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DOUA Hopes
to Make eBay a Level Playing Field for Disabled Users |
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With eBay Live in full swing, I'm standing now at the
Disabled Online Users Association booth. Hundreds upon hundreds of visitors
wend their way through an exhibit hall replete with sparkle and fanfare,
faces revealing the allure of tokens, cards, and pins to be had. The
excitement at the DOUA booth pulsates the air. What a moment; what a
culmination of teamwork at every turn! An active member of DOUA, I'm proud to
share in the organization's first eBay Live presence and to have been part of
the months-long preparations led by DOUA Founder and Director, Marjie Smith. Rewind to last autumn. Shortly after I was asked for a
press release announcing DOUA's emergence, Chase Management assigned DOUA to
booth #1022 at eBay Live. (By startling coincidence, 1022 was then also my
eBay feedback score.) Already well into operation, the group announced their
mission: To ensure that people with disabilities become mainstreamed into
regular society by providing the skills, tools, and resources needed for
alternative work. Logo designer Les Stratford soon opened a http://www.CafeShops.com store, which
made available DOUA/eBay Live tee shirts, teddy bears, mugs, journals, and
other customized novelties. To steer the momentum, the DOUA booth team scheduled
online meetings in a chat room provided by the Online Traders Web Alliance (OTWA).
The first online meeting took place in March. Not at all timid of online chat
rooms (as if), I logged in at OTWA, clicked the chat room link, and found
myself, via my user name "marble," on the chat room roster along
with a few other early arrivals. We weren't alone for long. As meeting time
approached, the chat room filled to capacity. Those unable access the chat
established ties with those who could, using instant messages and phone. The
first meeting set the effort in motion. The weekly meetings, silent as they were in chat room
syntax, would punchbowl with greetings, comments, jokes, and lines of
"Hi everyone!" as folks joined the room. The appearance of Marjie,
via screen name "Abovethemall," brought chit-chat to a standstill
(well, it was supposed to) as she called the online meeting to order. First
on the agenda were general announcements: updates about conference specifics,
times and dates of events, major donations, etc. Then, working the room
alphabetically, she called on members for status updates. Volunteering their
own brand of expertise to the effort, members reported on such tasks as
DOUA/eBay Live logo creation, procurement of printing services, booth design
and acquisition of supplies, creation of pamphlets and flyers, and obtaining tee
shirts to be worn by booth volunteers. For booth giveaways and prizes, Auction Ethics members
donated DOUA items ordered from Cafe Shops. Some members kept the pace by
donating other items for DOUA fundraising after the conference. It took only four such meetings to before a comfortable
pace allowed Marjie, with four weeks to spare, to set the team off in search
of loose ends. By Wednesday morning, the convention center was abuzz
with staff members and construction crews, and a few booth exhibitors milled
about tending early setup chores. The capable DOUA crew, again led by Marjie,
donned orange arm bands and headed for area #1022 with tubs and boxes full of
promo items pulled along on a cart. The colorful DOUA banner rolled out and a
team of five had it hanging in minutes. Once the table wore its skirt and the
brochures were arranged and accessible, we assembled in the Holiday Inn
Select lounge to assemble and stuff the promotional bags to be given out to
visitors the next day. The convention opened at 4:00 PM on Thursday. I'm seeing
it now: active, alive, and spirited. Folks visit the booth wanting to know
more. Some want our help. Others want to help us. It's all here. It's all
good. Each and every DOUA volunteer's effort carries its own significance to
affect the booth spirit and synergy born of a team driven by determination,
willingness, hope, and a heartfelt desire to offer a Helping Hand. *********************** About the Author: |