A few questions and comments from a member

[Neil Frank <nfrank@mindspring.com>]

I include my response to an email message from Robert Hudson, an interested
AGA member. He has some interresting ideas and will probably make a good
committee member. 

I wish everyone and their plants a happy and prosperous new year!

Neil

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Hi Bob,

At 11:42 AM 12/23/98 -0800, you wrote:
>I want to express my gratitude for the quality of TAG.
 I have enjoyed
>reading the magazine with its thoughtfull and well written articles.

Thanks. Not many people take the time to write. I really appreciate it!


>would also like to take this opportunity to ask you a few questions and
>perhaps put forth a few ideas.
>
>First, How can I as an AGA member become more involved in the
>organization? While I am still a student of this hobby, I would love to
>be able to contribute something to the organization and its purpose. 


I suggest that you contact Karen Randall. She is the chair of the steering
committee and can direct you to some committees with current vacancies.
Her email is <krandall@world.std.com>. AGA really needs to do more outreach.

I have a few brief replies to your interesting comments below and will also
forward you thoughtful note to the other AGA managers to see if it can stir
any interest on their part. It sounds like you are ready and willing to get
involved in the organization. I believe there are many opportunities to
match your specific interest and skills with one or more openings.
Hope to see you find your nitch in the AGA.

Hope you and your plants have a prosperous New Year.
Neil


>
>Here are a few ideas or observations I have come up with..
>
>Steve Pushak on his WEB site has a listing of people, members and non
>members who grow plants for sell or trade and are available to answer
>questions. Perhaps you could include the same or a simular list on your
>site?

I have also been promoting the creation of an AGA email directory. 

>Along the same lines, it may be nice for people to know how many members
>are in the organization, and ways to contact or share information with
>them. I know this can be done to an extent thru the newsgroup and email
>digest group, but that doesnt have the intimacy that a strictly AGA
>group would have, and my understanding is that these groups have no
>official connection to AGA.

Periodically, we publish the number of members in TAG. the current total is
 over 700!
 
>
>Are members involved  or have a voice in any decision making process of
>the organization, its programs, goals, and officers? Would it be
>possible to involve members in any of these processes, even at a low
>level? Such as polls, wish lists by members as to what they would like
>from the organization, that sort of thing..
>
>Eric Olson has made it clear to me that the "Krib" has no direct
>affiliation with AGA, but the  impression put forth, in my opinion,  is
>that the Krib is the general educational vehicle for AGA. Have you
>considered expanding your site a bit to include more links, and basic
>information for the beginer? You also may want to update your page to
>include the current titles of the steering committie! Karen is not still
>"member at large" is she?

>
>What is the target audience of TAG and AGA as a whole? The beginer? the
>novice? advanced?

For sure, it is all three!! However, the mix of articles is not always
optimal to meet those needs. I am limited by the choice of material to
publish, the amount of my time to devote and the few number of "helpers"
who can work independently and without an extra time committment on my part.

 If the organization has a desire to grow and expand,
>to what end or by what means is the organization appealing to that
>target audience?
>
>As a member of AGA, what is my responsibility in representing the
>organization? Are there any defined do's and don'ts? How about a nifty
>membership card and glow in the dark ring! Just kidding....
>

We have talked about a new member package for a long time. Unfortunately,
it has still not arrived.


>And my last question is what does the organization do with the money
>collected from TAG? Does it go into the WEB site, personal appearances?
>Just curious.
>

The biggest expense for the AGA is TAG... but a surplus does exist and it
has provided the organization with a nice cushion for future projects.
Eventually, we will probably have national (or international) meetings and
for this purpose several thousand dollars of seed money is needed. 
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