[Durham INC] neighborhood mission statement vs potential nationalissue overload

Tue Sep 22 23:09:38 EDT 2009

I agree with you too, Mike. It was a bad idea to send that email to the INC listserv, and probably to the People's Alliance as well. But, somewhat in my defense, let me say that when I sent it I did not realize the entire anti-Burr email was being sent, with my name at the bottom. Just thought the link was being sent. I'll do my best to keep this from happening again ;)

Melissa

----- Original Message ----- 
From: M. W. Shiflett - Hotmail 
To: TheOcean1 at aol.com ; inc-list at rtpnet.org 
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 4:16 PM
Subject: [Durham INC] neighborhood mission statement vs potential nationalissue overload

The INC listserve is an open forum I agree,  but as I'd posted,  just how many issues outside of our mission statement does a community listserve have capacity to handle?

While I also agree healthcare is an important issue,  just how that fits into a posting on INC's listserve encouraging others in targeting an incumbent Senator by signing a petition is another.

If someone wants to post their feelings about healthcare and how it affects their neighborhood and its residents, that might seem more appropriate.  However,  specifically targeting an elected official and asking others to do so without that connection is out of bounds for a community/neighborhood listserve.

It's more apt for a political action committee listserve like the Peoples Alliance, The Committee, The Friends or a political party affiliation yahoo group.

Crossing the line in specifically attacking the position of one Senator by name on the INC listserve is inappropriate in my humble opinion.

But if the majority of other delegates feel that it isn't,  I will defer to their intelligence.   Maybe we should vote on it?   That seems to be a hot topic lately!

How much time, debate and a few draft revisions of an eventual resolution until we do?

Unless I missed an earlier posting explaining the connection between neighborhoods and Senator Burrs position,  it's better left to those organizations above to debate this with posting after posting on their individual listserves or in THEIR monthly meetings.

Personally,  I favor meetings of INC that fall under two hours.

If we consider the original posting appropriate without questioning it, then where do we stop on the INC listserve when an individual opposes issues (and there are hundreds) that are debated on the national and statewide level?

There are reasons other organizations, non-profits, PAC's and political parties exist.

Successful ones focus on their core mission.

Mike Shiflett

----- Original Message ----- 
From: TheOcean1 at aol.com 
To: inc-list at rtpnet.org 
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 3:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] INC's focus should be on neighborhood issues inDurham or su...

I think Kelly is correct, but let's remember to ask about it tonight.

If it were intentionally sent by INC, that would be different, but we only provide the open forum, we can't control everything that is said by the member/users.

Bill Anderson

In a message dated 9/22/2009 3:01:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, kjj1 at duke.edu writes:
This communication is not the same as INC taking a stand on a political office holder. This is communication to a listserv from an individual about an issue--health care reform--that is relevant to quality of life issues for Durham residents. I view it as a citizen/member sharing information with other INC members not as an official INC communication or position.

Just MHO.
Kelly Jarrett

M. W. Shiflett - Hotmail wrote: 

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While I'm not sure it is specifically noted in the revised draft By-Laws for INC or not,  I do believe that the board in years past has adhered to a policy of not taking sides regarding elected political office holders.

And correct me if I'm wrong but didn't INC file as a not for profit (or similar term) earlier this year with the Secretary of State that prohibits taking political positions such as signing petitions or advocating for them against an individual (versus speaking up for a particular issue or proposed bill)?

Lobbying for or against a political figure such as Senator Burr definitely is something that other organizations have in their mission statements,  but I'm not sure if it fits in INC's.

Mike Shiflett
(deferring to the INC board who knows better) 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Melissa Rooney 
To: inc-list at rtpnet.org ; durhamenviro at yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 11:59 AM
Subject: [durhamenviro] Fw: Ask Senator Bur to give up his public health insurance coverage - Petition

As a member of Congress, Senator Richard Burr receives cadillac health insurance coverage subsidized by taxpayers.

Yet, Senator Burr is opposed to any public plan for healthcare.  He insists that government healthcare is inferior.  If it's so inferior, Senator Burr, why have you glommed onto it.

Sign the following petition to let him know that North Carolinians want him to walk his talk and give up his government insurance.

http://www.petitiononline.com/BlueNC1/petition.html

The petition is sponsored by the BlueNC blog, which can be found here:

http://bluenc.com/

Regards,
Melissa Rooney

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