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  • 10 seconds to give $10

    By Eric Stoller March 23, 2011 10:15 pm EDT

    I left for the NASPA Annual Conference the day after several earthquakes and a tsunami struck Japan. While at the conference, I saw numerous tweets on the backchannel that criticized the NASPA leadership for not doing more to support and advocate for the people of Japan. While I can empathize with folks who were struggling to find a sense of action at the conference, I know that for many, the way that we grieve, mourn, and respond to tragedy varies tremendously.

    The timing of the events that occurred in Japan took place while many in the NASPA community were traveling and/or preparing for the conference. I firmly believe that if folks had had just a bit more time to come to terms with what had happened, that there would have been more of a communications effort to support the Japanese people at the NASPA Conference. During times of tragedy, it is important to find ways to support one another. One of my mentors once told me that it is far easier to be critical than it is to be creative and generative.

    Having said that, I have seen tweets from several people who are gearing up to provide education, advocacy, and support for the people of Japan during the ACPA Annual Convention. Volunteers will be staffing a table to solicit donations in support of relief efforts in Japan.

    One of the easiest ways that you can help folks out in Japan is by texting REDCROSS to 90999. It takes 10 seconds to donate $10. Micropayments, when collectively added up, can have fundamental impacts for aiding people during their time of need. The natural disaster that took place in Japan is grotesque in its magnitude. We all need to come together to be part of a collective solution of support. I donated. Will you?

    Do you tweet? Let's connect. Follow me on Twitter.

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Comments on 10 seconds to give $10

  • "firm belief" doesn't mean it's true.
  • Posted by noneedforbacklash on March 31, 2011 at 4:30am EDT
  • It's nice that you "firmly believe" that NASPA leadership just needed more time in order to organize something to support Japan, but that's just not the truth. Several people spoke to members of the convention team offering to organize a volunteer-driven effort to raise money or at least acknowledge the tragedy and were directly refused/rebuffed. Those offering to organize something were told there would be a moment of silence that never happened on a large scale.

    Criticism of poor decisions made by those selected to be our leaders is necessary sometimes. You should not be so quick to dismiss those who speak it because it doesn't fit with what you "firmly believe," especially considering you admit you don't have any knowledge of what actually happened.

    People grieve differently but that doesn't mean that we should not offer support in some of the usual ways as well. It would have been easy to do at NASPA and they did nothing instead.

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