What is the AGA's purpose and what can we envision for the future (fwd)

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

Message from Bob.  Folks, please be very careful in how you address these
things.  Don't send to "owner-aga-mcm-digest" or any other similar
address.  You should only send to "aga-mcm@thekrib.com".  

  - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 14:19:58 -0400
From: Robert P. Cashin <rcashin@juno.com>
To: owner-aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com,
    nfrank@mindspring.com,
    erik@thekrib.com,
    krandall@world.std.com,
    dreimer@wwdc.com
Subject: What is the AGA's purpose and what can we envision for the future

        One of the questions that was asked recently was " What is the AGA over
and above TAG."

        The inside front cover of TAG says the purposes of the AGA are:
                to disseminate information about aquatic plants
                to study and improve upon techniques for culturing aquatic and 
bog
                        plants in aquatic gardening
                to increase interest in aquatic gardening
                to promote fellowship amongst its members

        Up until now TAG was 90-95% of the AGA. We are considering replacing TAG
with PAM and are wondering if the AGA will lose its identity, reason for
existence, etc.

        My vision of the AGA is that we are about to make a big step up. I feel
it started with the organization chart, is continuing with enlarging the
MC, and now we have a chair who wants the job, not just someone who
occupied it until that someone  showed up. Please don't misunderstand
that last statement. I admire Karen for knowingly taking on a job that
nobody was ready for and for keeping it much longer than she ever thought
she would have too. In rereading this paragraph I find that it grossly
understates my confidence that we are at a turning point in the
organizations structure. As we make changes and communicate those changes
to the membership, I expect a surge of enthusiasm that will bring us more
memberships and more volunteers to do the things already being considered
and more ideas about how we can serve our purpose. PAM can only add to
the momentum.

        Where are we going?

                Incorporation

                Budgets, so we can see what is available to fund other 
activities

                Job descriptions, so we have something we can refer to when we  
        have a
potential volunteer for a position, and so we all have          agreement on
what an incumbent is expected to do with the            position.

                Filling the open positions

                Exotic plant sales?

                More research?

                Funding speakers on aquatic plants?

                A plant photo contest?

                Annual/regional meetings?

                Educational videos

                And much more

        In short, I don't see converting TAG to PAM as surrendering the heart of
the AGA, but instead as allowing it to focus on other ways we can serve
the hobby too.
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