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

[Dave - VE3JX]

Greetings all,

  Walt makes a very good point.  I must apologize for being unclear.  I believe that there are monthly meetings of the BoD.  It is those I'm referring to more than the annual meeting.  Are there monthly meetings?  I would presume so.
  Anyway, the publishing of the annual minutes is valuable, to be sure.  I thank Walt for that.  However, could the regular monthly meetings follow the same pattern?  That would be much appreciated by all.

Once again, thank you for bringing attention to the errors or omissions in my blurb.  I apologize for those.

Cheers,

Dave.

-----Original Message-----
From: walt qcwa [mailto:n3wsqcwa at gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 12:48 PM
To: Dave - VE3JX
Cc: QCWA Reflector
Subject: Re: [QCWA] Making QCWA Better - GOVERNANCE (Part 2 of 3)


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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