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Lobbist in real life

Lighten up

YoYoSpin said:
I’m sorry to say that the tone of some of the messages in this and other recent threads is disturbing in their lack of tact (…â€I still have a little bitterness), demanding attitude (“I'd expect that and a little more from the folks wanting me to support their "cause"), innuendo (“…is there something to hide?â€), and underling accusation (…â€know what they are up to.â€)

While I agree with the concept of disclosure and accountability, I also believe that the aggressiveness of this discussion should be tempered with the knowledge that AAW Board members are volunteers, and receive zero compensation for their time and good will. Why in the world any woodturner would want to serve on our Board and be subjected to what I consider un-called-for cyber-abuse and bullying is beyond me.

So, you’ll not get a ditto from me Capt-E, as I feel that the people on this forum who are publicly upset, offended, suspicions and not focused on turning wood are the same people who will use this forum to pick apart, second-guess and generally berate whatever they read in the Board’s minutes.

For those who really want to know what’s going on, my suggestion is that you get off your keyboard-butts and do something productive...like communicate directly with our Board members and thank them for their service.

BTW, it’s my understanding that minutes of Board meetings have always been available, to anyone who would go to the trouble of getting in touch with the St Paul office and asking for a copy.
Click to expand...


Huh? I didn't see any tone issues in the first 29 posts, until I got to number 30-your post. I was surprised.

I think the Capt'n Eddie's request was a reasonable. Not because of any paranoia, bitterness or suspision, but because posting the minutes would be the right thing to do.

Telling us to "get off our keyboard-butts and do something productive" sounds very uncivil to me. Or are only certain people allowed to be "uncivil" on this forum. Just because some members have a differnt view from you, doesn't mean they're lazy. Why should we have to contact the head office and make someone go through the trouble and expense of sending us a copy of the minutes.

Why are you so defensive over something like this? It almost raises suspicions where none existing prior.

Regarding membership participation, when the call went out for volunteers for this symposium, I stepped up. What other help does the board need? I can be available.


Frank
 
waltben said:
The poor showing at Richmond was due to the meeting not being included in the rotation part of the guide. Only mention of it was in an entirely different part of that document. There were only two board members there to begin with and the others had to be rounded up as they didn't seem to know about it. Someone posted earlier on that last years meeting was cancelled as someone forgot to reserve a room for it. That's the part I wonder about.
Click to expand...

Walt,

Sorry to disagree, but if you look at the PDF file posted on the Symposium page by Al Hockenbery, the membership meeting is clearly listedfor Sunday from 9:45 - 10:45 in room B10.

John
 
John,

I'm referring to the handed out program, which was NOT the the grid. I don't recall anyone using that grid (including myself), as who could print a usable version of this document ! Most went around using the hand out. Mention of the meeting was not in the rotation part of the handout - that time slot was not in it at all. There was mention of the meeting on the first pages of it, but not in the part everyone kept looking at to figure out where to be next.

All,

As I posted early on another thread concerning sideline pot-shots at our board (all volunteers) or the AAW in general (mostly volunteers), if you have a serious problem with the direction, or perceived secrecy, or whatever, then stand for election next time around. Volunteer to work on a committee. Do something constructive instead of destructive, and help make our association better.
 
"""

Since this is a 501 (c) (3) organization and they solicit the public (us) for funding I belive there is a legal obligation to do so """"""
 
Observations.......

It's impossible to have everyone who makes a suggestion, comment or request to "do something".................it would be bedlam and even more annoyance than help. Think about it.

When someone says "the board should..." or "if the AAW didn't do....", does not mean they are against nor hostile toward the board members, it just means they have a suggestion........ anyone who has been on or ran for the board has said (paraphased) "I want to be YOUR representative, you have to tell me what changes you'd like to see"...... I thought they were serious, am I just naive?

The one comment that has to be put in the proper perspective = "only 10% or 15% do most of the work"............it's that way in every organization, club and family.......try having a family reunion and see how many people do the grunt work!?! This is the same as my first point. Be real, if 65% of the membership participated or helped, you'd be complaining "10% of us have to get everything organized, ready and waiting for ALL those volunteers to be told what and how to do something." You wouldn't know where stuff was or if it got done.

The members of the board wanted to be there, they ran, they asked for our votes, they do the best they can, we appreciate them and should feel we can offer suggestions without being chastised. Like I tell my son when he complains the kids don't appreciate his efforts, "Hey, you wanted to be a Dad."

People run for any office, apply for any job because that's what they want to do for themselves, be it volunteer to help or be president..........don't make the voters feel they owe you.

Ruth Niles
 
newsletter in the works

One thing the board is working toward is a monthly newsletter to members.
This would arrive by e-mail and be posted on the web.

This would be the ideal forum to send a minutes summary.

I should also point out that I would expect some portion of our minutes to remain private within the board. These would be issues that would concern the privacy of members.

-Al
 
hockenbery said:
....

I should also point out that I would expect some portion of our minutes to remain private within the board. These would be issues that would concern the privacy of members.

-Al
Click to expand...


Al, that's called "Executive Session" and is (usually) kept private.

As for publishing the BoD (general) minutes. It may (or may not) be a requirement of the state the AAW is incorporated in. Some states require it, some states don't. It just depends.
The only thing that is required (nationally) is the Fiscal statement that gets filed with the IRS (and is a public document)

Me, I think the minutes should be published, transparancy is a good thing.

TTFN
Ralph
 
Well, as an outsider, I can see some sensitivities being offended here, which doesn't bother me much, 'cept there's some key stakeholders represented.

I wonder if the conversation had been framed a little differently ... ?

Such as:

"Hi Al, appreciate your work on the board"

"Oh, well, thanks Dwayne. Good to hear it. We don't get much feedback like that."

"Well, maybe cos folks don't really know what you're contributing."

"OK. Could be you're right. Wonder how we could change that."

"Hmm; well, you could think about letting 'em know the issues you're working on; and, ah, who is doing what... what do you reckon?"

"Yeah, that could work. I'll take it to the board and get back to you. ... Say, maybe you could join a working party ... ? "

"Oh, ah, sure Al, happy to help in whatever way I can".

.... none of the above represents the views or actions of any person living or dead and any resemblance is completely coincidental. And the scenario could have played out with positive effect in a number of ways 😀
.
 
Let's see. Captain Eddie said he'd like to see minutes posted for download. He asked those who agreed to post a ditto plus 9 characters. I guess it was like a petition. Pretty clever I thought, and harmless.

Since then we've seen many dittos. We've also seen posts about:

  • How hard the board works (I agree)
  • How only a few people do all the work (I agree and have offered to help)
  • The board meeting was listed in the symposium program (What's that got to do with posting minutes?)
  • If you don't actively participate, you can't/shouldn't complain (I can if I want to. But this wasn't a complaint, it was a request.)
  • The board has nothing to hide (Never thought they did)

After many dittos and 5 pages of posts, here are my questions:

  • Are the minutes going to be posted for download or not?
  • And if not, why not?
Frank
 
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