Re: Looky here!

[William Cala <Wcala@ROCHESTER.RR.COM>]

Way to go!!!

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carol Holst" <kceh@AIRMAIL.NET>
To: <ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:32 AM
Subject: Looky here!


> www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/thisweek/zone07/news/1204159
>
> Jan. 9, 2002, 9:50AM
>
> Letting their opinions be known
>
> Alvin residents organize weekly forums to speak their minds
>
> By JOHN PAPE
> ThisWeek correspondent
>
> Got something to say? A group of Alvin residents wants to hear it.
>
> The "soapbox" is a grassroots effort to promote free speech by offering
> people the opportunity to voice their opinions in a public forum. The
> effort is the brainchild of Alvin resident Margaret Davis.
>
> "Several people concerned about issues in the community were frustrated
> that we didn't have a forum where we could express our opinions.
> There was no way to get your viewpoints out," said Davis, 41, a
> homemaker.
>
> That frustration led to discussions among several people on how they
> could get their opinions heard and encourage public dialogue on issues
> facing the community. Those discussions led to the creation of the
> soapbox.
>
> "I have been fighting standardized dress in schools, and Carol Holst has
> been fighting standardized testing. One day while we were talking
> about how to get these concerns out into the public, Carol said, `Why
> don't we get on a soapbox?' That led to what we hope will be a weekly
> opportunity for people to exercise their freedom of speech," Davis said.
>
> The soapbox, literally a box on which people can stand, was built by
> Davis' husband, Charlie. Davis then received permission from the city to
> hold the events in National Oak Park near downtown Alvin.
>
> Friendswood resident Carol Sweeny, who also helped Davis develop the
> idea for the soapbox, agreed that there is a need for people to have the
> opportunity to express their opinions in a public forum.
>
> She and Davis met several years ago at a meeting of Toastmasters -- an
> organization that helps members develop strong public speaking skills
> -- and their conversations about the limited number of ways to voice
> opinions planted the seed that eventually led to the soapbox.
>
> "One of the limitations in Toastmasters was time. Some issues can cover
> volumes, while others were not appropriate for that type of crowd. So
> there was still a void," said Sweeny, a massage therapist.
>
> She said that both she and Davis felt that there was a need for a free
> speech forum in the area.
>
> "If you can vent your frustrations and somebody listens, it helps,"
> Sweeny said.
>
> The first soapbox event was held Dec. 15 in honor of Bill of Rights Day.
> They are now held on a weekly basis.
>
> Weather permitting, the soapbox will be available for anyone wishing to
> speak from 3-6 p.m. every Sunday. Anyone wishing to publicly
> express a viewpoint is invited to participate.
>
> "We just want it available for anyone who wants to discuss something
> important to them," Davis said.
>
> Around 25 people, including 10 speakers, took part in the first soapbox
> afternoon.
>
> Although organizers had not intended to start the effort until Jan. 1,
> they decided to begin early in honor of Bill of Rights Day.
>
> "When we found out that it was Bill of Rights Day and nobody seemed to
> be doing anything, we moved things up a bit. It seemed very
> appropriate to launch this freedom-of-speech effort on Bill of Rights
> Day," Davis said.
>
> Sweeny added that several people in attendance for the first soapbox
> event were new U.S. citizens.
>
> "We had some people from Trinidad who were new U.S. citizens. It was
> particularly important on Bill of Rights Day for these new citizens to
> see free speech in action," she said.
>
> During the first soapbox afternoon, several people took turns reading
> sections of the Bill of Rights. Davis gave her viewpoints on school
> uniforms, while Holst spoke on standardized testing in Texas public
> schools.
>
> Davis considers the first couple of gatherings to be a success and
> expects bigger crowds at future ones.
>
> "I thought it was great. We all enjoyed it very much, and after we
> distribute more information about soapbox, it will grow into something
> even
> better," Davis said.
>
> The forums are held at National Oak Park on the eastern end of downtown
> Alvin unless it is booked for other events, she said. Those weeks,
> an alternative location will be chosen.
>
> The soapbox can be brought to other areas if someone wants to host a
> forum, Davis said. Information on the soapbox can be obtained by
> calling Davis at 281-331-6229.
>
> --
> See you at The Soapbox!
>
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