Re: suggestions for journal improvements etc

Andrew - 
	Yours was a very thoughtful post...I appreciate your sending it to the list.

Carolyn Q. Bryson
-----------------
At 12:06 AM 01/09/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>Clyde wrote:
>RE:>> the Wilkins group.
>
>How far has the infiltration of the dark side penetrated?  I'm pretty much a
>newbie to this world of Hosta politics, and from within this particular
>association, but I am of the opinion that a primary responsibility of the
>leadership in any volunteer organization is to learn how to effectively dodge
>bullets.  No matter what position one takes, there will always be
nay-sayers and
>those who love to criticize (witness those posts which some perceive as
critical
>while some say, "right on!").   I've seen in my past year of being on several
>lists, that there has been significant challenges to authority, whether it be
>legitimate or imagined authority.  Aren't we always going to have this
kind of
>problem until we rewrite the bylaws to limit the terms of officers to be only
>two years?
>
>I don't care if the person elected to the post in the nicest person since
Jesus
>Christ himself; give them a few months in the position and relationships
will be
>formed.  Often these relationships are important in order to get something
>accomplished; some of these are because the leadership is being pulled
over to
>the "dark side" unawares and the "good ol' boy syndrome" is kicking in.  Some
>might even be just good business sense--you scratch my back and I'll scratch
>yours.  (Always an easy target of the rank and file, so leaders choose
whether
>to become aloof, refusing to be friendly to anyone, or forming working
alliances
>while not cowtowing to criticism, simply ignoring any political infighting).
>
>The major culprit, as I see it, is the length of term.  The primary way in
which
>potentially detrimental working (translated, influence peddling)
relationships
>are prevented is to rotate people out of their positions of responsibility
>frequently.  The downside is that you waste time having to educate those who
>would fill the posts.  You don't get to have it both ways.  One way
associations
>get around this is to have a President elect in position for at least one
year
>prior to assuming the position, and to have ex-officio officers helping with
>training.  Is that how it is currently being done here?  If the terms were
for
>two years, and the successor was known and was serving for one year prior to
>assuming office, the transition would not be as difficult.  But no matter,
there
>are always things to complain about.
>
>As I said, I don't care if is Mother Theresa, John Kennedy, President-Elect
>Bush, Martha Stewart, or whomever is sitting in that position--when you're
out
>in front you're going to be all alone.  Part of the job includes learning
how to
>effectively dodge the bullets.  Keep you head down, Jim, here comes another
>one...
>
>I'm sorry that I don't have the benefit (baggage) of a background on these
>issues.  I know some are real, and I know some are imagined, but in any
event,
>there is one other possible curative action that can be taken--hiring
>professional association management.  How many of us are ready to see our
dues
>double or triple to hire even one Manager with but one paid staff member?
>Full-time association management costs some bucks.
>
>I guess I'm at a loss as to what is so wrong with the current regime?  Are we
>elevating C. H. to the position of Messiah, possibly having such high
>expectations that he is doomed to constant criticism because we're
expecting so
>much?
>
>What are the top ten things that need improvement?
>
>Andrew Lietzow
>Dumbfounded (or am I guilty of being "found dumb"?) in Des Moines...

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