A request

[Jan LightfoottLane]

Howdy   As one of the oldest members, as far as I know I am in good standing, I have a couple of strong request's. Of course the first is that I hear from the board when we are going to get together and discuss the Guiding Principals for MAIN.   The second is Hospitality House Inc., wants to speak this fall,on gathering members who want to work on other aspects of Ending poverty. Hospitality House Inc. is promoting That the public becomes aware that according to the US Labor Dept., 70% of the American workers are paid under the actual need, the cost of living. That is the reverse of them saying only 30% are making a livable wage.   I personally begin a to call for fixing the poverty level guide lines petition. As you seem willing to promote the work of upstanding corporate community groups, why not all low-income groups?  As the testors for housing.  I see no difference in our group.- Except, it is run by the poor, rather than adequately paid officials.   You know in a group that gave credit to its members, as well as its leaders, a group were the leadership is answerable to the core membership in fact rather than just on paper- no person would even consider writing letters to groups that might fund that group, to explain the reality is different then the funder might be lead to believe. That thought has crossed my mind-but it could do more harm, than good. That is not my intent. I know each of you are busy.  And I know a few of you leaders really having a burning desire, what is the best to help to poor.  So I a giving you a chance to answer the questions I ask. Can I speak for 5 minutes at the Sept meeeting?  And will the Guiding policy be addressed before 1-2012?    Jan LightfootLane,     It is Time WE do More than Survive.               We need to Thrive!   We can End Poverty by doing something we have never done before. Paying a REAL Livable wage to All. Not just 30% of the US workers. Pay them a wage, the designer of said wage, would like to live upon themselves.   And having a market which is FAIR not one based upon all the profits it will bear.     "If we recognize the radiance in others, that radiance multiplies."                    The US Labor Dept. says only 30% of USA workers    are paid a livable wage.   That means 70% of Americans are paid less     than a livable wage.   HOSPITALITY HOUSE INC. PO Box 105 Fairfield ME. 04944 1-800-438-3890 www.Hospitalityhouseofmaine.org

[Jan LightfoottLane]

Dear Kandie:   I am delighted to here your imput. Whether or not I agree is not the issues. I am delighted to get an EXCHANGE OF IDEA'S. As members we cannot really cover  all issues in a couple of hours a month.You could have a valid point- but until it is dicussed in detail we will not know how many members feel like you, that the board Is treated like servants. And what role do we want the board take?  Do we want them to chance what the group has decided because they know better. Or Do we want them creating policy at whims?    A biggy is why do they not want members talking to each other?     The current Policy says Members are suppose to have the biggest say, if enough wants to chance that it can be  changed using due process. Only, the board refuses to set a date to work on the future policy or guidelines, and taking away my right as a member refuses to allow me to give others what I have written . Yet, they tell grantors that the poor CONTROL the decisions-When in My opinion, since Bob Philbrook past, MAIN just silences or removes the members they do not agree with.   The potential action, was not veiled very well - by design; in hopes that the  MAIN board would take positive action to make MAIN BETTER. I myself am too busy to apply the scatter of my view of the new to funders method. But MAIN should not be in a position that even a veil leverage move could be considered.    MAIN was created in the early 1980's. The idea was to have to group run many by concenus. In fact the current bylaws says the members cxontrol the direction.  I have been a member since the second or 3 year MAIN was formed. I know what Judy said she wanted. At that time we had under 10 people at a meeting, each had a voice. Toward the end before Judy left, it had become a rubber stamp for members.   I have missed the last few meetings, but know Heather took off the complained about web site, because she agreed with me, it would give the board time to put into effect, the guidelines.   I do not know how long you have been a member but, I thimk Heather will return to being a problem, long before the two year state deadline or six year federal on filing an action is up. This is not a threat juast a statement of fact as I see it.    I am not trying to bad mouth MAIN. It does good as far as it goes. But its current by laws says MAIN can work with other groups, and it implies the membership should decide what groups they work with. Read the Current By-laws- if you can find them. I kind of wonder why the notes of the Meetings and the Board meetings are not available to members like you and I. I have gone to the MEJP office before Heather was ejected, put in writing and still not been given the notes.   Try and see how long it takes you to get a copy of the board meetings. As this note  is going to the Board if they have any sense it should not take long to get 6 months of back notes. But, its a 50/50 chance you will ever see them.   I just want MAIN to work better. I want it to take a part in ending poverty, that can be accomplished by working for the real amount of p[ovewrty to be told.  I want to tell members we need them and their friends to sign a petition its at: http://www.change.org/petitions/obama-keep-your-word-newer-federal-poverty-level   Again, thank you for expressing your point of view.

Jan LightfootLane,     It is Time WE do More than Survive.               We need to Thrive!   We can End Poverty by doing something we have never done before. Paying a REAL Livable wage to All. Not just 30% of the US workers. Pay them a wage, the designer of said wage, would like to live upon themselves.   And having a market which is FAIR not one based upon all the profits it will bear.     "If we recognize the radiance in others, that radiance multiplies."                    The US Labor Dept. says only 30% of USA workers    are paid a livable wage.   That means 70% of Americans are paid less     than a livable wage.

HOSPITALITY HOUSE INC. PO Box 105 Fairfield ME. 04944 1-800-438-3890 www.Hospitalityhouseofmaine.org

--- On Tue, 6/28/11, kandie desell <kkd19...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: kandie desell <kkd19...@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: A request To: "Jan LightfoottLane" <jans...@yahoo.com>, "Tammy Trask" <tammy...@yahoo.com>, "mar ll" <lovedo...@yahoo.com>, "Chris Rusnov" <cru...@mejp.org>, "hea...@can-so.org" <hea...@can-so.org>, "barb...@aol.com" <barb...@aol.com>, "dotti...@yahoo.com" <dotti...@yahoo.com>, "karen...@standfordalumni.org" <karen...@standfordalumni.org>, "peacebre...@googlegroups.com" <peacebre...@googlegroups.com>, "ehr list serve" <mainer...@googlegroups.com> Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 10:51 PM         A few month back I agreed to look at the work you had already done on this.  I did this , and was going to address it when  meeting was put in place for it. There have not been  (for various reasons) very many members at the meetings lately.. Most  are people coming for a specific purpose. . so I will address this now. I felt what was written was in  need of a overhaul on the wording.. I came away with a feeling that the board was being looked at more as indentured servants than anything else.. ( solely my opinion)....And now after reading what has been written here, I am wondering if maybe I perceive your writing style in a different way than you intend it too come across. Because in this letter, it feels to me as if there is a veiled threat being made to the board.....     I am involved in many organizations and have really felt privileged to be a part of the MAIN organization.. I have only missed one meeting since joining, and have always felt very included. and heard.... I applaud the very hard work they have had to do with very little help  being given.. The amount of legislation that had to be dealt with this session left them with hardly time to breath let alone accomplish all that others would like to have happen.. They managed too keep most programs in tact enough to be able to help people. without their hard  work I am sure many would have gone without..     Our leaders have my support......AND my respect.. And I am certain all issues will be addressed when there is time and enough people to do so..Maybe it is something that should be addressed during the large meeting this fall, as one of the groups.. Then it could be voted on by the masses, rather than the few..But once again this is only my opinion..                                                                                                                Sincerely , Kandie Desell

[Jan LightfoottLane]

Thanks for the response. I will place you correct address in my e mail. I hate to tell you it seems very unlikely that you would come up with nearly, the same wording and the same 3 ideas I sent you for the conference.     I should have corrected you then and there. BUT the only thing I was concerned with is the passage.   Legalese protects, I can do user friendly that protects the members. One person wrote back it sounds like the board is indentured servants. If we keep the format of the the past 30+ years, the board is here to do the bidding of the members, not the other way around. There might be a better way to say that. But we must get together and work, together-Not come up with excuses until I say the heck with it.   Privilege was lost when we discuss the outcomes at the meeting ejecting Heather and her guy. The mediator said the policy is to protect the board.   I do not know what the conference is dealing with. If its human rights,homelessness, hunger, a livable wage-I can talk about these subjects. If you introduce Maine groups working on these subjects, like Preble street resource center, Voice for the Homeless, The Lewiston group, Hospitality House Should be among them.   Yes It will take Time to place the policy on paper, then to approve them. I say their should be a place to take to members in person like the spot you had heather remove. That is another thing either not accomplished, nor kept secret from your membership.    Main was created in the early 1980's Before Internet.  MAIN can use Internet to allow us to accomplish more work.  I am for Members talking to members.   I am still not back up to my level of activity I was at before the end of this winter, but getting there.   I am one of the maybe 10 oldest MAIN Members I joined around, 1986. anyone who joined before that rarely comes to meeting, Like Gloria,Steven and Larry.   Sorry to hear about your conflicts. I wonder why you did not say you were afraid to address the policy, with me? *I would have told you I WORK FOR FAIRNESS. Or wait I have repeatedly told you such. Guess you just do not believe me. That would hurt, if I cared about your opinon.

Jan LightfootLane,     It is Time WE do More than Survive.               We need to Thrive!   We can End Poverty by doing something we have never done before. Paying a REAL Livable wage to All. Not just 30% of the US workers. Pay them a wage, the designer of said wage, would like to live upon themselves.   And having a market which is FAIR not one based upon all the profits it will bear.     "If we recognize the radiance in others, that radiance multiplies."                    The US Labor Dept. says only 30% of USA workers    are paid a livable wage.   That means 70% of Americans are paid less     than a livable wage.

HOSPITALITY HOUSE INC. PO Box 105 Fairfield ME. 04944 1-800-438-3890 www.Hospitalityhouseofmaine.org

--- On Thu, 6/30/11, barb...@aol.com <barb...@aol.com> wrote:

From: barb...@aol.com <barb...@aol.com> Subject: Re: A request

To: jans...@yahoo.com, tammy...@yahoo.com, lovedo...@yahoo.com, cru...@mejp.org, dotti...@yahoo.com Date: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 12:01 AM Hi Jan, Would you please check the email address you have for me as I am not getting any of the emails you are sending directly to me. I see you have the letter "i" instead of the number "1" between the "k" and "n". It is barb...@aol.com. I'm a little confused as to if you want to be on the agenda in September in Alfred to talk about Hospitality House or if you wanted Hospitality House to be part of the conference in November? Or both, which may not be a bad idea if you are able to get to Alfred as there may be people at that meeting who don't typically come to our regular meetings. I wonder if Marlene could talk about this more at our Leader's meeting in July as to how to best fit HH into the conference, if that is what you asking for?  I also would like to say it was unfortunate that you decided a threat of calling past or potential funders about your feelings about MAIN was necessary in this particular request. It was not. I know I have missed some meetings but I don't recall hearing you or Marlene ask to have Hospitality House put on the agenda for a regular meeting. If it was done on the day of the meeting and I wasn't there to see/hear your attempt, I have to believe it was because the agenda was already full. However, when we do introductions that would be a perfect time to give a one or two minute talk about what you are trying to accomplish through Hospitality House. You could do that every single month as we do introductions every month, plus ask for time on agendas when you need it and time allows.   In regards to the Guiding Principles, until just recently it was just you and I who had volunteered to work on them and it seems that you have some distrust of me and taking credit for your work, so I hesitated to pursue trying to push forward on them with you. (I also have been under some pretty tight time constraints due to family health issues).  It appears we may have at least a couple more people willing to take a shot at them so maybe it will feel more comfortable for both of us to continue now. My initial take of what you sent me was that the wording seemed very "legal-ease" and not as user friendly as I personally believe they should read. We want everyone to understand them so really need them to be very clear and concise. I didn't send you a draft re-wording because I didn't want you to feel I was changing everything you said. It certainly would be great to have them finished by the end of this year! I'm willing to work with anyone who is willing to work with me. Addressing poverty issues is going to take all the energy any of us can muster up, especially given our new Governor. I 100% believe that you want to improve the lives of low-income people, like myself, and I hope that at some point we can come to an understanding where we can work together in a more trusting and cooperative way. Barbara

-----Original Message----- From: Jan LightfoottLane <jans...@yahoo.com> To: Tammy Trask <tammy...@yahoo.com>; mar ll <lovedo...@yahoo.com>; Chris Rusnov <cru...@mejp.org>; hea...@can-so.org; barb...@aol.com; dotti...@yahoo.com; kandie main <kkd19...@yahoo.com>; karen...@standfordalumni.org; peacebre...@googlegroups.com; ehr list serve <mainer...@googlegroups.com> Sent: Tue, Jun 28, 2011 3:49 pm Subject: [mainersrights] A request

Howdy   As one of the oldest members, as far as I know I am in good standing, I have a couple of strong request's. Of course the first is that I hear from the board when we are going to get together and discuss the Guiding Principals for MAIN.   The second is Hospitality House Inc., wants to speak this fall,on gathering members who want to work on other aspects of Ending poverty. Hospitality House Inc. is promoting That the public becomes aware that according to the US Labor Dept., 70% of the American workers are paid under the actual need, the cost of living. That is the reverse of them saying only 30% are making a livable wage.   I personally begin a to call for fixing the poverty level guide lines petition. As you seem willing to promote the work of upstanding corporate community groups, why not all low-income groups?  As the testors for housing.  I see no difference in our group.- Except, it is run by the poor, rather than adequately paid officials.   You know in a group that gave credit to its members, as well as its leaders, a group were the leadership is answerable to the core membership in fact rather than just on paper- no person would even consider writing letters to groups that might fund that group, to explain the reality is different then the funder might be lead to believe. That thought has crossed my mind-but it could do more harm, than good. That is not my intent. I know each of you are busy.  And I know a few of you leaders really having a burning desire, what is the best to help to poor.  So I a giving you a chance to answer the questions I ask. Can I speak for 5 minutes at the Sept meeeting?  And will the Guiding policy be addressed before 1-2012?    Jan LightfootLane,     It is Time WE do More than Survive.               We need to Thrive!   We can End Poverty by doing something we have never done before. Paying a REAL Livable wage to All. Not just 30% of the US workers. Pay them a wage, the designer of said wage, would like to live upon themselves.   And having a market which is FAIR not one based upon all the profits it will bear.     "If we recognize the radiance in others, that radiance multiplies."                    The US Labor Dept. says only 30% of USA workers    are paid a livable wage.   That means 70% of Americans are paid less     than a livable wage.   HOSPITALITY HOUSE INC. PO Box 105 Fairfield ME. 04944 1-800-438-3890 www.Hospitalityhouseofmaine.org

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