Re: DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)

[Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>]

Clarence and Dennis; The world has changed. In fact it seems like we enter a
quite different world every decade. I believe in lessons from history but it
is not often easy to figure them out. The AIS has remained pretty much the
same despite the world changing around it. I do believe we have failed to keep
up and this is why we are becoming less relevant. I am not sure an outside
executive is the answer. After all if the board would not allow him or her to
make changes it would be useless. We have been working on strategic planning
and soon will be soliciting input from RVPs and ultimately from everyone. At
present no idea is off the table. To preserve the society there will have to
be a great deal of change. That does not mean the past is forgotton but that
our core values are reonforced and brought forward to new generations they may
not be touching now. To do this the society and its board must be willing to
embrace changes that become necessary. I know that we will change, we are at
present with our decline in membership. Our challenge is to direct change in a
productive way and not simply resist it. It is already happening but we have
lost control. There are actually promising changes in the works but we are
accomplishing them at a pace that continues to leave us behind the greater
society.


----- Original Message -----
From: cemahan@aol.com
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:48:59 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)

The disaster was many years ago and involved the paid? secretary position in
the permanent office set up in MO. I was not a member of AIS then, but I have
heard many horror stories from "old-timers" over the years. If AIS is not
managing its finances well--an assertion that I have not heard before--a new
paid office will not correct the problem created by decisions of the Board.
Perhaps the problem is inadquate income. Perhaps the dues should be raised.

Clarence Mahan




-----Original Message-----
From: R. Dennis Hager <hager@aredee.com>
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 8:48 pm
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)



What was the Board doing when the AIS had such a position? If it was that bad,
there was obviously no oversight.?
?
Dennis Hager?
?
----- Original Message ----- From: <cemahan@aol.com>?
To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>?
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:06 AM?
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)?
?
>I cannot imagine a WORSE idea than for AIS to create a position called
>Operations Director or Executive Director. AIS had one experience with such
>a position and based on what the person did came close to going out of
>business.? It took years and years to recover.?Anything such a position can
>do can be done by the President or?First Vice President if the Board wishes
>to delegate its responsibilities. Clarence Mahan??
>?
>?
> -----Original Message-----?
> From: R. Dennis Hager <hager@aredee.com>?
> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org?
> Sent: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 8:07 am?
> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)?
>?
>?
> I hope I am not jumping the gun here, but it wouldn't be the first time. >
What the position should be called does matter, but now it is more > important
that the position is created, well-defined and RECOGNIZED for > its
importance, just as Editor, Membership Secretary and Registrar are >
recognized. To be a little more direct, it should be a paid position.??
> ??
> I am told that the AIS finances are abysmal, but so are the finances of >
many businesses, government entities and individuals. In these economic >
times, there are a lot of talented individuals out there looking for work >
and now it the time to create and fill this position. (Actually, it should >
have happened 20 years ago, but it's still not too late.) The long term >
health of the society depends on it. The ideal candidate should have good >
writing and communications skills, as well as a working knowledge of >
information systems. A passion for irises should not be a prerequisite for >
the position, but a passion for quality should. "People skills" would also >
be at the top of the list. (I added that just so none of you would think >
that I'm looking for a job.)??
> ??
> If indeed the AIS Board members were ever to take so brave a step as to >
create, FUND and fill this position, the title that goes with it would be >
part of the pay, just as Wal-Mart has "associates" and every bank seems to >
have more "vice-presidents" than tellers. Although "Operations Director" > has
a nice ring to it, "Executive Director" has an even better one.??
> ??
> I'm not sure which direction this discussion will go, but I hope that it >
goes somewhere. I post this with the full understanding that finances are >
tight and there is risk involved, but I just hope and pray that there are >
enough board members who have the foresight and understanding to see that >
this is about the ultimate survival of the organization.??
> ??
> Back in my little hole.??
> ??
> Dennis Hager??
> ??
> ??
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <MORRISJE1@aol.com>??
> To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>??
> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 9:26 PM??
> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN??
> ??
>> In a message dated 9/14/2009 6:28:45 P.M. Central Standard Time,??
>> ritagormley@yahoo.com writes:??
>>??
>> Bob, Operations Manager sounds like a reasonable thing to do especially >
>> the??
>> part that Jody outlines.??
>>??
>> "Just as an aside we might consider an ombudsman that could help > >>
affiliates??
>> coordinate with AIS." We already have an RVP Respresentative working > >>
with??
>> the??
>> RVP Counselor for that function. But you really already knew tha!??
>>??
>> Rita??
>>??
>>??
>>??
>>
****************************************************************************?
?
>> *********??
>> Bob,??
>>??
>> I agree with Rita that Operations Manager sounds reasonable.??
>>??
>> As to an "ombudsman" my experience in both industry and volunteer > >>
societies??
>> is that after appointment there is an initial flurry of complaints >>
brought??
>> up with little resolution, followed by benign neglect and the eventual??
>> fading away of enthusiasm and any belief in change and then the position >>
> dies.??
>> I have seen this time and time again even with top management support.??
>>??
>> Jim M.??
>>??
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