Unit Functions

[fc23343]

Being a member and Past President of the Florida Unit we addressed the rally program. We took into consideration that we have a lot of retired people in our Unit as well as people that are still working. We have attempted to please all of them, with both price and by taking into consideration the time of the week we hold our rallies. Take a look at our schedule and tell me we are or ar not trying to meet everyone's needs.

http://hometown.aol.com/fc23343/dule.INDEX.HTM

[PeterH-350LE]

Hi Frank,
That is a great move and I am sure very much appreciated by people who are still working.
I tried to communicate the same idea to the president of Region 9, but was met with great resistance and lets just say unpleasant responses.

[Ken J]

The solution may be to split the membership - those who are retired and those who are working. I've been thinking about this for the past two years and not in favor of a split - but not sure we will ever really see the two groups come together.

I was asked to be second vp of my unit then first vp - make a long story short when it got time to be pres I was told that since I was still working that they "relieved" me of position. What a bunch of BS that was - I was thinking of all kinds of ways to get retired and working folks together, but now I've just thrown up my hands and said the heck with that. I'll enjoy the vintage unit and the rallies that are put together with this forum. Its really a shame.

Ken J.

[Edie]

Ken,

That is truly a shame. Brett is still working and will be installed as President next month. When he was approached about becoming a VP we discussed his work responsibilities with the nominating committee.

They agreed to hold the business meetings on Saturday so that Brett can attend even if he can't be at the rally earlier. They also said that either the 1stVP or Past President would represent our Unit at the major rallies if Brett could not attend due to business.

We have had great support and been made very welcome by our Unit members. I am very disappointed to hear that you have not received the same treatment.

[fc23343]

Again, by dropping out of your Unit and becoming a Member at Large, you have given in. You will never change the way people think by leaving. The only way you should have not gotten the Presidency was by deciding yourself that you did not want it. As a Member at Large, you have no real voice. I would kill for some of our members wanting to go throught the chairs Too bad you are not in my area, you would find a home fast. Never give in. Incidentally, in the Florida Unit we have numerous members from New Jersey, Pennsylvnia Canada and even Nevada. Maybe they are telling me something.

[yukionna]

Ken, what happened to you is shameful and, from my experience, is not indicative of WBCCI as a whole. Hang in there and have faith; change takes time. There is a much work that needs to be done and this work takes time so it helps if you measure your success in increments. Nothing is as sad to me as a talented volunteer who drops out in frustration over what is not happening, rather than continue with pride because of what is happening.

I'd like to conclude with one of my favorite quotes from Mark Twain:

It's better to shoot for the moon and wind up on the fence post, then shoot for the fence post and wind up on the ground.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally posted by Frank Carson
.... As a Member at Large, you have no real voice.........

I just paid my WBCCI renewal fees as a Member at Large. Its too bad that my voice doesn't count.

[Ken J]

"The only way you should have not gotten the Presidency was by deciding yourself that you did not want it"

Frank

Not sure I understand what you are saying here, I assume the nominating can select whomever they choose.

I've not given up because I know the WBCCI is going through a bit of a crisis at the moment over this. I know if I quit, that will not solve the problem - I do think us "youngins" (As mentioned I'm 50) need to hang in there. I think those of us who "see it" should offer our help in away that we can.

You bring up a very interesting point that I'm going to ponder and that is I should hang in there with my unit. My orginal plan was to not attend anymore functions - maybe I should be in their face a bit more?

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to cause any trouble - I just want to see the WBCCI be successful and start growing again - I think its a great organization

Frank - I really appreciate your comments - its certainly got me thinking.

Ken J.

[thenewkid64]

Ken,

I have great respect for the current membership of the WBCCI. I am also under 50, actually under 40 for one more year I have not seen in our units the attitude that you are experiencing, but I have seen it elswhere in my life.

I told my Executive board that I plan on making some changes. Some will embrace the change, some won't. My attitude is the club must evolve/adapt or it WILL die. I for one do not want to see that so I have decided to attemt to be an agent of change in our unit. Will it last? I don't know but I will be sticking around to find out.

At this point you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by being more agressive in saying H**L no I won't go. Unless your unit bylaws allow the President to be bumped like this, you were selected by the nominating committiie to the position 3 years ago, IMHO.

Don't take the easy way out go screaming and kicking! At the least you will know you tried, and failed. And later on you can say with pride that they either backed down, or kicked you out and knowing you did not give up.

[Chuck]

you're only 39? for some reason, I thought you were much older than that. must be the blue beret.......

[Ken J]

Brett

I appreciate your comments. I will plan to attend the next get together. I don't care that much if I'm president or not - although it does give you the ability to do some things - I'm going to propose that we do some things different next year to attract more membership. I know it can be done - I'm convinced there are lots of folks out there who are wanting to join - but have been turned off for some reason. Look at the incredible success of the WDCU.

Ken J.

[bryanl]

To make changes in the unit you have to start with its members.

We had one blow up at a unit meeting where the fossils in the unit forced a vote - and they lost. They took a snit and started trying to get others to quit the unit, too.

There is no excuse for this kind of behavior as there is no excuse for setting aside a properly qualified officer because someone thinks he cannot do the job.

I see a lot of this kind of thing in WBCCI, well too much of it anyway. The usual response is to just let it go - we all just want to be friends. But discourtesy, bigotry, and innapropriate behavior must be noticed and stopped. The only way to stop it is for the group to stand together and denounce such things by act or deed.