[NCARC] NCARC Club Discussion

[Eugene Bentz]

My apologies I sent this out under an e-mail account that was not on the reflector and it never went out.

Also a Club Board Response is coming and should be available soon to answer the questions from the other day.

Eugene Bentz / KI6MPA
(970) 371-2446
ki6mpa at arrl.net


> Dear NCARC E-mail Reflector Members,
> 
>   As your currently elected Public Affairs Officer (PAO), a voting member of the board and active member in the NCARC club I wish to share with you my personal thoughts referencing the series of e-mails that have been sent recently.
>  
>   If anyone would like to personally go over the personal or direct e-mails and details that were left out of this public mass mailing please let me know. I would be happy to go over them and the timelines of what happened.  There were many e-mails made by members and board members that did not get sent.  I do not feel it appropriate to forward personal e-mails to everyone, only to cause more questions and concerns of not having the full information.  It brings to question how those e-mails got sent out to non-board members. Not that anything is secret but they were peoples e-mails to the board.
>  
>   I believe as a member of our board for the past 16 months that we have made significant strives to increase membership and make the club better.  Unfortunately that means something different for each and every person.  As a board member I have taken members issues direct to the board and discussed them fully with them.  That takes time and causes some personal opinions to be brought out.  We have approved of items, had to make changes of some things and made decisions that needed to be made.  Overall, the board has done great things for the club as a whole.  Some of those accomplishments as written by one of the non-board members, Randy Long:  “Under this boards watch, we have seen.. “ new by-laws written,  a new web site, an increase in membership, a better exposure to the press and a public radio presence, implemented new accounting software practices, and inventory control, new club liability, equipment and vehicle insurance”.  We have also setup a PayPal system to automate membership dues, supported new events to help communications for community life and safety, approved and purchased the equipment for a regional linking project, coordinated written agreements with our landlords to ensure the longevity of our repeaters and kept the “BUSINESS” end out of the majority of our club meetings to allow them to be more social and “FUN” in nature.  We also successfully designed, manned and hosted a Vendor Booth during a two day community event where we answered questions and shared what the NCARC and Amateur radio operators are all about.
>  
>   Now with all that said, there are a few things we have not gotten accomplished as a board:
> -          We have had a hard time getting speakers at club meetings – Multiple members have requested more interesting guests.
> -          We have not been able to get a design Diagram and presentation for the Linking System – Multiple members have requested a description and explanation of how the system will work once it is operational.
> -          We have not been able to get all of our equipment inventoried but each month and meeting more and more assets are added to the list.
> -          We do not have written contracts or documentation with all of our landlords.
> -          We have tried to get members interested in being on a Mission Statement Goals and objectives committee with only one or two responses.  (Outside the board)
> -          We have not been able to get volunteers to take on new ideas and concepts other members bring up.  We simply have to let some ideas go.
>  
>   With everything aside from all that the club board deals with on a “BUSINESS” side, I feel we have done quite well.  Our Board meetings have been open to the public however we have had very little membership in attendance.  We have these e-mail reflectors that get very little statements or requests sent out on them.  When a member brings any item or topic to the club board we discuss that item at the next board meeting.  All of what we have done is in the meeting minutes available online.  If you look at those minutes there has been no dragging feet.
>  
>   I would like to say that no one on the board throughout this term has at all been demanded to resign or been asked to be replaced.  The members who made those decisions did it on their own free will.  To demand a resignation of board members from members who have only half of the story and have not been at more than half of the meetings does not make sense.  If the club wanted to force voting one month before we vote in May they certainly can provide that motion to the club.  However to correctly do that, we would need to change the by-laws and those requirements are in the by-laws.  It seems that these requests are based once again on e-motions and do not have proof of true wrong doings.
> 
>   Once again if anyone has any questions or would like to sit down and go over any of the e-mails that I have I would be happy to do that.  I would also be willing to give a full description of any information or questions regarding issues.  It seems that the e-mails that were forwarded, while not secret, where people’s opinions and concerns that were being handled by the board (Appointed and acting on behalf the club!)  I question who sent those messages out with only parts of the full discussions and clearly they were addressed to individuals for one reason or another.
>  
>   I apologize for bothering everyone  and having this sort of “Business” sent to everyone.  I certainly look forward to making the Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club the premier club that we are.
>  
> Eugene Bentz
> PAO, NCARC
> Ki6mpa at arrl.net
> 970-371-2446
> 
>