The Mission
Take from a Message by Ollie Morgan, Former National President
Why is there a BDPA? Today there are many organizations affiliated with information technology. I am a member in quite a few. So why BDPA? If you will allow me some of your time I would like to share with you my perspective as to the MISSION OF BDPA.
During August of 1993 the BDPA National Delegates adopted a revised National Bylaws. In those bylaws are the official objectives of BDPA. Those bylaws state:
"The objective of the Association is to accumulate a pool of data processing knowledge and business expertise with the intention of utilizing these resources to:
1. Strength the expertise of minority members of the data processing community;
2. Offer this expertise to those minorities evaluating data processing for future career/business potential;
3. Broaden the data processing knowledge of the minority community as a whole;
4. Participate in all activities directly related thereto."
Let's break that down. First off, what is data processing? Is it IT (information technology), or maybe MIS (management of information services and/ or sciences)? I would suggest to you that data processing is any process that collects facts to develop information electronically. And, anyone professionally engaged in that activity is a data processing professional. You can be a developer of business solutions, or the user of that development, and still be a member of BDPA. Take another look at that mission statement and see if you see in those words the activities of an administrative person producing a form letter using Word Perfect?
Is economic development part of the mission statement? I would think so. If the minority community is economically challenged, and statistical data seems to support that hypothesis, then enhanced understanding of data processing technology could certainly contribute to the introduction of freshly earned dollars into that economically challenged community. So, are school teachers and trade school instructors eligible for membership?
You do notice that there is no mention of the four (4) basic products for chapters in the mission statement. Why is that? I would suggest that the basic products are guidelines to bring about the objectives outlined in the mission statement; not the mission. A chapter can support the four basic programs and still not support the mission.
Is BDPA exclusionary because it's mission is focused on minorities? No, it is inclusive because it's mission is focused on minorities. Traditionally, minorities are "locked out" of data processing technology. There are a number of reasons for this lock out. Racism is only one. Education is certainly another. Family discipline and support are contributors. But, we, BDPA, chose to focus our resources on the solutions over the problems. We believe that through education, exposure and experience we can open up closed doors. As Americans we have no choice but to believe that. As Americans we have no choice but to make that happen.
You do notice that it does not state, clearly, in our mission statement that we will find you a job. BDPA is not a national placement firm. Our mission is to "strengthen the expertise...". Education and training, delivered through monthly program meetings and workshops and seminars, is the mission. Changing your attitude from "job search" to "career management" is to strengthen your expertise. Presenting you with workshops covering Visual Basic and multimedia address the mission. If we do that well, and you are in attendance, looking for a job will not be your objective. In fact, if we truly live up to our mission, the "job" will be looking for you.
You notice that there is no mention of "youth" in this revised objectives. So why so much emphasis on high school competition teams? I think you can find that purpose under this passage, "Broaden the data processing knowledge of the minority community..." And, if you look at the make-up of our competition teams, you will recognize that we are doing that, and that these opportunities are truly opened to all young people; regardless of race, creed, or color. Why no discrimination in BDPA? Because, we appreciate that it is through exposure that each ethnic groups will gain respect for the contributions of the other. And, in BDPA, we do not duplicate what we deplore.
Lastly, what role do you play in meeting our mission? Your membership dues lend support. So please renew today. Don't wait until you expire. Renew today. Attending those monthly program meetings and workshops lend support to our mission because within you we "strengthen the expertise..." If you leave the program meeting knowing more than you did when you entered, then we met, in part, our mission statement. Why BDPA? Because our salvation will come from within. God helps those that help themselves. You can not expect, in any good reasoning, that the person that created the problem will actively be engaged in diluting the problem created. No, my brothers and sisters, this must come from you and your support of our mission statement.
Support can be delivered in many ways, but without it we will surely fail to live up to what we have written. If you are willing to ride in the boat we built without placing your oar in the water then have a nice trip.