Re: NSD
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Liston Bias)
Wed Jul 10 09:01:56 1996
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 08:50:14 EST
Reply-To: Liston Bias <BIASL@smtp.dc.doe.state.fl.us>
From: Liston Bias <BIASL@smtp.dc.doe.state.fl.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
mschultz@MAX.MUHLBERG.EDU wrote:
> By keeping our own date we are shining a light on a valued tradition
> something that we can say dates back to _way_ before all of this service
> emphasis in the media today.... we were the first, the only.... and we
> still are....
First all, I had no idea we started such a thing.... Good for us :-)
Secondly, the primary purposes I see for National Service Day is to promote
the idea of service and get as many chapters involved as possible. If
these purposes can be met by building a tradition of keeping the same
weekend or making sure our weekend is different than all other major
service day... GREAT! However, if these purposes would be better serve by
colliding our day with something like Make a Difference than I think we
should change it.
> Now - on the question of changing the date completely - I'd prefer
> something a little closer to the middle of a semester.... having it so
> soon after school starts uis a problem since it is both the beginning of
> a semester as well as rush season.... having it too late makes it hard to
> plan amid finals... I'd like it smack in the middle of a semester.....
This illustrates how finding an ideal date is near impossible. At Florida
State University (where school starts in Mid August), November is near the
end of the semester - not the beginning. If we do change the date, I
suggest we do our best to at least insure all schools are in session.
As for actually changing the date, if people feel like it will make a
difference in the number of chapters that participate let's do it.
Somewhere along the way, however, we should figure out how to make National
Service Day a priority for all the chapters. I know we send out literature
and implore involvement, but it doesn't seem to be working (and much of
that can be the date). I have been involved in a service project on every
National Service Day since I joined and a couple of these were done on BIG
football day where I wasn't going to miss the game. If the chapter makes
it a priority then it can be done. Having the project in the morning,
inviting parents/friends who visit that weekend to the project, or having
the project at the football/basketball stadium are alternatives.
Another 2 cents,
Liston
