Re: (erielack) ELHS ??

[William Shultz <wshultz1_@_twcny.rr.com>]

Dan,

I guess that depends on who you ask. I have heard the exact same 
complaint for other people, almost verbatim and not from back 14+ years 
ago. They felt like they are being subjected to an elitist, superior 
attitude rather than having their inquiry answered in a polite, 
congenial manner. It is a subjective issue.

If you are serious about re-joining, do so being fully aware that you 
are in effect just a subscriber to a magazine and have absolutely no 
rights of any sort in the governance of the ELHS. In other words, your 
vote doesn't count because you don't have one. Many people don't realize 
or understand this prior to joining.

It is an autocratic Board of Directors that is in fact, answerable to no 
one but itself. Some believe that very circumstance breeds an elitist 
attitude. I tend to think it is more a matter of insensitivity due to 
the insular nature of being a "self-sustaining" Board. As a member you 
have only one way to vote and that is with your feet. It's too bad too 
since there are people that would contribute more of their time and 
effort except that they feel they would be serving the Board and not the 
membership, but I suspect most members don't care as long as they 
receive their subscription, even though it now arrives by pack mule.

Take these comments and opinions in context, I am a well known 
malcontent and troublemaker that believes in the fundamentals of 
democracy and feels the Society is on the verge of serious decline, 
facing a future of withering and dieing on the vine if some major 
changes aren't made soon. What in my opinion is most seriously lacking 
is "Leadership". Currently it seems all the initiative go in one 
direction, from the bottom up. It is unfortunate because I have a great 
deal of respect for most of the Board members on a personal level, but I 
don't believe they see how ineffective they have become. Even more sad, 
I don't think the majority of the membership cares as long as they 
receive their publication kind of on time.

There is a anecdote that was related to me not too long ago with respect 
to nonprofit organizations, if you (in a leadership position) don't 
accomplish what you want in 10 years, it's probably time to take a break 
and let someone else try. Inevitably you end up being complacent and 
your ideas stale. The majority of the ELHS Board has been there for at 
least 10 years. With all due respect, an injection of new, creative 
thinking is probably long overdue.

I feel confident that you will hear a considered rebuttal to my thoughts 
and opinions from at least one or two Board members that are list 
members. I believe that is actually a good thing because it is about the 
only time we have any open discussion of the concerns of members. 
Unfortunately, through no one's fault, that didn't happen at the annual 
convention this past September. Then again, there wouldn't have even 
been that time set aside if some of us "agitators" hadn't been agitating.

Regards,

Will Shultz


Daniel Fargo wrote:

>Hi group,
>
>    Have a question maybe a little off topic, has the ERIE LACKAWANNA HISTORICAL SOCIETY changed there attitude from back in the early 1980's I had joined the Society and then mailed them with a question. My granddad worked for the Erie Railroad and we have his old "Erie" switch key it is the small key and I was looking for an Erie lock that it would fit and did they know anybody I could contact for more information. I received a very nasty letter in response to my inquiry that they were all volunteers and not to bother them with questions that they were not there to answer questions. So when they sent there membership renewal notice I responded in a like wise manner.
>
>    I hope they have changed there way of doing business and I might even rejoin.
>
>Thanks
>
>Dan
>
>  
>

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