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Removing Barriers To Success
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I've always said that I could never work in a civil service position. Having autistic tendencies, I'm rule bound, and the multitude of regulations, and statutory requirements which stifle initiative and prevent improvements or anything happening would drive me to distraction.
So, how was I persuaded to become a parish councillor? Moreover, not just a parish councillor, but one who chairs a committee charged with regenerating business within a large hall in need of renovation. I've only been trying for a month, but already it's apparent that many of the problems that the hall faces are caused by it being shackled by being run by committee. Things that should be sorted at the discretion of the Manager in minutes, take months to be resolved, if at all. Every little move, that differs in the slightest form needs committee approval. Requests for quotes again need committee approval.
Just over a week ago, it was agreed by committee that we should organise a Mother's Day Event and an International Women's Day. Both to be organised and run with no money and relying totally on the goodwill of the community. A hard enough job in itself but, virtually impossible when you add in the petty bureaucracy that stifles parish councils. I'm now told that I can't speak to anybody or write to anybody to ask for help until I have specific approval from the committee when they meet again on February 20th. So, I'm now expected to pull Mother's Day together including getting performers, advertising and selling tickets in the few days between February 21st and March 2nd.
Because of my autistic tendencies, I have no problems in obeying rules. Indeed, I find it difficult to deviate from them and worry endlessly when I do. But, I've read and read the rule books and statute law and no where is there anything that requires all this. Yes, I'm not allowed to act on behalf of the council without their approval, but in agreeing to allow the events to be organised, and it was a unanimous vote, I thought we had such approval.
Since I've stopped working to look after Ashleigh, I've gradually got out of the habit of needing to sleep every minute that I'm not actually fully occupied. Since I've been interacting with the outside world again, I find myself slipping back into the need for excessive sleep. It's my safety valve and the only way I can cope with the confusion of a world that I really don't understand. The job of promoting the hall is one I can do quite easily if I'm allowed to. The task of coping with people is something that I know I will continue to find difficult and confusing.
So, how was I persuaded to become a parish councillor? Moreover, not just a parish councillor, but one who chairs a committee charged with regenerating business within a large hall in need of renovation. I've only been trying for a month, but already it's apparent that many of the problems that the hall faces are caused by it being shackled by being run by committee. Things that should be sorted at the discretion of the Manager in minutes, take months to be resolved, if at all. Every little move, that differs in the slightest form needs committee approval. Requests for quotes again need committee approval.
Just over a week ago, it was agreed by committee that we should organise a Mother's Day Event and an International Women's Day. Both to be organised and run with no money and relying totally on the goodwill of the community. A hard enough job in itself but, virtually impossible when you add in the petty bureaucracy that stifles parish councils. I'm now told that I can't speak to anybody or write to anybody to ask for help until I have specific approval from the committee when they meet again on February 20th. So, I'm now expected to pull Mother's Day together including getting performers, advertising and selling tickets in the few days between February 21st and March 2nd.
Because of my autistic tendencies, I have no problems in obeying rules. Indeed, I find it difficult to deviate from them and worry endlessly when I do. But, I've read and read the rule books and statute law and no where is there anything that requires all this. Yes, I'm not allowed to act on behalf of the council without their approval, but in agreeing to allow the events to be organised, and it was a unanimous vote, I thought we had such approval.
Since I've stopped working to look after Ashleigh, I've gradually got out of the habit of needing to sleep every minute that I'm not actually fully occupied. Since I've been interacting with the outside world again, I find myself slipping back into the need for excessive sleep. It's my safety valve and the only way I can cope with the confusion of a world that I really don't understand. The job of promoting the hall is one I can do quite easily if I'm allowed to. The task of coping with people is something that I know I will continue to find difficult and confusing.
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