Posted by dj on February 14, 2001, at 18:24:54
In reply to Re: Guest Speakers » Rzip, posted by Cam W. on February 14, 2001, at 6:50:59
> Rzip - Unfortunately, most experts are incredibly busy (either doing research or, don't take this the wrong way - "empire building"). It seems no one does this stuff for free, unless they're nobodys ... >
> I hate to be a pessimist, because I do like the idea. It's just that we have nothing to dangle in >front any experts, to entice them to come.
Some truth and some fallacy to your posting Cam as there are no absolutes (other than this one ; ). Busy people are sometime the most willing to plug in some time (or money) for something they believe in or have been personally touched by... which is some of the basis for professional (ie. - multi-million dollar) fundraising and politics amongst other things.Most people have been touched by depression at one time. For instance Michael Wilson, the former federal Minister of Finance in Canada and current head of Dominion RBC Securities, has put time effort and resources into helping raise public and CEO consciousness about the impact and nature of depression. He was touched by this dis-ease, and forced to evalutate his views about it, by his son Cameron's struggles with it, which eventually led to his suicide as he discussed in this speech: http://www.camh.net/CLARKEPages/clarke_news/michael_wilson_speech.html and touched on in other words and deeds some of which will come up when you combine "his name" and the word depression in the google search engine.
One in twenty or so folk dealt with depression and so most folks have been touched by it indirectly if not directly. The right plea, focused in a way that might work for them, at the right time may just score. Off the top I suspect Richard O'Connor, the author of "Undoing Depression" and the recently released "Active Treatment of Depression" might be willing to engage in some dialogue on-line in the appropriate space at the appropriate time as might Everett Koop, the former surgeon general who has a website with various discussion threads on that and other issues.
Al Gore's wife Tipper arranged a big public white house backed discussion of depression as she had dealt with it herself. Dr. O'Connor attended that as noted in an article on his website (http://www.undoingdepression.com) as I believe did Dan Rather, etc...
Here in British Columbia, talkshowhost and former provincial Cabinet Minster, Rafe Mair has dealt with the issue, in public, and his battle with it, as the search engine will also show you.
So there are folks out there who are approachable and very possibly open to some sort of arrangement. The challenge is having someone who has the time, energy, committment, persistance, creativity and resources to follow up and develop and organize such. That is the core challenge.
sante!
dj
poster:dj
thread:619
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20001124/msgs/657.html