Re: MCM - Digest V1 #97

["Robert P. Cashin" <rcashin@juno.com>]

Hi All,
On Thu, 8 Apr 1999 04:12:11 -0700 owner-aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com (MCM -
Digest) writes:

>       In reading some of the MCM correspondence, I understand that 
>Bob is a little frustrated at what is happening with membership.  I 
>understand that and regret any grief caused.  It is a little more work
than I 
>anticipated.

        Thank you Jack for understanding that my problem is with the
situation, not the person. In re-reading my bitching on this subject, I
realized that it sounded personal and that is not what I intended. I
apologize.

>I will be reverting to a weekly schedule.

        Thank you very, very much.
>
>       I'm taking the next few days off and planning to catch up on
>membership items, including responding to email.  Based on the 
>feedback that we are getting from the membership, it seems that we
really should send out a confirmatory package to each new/renewing
member, and I will start doing it.

>       I suppose that a motion is in order, so I move that 
>
>       1.      The membership chair be authorized to send a 
>"welcome" >postcard, more or less as written above.

        I agree.
>
>       2.      The membership chair be authorized to incur printing 
>costs to have them produced (estimated at $30 - $60).

        Also agree.
>
>       As far as contacts go, I was intending to put our mailing 
>addresses on the cards.  Is this OK?  (Not everyone has email).

        Yup.

>       Lastly, the membership database, as I received it, had 
>expiration data expressed as dates (i.e. Jan 1999). Lately I have
received some
>complaints that renewal notices are being sent out "early" (I thought
that I
>was late with them!).  This is probably due to the practice of basing
the
>expiration date on the calendar years from receipt of the application. 
> I'm thinking that renewal data should probable be expressed by the 
>particular volume and number at which the membership expires, in order
to allow for less regular publishing schedules, and to ensure that the
member does 
>indeed receive six issues per year.   What does everyone think?

        Sounds like a great pro-active idea.

        My next concern is for Neil. His last message sounded like he is
approaching burn out. I can certainly understand this. He carries a heavy
load and doesn't seem to be getting articles written or even recommended
by anyone other than Dorothy. I don't feel knowledgable enough about
plants to write articles.  However, I found one in Akron's bulletin that
I will copy and send it.

        The concern is losing Neil. Most of the cases of burnout I've
seen end that way. This is not in the best interest of Neil or the AGA.
He and Dorothy are the two who are responsible for the resurgence of the
AGA. They deserve our respect and support for this, but we also need them
for their guidance and continued efforts.

        Neil, besides writing and recommending articles, what can we do
to help you? One idea we could kick around is having guest editors do one
issue apiece. I don't know the logistics of this or even if it is
practical but one advantage I can see is the possibility of getting back
on schedule without overloading any one person.

        Again, my frustration is with the situation, not the people. I
feel we have had our head in the sand regarding members expectations and
am trying to bring us back to where they think we should be before they
give up on us. 

        Hope you're not ready to kill the messenger like the kings of old
did when they received bad news.

        Enjoy the NEC to those going. Wish I could be there again, Bob.

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