for Lady Amarant
Real Life Test
For anyone who says
there's no community
please disregard
But for those who do,
Please note that there is
a member of the community
who needs our help
this is like a first test case--
a real life test--
for us, as a group
Should we pull together and help her
Or should we turn our backs
shrug, and say "ain't it a shame?"
so many terrific minds all
thinking together ought
to be capable of finding a solution
All humanitarians, religious and otherwise,
please sign up for a
special brainstorming session
to work out a solution
to help a very
special young person
of whom we are all proud to
call one of our own.
-Ell
well... I'm definately in for helping where ever and with whatever i can. i can't promise it'll be anything big tho, but i can try.
so... *huggles*
i hope simone is still ok.
Quote from: Eloise on June 09, 2008, 06:07:31 PM
well... I'm definately in for helping where ever and with whatever i can. i can't promise it'll be anything big tho, but i can try.
so... *huggles*
i hope simone is still ok.
ok. remember, all ideas are welcome during brainstorming.
first idea, let's set up a foundation and put Rebis or somebody like hir in charge, to quickly raise funds and assist the person in need.
Is there anything anyone could do to get LA a job, and thus skip the money raising deal, though as I understand it, her visa is just about out, and its hard to get an extension in the EU if your not from the EU.
Really, she ought to move here to the states.
Quote from: tekla on June 09, 2008, 06:36:38 PM
skip the money raising deal
Hi Tekla, aw you know that ideas can't be poo-pooed in the brainstorming sessions.
i'm logging your idea: move her to states
We're not just a community, we are family. And family helps family.
I'll do what I can. Count me in.
Love,
Janet
in which state in europe is simone?
i have an idea it's the uk but I'm not really sure...
I understood that she was in London.
Quote from: Eloise on June 09, 2008, 06:07:31 PM
well... I'm definately in for helping where ever and with whatever i can. i can't promise it'll be anything big tho, but i can try.
If every member at susans gave just $10, that would $14,330. We know that's not going to happen, but I believe we can do more than we think we can.
fourteen thousand!? that's alot of money. LOL.
i have a friend outside london. i can ask if they can help with accomodation (if need be).
i see what else i can do.
*huggles*
My heart goes out to her. Her plight is terrifying.
If all it takes to get her out of a jam is money, then I'm willing to contribute.
But her longer term needs have to be addressed. I'm sure Lady is willing to do whatever it takes to get on her feet and get back into life. I do not have any real suggestions though. But as they say, I'm willing to give a hand up, but not a hand out.
If we are going to brainstorm, Ell, I think we need a complete list of the issues that Lady is having to deal with. I know it's part homelessness and financial ruin. But what else? What specifically would help her now *and* help her get on her feet?
-Sandy
Quote from: Kassandra on June 10, 2008, 10:16:24 AM
My heart goes out to her. Her plight is terrifying.
If all it takes to get her out of a jam is money, then I'm willing to contribute.
But her longer term needs have to be addressed. I'm sure Lady is willing to do whatever it takes to get on her feet and get back into life. I do not have any real suggestions though. But as they say, I'm willing to give a hand up, but not a hand out.
If we are going to brainstorm, Ell, I think we need a complete list of the issues that Lady is having to deal with. I know it's part homelessness and financial ruin. But what else? What specifically would help her now *and* help her get on her feet?
-Sandy
sometimes i think it's just a matter of finding out the person's skills, reviewing the marketability of those skills, then pointing the person in the right direction.
i am currently working with Lady Amarant on that part.
do you know of any unusual skills that are also marketable?
Lady Amarant is formally trained in computer science, (with mathematics and physics), and has a degree in that field.
-Ell
And you bunch didn't think I'd stumble upon this little thread of yours?!
I want to meet you all so bad and give you all a HUGE hug.
That said. Folks I'm okay. Really. We've all gone through bad stuff in our lives. All of us. I am fine today. My ticket home is booked - my mom and dad helped out with that, and I still have two weeks and a bit to recoup some of the stuff that's happened. It's only two weeks, and between family and friends I should have a couch for the last few weeks, and then I'll be home.
I mean folks, how many of the members here have been abandoned by family, by parents, and left to fend for themselves? How many trans street-kids wander around London or Capetown or Los-Angeles literally doing whatever they need to to survive?
I have a family who accept me, relatives who have at least nominally pledged the same, and friends like all of you. I've come through my years of denial without too many scars or injuries, and though my working life leaves something to be desired, I have a wealth of skills and experience that will see me through. I'm blessed. Alot of people can't say the same.
I'm okay. Really. If I do need help as far as accommodation for these last two weeks go, I will ask, I promise. By tomorrow evening, if I've not sorted anything else out, I will ask.
However, there are people out there who could do with this kinda help. Not too long ago a young lady joined Susan's for a while before drifting away again simply because she was too shy and scared to reach out to anybody. I have stayed in touch with her, and she really COULD use the help. She is disabled, abandoned by friends and family, and fighting tooth and nail to get the Fed to even give her disability. She faces permanent homelessness if things do not improve for her, my handful of days on the street are NOTHING compared to what she faces. We all know or have heard of people in similar situations. On our own, the best we can offer is sympathy and empty platitude, and all it does is leave us feeling useless and them feeling guilty.
So here's my counter-proposal: Help all of them. All of us. Let's brainstorm towards doing that. Here are my proposals:
1) at 10 USD or 5 GBP each, we can raise, like 15,000 USD, right? How many of us know other people - TS and TV, Androgyne and Neutrois, Significant Others and Supporters, who aren't members of Susan's, but who can nevertheless add $10 of their own to the kittie? Then all we need is a means by which to manage and distribute such funds to the people who really do need it.
2) Being homeless is not fun. That is for sure. And gender variant people are more at risk than most to ending up in that sorta situation. Now there are halfway houses out there that do take us in, but they are few and far between, and usually concentrated in specific areas. What if we could create a sorta 'couch-surfing' network to help each other out when things DO go pear-shaped. PicaPica offered to help me, an offer I seem more and more likely to take hir up on, but if we could all commit to that sorta thing, wherever we live, it just helps that bit. If one of our members then do end up in a bind, they can simply post the area they are in, and those of us closest to them can respond, if we have the spare room. If they are then in an area where none of us can help directly, then we can help them find cheap hostel accommodation or the like and club in together to pay for that, again as and when we are able. Even here in London, you can find mixed dorm rooms for $20 a night. Sadly they are all booked solid at the moment (the hostel owner wasn't kidding about peak season), but they are out there. Granted that's not ideal for a transitioner, but one can keep a remarkably low profile when one needs to, believe me.
So yeah, thank you all so very much, but as nasty a turn as my life has taken, I really am still okay. I do find it extraordinarily hard to ask for and accept help, I'll grant you all (I'm part Afrikaner, that's just the way we are...) but everybody reaches a point where they do not have a choice. When I get there, you will all be the first to know.
Long term, once I am back in South Africa, I have more options. I'll be able to work for myself or run a business, something my visa restricted me from doing here, and I am going back to university next year, come hell or high water. Then, having wowed everybody with my vastly insightful mind, MIT will be falling over its feet to get me into their Consciousness research program. (Yeah, there's that EGO again...)
I. Love. You. All. Thank you.
~Simone
Quote from: lady amarant on June 10, 2008, 11:37:16 AM
1) at 10 USD or 5 GBP each, we can raise, like 15,000 USD, right? How many of us know other people - TS and TV, Androgyne and Neutrois, Significant Others and Supporters, who aren't members of Susan's, but who can nevertheless add $10 of their own to the kittie? Then all we need is a means by which to manage and distribute such funds to the people who really do need it.
2) Being homeless is not fun. That is for sure. And gender variant people are more at risk than most to ending up in that sorta situation. Now there are halfway houses out there that do take us in, but they are few and far between, and usually concentrated in specific areas. What if we could create a sorta 'couch-surfing' network to help each other out when things DO go pear-shaped. PicaPica offered to help me, an offer I seem more and more likely to take hir up on, but if we could all commit to that sorta thing, wherever we live, it just helps that bit. If one of our members then do end up in a bind, they can simply post the area they are in, and those of us closest to them can respond, if we have the spare room. If they are then in an area where none of us can help directly, then we can help them find cheap hostel accommodation or the like and club in together to pay for that, again as and when we are able. Even here in London, you can find mixed dorm rooms for $20 a night. Sadly they are all booked solid at the moment (the hostel owner wasn't kidding about peak season), but they are out there. Granted that's not ideal for a transitioner, but one can keep a remarkably low profile when one needs to, believe me.
~Simone
we could name it something like, the "Trans Safety Network"
(glad to hear you're ok, hon)
-Ell
Quote from: lady amarant on June 10, 2008, 11:37:16 AM
And you bunch didn't think I'd stumble upon this little thread of yours?!
I want to meet you all so bad and give you all a HUGE hug.
I'm holding you to it then. (-^.^-)
I think the idea is a good one and I'd be willing to contribute to "The Trans Safety Net." I think the problem is going to be how does one place the money in a fund where it grows, who has access to the funding and what way if any is there to make at least the semblance of an effort that the fund doesn't get scammed?
I've seen suggestions like this made before elsewhere and that short list above seems to be what preoccupies most of the objectors. Although "Why didn't she just stay home in SuedAfrika where she had a job" "No one ever gave me a darned thing in my life. Why should I help out people who could get jobs and stuff if they weren't lazy," also make their appearances.
That last set of objections should be disregarded immediately and paid no attention to. They're generally made by people who wouldn't participate in any case and simply don't want others to 'be given' things.
The first set has some basis in good sense.
Nichole
Quote from: Nichole on June 10, 2008, 12:26:56 PM
I think the idea is a good one and I'd be willing to contribute to "The Trans Safety Net." I think the problem is going to be how does one place the money in a fund where it grows, who has access to the funding and what way if any is there to make at least the semblance of an effort that the fund doesn't get scammed?
I agree that this would be a tough one to manage in a top-down, hierarchical kinda structure.
So don't then. Instead of a fund, make it part of the network. When somebody is in need, they post a direct call for help. Members of the "Safety Net" are free to contribute a place to stay, a decent meal, money towards accommodation, or whatever else, DIRECTLY to the person in need. That way, any middle-person is cut out of possibly 'mishandling' things.
As to dealing with people trying to take advantage of others' generosity, a combination of simply being known by other people, along with a bit of a Q&A would probably do the trick. Perhaps a "vouching" kinda thing would also work.
The one thing I can't get around is safety: Even if somebody is dishonest and manages past the safeguards, they are not going to do much harm beyond a free night's accommodation and maybe a meal. What about people who have nastier motives in mind? I hate to bring it up, but there are bad people out there.
~Simone.
Ok, Simone, remind me not to offer you a place to stay in my home!! >:D
Good points, which brings us back again to somehow vetting the applicants.
Nikki
uh, we're not supposed to be poo-pooing ideas during brainstorming...
(that's why you put someone impeccable in charge of it, such as Rebis)
(foundations exist all over the place, and go far toward funding important things such as public television)
no, you CAN poo poo ideas during brainstorming... its a discussion, discussions work 2 ways, and if they suggest WHY an idea is bad, then its entirely valid...
I'd LIKE to help, but im not sure if i can :(
R >:D
I totally agree with Rachael on this, ell. What's the point to brainstorming if flaws in an idea cannot be brought up and discussed and worked out.
Nichole
To Rach: hon, you do help as best you can. You bring a lot to many discussions that is good and you share your experiences and thoughts. Those are all very positive 'giving.' If you ran a multi-national I'm sure you'd have already set-up a trust fund all on your own and hired Rebecca to run it for you!! :laugh: :laugh: Don't underestimate your contribution to Susan's.
Nichole
Quote from: Nichole on June 10, 2008, 01:32:36 PM
I totally agree with Rachael on this, ell. What's the point to brainstorming if flaws in an idea cannot be brought up and discussed and worked out.
Nichole
To Rach: hon, you do help as best you can. You bring a lot to many discussions that is good and you share your experiences and thoughts. Those are all very positive 'giving.' If you ran a multi-national I'm sure you'd have already set-up a trust fund all on your own and hired Rebecca to run it for you!! :laugh: :laugh: Don't underestimate your contribution to Susan's.
Nichole
well, yeah, Rachael is right (again?) but: the discussion always comes
after the brainstorming...
sort of like free flow of fertile ideas
Quote from: Nichole on June 10, 2008, 12:26:56 PM
I think the idea is a good one and I'd be willing to contribute to "The Trans Safety Net." I think the problem is going to be how does one place the money in a fund where it grows, who has access to the funding and what way if any is there to make at least the semblance of an effort that the fund doesn't get scammed?
I don't know a better organization to take care of those issues than PFund.
http://www.philanthrofund.org/
If you want, I can talk to Bill Burleson about them being the fiscal agent for it.
Quote from: ell on June 10, 2008, 01:48:16 PM
sort of like free flow of fertile ideas
That whole "Seven Hats" thing - first you have a free flow of ideas, with everybody putting on the creative hat. Then at some point, you switch to the analytical phase, with everybody donning their little ?red? hats, etc.
Quote from: Lisbeth on June 10, 2008, 01:50:44 PM
I don't know a better organization to take care of those issues than PFund.
http://www.philanthrofund.org/
If you want, I can talk to Bill Burleson about them being the fiscal agent for it.
My question though would be how one might structure something like this without getting bogged down in red tape. Too often, things like these get bogged down in red tape, when the person who needs help needs it NOW. I mean, it's not exactly practical to have to fill out a scholarship request when you've just ended up on the street and need a place to stay that night.
I think the thing here is we are maybe trying to run with this thing instead of walking or crawling first. And that is my fault, true - I tend to run with ideas before thinking them through.
I do think having a group like what Lisbeth mentions running the financial side of things is a good idea, but one would have to think carefully about how to make access quick - not easy, mind you, but quick.
Then one keeps things within the community, for now:
I don't know if anybody else has heard of something known as a LETS - Local Economic Trading Scheme (http://www.letslinkuk.org/ (http://www.letslinkuk.org/)). Basically, these are little parallel economies that get set up in order to get people economically active without requiring them to have access to funds - liquidity is often the main problem for people at the margins.
So how about this: Run it as a hybrid LETS scheme - members, even those that have not contributed, can draw on the fund (or rather scheme - the only, or even primary focus of these schemes is not about moey, but about helping people in your community by providing a service, basically for free. All the LETS does is 'formalise' the reputation one gets from being a decent person) when in need - up to a point. You "use up" credit when you draw on a LETS, and while people can go into negative territory (that is the point of mutual aid, after all) at some point, they are taking advantage if they do not contribute back into that community, and are cut off.
Theoretically one would not even need a central fund for this, just a database of contributions that people have made, and times they've needed to draw on aid. contributions could be anything from helping somebody out with a place to stay or giving good advice (that actually helps the situation!) or just an in-person chat over a decent meal - it needn't be financial. The person helped in this way could then "pay" the helper, rather in the same way that the reputation system works - it doesn't actually 'cost' you to 'pay' somebody - it only 'costs' when you receive actual aid.
This could also serve as kind-of a 'gatekeeper' system - one might suggest that you only let people with a certain level of reputation or credit or whatever into your house, for example, decreasing the chances of running into somebody bad.
Anyway, this is a 3:30-in-the-morning idea, and still needs work, but what do y'all think?
~Simone.
Quote from: Lisbeth on June 10, 2008, 01:50:44 PM
Quote from: Nichole on June 10, 2008, 12:26:56 PM
I think the idea is a good one and I'd be willing to contribute to "The Trans Safety Net." I think the problem is going to be how does one place the money in a fund where it grows, who has access to the funding and what way if any is there to make at least the semblance of an effort that the fund doesn't get scammed?
I don't know a better organization to take care of those issues than PFund.
http://www.philanthrofund.org/
If you want, I can talk to Bill Burleson about them being the fiscal agent for it.
Interesting organization, Lisbeth. Would they be willing to take on such an international endeavor? We are talking about a world wide help support system.
Simone, Honey I am glad that you can go home. I hate think of any sister or brother out there without family, friends or anyone. We all are in this transition thing, together. Maybe not at the same place, or on the same time line. But we all walk a similar path. We need each other from time to time.
Yes Rachel, you can to poo-poo an idea, if you have a sound reasoning. That is how solutions come to be. Why do you think its called a 'Storm'. Lots of lighting, thunder, and rain ( tears ). :D
Much Love,
Janet
Quote from: Janet Lynn on June 10, 2008, 09:55:57 PM
Quote from: Lisbeth on June 10, 2008, 01:50:44 PM
I don't know a better organization to take care of those issues than PFund.
http://www.philanthrofund.org/
If you want, I can talk to Bill Burleson about them being the fiscal agent for it.
Interesting organization, Lisbeth. Would they be willing to take on such an international endeavor? We are talking about a world wide help support system.
Can't hurt to ask. Bill should be able to get back to me quickly.