RE: Media Response - Take initiative (or - total apathy)

["Weiner, Ruth" <rfweine@sandia.gov>]

ANS regularly does workshops for teachers, has done so for years, and we are
planning a joint one with HPS here even as we speak.  I myself have done
lots and lots of talks to teachers as a volunteer, in addition to continuing
ed workshops done through the university, and I think people don't realize
how physically demanding and time consuming these workshops can be.
Materials, handouts, etc. need to be prepared.   Also, everyone who is
knowledgeable is not automatically a good teacher nor automatically enjoys
teaching.  I happen to like doing this, and will present workshops anywhere
anyone wants me to when I have the time,  but l recognize that others may
not enjoy this activity.

Finally, I think there is a limit to what people can be asked to do as
volunteers.  Remember that a lot of the intervenor groups employ people to
do workshops and speak to groups.

Clearly only my own opinion.

Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
Sandia National Laboratories 
MS 0718, POB 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0718
505-844-4791; fax 505-844-0244
rfweine@sandia.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: Sandy Perle [mailto:sandyfl@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 1999 7:06 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Media Response - Take initiative (or - total apathy)


This is a situation whereby many within our ranks state that we 
need to inform the public about radiation in general, radioactive 
waste, decommissioning, power generation, global warming, 
incidents around the world and our environment specifically. Yet 
when there are opportunities to do just that, nobody wants to 
participate. Case in point, this past Thursday evening through 
Saturday, the California Science Teachers Association workshop 
was held at the Long Beach Convention center. There were 
probably a thousand or so science teachers there from all over the 
state. Our local chapter of HPS could not get any chapter 
participation, no matter how we tried. Except for 4 of us, there 
would have been no participation from a chapter that has over 200 
members. I am not even considering ANS, AAPM or any other 
societies that certainly can participate with these teachers. We all 
say that education is a key. If we're going to educate children 
(where it needs to begin) we need to educate the teachers. 

So when I hear all of the rhetoric about how we need to 
communicate better, to get our story out .. I have to sit back and 
say -- who do you want to do it? The other person? Because there 
certainly isn't anyone rushing out the door to assist when called 
upon. There is no initiate to take. First, we must eliminate the 
apathy.

------------------------
Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205

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