Open Sesame

September 22, 2007

Hi All,

Now that this khushdc-govern listserv is jolly and vibrant (as opposed to being staid and comatose like the khushdc-members listserv is), how about we open it up by inviting those who are interested in contributing to KhushDC to join this group?

As this group is currently set up, it is supposedly for the current Board and for previous Board members. But there are a couple of people on this listserv that are neither (which is great, in my opinion), and there are 'much more than many' former Board members who have either declined to join this listserv, or were never invited to join in the first place :-)

I'm sure there are a number of Khushies out there who are neither current nor former Board members, but who will be interested in joining this listserv, and will contribute not just their suggestions but also their concrete help to the group. Inviting them to join the listserv will create a smooth paved pathway - a channel - for them to start contributing.

KhushDC Board Meeting

In theory, such folks can always come to a KhushDC Board meeting to give us their suggestions and to volunteer their help. But that's just theory, and is likely to remain so. I do not expect more than a couple of non-Boardies to show up at KhushDC Board meetings.

On the other hand, the discussions that we have here on this khushdc-govern listserv amount to participating in a perpetual Board meeting, as I see it. Inviting interested members to join this listserv will amount to ensuring their participation in this virtual Board meeting.

Old Farts

While AQUA is run by 20-somethings (from what I've heard), KhushDC is run mostly by 30-nothings. Oops, I mean 30-somethings; that was a Feudian slip. Oops, I mean Freudian slip. (There I go again.)

While it's nice that 'old farts' like me run the group, it would be nicer if greater numbers of 20-somethings participated too. I recently heard that LGBTQ South Asian college students shun KhushDC because they think of it as a group of 'old' (i.e. 30+) people.

Of course we can exhort young folks to join KhushDC - say by doing youth outreach and posting the exhortation to the khushdc listserv. But if we open this khushdc-govern listserv, then I think at least a few young folks will be excited and enthusiastic about participating and contributing to KhushDC's governance, and will eagerly join in. (Old farts will largely stay away though, as this will be passe for them).

Passion's Dilution and Pandora's Unboxing

What do yawl think of this suggestion? Is it Open Sesame or Pandora's Box? Please speak up if you're for it, against it or indifferent to it.

Although I am for it, age has mellowed the passion that I once had for fervently espousing, devilishly imposing and dictatorially implementing my opinions.

I will give you one small piece of dark chocolate if you agree with me. If you don't, then I won't think ill of you. I'll still give you an identical piece of dark chocolate. (That reminds me: Sahar, Sapna and Dan: Thank you for giving me a load of dark chocolates when I was in hospital a year ago. I ate them for weeks after coming home and I enjoyed them hugely!)

No matter what we decide - whether to open up this group or not - I'll live with that decision!

--Utterly Humble Ninny
"I'm proud of my humility." --Anonymous