Bruce,
I'm afraid you're missing the point--completely. The chief complaint here
about the Board is that there hasn't been any meaningful feedback from the
Board members on the ELHS archives, except for a carefully worded statement
issued a couple of days ago. I'm sure that every Board member is reading
every word of this message, so that's not the problem. The problem is that
this is basically a one-way conversation. If the board has problems with
criticism of their actions, so be it. They're all big boys. But what we
don't need are straw parties throwing in red herrings in an attempt to
divert the discussion, or perhaps to curry favor with the Board. This is a
serious issue and has long-term consequences for this organization.
However, it's more than just a bit frustrating that our leadership will not
give us the time of day in terms of entering into a discussion on an equal
footing. I suspect that this email forum is just a bit too egalitarian for
the tastes of the members of the Board, and opens the door to individual
members having to disclose and defend their positions. I'm sure that's why
the one-way announcements (Board speaks, no feedback allowed from the
peanut gallery) is the preferred "channel of communication". That's fine.
But don't expect that everyone in this organization will accept that. I
know I won't
Chuck
"Bruce Alcock"
<nytrr_@_hotmail.co
m> To
erielack_@_lists.elhts.org
03/03/2007 03:06 cc
PM
Subject
(erielack) ELHS Board
Please respond to
"EL Mail List"
<erielack_@_lists.e
lhts.org>
I'm hearing complaints about the board, but I don't see anyone stepping out
and telling us how they would do thing, the hours they would put in, and
the
effort they would give to the society, if they were elected to the board.
I
don't see anyone sending around a petition to be on a ballot, I just hear
complaints.
Well, if you want complaints, try joining a society that has a magazine
that
isn't day, weeks or months, but years late!, has a fantastic collection
that
is tended by members and is unavailable to the great unwashed
membership,has
an annual meeting that makes the ELHS Convention look like the Oscars and
has 6 different mailing list, with the sum of activity less than this one
list.
Then there is the non-society - a Historical Society that even had a museum
that is now closed, has morphed into a modelers society, of sorts and
hasn't
seen a publication in almost a decade. Archives? What archives? Annual
meeting? Of what? Mailing list? Someone has one, and it has been used
this year...correction, that was last year.
Ok, so the ELHS is not perfect. OK, so some of the ELHS members are very
particular about the archives, information disseminated by the society and
the reputation of the society. The only other societies that come close to
the ELHS are the Pennsy, Santa Fe and UP groups, and look at the
difference
in the prototypes - think there is message in that comparison?!
Ok, the archives issue is not an easy one, and what sometimes looks simple
really is not, once you get into all of the ramifications and meeting all
of
the diverse needs of a society that represents so many different facets of
not just one but three railroads.
OK, so for all of you who know you can do better, I"m waiting to see your
platform - your campaign material for how you are going to provide us the
the 'right' solution.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Alcock
Living far enough away from New Jersey that I can say this :)
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