Would Alex Plank agree to become WP's president?

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KenG,
Your narrow focus on how you see the Autistic community to be 'united' by having ONLY Alex, Ari and Gareth as spokespersons to journalists is getting some disagreement from those very people you have decided to speak FOR. This is why I think your plan does not hold merit for the bulk of the people that are responding to your thread.

Where do you get your information on what we 'do agree upon' and what we 'do not agree upon?' No one has asked me, and when other people on this very thread have asked, you have not addressed their concerns.

Why would those of us you are ignoring input from want to go along with your plan? Are you thinking that we don't matter as we are not prominent in any 'movement'? Please speak to these concerns.

Merle

Merle, you are absolutely right.
If I set you an interview, will you speak to journalists yourself?

absolutely! Name the place and get me a ticket! But I don't have the brass to say I speak for ALL of those I communicate with on WP.

Merle

However, President Alex does sound good.

I would trust Alex to speak on behalf of the Autistic community - he seems to be a reasonable and trust worthy sort of guy. But as to taking on the title of president - I don't think this would be a fit. The title of 'President' doesn't have good connatations in my mind.
I tend to think of Alex as being more of a co-ordinator type of person rather than being a leader. Someone who gives time and effort to bring people together to share points of views -

I am not that fussed on leader type personalities.

I don't have any problem inviting Ari to speak with me as I respect his work with ASAN. But I am not sure I agree with the tactics employed by certain other groups. In some instances, I may not want to even have Wrong Planet's name associated with the specific groups I disagree with.

As for specific titles, I don't think it's all that significant. I founded Wrong Planet and am responsible for its day to day operations. Beyond that, you can refer to me using any term you want, be that developer, president, owner, leader, chief-geek, etc.

Make sense to me, Developer Alex.

But, alex, would you have the time and energy to actually head up the advocacy work for WP? It may be more than just a figurehead position.

I mean, if you're just doing some interviews and popping out a couple newsletters, that's one thing. But were WP to become a very active entity in autism advocacy, that sounds like an entirely different position than Owner/Administrator.

Ah yes. Advocacy work. I forgot to mention that I also do advocacy work. For instance, I'm going to be speaking to the NIH's Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee about where federal autism grants should be going (in two weeks). Also, I speak at various conferences and I put out press releases.

Great to know you'll be joining us there, Alex. We're working to organize a large pro-neurodiversity contingent.

If you need more to help with these conferences and stuff. I'll be glad to help if able to. I'll bing do some advocacy of my own mostly small scale.

That'd be great. Send me an e-mail offlist at aneeman(at)autisticadvocacy.org and we can correspond a bit to figure out the best way to involve you.

oh, you were being dismissive of me, how awkward that I didn't recogize that.

I certainly hope people remember your attitude when we see you speaking for others.

I know I will.


Merle

Certainly, Emperor and High King, Your Imperious Majesty, Alex Rex!!

To Merle:
I was serious. I didn't answer you because I was bussy doing other things.
Please provide your full name, your gender, and your full geographical location.
Otherwise, journalists will not speak to you.
If you prefer providing the information in a private message, feel free to do so.
(I will not get you a ticket. I will find journalists in your local area which will be interested to speak to you)
(I asked for your gender because, as an Israeli, your name tells me nothing about your gender).

I agree, Merle, it's a good idea to get reporters talking to "the person on the street", so to speak, in the autistic community, not just the leaders of the organizations. It helps show the broad-based support our message has.