Although I was familiar with the general terminology and had an overview of transgender-related topics and, coincidentally, also had known Andre personally by another name and another gender, years ago, I left the presentation at 1:30 knowing indescribably more about the topic than when we arrived at the Ehrlicher Room at noon.  In fact, I felt the way one feels when one has seen a heart-rending, wonderfully executed movie–as if it had entered my mind to the extent that it had become a part of my own life experience.

Andre, Anand, and Denise had all had lived completely different lives, but as each panelist skillfully narrated his/her personal tale, the common thread of gender confusion and subsequent deep unhappiness was revealed.  I doubt that there was even one person in the room who was not affected by all three stories.  And, to my way of thinking, one could almost identify with each narrative, in that but for the vagaries of biology and/or the Fate or a Deity–whichever one believes in–the situation could have been one’s own.  I think I can say without hyperbole that it was a transformative presentation for many in the audience.

Fast-forwarding to the segment that involves libraries and librarians (apart from the sponsorship and site of the panel presentation), I can report that Andre mentioned that as a much-scorned, picked-on, bullied, and generally disliked youth, he spent lots of time hiding out in the school library; in fact, he never ate lunch, fearing to enter the hostile territory of the cafeteria, but spent the time putting plastic  covers on the books and helping the librarian.  Further, this librarian first exposed him to the possibility of a girl taking a boy’s role–through a book she left out about a woman who fought in the Civil War.   Andre also lauded the web site of the San Francisco Public Library for its open display of transsexual literature.  He stated that he almost literally owes his life to two thoughtful and caring librarians.   Andre suggested that librarians should continue to distribute such sorely needed information on this still extremely stigmatized and little understood topic and should leave such books around for vulnerable youth to discover (“Be a slob–leave your books lying around”).

http://sfpl4.sfpl.org/librarylocations/main/glc/transcending.htm

Speeding to the finish line of this sordid story, I can reveal that a popup box on the web site of Continental Airlines (no less!) had led the user to inadvertent and completely unintended membership in an outfit called RESERVATION REWARDS, which charged a monthly fee automatically for the privilege of whatever it proposed to offer in the way of discounts in hotels, air travel, movies, restaurants, etc.  All the innocent user had to do was click on the link thinking he/she was going to the next part of the airline site to make a legitimate reservation.

Googling helped me locate 30 screens of customer complaints about this company, most people not having noticed the extra charge until many months had gone by.   A quick call to the credit card company revealed that now we must obtain new credit cards with different numbers, a decided annoyance in most active people’s lives, entailing numerous explanatory phone calls and follow-up calls when the new cards come.  Another quick call ensued to the actual questionable company in question, where their automatic message declared that the caller could push “1″ to quit membership (they were very prepared for a multitude of such requests, apparently) and a subsequent real live (I think) operator coolly and cheerfully offered to refund all fees (closing with “and is there anything else we can do for you today?”)

To me, the fascinating feature of this web-scam is that it is not illegal–immoral and unethical perhaps, but not illegal. Oh yes, it is slithery and slimy, but the clever way this con game is perpetrated enables it to survive unscathed, despite the blogs that cover many screens condemning it.

As Karen explained, the e-portfolio can be used for a horizontal change in jobs within the University, or  when applying for a new position elsewhere. It can also be put to use by a completely different person from the one who produced it, a new employee perhaps, or even an individual seeking to find out whether the particular position in question might be desirable and suitable for him/her to apply for.

I had learned directly from Laurita Thomas, Vice President, Human Resource Officer at UM, when I was a member of the Voices of the Staff: Benefits, Health and Wellness, that the University of Michigan expects to lose an inordinate number of employees in the next few years, both through retirement and moving to take positions at other institutions; therefore, it is hoped that the e-portfolios will serve as a basis for continuity of effort in many instances.

I, on the other hand, am there in the pool for quite a different purpose.  I keep my head above water at all times, the better to see and observe everything that is happening or that might potentially happen.  My eyes are sharp, my ears are clear, my senses are alert.  If, as occasionally happens, there is a pleasant lifeguard who is willing to converse while guarding, we chat a bit now and then as I do my languorous breast stroke.  If not, I sort of float along in a casual way, eventually reaching the wall and gracefully turning in a semi-circle to head back the other way.  Because there are no cell phones to ring for my attention, no little domestic tasks to nag at me, no computer nor other writing materials readily available to tempt me, and because it is so relaxing in the tepid water and I have half an hour to spend, I actually find myself thinking of  things that I might act on later on.  These ideas seem to bubble up readily only when I am in the pool and in no other place.  If I were keeping track systematically (which I am not), I would say that I have probably emerged from the water with a count of at least two ideas per swim.  I would be foolish to delude myself into thinking that each and every one of these ideas actually developed into a viable plan.  Sometimes they diminish in value or even dissipate completely by the time I have showered and dressed for the day, but somehow they all seem like epiphanies during my time in the pool.

Here is what I discovered:  “Facebook does not allow you to change network-specific groups into global groups. In order for a group to be open to all networks, you must specify that its network is “Global” when you first create it. Unfortunately, if you currently have a group that you would like to make global, it will have to be recreated. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

There were 32 screens full of protests about this situation, but no indication of any promise to remedy it.

So starting all over and creating a group that is global, even with our small membership of 26 does not seem like something that would be a priority right now. There should be a better way.