RE: Annual Meeting/BOD List

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Jim:

I appreciate your feelings re the Annual Meeting but I quite
like that mode. When I address the Board at the annual
meeting I can see every one of them, address individuals,
have the rest of the room behind me for support, and I can
watch individual reactions to my questions (inquisition?)

It is basically the "Town Hall" approach. I love it when I
can pin down one of the Board with a question they cannot
answer.

As to pressing the flesh, well I do believe some of the
Board feel it is beneath them to associate and some of them
are scared. There are a few that will discuss things with
you eye to eye (one or two eye for eye). They are a mixed
bag and those with personal agendas do not want the
membership to be aware of them.

So, the current format is for me, the best, where I can put
them on the spot and get an answer or get them flustered.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Holland [mailto:lanconn@tds.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 4:21 PM
To: Kathy Mayeda; Ridecamp
Subject: RC: Annual Meeting/BOD List


Kathy...

Have you EVER been to a meeting?  I went last year....my
first
Convention...and I wasn't ABOUT to miss the Board meeting.
It's very
"formal" with all the directors on a raised stage above us,
with a
microphone in the middle of the aisle so people can come up
and
"address" the board. The "atmosphere" is not at all
conducive to a
"discussion" of issues with the membership. It's not a two
way thing. I
speak in public all the time at business shows, in front of
hundreds of
people...but I would have been reluctant to step up in front
of all my
peers and the Board and express my views in that
environment.  I could
do it...but I wouldn't like it.  It's gotta be REALLY scary
for people
who aren't used to public speaking. It was obviouos that the
members who
did speak were nervous! :) I don't know how the "Supreme
Court" conducts
business, but that's the "mental image" I got.

I would like to see the BOD offer the opportunity to those
few who are
willing and can afford to attend the Convention to do some
"Round Table"
Discussions".  Give the general membership the opportunity
to "Meet the
Board Members" and frankly discuss issues that the members
feel are
important. There was a comment last
year...somewhere...fergit
now...maybe on Ridecamp...about the BOD meetings being
"poorly
attended". Hmmm...I can see why.

I would even agree to keeping the "formal" approach...but
afterwards,
BOD, could you come down to the floor, introduce yourself,
and mingle
with us? Ask questions..."What do you think about"...go out
of your way
to offer your hand, listen as long as someone is willing to
talk. Last
year, I was looking, looking, looking to "meet" members of
the Board.
Got to talk to Barbara McCrary several times (nice lady),
but just
casual conversation. Saw Merryben for a moment, but she was
busy and I
didn't get to meet her. Got to meet Barney (even took a
picture of him
and Susan G. Gonna blackmail them with it next year) <grin>
Know Diane
and Jerry Fruth because got to ride with them a couple of
times, and
know the SE people, but beyond that it seemed that none of
the directors
"mingled". They did not go out of their way to "press the
flesh". <grin>
Maybe it was just me, maybe it was a perception, perhaps I
was in the
wrong place at the wrong time, but I REALLY tried. The
meeting ended and
everybody was "outta there".

How about a "reception" afterwards for a couple of
hours....hosted by
the BOD? That should improve attendance! Not only do we want
you to know
our views, but we would like to hear yours. It's the only
time you have
a cross section of the membership available in person.

"Attending" the meeting ain't gonna' get it, Bob Morris.
There has to
be the opportunity for dialog with the board....otherwise,
just send
your Director an Email....much more effective, and
hopefully, you will
get a reply.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic

> Kathy Mayeda wrote:
>
> I was the one who posted that I was working a booth.  It
was my choice
> – I could have attended  the Annual Meeting if I wanted
to.  I’m sure
> that’s true of a lot of people who were at the venue that
weekend.
> Meetings are not that interesting for everyone.
>


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