See my snips...
-----Original Message----- From: Timothy J. Salo [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:48 PM To: Dee Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] BoD Elections
There are no "secret" happenings - it is all out in the open.
Have you actually been to a Board meeting? Have you heard the pitch about how you can't talk about anything that you hear during the meeting? I assume that the chair still gives this pitch at the beginning of the Board meeting.
>>>Yes, I have been. I have not heard any statement of secrecy(unless relevant to legal proceedings). If a negotiation is ongoing for a launch and they do not want it to be interfered with until it has been exhausted or come to fruition, I will honor such a request. The full minutes of what is said and discussed is published for all to see. Again, the BOD meeting is open for all to attend that are interested enough to find out actions items being passed around.
If you attended a board meeting, did you feel welcome? Or, did you feel merely tolerated. Did the Board reserve a room just large enough for the board members? Did you have to go find your own chair, if you wanted to sit? Did you feel that you could eat any of the food that was left over after the Board ate?
>>> I felt welcomed at any that I was present for. Some on the board finally put a face to the name and call. I certainly did not know many officers except for what I read about them in the mailings. I agree that there is limited space since they really don't expect a large turnout at a BOD meeting. (Most is dull, not exciting information but it gives you an idea of procedures and good information to bring back to local groups via presentations) I don't go for the food. AMSAT cannot accommodate a free lunch for onlookers.
I once asked for a copy(of an agenda) at a Board meeting. You would think I was asking for the keys to their bank account.
>>> They had copies when I attended-probably a result of you asking for one.
Do you have confidence that you are even aware of all of the meetings of the board?
>>>Their monthly phone conferences are summarized in the AMSAT journal or on the BB or via the ANS.
In my view, the Board employs a number of subtle techniques to prevent the membership from knowing about, much less discussing, the activities of the Board.
>>>As in any organization, we elect the board to act on to do lists - investigate - perform reality checks and disseminate information about our organization because most of us cannot offer time and energy to do so.
Besides having your ideas heard, I don't think that members are permitted to speak at board meetings, unless invited.
>>>Ideas from the general membership are presented at the annual meeting. While attending one BOD meeting, I was asked "and what & why are you here?" I promptly told them I was there to "observe and absorb" information for my many presentations to local Radio Clubs asking me to attend meetings - part of my Area Co-coordinator Job in NJ - Personally, I like to hear about any HEO projects, my favorite subject. --Timothy, once again, attend this years Symposium with a renewed interest and what you feel should be changed, attempt change. We are only 40 years old as a group and finding the level you wish AMSAT to be at can directly be in your grasp. Grab a pen (Equivalent to a computer I guess) and volunteer for something that we need to have happen - see the Journal!
-tjs
73, Dee, NB2F
For the record, it should be noted that Dee was responding publicly to e-mail that I sent privately.
I try to maintain a professional tone in my private e-mail (knowing that private e-mail can easily become public). On the other had, I would have refined the message and language more, if I had intended for the e-mail to be public.
Having said that, my private e-mail does reflect my experience as an AMSAT member attending parts of several Board meetings.
At some point, I will try to write a response to this thread. I have found the messages to date highly informative.
-tjs
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Dee wrote:
See my snips...
-----Original Message----- From: Timothy J. Salo [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:48 PM To: Dee Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] BoD Elections
There are no "secret" happenings - it is all out in the open.
Have you actually been to a Board meeting? Have you heard the pitch about how you can't talk about anything that you hear during the meeting? I assume that the chair still gives this pitch at the beginning of the Board meeting.
>>>Yes, I have been. I have not heard any statement of secrecy(unlessrelevant to legal proceedings). If a negotiation is ongoing for a launch and they do not want it to be interfered with until it has been exhausted or come to fruition, I will honor such a request. The full minutes of what is said and discussed is published for all to see. Again, the BOD meeting is open for all to attend that are interested enough to find out actions items being passed around.
If you attended a board meeting, did you feel welcome? Or, did you feel merely tolerated. Did the Board reserve a room just large enough for the board members? Did you have to go find your own chair, if you wanted to sit? Did you feel that you could eat any of the food that was left over after the Board ate?
>>> I felt welcomed at any that I was present for. Some on the boardfinally put a face to the name and call. I certainly did not know many officers except for what I read about them in the mailings. I agree that there is limited space since they really don't expect a large turnout at a BOD meeting. (Most is dull, not exciting information but it gives you an idea of procedures and good information to bring back to local groups via presentations) I don't go for the food. AMSAT cannot accommodate a free lunch for onlookers.
I once asked for a copy(of an agenda) at a Board meeting. You would think I was asking for the keys to their bank account.
>>> They had copies when I attended-probably a result of you asking forone.
Do you have confidence that you are even aware of all of the meetings of the board?
>>>Their monthly phone conferences are summarized in the AMSAT journalor on the BB or via the ANS.
In my view, the Board employs a number of subtle techniques to prevent the membership from knowing about, much less discussing, the activities of the Board.
>>>As in any organization, we elect the board to act on to do lists -investigate - perform reality checks and disseminate information about our organization because most of us cannot offer time and energy to do so.
Besides having your ideas heard, I don't think that members are permitted to speak at board meetings, unless invited.
>>>Ideas from the general membership are presented at the annualmeeting. While attending one BOD meeting, I was asked "and what & why are you here?" I promptly told them I was there to "observe and absorb" information for my many presentations to local Radio Clubs asking me to attend meetings - part of my Area Co-coordinator Job in NJ - Personally, I like to hear about any HEO projects, my favorite subject. --Timothy, once again, attend this years Symposium with a renewed interest and what you feel should be changed, attempt change. We are only 40 years old as a group and finding the level you wish AMSAT to be at can directly be in your grasp. Grab a pen (Equivalent to a computer I guess) and volunteer for something that we need to have happen - see the Journal!
-tjs
73, Dee, NB2F
participants (2)
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Dee -
Timothy J. Salo