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

[Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>]

Perhaps I should amend my statement that nothing has changed to just; it seems
like nothing has changed. When John starting making the huge steps forward in
our electronic prescence we were several years behind. And while John managed
to do the impossible and bring us several years forward, the world changed
again and we are still several years behind. It is sort of like treading
water, John kept us from drowning, but we are still treading water. The
challenge is for us not only to catch up, but to somehow lead. Of course all
the plant societies I know are suffering the same types of problems. Some are
behind us and others are ahead of us. None that I know of have really solved
all the problems, and probably no one ever will. I think we are heading in the
right direction on several fronts. Roy's initiating a strategic plan is a good
beginning. And even though such a plan has to be continually amended it does
suggest we may be making an effort to try to set a comprehensive course of
action. If we enumerate all the changes that have occured in the last ten
years they are substantial yet until we can change enough that we see an
impact on our decline, I feel nothing has changed.


----- Original Message -----
From: "John I Jones" <jijones@usjoneses.com>
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 1:22:07 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)

On Sep 16, 2009, at 6:35 AM, Robert Pries wrote:

> 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 am not sure I agree with that.

We certainly are more electronically oriented now than when I first
became associated with the AIS ten years ago. Almost everyone on the
board, or in other responsible positions for the AIS has email, we
have several electronic robins, one of which has been running since
February of 1996. We have had electronic versions of the R&I, and
checklists since I (and a dedicated team of helpers) started scanning
them in 1997 and a full online registrations database when Mike Lowe
took over as Registrar. We have AISDiscuss, AISVote, RVPs and  New
Regions email lists, we can join or renew our memberships online with
Paypal, we have had a pretty good website for over 6 years and an new
design in process, we have the ability for anyone to go online and
see when their membership expires and now a Wiki in process.

So, NO I don't think we have stayed pretty much the same.

Could we have done more, YES. Are we behind the curve, to be sure. We
are facing social changes and structural changes in lifestyles and
the economy. It is sometimes hard to keep up when you have limited
finances and even more limited human resources. Three years ago who
heard of social networks and now we have Facebook. It is difficult
even for well funded companies to keep up with all that has happened
in the last 7-10 years,

Not that we shouldn't take steps to make our organization more
viable. We should. But it is not that we have done nothing in the
last ten years.

John

> 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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>> ??
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