Board Meeting

[drscott]

I was induced to attend the ECR board meeting tonight while Mike was with a massage client. It was held at nanocub's place, so I saw handlebear briefly before he made himself scarce. Sat next to excessor, which allowed me to make semi-witty asides when required. The actual meeting was fairly routine, the most interesting topics being caller pay for dances and upcoming dance planning. Our next dance (April 3rd) features an upcoming star from Zurich, Jeannette Staeuble -- not a well-known name as yet, but apparently she's already made a name for herself among US callers. Looming over all the planning is the Convention in 2005, which we're hosting -- which means an enormous amount of work for the club and its members.

I've turned down feelers to be on the board for a few years; until recently I was too busy with work, which tended to be all-consuming at unpredictable times. I do probably have time to do it, if all that's required is monthly meetings, emails, and some business consulting. OTOH I'm dreadful at public speaking and schmoozing. My last major governing position was member of the Water and Waste Official Community Plan Subcommittee on Bowen Island.

So at one point the meeting turned to the search for three new board members, and everybody turned to look at me. Somebody said, "and of course, you'll be on the board, right?" which prompted me ot turn a bright red. I hate being the focus of attention....

Now if I can get an explanation of how much time is really involved, some idea of who else would be on the board, and a commitment to use me for things I'm good for (thinking, finances, writing) and not for things I'm bad at (public speaking, PR and sales, dealing with Andy), I might be willing to sacrifice myself.. . *sigh*

Today's picture: Jay, one of our members who has since moved to the City so we rarely see him:

Comments

[excessor.livejournal.com]

We would work out responsbilities that match your interests and don't overtax you. We neeeeeeed you.

Did you actually make a joke about quatloos during the meeting? I'm suddenly very turned on.

To Be (Board) or Not To Be

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

I'll bid 500 quatloos for the newcomer! We need a Board member too!! And we at Foggy City are a LOT nicer than that ECR gang, just ask us! OK, excessor is way too much fun but....

Seriously, as the FCD Prez (a role I didn't ask for but have almost always enjoyed over the past 2 years), being a Board member can be darn rewarding. If you enjoy square dancing, it gives you the opportunity to make your club better. There's no doubt that it'll require some of your time and energy but I for one, think its worth it.

Re: To Be (Board) or Not To Be

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

We have some particular issues about accommodating two main dance levels (Plus and Advanced) without fracturing the community in such a way as to weaken the club. When a different night was used for Advanced class and dancing, it reduced the attractiveness of Plus class and club night -- new dancers didn't "see" the whole community and attrition was very high. While hard-core dancers come to dance, the social interaction is what gets and keeps a critical mass of newbies. Under the current one-night system, we've got a huge new class and much better socialization climate, but now Advanced dancing is slighted some. One of the points of view I will try to represent is the broader group of people who would be recruitable if we make it easier for them by providing more community feeling and a less-steep (appearing) learning curve at the outset -- allowing people to feel they can drop out after Mainstream and rejoin the class some subsequent year for Plus, for example. And more Advanced floor time during class nights might actually be good for students, who don't get much time to rest and socialize. How to squeeze all that in on one night is the problem.

Re: To Be (Board) or Not To Be

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

And such are the 'no perfect answer' kinds of challenges clubs face. It's hard as hell to be all things for all members. Having recently taken the ECR Advanced class as a review during the period when it was sandwiched in with the new Plus class, I personally considered it a mixed blessing. The Plus class "breaks" gave my head a chance to cool between sessions and that was good. But it also cut down on my desired level of floor time, which was disappointing. Good luck!

Re:

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

My tendency is to undercommit and underpromise because I know how I get sucked in to feeling responsible. Nothing more horrible for me than to promise and be unable to deliver.

I could have said "bars of latinum" but Quatloos are inherently more funny. And no comment on the geek factor of a person turned on by Trek references...

How Much?

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

My approach with prospective new Board members is to descibe the duties involved and then have them define how much effort they feel they can provide. Its always a compromise.