RE: Robert's Rules/Board Meeting

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

On Wed, 26 Apr 2000, Frangooles, Bob wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> 
> >As the other person who voted "no" last night (and am sort of equally
> >confused as to how we suddenly voted a proposal in so quickly without any
> >real discussion), I have yet another difference of opinion to add here.
> 
> Real discussion? If people weren't comfortable I assume they would have
> voted no.  It is not like the board lacks in personalities willing to make
> their opinion heard. 

All right.  I have said my peace.  It was my belief that we rushed through
this issue, suddenly voted on it before everyone had gotten a chance to
fully discuss it.

Personally, I would have liked to hear things such as Steve's note that we
donate part of our auction proceeds to the aquarium.  That seems like an
appropriate thing to do.  I would have voted yes for that. But I would
have liked to have said what I said in my last note.  I did NOT get to say
that.  What I was told was "it's too late.  We voted on it."

> If you feel there are other worthy projects you should bring them up for
> discussion.  I am not sure why giving a donation rankles, if people can't
> donate time, money is often a reasonable alternative.

It just feels DIFFERENT.  It feels inappropriate for the philanthropy
project (to me).  

> However, while we discuss the relative merits of the programs, the
> discussion is typically around the merits of the content, not the cost. I
> have yet to see us clamp down on a speaker because of cost.  

We have thought about it.  We certainly talked about it last night.  The
merit comes first, then we worry about if we can afford it.  Then we vote
on it.

> Also, you and Kathy derive a lot of benefit from the speakers coming in, you
> get to host them and get to know them well.  I believe Kathy has earned this
> privilidge as she has had the gumption to wrangle the speakers, but there is
> some vested interest implied.

Bob already apologized for this, but I still gotta say, lest anyone think 
we're bringing in speakers because we get to hang out with them at our
house:

It's also a great deal of work.  We both end up taking days off work to
schlepp around speakers to different stores, pick them up at the airport,
etc.  Some of the meals end up as out-of-pocket expenses for us.  Last
year with Wayne, we schlepped him around to multiple parties at members'
houses, you may recall. It's exhausting.  But yes, we haven't hosted a
speaker yet who we didn't end up making friends with.  But the only
speaker we knew well in advance of their coming here, and had any "vested
interest" was David Soares back in 1997.  Frankly, we have already seen
all these talks long before they come to Seattle, and what we're thinking
is "you know, the club would REALLY like this".  I know that's what we
were saying to each other last month at NEC.

   - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com