Fw: Your Letters Still Work!

This is a kind note just received from Ms Willa Cofield (formerly Willa Johnson) who, seeking the various N.C. Blackbelt Movement documents from my Collection at Wisconsin Historical Society -- I indicated these the other day -- encountered a really surreal, Kafkaesque complex of "process" and "procedures."  I straightened that out in a hurry with a very strong, well-aimed letter designed to cut through the "white tape".  Within a short time after sending it early this morning, the Wisconsin Historical Society reversed itself.  They are sending the documents forthwith -- and at no charge.  My mother always took the position that "Never accept a poor response -- but go straight to the top."  Very good advice that's always served me very well.  And I enjoy doing forceful letters -- always a strong suit of mine.

These problems, which especially affect people communicating and requesting from afar, didn't used to be characteristic of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Things tended to be personal -- and fast. But self-feeding and ever expansive bureaucracy, coupled with the infamous state level budget cuts of a couple of years ago, have led to vine-choked and oft-discouraging thickets.  (H)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Willa 
To: Hunter Gray 
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 11:15 AM
Subject: Your Letters Still Work!


Thanks, Hunter:

Wow!  I am amazed!  In just hours you turned the whole bureaucracy of the 
Wisconsin Historical Society around and now they are bending over backwards
to help me.  

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!  I will certainly let you know when I receive the
papers.

Always the best,
Willa

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis 
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
www.hunterbear.org  (social justice)

See the new expanded/updated edition of my "ORGANIZER'S
BOOK." It's the inside story of the rise of the massive Jackson
Movement -- careful grassroots organizing, bloody repression, sell-out 
and more.  It also covers other organizing campaigns of mine through
 the decades since Mississippi. It's replete with grass-roots organizing
examples and "lessons."  And it has my new 10,000 word 
introduction.  Among a myriad of positive comments and reviews:
 ". . .a local activist's important account of the deleterious effects
the involvement  of national organizations can have on indigenous
protest movements."  (Historian David Garrow.)
http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm

See the related:  http://crmvet.org/comm/hunter1.htm

Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm