E-mail to the rescue: Plea saves camp for disabled

An exasperated mother learns the power of the PC to cut through bureaucracy with an e-mail campaign to Gov. Jeb Bush.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published June 5, 2005

"I hope you understand."

It wasn't just any summer camp. The Pasco Association for Challenged Kids provides activities - arts and crafts, trips to the bowling alley, afternoons splashing in the sprinklers and wading pools - for 30 to 35 disabled children who can't attend traditional summer programs.

Konrad's 16-year-old son Gregory, who has Down's syndrome, has attended for the past seven years. Her other son and husband are camp counselors. During the summer, when she is on break from being a teacher's aide at Chasco Elementary, Konrad is the camp's director.

On May 26, Bush vetoed $50,000 for this summer's camp. Konrad booted up her computer and figured she had nothing to lose.

From Konrad: Kids like my son need to be challenged and kept busy during these summer months so they do not regress. ... These kids are not accepted anywhere else. No other camp will ever take them. It is really sad that for most of them this is the only recreation these kids will have at all this summer.

Bush sent a short, formal response. He said the state had increased funding for the developmentally disabled by 140 percent over seven years. He mentioned the state's success turning around one troubled program. But he said he couldn't support programs that hadn't gone through the necessary review. He hoped she would understand.

She clicked "Reply."

From Konrad:I'm sorry, but, no, I guess I really don't understand!!

To petition the government for a redress of grievances.

It means everyday citizens can take their complaints to their elected officials.

"The founders had a vision of active citizen involvement in government: citizen soldiers, citizen legislators," said Richard Stengel, president of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Now, with e-mail, people can contact their leaders in a direct, instant way, he said.

"It makes our country much more democratic than the Founding Fathers ever imagined," Stengel said.

And with a governor who responds to as many e-mails as he can, it means an exasperated mom in New Port Richey can attempt to persuade the leader of the fourth largest state to change his mind.

From Konrad: The more I sat down and thought about your response to my letter ... I thought, I can't believe how insensitive, cold and factual you were with your response. And, I can't believe that you would tell me that you could (not) support programs such as ours when you have supported us many years in the past (this is our 8th year). This is the first year you have not supported us. ... Frustrated and sending blessings, Barb Konrad.

Barry and Paula Cohen started the camp in 1997 to provide activities for kids like their son, Gregory, who has autism. They asked Mike Fasano - then a state representative, now a state senator - for help. He brought home a $9,000 state grant.

Each year thereafter, Fasano put in a budget request for PACK, each time seeking a little more money. Each year the group got something, except for 2003, when the Legislature couldn't spare the dollars during a budget crunch.

Then came the accounting mishap of 2005. Somehow, the $50,000 for PACK dropped out of the budget for the Department of Children and Families, which had funded the camp for years, and popped up in the budget for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Appearing to be a new project with no connection to juvenile justice, the funding got vetoed.

It was only a week later, after e-mails from Konrad, Fasano and others, that Bush discovered what had happened.

From Bush: This program should not have been funded through the juvenile justice budget. However, we will find a way to lend a hand for the project.

Konrad got a call Wednesday morning from Shelly Brantley, director of the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities. At the direction of the governor, the agency was going to find $50,000 for this summer's camp.

"I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, this is happening because of a letter that I wrote," Konrad said. "Had I not pursued that, this might not be happening."

"It renewed my faith in the system."

It also called for one last e-mail to the governor.

From Konrad: First, I want to say "I'm sorry" for any negative attitude I may have shown when writing my recent letters. I was very frustrated and somewhat angry for the cut and was trying to understand what happened. Unfortunately, I felt I had to vent and you being the top guy received the brunt of that venting. I believe in this project and felt I couldn't sit around and accept what was dealt us.I really appreciate you as well as (Shelly Brantley) going out of your way to respond to this situation so quickly and to help us out for camp this year. It means so much to the kids and that is so important. They will be thrilled. I know my son Gregory was ... He was jumping around the kitchen sayin"yes, yes, yes!!!!," the simplest things in life make our day.

The governor's response was understanding.

Don't be sorry. I'm glad we can help.

--Bridget Hall Grumet can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 5, 2005, 02:15:25]