[FUN_Mail] FUN_Mail Digest, Vol 24, Issue 8

Fri Dec 8 16:00:34 EST 2017

These types of discussion on policy, reaching Congress, etc. are much needed, and exactly why we will re-visit the topic in one of the 2018 newsletters. Joe, Bryan, and Deanna, many thanks for your efforts and your 2 cents!

-Charles

________________________________
From: FUN_Mail <fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org> on behalf of fun_mail-request at lists.funfaculty.org <fun_mail-request at lists.funfaculty.org>
Sent: Friday, December 8, 2017 11:24:04 AM
To: fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org
Subject: FUN_Mail Digest, Vol 24, Issue 8

Send FUN_Mail mailing list submissions to
        fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
        https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.funfaculty.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ffun_mail&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=GT9l1n%2BgYj31%2Fz2PjceUgIofOfTHfyP5cm%2FSU%2FiUX08%3D&reserved=0
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
        fun_mail-request at lists.funfaculty.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
        fun_mail-owner at lists.funfaculty.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of FUN_Mail digest..."

FUN_Mail Daily Digest

Today's Topics:

   1. Re: letters to Congress about the grad tax (Bryan Fantie)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2017 11:23:58 -0500
From: Bryan Fantie <bfantie at american.edu>
To: Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Mailing List
        <fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org>
Subject: Re: [FUN_Mail] letters to Congress about the grad tax
Message-ID: <A9A4C138-9650-49C4-9FCD-E7910ABF8F05 at american.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Dear Joe,

You reinforce my point. Congress can send out email responses automatically, so getting an email response is not really a good measure of effectiveness. In fact, the staff of a member of Congress can send an email response without the member even reading the original email. Similarly, the members of Congress, many of whom are over thirty years old and not totally trusting of all this new tech, still realize that sending an email to them is a lot easier than telephoning, especially with the virtual petitions and such people are using now. Members of Congress pay attention to the people who show enough commitment to an issue to make an actual personal telephone call. Whatever lights up their switchboards catches their attention because those calls come from the people who are also usually committed enough to show up at the voting booth.

I am not telling anyone not to send an email. I am just saying that if one has a cause about which one truly cares, a telephone call will carry significantly more weight. Surely one could do both, and I am puzzled why you would try to discourage people from telephoning. If it is to emphasize how easy it is for someone to do something that you think they might not do if it took much time, that is exactly the same assessment members of Congress make.

As I said, I was a Federal employee as a scientist and, later, as a Federal science administrator. My wife is a Fed and most of my friends are Feds. I've lived and worked in the Washington, DC area for about 30 years, most "inside the Beltway", and I have friends and colleagues who work in Congress, have served in Congress, or work or serve in local government. The university at which I work has a direct relationship with Congress, which has to approve major changes in our administrative structure. There is almost no escape from politics in my world. I base my $0.02 on those experiences.

Bryan

> On Dec 8, 2017, at 10:37 AM, Joe Burdo <joe at neurotinker.com> wrote:
>
> Recently I've been getting more responses from my senators and reps via email than via phone, it seems like the aides have been overwhelmed with phone calls and messages for the last 322 days. Out of ~10 phone calls I've yet to have one answered by a human, or the message responded to. Emails have almost always gotten some form of response.
>
>
> My 2 pennies,
>
> Joe
>
>> On Fri, Dec 8, 2017 at 10:28 AM, Bryan Fantie <bfantie at american.edu> wrote:
>> As a former Fed, I suggest that if one wants to make a significant impact, one needs to telephone the office of one's House and Senate representatives.
>>
>> Bryan D. Fantie, Ph.D.
>> Psychology Department
>> American University
>> bfantie at american.edu
>>
>> "Content thyself to be obscurely good. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
>>       the post of honor is a private station."& nbsp;-Joseph Addison, essayist and poet (1672-1719)
>>
>> "Sometimes you are the pigeon, and sometimes you are the statue.?
>>        -Claude Chabrol, French movie director, member of the nouvelle vague (1930-2010)
>>
>>> On Dec 8, 2017, at 8:56 AM, Monica Linden <monica_linden at brown.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>> This is great! You can also use this link to use the SfN system to connect to congressmen electronically.  It's very fast.  Students can edit the letter if you prefer.  You don't have to be a member of SfN to use this link.  https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FN6KV6P&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=mO1bMISH6lluldumyiNsuuLtl4IbZdP05TA%2F3UwPQcw%3D&reserved=0
>>>
>>> I've used this system with students, and almost everyone got a response back.
>>>
>>>> On Dec 8, 2017 8:13 AM, "Deanne Buffalari" <buffald at westminster.edu> wrote:
>>>> Hi all:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Just wanted to pass along an idea.  We recently got undergrads involved in writing letters to Congress re: the tax bill (in case anyone isn't aware - The House version includes significantly increased tax on grad students whose tuition is waived).  We pre-printed a bunch of letters asking Congress to ensure that provision is NOT included in the bill, set up a table with coffee and donuts, and helped interested students interested identify their senators and representatives and sign letters.
>>>>
>>>> Today I'll be sending ~ 100 letters on behalf of students and faculty.  It was a great way to make students aware that elections have consequences, and voicing their opinions is important.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So- in your race to the finish at the end of the semester, consider finding a way to ensure the voice of many of our future graduate students is heard.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> (There are TONS of letter examples online -we used one for grad students and modified it for undergrads).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Happy grading,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Deanne Buffalari
>>>>
>>>> Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology
>>>> Westminster College
>>>> buffald at westminster.edu
>>>> 724-946-7358
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: FUN_Mail <fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org> on behalf of Ramirez, Julio <juramirez at davidson.edu>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 5:03 PM
>>>> To: Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [FUN_Mail] Help determine SfN leadership: Call for nominations now open
>>>>
>>>> I enthusiastically agree with Amy Jo! Your voice is important!
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>>
>>>> Julio
>>>>
>>>> Julio J. Ramirez, Ph.D.
>>>> R. Stuart Dickson Professor
>>>> Chair, Psychology Department
>>>> Director, Neuroscience Program
>>>> Co-Director, Neuroscience Scholars Program
>>>>    Society for Neuroscience
>>>> Department of Psychology
>>>> Wall Science Center
>>>> Room 270
>>>> Box 7017
>>>> Davidson College
>>>> Davidson, NC 28035-7017
>>>>
>>>> Voice: 704-894-2888
>>>>
>>>> ?The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not ?Eureka!? (I found it!) but ?That?s funny??
>>>> ? Isaac Asimov
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: FUN_Mail [mailto:fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org] On Behalf Of Amy Jo Stavnezer
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2017 4:17 PM
>>>> To: Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Mailing List <fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org>
>>>> Subject: [FUN_Mail] Fwd: Help determine SfN leadership: Call for nominations now open
>>>>
>>>> Do your part ? nominate a FUN member for SfN, including yourself!
>>>> Amy Jo
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>
>>>> From: "Careen Campbell, Society for Neuroscience" <donotreply at sfn.org>
>>>> Subject: Help determine SfN leadership: Call for nominations now open
>>>> Date: December 5, 2017 at 4:07:35 PM EST
>>>> To: ajstavnezer at wooster.edu
>>>> Reply-To: donotreply at sfn.org
>>>>
>>>> Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear SfN Member,
>>>> The 2018 Call for Nominations is now open. Nominate fellow colleagues and/or yourself for an officer, councilor, or committee member position: Your nominations shape the future of the field by helping to ensure that the Society?s leadership continues to represent its diverse and growing membership.
>>>> Officer and Councilor Nominations
>>>> SfN Council makes the decisions that determine the Society?s direction for the upcoming year and comprises eight elected councilors and seven to eight officers. Positions that are up for election this year include Incoming President-Elect, Incoming Secretary-Elect, Incoming Treasurer-Elect, and Councilor (two positions).
>>>> Instructions for submitting an officer or councilor nomination may be found on the Call for Nominations webpage. All Regular members, including Emeritus and Postdoctoral members, are eligible for these positions.
>>>> Committee Member Nominations
>>>> Fifteen committees provide leadership and oversight of SfN affairs, helping the Society to effectively represent and serve its members. These committees coordinate activities and implement communication related to financial management, membership engagement, professional development and training, public outreach, and scientific publishing.
>>>> Visit the Committees webpage for a list of committees and their respective responsibilities as well as instructions for submitting a committee member nomination.
>>>> Nominations for all positions are due by noon EST Friday, February 16, 2018. To submit a nomination, you will need to log in using your SfN credentials. If you are unable to access your account, please contact the Membership Department at membership at sfn.org or (202) 962-4000.
>>>> When submitting a nomination, consideration should be given to members from all countries and of all races, ethnicities, genders, and research interests. For questions, contact the Operations & Development Department at nominations at sfn.org.
>>>> On behalf of the Society, I encourage you to participate in this important selection process. As always, thank you for contributions to the field and for your continuous support of SfN.
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> Robert Desimone, PhD
>>>> Secretary, Society for Neuroscience
>>>> Chair, Committee on Committees
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> At any time, you can manage your email preferences to update or unsubscribe from email communications.
>>>> Read our privacy policy.
>>>> Society for Neuroscience
>>>> 1121 14th Street NW, Suite 1010
>>>> Washington, DC  20005
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________
>>>> Amy Jo Stavnezer
>>>> College of Wooster, Associate Professor of Psychology
>>>> Chair, Program in Neuroscience
>>>> Past-President, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.funfaculty.org&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=ews311jvXRXNi%2BaNrQYGrbdQ9NmywXhJvvJqT7Or0EY%3D&reserved=0)
>>>> Summer Neuroscience NSF REU: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2F0sZnfL&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=jr3CXahVt1AAcvkHempAI5WyNSdBBTvQ89Q8E7A1EGU%3D&reserved=0
>>>> *********************************************
>>>> Schedule student meetings online at https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstav.youcanbook.me&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=Q3aM68PEKbXVPzzTE1fAlbQbhpF6pM628OXeK2T1gsg%3D&reserved=0
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> --remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --
>>>>
>>>> FUN_Mail mailing list
>>>> FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
>>>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.funfaculty.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ffun_mail&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=GT9l1n%2BgYj31%2Fz2PjceUgIofOfTHfyP5cm%2FSU%2FiUX08%3D&reserved=0
>>>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funfaculty.org%2Fdrupal%2Fmailarchive%2FFUN_mail&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=gNr8Q1GgzjmNWiJvl1TzjIWIrKFqKQzxo2VGDroqhVU%3D&reserved=0
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> --remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --
>>>
>>> FUN_Mail mailing list
>>> FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
>>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__lists.funfaculty.org_mailman_listinfo_fun-5Fmail%26d%3DDwICAg%26c%3DU0G0XJAMhEk_X0GAGzCL7Q%26r%3DZhgyFnkG04C1Y9TYBRaKJkX14enw_wnclYjjLp8jbJA%26m%3DOnTr23VXTagxvsTZYhtVhdkwMpZ0fDq9n3EETTJoGdE%26s%3DcDynckohrMGz9xI2qSeFBPRV6COmYXAtNDAAWLhgkUs%26e%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__www.funfaculty.org_drupal_mailarchive_FUN-5Fmail%26d%3DDwICAg%26c%3DU0G0XJAMhEk_X0GAGzCL7Q%26r%3DZhgyFnkG04C1Y9TYBRaKJkX14enw_wnclYjjLp8jbJA%26m%3DOnTr23VXTagxvsTZYhtVhdkwMpZ0fDq9n3EETTJoGdE%26s%3DZE0a3qaIqG4agajO0YO2D0YSqFzW6_PxbRBruCfko-w%26e&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=RgLtk6yXDEnz%2FTUeUcGPkEnkzsev8Nix6wA%2FjUqtH9w%3D&reserved=0=
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> --remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --
>>
>> FUN_Mail mailing list
>> FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.funfaculty.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ffun_mail&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=GT9l1n%2BgYj31%2Fz2PjceUgIofOfTHfyP5cm%2FSU%2FiUX08%3D&reserved=0
>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funfaculty.org%2Fdrupal%2Fmailarchive%2FFUN_mail&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=gNr8Q1GgzjmNWiJvl1TzjIWIrKFqKQzxo2VGDroqhVU%3D&reserved=0
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> --remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --
>
> FUN_Mail mailing list
> FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__lists.funfaculty.org_mailman_listinfo_fun-5Fmail%26d%3DDwICAg%26c%3DU0G0XJAMhEk_X0GAGzCL7Q%26r%3DZhgyFnkG04C1Y9TYBRaKJkX14enw_wnclYjjLp8jbJA%26m%3DPRNDVYImAZqvf0DoskrFLH0MqgLHvAjEzatlLcTpAU0%26s%3D6F8uFzEmYBDA8NiQ7rZCW6J477PMGryjNB0qrjudsPw%26e&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=twh3yH5E5lR17Pw5K62yp%2FDvxkvOUlRfH6dt7xJXP9I%3D&reserved=0=
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__www.funfaculty.org_drupal_mailarchive_FUN-5Fmail%26d%3DDwICAg%26c%3DU0G0XJAMhEk_X0GAGzCL7Q%26r%3DZhgyFnkG04C1Y9TYBRaKJkX14enw_wnclYjjLp8jbJA%26m%3DPRNDVYImAZqvf0DoskrFLH0MqgLHvAjEzatlLcTpAU0%26s%3DclR46ucxr-vlAeWISfb8xrGNnfjR7WjOAUFITgwzLgg%26e&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=b89PMuIrlMYon3JaaWIMlxfp2mmj5Mls%2FHnK0yh79Mo%3D&reserved=0=
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.funfaculty.org%2Fpipermail%2Ffun_mail%2Fattachments%2F20171208%2F92104972%2Fattachment.html&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=NZDe8jb2qiX0OjPrWgG0GbybNZUVNVM39cMyIu6Cku0%3D&reserved=0>

------------------------------

Subject: Digest Footer

_______________________________________________
--remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --
FUN_Mail mailing list
FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.funfaculty.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ffun_mail&data=02%7C01%7Cclweave1%40svsu.edu%7C2acfa3e248b74995af0108d53e583bd0%7C550f45ff3e8342a197d970ad8935b0c5%7C0%7C0%7C636483471035721816&sdata=GT9l1n%2BgYj31%2Fz2PjceUgIofOfTHfyP5cm%2FSU%2FiUX08%3D&reserved=0

------------------------------

End of FUN_Mail Digest, Vol 24, Issue 8
***************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.funfaculty.org/pipermail/fun_mail/attachments/20171208/3c588adc/attachment-0001.html>