[QCWA] Making QCWA Better - GOVERNANCE (Part 2 of 3)

[walt qcwa]

Gee that was well written,.....although not well researched.   Please
check the QCWA website (http://www.qcwa.org/bod-minutes.htm) for
minutes of the 2007 Board of Directors meeting, as well as previous
years.  I also submitted the 2007 minutes to the Journal and it was
published in the Summer 2008 issue on page 12.

Walter R. Supina N3WS
Life Member #30909
Secretary QCWA

On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 1:08 PM, Dave - VE3JX <ve3jx at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> GOVERNANCE:  There are few organizations that are as democratically-oriented
> as QCWA.  Not only do its members elect its Directors, but they also choose
> all of its Officers as well.  This is done every two years.
>  Several other groups may elect a Board of Directors, which, in turn,
> chooses the group's Officers.  There are pros & cons with both systems.
> However, QCWA members do have the opportunity to choose all their
>  "governors" every two years.
>  However, with all this democracy, QCWA is surprisingly secretive in its
> governance.  This seems to be a common complaint of several members.  For
> example, minutes of the Board of Directors meetings are not generally
> available.  Only the annual General Meeting is open for scrutiny.  Why is
> that?
>  Perhaps, Directors & Officers are trying to avoid undue criticism for
> every decision they make.  There are individuals who will criticize
> everything and anything; to complain is their lot in life.  However, should
> that curtail openness?  Should that possibility cause all BoD meetings to be
> held "in camera"?
>  That would be like having all decisions made by Congress (or Parliament),
> and all votes therein, remain secret.  Call me pessimistic, but I don't
> think the citizenry would put up with that for very long.
>  A look at most amateur radio organizations will identify that, usually,
> minutes of BoD meetings are generally available for the perusal of all
> members at least, if not, all interested parties.
>  Some may point to a business organization where the voting shareholders
> only are privy to the company's AGM, plus whatever financial statements and
> blurbs are distributed.  All I can say in rebuttal to that is: we are not
> shareholders of a business; we ARE the business; we, as members, ARE the
> Quarter Century Wireless Association!  Therefore, to a reasonable extent, we
> should be privy to the governance of ourselves, to the decisions made by our
> duly-elected BoD.
>  However, some deliberations are best left "secret".  A case in point might
> be a specific problem within a chapter; a situation that involves the
> Chapter Relations Committee.  For the sake of the chapter and the privacy of
> those involved, it would probably be best that such matters are handled
> confidentially.  Reports made by the various committees to the BoD are of
> interest to the membership and should be in such BoD minutes.
>  Also, we do not want nor need a blow-by-blow account of everything said in
> the discussion of a particular matter before the BoD.  Such would inhibit
> free discussion and the raising of pertinent questions or concerns of our
> governors.  No, it is in our best interests that their deliberations be
> conducted in an atmosphere of freedom to speak their mind, and ask the
> "stupid" questions, without outside recriminations.  This way, all sides of
> the issue can be covered.
>  However, what we are entitled to is the decisions made by the BoD, i.e.
> resolutions passed, AND who voted which way.  This latter point is essential
> for each QCWA member to know the character of the individual governors; this
> will help him make intelligent choices in future elections.  The former
> point is obvious.  We are entitled to know what is decided for our future;
> we are entitled to know what's going on.  (Usually, minutes also show the
> "movers" and "seconders" of each motion as well.)
>  All this is said in a positive vein.  We are not accusing former BoD's of
> any impropriety.  In fact, we only have appreciation and gratitude in our
> hearts for the volunteer spirit of each and every one of the Directors and
> Officers, past or present.
>  Notwithstanding, this suggestion of improvement in the openness of QCWA
> governance is offered in the spirit of making a great organization even
> better.  Transparency is the mark of a truly great institution.
>
> Dave Hayes VE3JX
> QCWA Life #33597
>
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