Re: MCM - Digest V1 #191

[krandall@world.std.com]

At 03:08 PM 12/13/99 -0500, Mary wrote:

>As an introvert myself, I appreciate where you are coming from.  If I am
>hearing you correctly, you are implying that one of the reasons we are
>having difficulty absorbing new volunteers is most of us are introverts.
>Years ago I would have agreed with you.  But after speaking with extroverts
>directly about getting to know new people and being new in an organization
>and how it is for them, I now see things somewhat differently.  Getting to
>know new people and being new is stressful for everyone.  Introverts cope
>with the stress by being quiet, and extroverts by talking a lot.  There are
>times when extroverts also need to get themselves "pumped up" in order to be
>friendly.  I think that being welcoming to new people involves a committment
>of will no matter who you are.  Having been to a lot of events in the hobby
>over the last few years, I have enjoyed meeting new people, hearing about
>their tanks, and getting to talk about mine.  I can't say I have met a
>hobbyist, introvert or extravert, who hasn't enjoyed talking about something
>they love.  IOM the most difficult part of running the AGA is that so much
>of our communication occurs over cyberspace.  Having dealt a lot with
>vulunteers in the past, I find it is so much easier when you can do it face
>to face.  I have decided that when I do communicate with Cheryl, I am going
>to call her.  This isn't as good as talking to to her face to face, but it
>will be easier for me this way rather than by cyberspace.

Eloquently said, Mary!

>Question, Bob.  Do we need to vote on the advertising issue?  If so, I make
>the motion to vote on whether (a) we should seek to expand the AGA at this
>time; (b) advertise in TFH, AFM, and FAMA.  If anyone thinks that the way I
>have worded things should be revised, that's fine with me.

I don't think we need to vote on this one.  I believe the whole SC is in
favor of advertising.  And whether or not we want membership of AGA to
expand or not, we _still_ need to advertise to keep even in the long run.
A good rule of thumb for aquarium hobby organizations is that you need to
plan to recruit 25% of your membership total in new members each year just
to stay even.  I think that at least some of the large number we are seeing
in membership right now is not "real".  Jack has not dropped people off the
membership list because of the problems getting TAG out within the last
year.  When he cleans up the list after renewals are sent out, we may be
surprised at the size of the fall-off.

Karen