In many ways the BOD / AAW is no different than congress/ federal government. Very few members/citizens vote for any number of reasons. Apathy is probably the leading factor. Give me a nice magazine (I know it's a journal), a club where I can talk to other turners and not have to do anything and all is fine. I don't give a hoot who runs the show because they are all the same. Keep me employed, let me take my 2 - 6 weeks of vacation with my bass boat/ motor home, a nice roof over my head, food on my table and all is fine. I don't give a hoot who runs the show because they are all the same.
Now something goes wrong. Mary is fired, unemployment hits and the first thing we do is yell throw the SOB's out. The BOD fired Mary, toss them out. Congress allowed unemployment, toss them out. Both groups might need and deserve to be tossed but that alone will not fix the problems. How did they come about? What is a short term fix and then what is a long term fix? This forum isn't large enough to solve the issues with congress so to bring it back the AAW.
In my opinion Mary Lacer being fired was the tipping point. This issue turned the spotlight on the BOD and caused many (myself included) to take a look at just what and how things seem to be run. If her removal had been handled much differently I doubt if there would be much if any discussions on AAW or if this forum would have been needed or started. So what are we going to do and where are we going? How do we determine what is wrong and how do we go about fixing the problems?
1. Was the BOD justified in wanting to make an ED change?
I can't tell from all of the posts I've read. Maybe there was a legitimate business reason. There seems to be a consensus from everyone but the BOD that they went about it wrong. The charges seem to be more of a way to justify the action rather than the cause.
2. Should the entire BOD resign?
I don't know if that would be a good thing or not. In any event it's not going to happen.
3. Is the BOD the entire problem?
This I think is the heart of the matter. The current board didn't just appear they were elected over a period of time. The members that cared enough to vote are the ones that elected them. Unfortunately I don't think there is enough information available to make a reasonable selection. Candidates are vetted by a nominating committee that has been vetted by the sitting board. There was some talk that the bylaws committee is going to add something to allow membership nominations. This alone won't do anything but add a personality contest. They should be allowed to campaign. Let them tell the membership why they want to be elected.
4. What is the purpose of the BOD?
Is the board there to manage or guide AAW? In my opinion the board should be charged with keeping the AAW on a path directed by the membership. If this is correct just how can the membership easily inform the board of their desire? I would like to see monthly poll in the membership area. Each journal could show the upcoming polls with the notation only members will be allowed to vote. I know the journal is sold retail but it is a membership journal and this might even pick up a few members.
5. Will the bylaw revisions solve anything?
I don't think the revisions will actually accomplish much as such. The board has shown they can be ignored.
6. Would a stronger ethics committee be helpful?
Unless the committee has investigative authority and some way to enforce their findings I don't think it is meaningful.
7. How can the AAW forum be improved?
In my opinion the administrator, moderator and web master need to stay out of controversial threads. The administrator should have the authority to lock a thread but not remove it once it has had a response. The reason should be specific and the last post. "This thread has gotten out of hand and is closed" is not being specific. " Al vs Al and their personal arguments need to move to email and a new on topic thread started" would be reasonable (sorry Al). There should be an unbiased avenue to protest a ban.
These aren't the only things or questions that need to be resolved but I do think we need to start looking for a road out of this mess. Name calling, baiting, bashing and gloating won't do the trick. We need to come up with positive steps to get AAW moving in the direction we want.
Now something goes wrong. Mary is fired, unemployment hits and the first thing we do is yell throw the SOB's out. The BOD fired Mary, toss them out. Congress allowed unemployment, toss them out. Both groups might need and deserve to be tossed but that alone will not fix the problems. How did they come about? What is a short term fix and then what is a long term fix? This forum isn't large enough to solve the issues with congress so to bring it back the AAW.
In my opinion Mary Lacer being fired was the tipping point. This issue turned the spotlight on the BOD and caused many (myself included) to take a look at just what and how things seem to be run. If her removal had been handled much differently I doubt if there would be much if any discussions on AAW or if this forum would have been needed or started. So what are we going to do and where are we going? How do we determine what is wrong and how do we go about fixing the problems?
1. Was the BOD justified in wanting to make an ED change?
I can't tell from all of the posts I've read. Maybe there was a legitimate business reason. There seems to be a consensus from everyone but the BOD that they went about it wrong. The charges seem to be more of a way to justify the action rather than the cause.
2. Should the entire BOD resign?
I don't know if that would be a good thing or not. In any event it's not going to happen.
3. Is the BOD the entire problem?
This I think is the heart of the matter. The current board didn't just appear they were elected over a period of time. The members that cared enough to vote are the ones that elected them. Unfortunately I don't think there is enough information available to make a reasonable selection. Candidates are vetted by a nominating committee that has been vetted by the sitting board. There was some talk that the bylaws committee is going to add something to allow membership nominations. This alone won't do anything but add a personality contest. They should be allowed to campaign. Let them tell the membership why they want to be elected.
4. What is the purpose of the BOD?
Is the board there to manage or guide AAW? In my opinion the board should be charged with keeping the AAW on a path directed by the membership. If this is correct just how can the membership easily inform the board of their desire? I would like to see monthly poll in the membership area. Each journal could show the upcoming polls with the notation only members will be allowed to vote. I know the journal is sold retail but it is a membership journal and this might even pick up a few members.
5. Will the bylaw revisions solve anything?
I don't think the revisions will actually accomplish much as such. The board has shown they can be ignored.
6. Would a stronger ethics committee be helpful?
Unless the committee has investigative authority and some way to enforce their findings I don't think it is meaningful.
7. How can the AAW forum be improved?
In my opinion the administrator, moderator and web master need to stay out of controversial threads. The administrator should have the authority to lock a thread but not remove it once it has had a response. The reason should be specific and the last post. "This thread has gotten out of hand and is closed" is not being specific. " Al vs Al and their personal arguments need to move to email and a new on topic thread started" would be reasonable (sorry Al). There should be an unbiased avenue to protest a ban.
These aren't the only things or questions that need to be resolved but I do think we need to start looking for a road out of this mess. Name calling, baiting, bashing and gloating won't do the trick. We need to come up with positive steps to get AAW moving in the direction we want.