An important message and challenge from Kenneth G. Schwarz, STEP parent and head of the new Blog Committee:
Dear Parents,
For more detailed information, please click here
At the last Parents’ meeting, a blog committee was established. Whether all of you realize it or not, the blog is the program’s voice to the outside world. We are not the only ones that can access the blog. Anyone in the world can. People in China, India, Kenya or Brazil can also read the blog if they are so inclined. While it is all well and good to talk about other types of fundraising, we should also be talking about reaching out to the world outside of the New York Medical College in an attempt to raise funds. Through the blog we can tell the outside world what we are doing. We can tell the world what we would like to do. We can tell the world what resources we need to accomplish our goals. We can do those things by strengthening the appeal of our blog.
Nothing I’ve said is original. In today’s world, almost every business worth its salt has a web site or a blog. It’s one of the ways they sell themselves. It’s how they make their presence known. It’s how they tell people they are the best of the best and why people should use them to further their business interests.
OK, STEP is not a business, but it does have an important message and it most certainly has its needs. Look at the world of politics today. No self-respecting candidate is without a website or a blog. It’s an important way to sell themselves and to communicate their message to the voters. The same is true for STEP. The blog can be used to establish relationships with businesses and companies that may be able to help our program. However, in order to accomplish that, we will need to upgrade some of the content on the blog. Marva can’t come close to doing it alone. We have to make it happen. While I have some ideas, we need the input of a lot more parents. Having only three members of the blog committee, one of which is Marva, simply won’t be enough. I ask that as many parents as possible join the blog committee. We need everyone’s ideas on how to make the blog live up to its potential.
If you are interested in joining the blog committee, please respond via a comment to this message.
Ken Schwarz
13 responses so far ↓
1
Ken Schwarz
// Oct 26, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I have gotten so frustrated waiting for even one parent to respond to my message that I thought I would send my own comment.
Get with it parents. As parents of children enrolled in the STEP program, you have an obligation to make your voices heard on matters involving the education of your children. The STEP program exists not only to help educate your children, but to help all parents teach all other parents how to overcome problems encountered by our children. We do that by talking to each other. This blog is where that is supposed to happen.
There, I’ve gone and done it. I have been reduced to talking to myself.
2
Richard
// Nov 6, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Ken,
Where do I start…should I mention that I second the motion with regards to your comments or should I make an excuse for not surfing the blog earlier.
Just a few words to let you know that I access the blog on occassions.
Regards
3
Ken Schwarz
// Nov 7, 2007 at 9:11 am
Richard,
At my request, at the time my entry was posted on the blog, Marva sent an email message to all parents informing them that a new entry had been posted. Hence, there was no need to surf the blog to see if any new entries had been posted. Anyone reading their email wold have already known about the entry.
4
Donald Panton
// Nov 15, 2007 at 7:02 am
Ken,
It is great that you are getting the parents involved in using and appreciating OUR blog.
5
Jacqueline Grosvenor
// Nov 15, 2007 at 8:43 am
Mr Schwarz I must first admit that this is my first visit since the STEP year began. No excuses, just did not visit the site until now.
I do share your frustration but as we discussed in the meeting there are many reasons why parents are not using the blog. We do need more volunteers for the committee in order to efficiently and effectively reach out to parents and encourage their use. You are correct in your statements and I feel that Ms. Richards have done her share of getting us to this stage. It is now up to us parents to take the blog to the next level and this can be done via the blog committee.
I strongly encourage more parents to volunteer for the committee and not be fearful of your knowledge/experience with the web. You can all play a role.
With that said, I volunteer to be a silent member. I will really like to see some more of our new and fairly new parents get involved.
Mr. Schwarz I am so sorry you had to converse all by yourself.
6
Ken Schwarz
// Nov 15, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I am happy that Donald and Jackie have responded. But what about everyone else? If we all want it to be, the blog can become a very exciting part of the STEP experience. I hope everyone has read about my view of how the blog should be restructured. Marva linked my second message to the first. Just “click here” which appears at the top of the message to read the second message. I would love to receive your substantive comments. Please remember that the blog will have to be restructured and I want to make sure that everyone wants it to be restructured in the manner I have suggested. I can’t keep going back to Marva to ask her to restructure the blog a second or third time. This will be it for a while, so please, let’s have all of your comments.
7
Miriam Lovett
// Nov 15, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I agree with your statements, Mr. Schwarz. I think it would be very helpful to have a hands-on training session at our next parent meeting too. As we learn, we also may have opportunities for feed-back.
8
Ken Schwarz
// Nov 15, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Miriam,
I want to have training conducted as soon as possible. However, there are two problems regarding the next meeting. The first is that we have a speaker scheduled. The second is that, in my opinion, it makes no sense to have a training session now if the blog is to be restructured. It is much better to wait until the restructuring takes place.
Linked to my original message is my view of how the restructuring should take place. All I talk about is my idea of what the content of the restructured blog should be. Even someone that does not understand how to navigate through the blog should be able to comment on whether he or she agrees with my view of what content the restructured blog should contain. Is it too much? Is it too little? Have I omitted anything? Is there a better way? Those are the questions I’d like to have answered.
9
Ken Schwarz
// Nov 28, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Hello Everyone, I’m glad to see the increased participation on the blog. Let’s hope that everyone gets the message.
Ken Schwarz
10
Yvonne
// Dec 1, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Ken,
I am responding for the first time to the STEP blog, although I have visited the site more than 2 times. I am a visiting parent whose daughter graduated from the program. I offered to stay another year as my way of giving back to the program. Due to my schedule, my attendance may be infrequent, but I try to make myself available, if called upon. I’m sorry to say, I don’t get to check my home emails frequently (oftimes once every 2-3 weeks). In the office, I have to be cautious regarding emails sent and received. Moving on….
I’ve read your most recent posting and I think I’ve got the gist of it, but due to your frustration to the slow response, I might have lost sight of its intent other than the need for committee participants. Am I correct? If so, let me know how I can help. It may be necessary to continue your hope/plans for the blog off-line. I am available, locally, this Sat., 11/24, late morning to meet. Please call. Let me know where and what time you are available. If this short notice is a problem, perhaps next week–I will try to work with your schedule. Ms. Richards or Jackie G. can provide you with it my number
Thank you.
11
Ken Schwarz
// Dec 2, 2007 at 1:56 am
Yvonne,
Great to read your comment. Congratulations. You can email me at kschwarz@cozen.com. My office telephone number is 212.453.3878. Have a good weekend.
Ken Schwarz
12
Ken Schwarz
// Dec 5, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Dear Parents and Students,
I have no intention of interjecting politics on this blog. For that reason, I have omitted any reference to that candidate on whose website the following statement appears.
“Democracy is strongest when its citizens can engage in the full and free exchange of information and ideas, including freely expressing themselves and learning from information offered by others. The Internet and traditional media outlets are critical in facilitating communication by and between Americans and citizens of the world. As president, * * * will ensure that these critical communications pathways remain accessible to all Americans and reflect the diversity of our nation. By doing so, this policy will enable Americans to discuss and debate more actively the key issues that affect our lives and will give citizens greater autonomy to determine where the truth lies.”
Why can’t we, as parents and students, begin to use this blog to “discuss and debate more actively the key issues that affect” the lives of our children?
13
Marilyn
// Dec 6, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Ken,
I don’t have much to add at this moment. Just to let you know that I am online and catching up with things. I hope, like myself, more parent and student input begins trickling in and finally increases to a gush….Maybe after you have the training session for the parents, the responses would be better. Keep plugging- you will get the connection eventually. (Smile)
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