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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