Fwd: Regarding AGA...

[krandall@world.std.com]

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>From: "James Purchase" <jpurch@interlog.com>
>To: <aga-contest@thekrib.com>
>Subject: Regarding AGA...
>Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 14:43:31 -0500
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>
>Please folks.... I KNOW that several of you have questions surrounding the
>health of the AGA, but I have aready suggested that this issue is NOT really
>appropriate here.
>
>(I can hear some of you saying, "Well, if not here, WHERE?" or "Why not
>HERE? If we are expending energy and time in planning something for the AGA,
>shouldn't we be assured that there IS an AGA?" )
>
>I know that there ARE valid concerns, and I'm sure that this will all give
>Karen food for thought once she returns..., and I hope that she might
>address some of those concerns publicly.... but for now, please let us stay
>focused on the organization of this event, and not descend into the pit of
>despair. A wise man once said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,
>and in this case I think that MOST of us have an incomplete or possibly
>inaccurate image of just exactly WHAT the AGA is.
>
>>From what I know, the AGA is a VOLUNTEER organization, of hobbyists, for
>hobbyists. It has a worldwide membership of approximately 600 people, and if
>you check the AGA website you can see that the "active" members, those with
>specific duties, number about a dozen. Most of them have jobs, careers,
>families, other obligations and lives separate and apart from their
>membership in a hobbyist organization.
>
>As far as I know, Neil Frank has been the Editor of TAG for quite an
>extended period of time. I KNOW that he has a horrific problem obtaining
>fresh, original, interesting material for inclusion in the Journal. How do I
>know this? Because quite some time ago he told me so, and he asked me if I
>would consider writing something for inclusion in TAG. Shortly thereafter, I
>became quite ill and couldn't spend any energy doing more than focus on
>getting well for an extended period of time. Given the time lag since the
>last issue of TAG, I'm sure that the situation has not improved.
>
>No volunteer organization which lacks a PAID staff of management at the top
>of the pyramid, is going to be as quick to react and as timely as some
>people would wish. By their very nature, volunteer organizations are "spare
>time activities" and in this fast paced world, some people have very little
>of that.
>
>For my part, while I do have a career and other interests, due to the health
>situation I mentioned earlier I am currently on long term disability from my
>job at Revenue Canada. I have lots of time on my hands and am regaining my
>former energy level more and more every day. I am VERY interested in this
>hobby, I have been involved with it since I was a teenager and it has taught
>me a lot. I would like to begin to repay some of that debt and I can't think
>of a better way of doing so than starting something which will allow
>hobbyists from all parts of the world to reach out to one another, share
>their interest in the hobby, perhaps make a few friends along the way.
>
>I have also been involved in many different volunteer organizations during
>my time, and I know the difficulties which can surround and confound them.
>Nothing gets done unless SOMEONE steps forward and offers to help. This
>event is one way of doing that. As has been mentioned several times, this
>might be just the ticket to kick start interest in and re-invigorate the
>MEMBERSHIP of the AGA and get the organization moving forward once again. It
>has laudable aims and goals, but unless hobbyists, members and non members
>alike, come together and work together, both the AGA and this potential
>event will disappear into a poof of smoke.
>
>I am asking, for what may be the last time, to let the issue of the AGA rest
>for now.
>
>Thank you,
>
>James Purchase
>Toronto
>
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