Hi
I like the "there he goes again" part.
It is hard to reckon evolution with the e-world changes that we have never
experienced before. Even national newspapers have not figured out how to
deal with this "change".
During the 15 or more years that I have observed the AIS board in action,
I
have always felt that they (the board) have always acted responsibly and
appropriately to whatever situations they were confronted with. A drop in
membership has more to do with people being able to find the information
they need without "joining" a society. I don't care what society.
Resistance??? There is NO resistance. There never was "resistance".
I am going to send forth, to the AIS board, the stated goals of the
American
Orchid Society as published in their last bulletin. One is to increase
membership but there is no clue as to how they are going to do this. -and
they are paying this guy 6 figures to make that statement!!!???? There has
got to be a chuckle in there somewhere. NO, DENNIS, we do NOT need a
manager!
Terry
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
On Behalf Of aredee
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 8:06 AM
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] DISASTER PLAN (One Giant Leap For....)
John, etal.
There is no doubt that you have worked diligently to escort the AIS into
the
electronic age--and considering the resistance along the way, it is
incredible that the advances have been made.
There are disasters, then there are disasters. The sensational disasters
are
the ones that make the headlines. At this point, there are few people who
do
not know about H1N1, or swine flu. It is sensational news. The peculiar
thing is that the official estimates of death from influenza for this year
forecast the deaths from seasonal influenza will be higher than those from
H1N1.
Some disasters occur rapidly, like Hurricane Floyd that flooded my Town.
There are other disasters that are years in the making. They occur for
multiple reasons. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
With declining membership and revenues, the AIS is in a slow-mo train
wreck.
Hindsight is 20-20, but unfortunately, we don't seem to have hindsight
until
we pick up the pieces. Does the Board wait until the dust has settled, or
get to work on it now?
There are many pieces flying at this point. Some of them need to be
discarded. Others need to be brought back and remilled. A few days ago, I
posted a short assessment of some of the problems with the Awards system.
The silence has been deafening. There is no doubt that the AIS needs an
Awards system. However, it must be conducted with integrity to produce
results that are plausible, if not beyond question. That's just one small
part of this great organization that needs to be addressed. By making each
of the parts of the system stronger, the AIS may possibly survive the
train
wreck.
So, why has nobody responded?
Is it because they agree and don't want to post the "ditto"? (for those,
thank you for not posting to the group, but I really would like to know
what
you are thinking--send me a personal note)
Is it because they are too busy in the garden? (understandable--I'm busy
too)
Is it because they need to think about it a little longer? (keep
thinking--but don't forget about it)
Is it because it's too much work to change things? (Anything worth doing
takes a lot of work)
Is it because you think the Awards system is great? (If that is the case,
I
recommend that you read "Mistakes Were Made (but not by me)--Why We
Justify
Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts", Harcourt Books 2007. It
cost less than one new introduction and probably worth a hell of a lot
more)
Is it because they're thinking "There HE goes again"? (I have thick
skin--and I can take it)
Dennis Hager
----- Original Message -----
From: "John I Jones" <jijones@usjoneses.com>
To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 1:22 AM
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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