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<DIV>I have to insist that I am not a leader - because I don't do anything
except ride when I can. My opinion is formed from experience with the ride
- and I am aware of how difficult it is to lead CM beyond a loose gathering of
individuals moving through the streets.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Okay, so it may be perceived by some as advocacy - but be prepared for
disappointment when it doesn't do what YOU want. I am merely trying to get
you to that point of understanding. Over time, you will realize that
without substantial leadership CM will only achieve so much. Often it
brings the plight of bicyclists down a notch as that motorist wipes the spittle
from her windshield.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am eager to see what the 'royal' you are going to assign to it. If
nothing else, you can try and prevent riders from entering buildings.
(which for me fits well with the party-on-wheels definition) You may be
able to succeed at that, but unfortunately announcing it on this list doesn't
work.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ThoM3@aol.com href="mailto:ThoM3@aol.com">ThoM3@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=list@bostoncriticalmass.org
href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org">list@bostoncriticalmass.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 08, 2008 10:33
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [*BCM*] Bostoncriticalmass
Digest, Vol 43, Issue 3</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>
<DIV>It is bicycle advocacy by default IMHO. If, as you say, there is
nothing to it, then I can assign it, just like you assigned it a tag of "party
on wheels"--BTW where is that definition? Cars are on wheels. I would venture
to say that in large, people get together to be with other bikers and
show solidarity as cyclists. That is advocacy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The fact you assert an opinion over another is in fact defining and sets
you in a position over others, so are you the leader? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think we are steering into Zarathustra territory
now...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 1/8/2008 10:11:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,
leepeters@gis.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>Without leaders or members and set goals, CM is not really an
advocacy group at all. It is a party on wheels. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Please do not think it is an advocacy group without (you yourself)
shaping it that way. No one has really taken CM beyond anything but a
party - and all I have heard are people under the illusion that it is
advocacy and complained when it didn't live up to that standard. I
don't want to spoil your involvement, but CM would need substantial
initiative to change.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The closest we have come to advocacy is the occasional flyer, sign
affixed to bike, or route planning for a specific purpose.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>(for the record, I wish too that CM was
'nicer'.)</DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV><FONT style="FONT: 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black">
<HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">
Start the year off right. <A
title=http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
href="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489"
target=_blank>Easy ways to stay in shape</A> in the new year. </FONT></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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