What’s In A Name, Anyway?

COMMITTEE REPORTS

What’s in a name, anyway?

John Sushelnitsky, Co-Chair of Political Advocacy

Perception is usually based on appearances, so people say. While a “rose is a rose is a rose,” to some people, it is a beautiful flower with very sharp thorns. They view that beautiful flower with some trepidation because they have been pricked by the thorns and had a favourite sweater shredded by the branches. Another example occurred recently, well, in 2011, when The Manitoba Teachers’ Society decided to rename its annual fall professional development day. For many years, it had been known as SAG, or Special Area Groups. The perception of that term SAG was of depression although the day and its activities were exciting and enlightening. So, someone came up with the idea of adding an “e” to SAG making it “SAGE,” a more fitting title for a day of professional development. In the same way, teacher and retired teacher groups nationally have been rethinking the image that the term “Political Action” calls up. Picketing the Premier’s house and yelling at Education Ministers at Legislative rallies are examples of the most extreme “Actions” that some groups across the country have used and it engenders a very negative image in the eyes of the public. Instead, there has been a movement to change the word “Action” to “Advocacy.” This new word gives both a softer and more thoughtful image to the persuasiveness that we wish to achieve. As a result, after discussions at the Public Relations, the Political Action and the Board of Directors meetings, it was decided at the Board meeting October 16, 2014, to change the name of the committee from Political Action to Political Advocacy.

This change of policy will need to be ratified by a resolution at the May, 2015, AGM, being held in Portage la Prairie.