Adapting to the Times

I was finally able to get a proposal through with the Evansville Bicycle Club at tonight's meeting. The club approved the change in the name of the "Special Needs Bicycle Program" to the "Adaptive Bicycle Fund."

I had made the recommendation stating that the term "special needs" was outdated terminology and that we should use something that is more appropriate and accepted in the present.

This goes all the way back to last year when I first proposed the change. My intention was to have it changed for the registration forms we send out for the Great Pumpkin Metric. Being it was my first year, I brought it to the club too late and it was tabled to a future meeting.

I brought it back at the June meeting, which actually worked out great because we had a guest speaker representing a program with works with children with disabilities. I had verified that my recommended terminology was acceptable and she agreed that it was. So I proposed it. Unfortunately, it was part of a marathon meeting (that probably could have been run a little better), but by the time I made my proposal, everyone was ready to leave.

During this month's meeting, I brought it back up and got it through. Even though there were a few people that were against it (mostly for reasons of general ignorance), I had a few things working in my favor:

1.) The president and past president were not in attendance. The past president, who is now the treasurer, wasn't crazy on the proposal. I'm not sure where the current president stood, but the vice president was in favor and he was residing over the meeting.
2.) Attendnace was low and most of the "old school" members weren't there.
3.) I had two members, who don't normally attend meetings, say a few things which helped support my proposal.
4.) There were a few that stopped caring and just wanted to bring an end to it. By voting for it, they would shut me up.

Additionally, I really made an effort to mention my backgroundin working with individuals with disabilities, which include my sister, the summer program that I worked out for 14 summers and the wheelchair athletic program I volunteered with while in college. I'm not sure if it made a difference with some people, but at least I could say that I had more experience than the rest of the room combined.

So I got what I was asking for. This was nothing personal; I believe it is in the best interest of the club. Welcome to the 21st century.