How DARE I interrupt their whining and actually ask them to DO SOMETHING!
lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
comments recieved
« on: January 09, 2008, 05:26:31 PM »
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We need to address how we can address folks that want to help but don’t want to be “on” a committee. I have had 4 different people make that comment.
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2008, 05:34:16 PM »
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They can help by being on a committee. Hahaha!What kind of help do they want to do?
Write letters?
I’d ask them what THEY had in mind. How do they want to help out??? They need to express what it is they want to do specifically. Want to help? but don’t want to be on a committee? DUH!Committees will be doing specific things. If what they want to do is being done by a committee than they really need to get involved with a committee where they can be more effective. I think!
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TimF
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2008, 05:35:46 PM »
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My question would be “How do they want to help?”
Of course, ANY member can make supportive or newsy posts here. ANY member can make replies at news articles that allow comments. ANY member can click that “Donate” button at our Website.
But if they are volunteering to actually HELP, it seems that we created 10 committees to help distribute the load and better organize ourselves in 2008. Are they suggesting that we are missing a needed committee that we hadn’t envisioned?
lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2008, 05:46:39 PM »
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I am after people that want to do one thing or a hundred things. How will the committees interact with the general membership? We need workers bees! We have to remembers that we are support group AND an advocate group. Some are just entering into this “nightmare”Linda
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TimF
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2008, 05:55:52 PM »
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I guess that I see the COMMITTEES as the hive for the worker bees.
If they volunteer for any one committee, they gain the “privilege” of seeing ALL committee work.
This is the [previously unchartered territory] of a stepping stone towards become a member of staff.While the various committees may overlap and interact, setting up these 10 committees creates separate work hives that allow for focus without getting overwhelmed with the dozens of other actions of other committees (muchless staff).
Focus becomes a tool for both ‘organization’ AND completion of tasks.As committees progress on task(s), reporting/monitoring is done by staff (especially either our CEO or COO).
As project milestones are reached, staff REPORTS results to our general membership through a number of methods — a newsletterish post in the “News and Announcements” section and/or the actual fruits of the accomplishment (eg.: a boilerplate document for legislators in the Media area; a finished video at our YouTube account; a Written Word op/ed at our Website from the Writers Committee; etc.)
gratefulhoo
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2008, 06:18:46 PM »
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I really don’t like the “required committee” concept. I, also, have gotten emails from people who want to help as they can but don’t want to feel compelled to be on a committee. I would prefer that they be “interest areas”. I put my name on a bunch of “committees”, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to work full time in all of them. Those are my areas of interest and ability.I think it puts a lot of pressure on people when they hear the word “committee” and may be reluctant to commit to what they perceive as being too much work. If we presented these more as “areas of interest” in which we need pools of interested people to draw from, we may possibly get more people.
Unfortunately, right now I don’t see much in the way of anybody doing anything. There are very few people posting with any regularity.
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equal justice
COO, Media Director
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2008, 06:30:14 PM »
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I gotta say Linda that really ticks me off. Oh yea, they want the laws changed, they want their lives better, they want to stay informed about what is going on…but they don’t want to do anything to help, or very little. THey don’t want to “commit”I gotta say, when people continue to behave like this it really makes me want to say screw em!
Yes we are a support group, and thats a very important function, but support is a TWO WAY STREET! Management could use a little support here. This group of “needy” people RARLY say “good job” or “Thank you” much less step up to the plate and work. I gotta say also, that these are ADULTS. There comes a time when they need to STOP acting and expecting to be treated like babies. I can see it if they are new to the situation, but out of 200 members we should be able to get 20 people who can step up to the plate. I would be happy with 20 measley people out of 200. In my opinion these people need to stop whining and start working. Now, before you make excuses for them, I am not saying everyone! I am just asking for 20 out of 200.
I think I just wasted a whole hell of a lot of my time and energy and some of Tim’s time and energy thinking about, planning and making these committees a reality. I honestly thought these people who said ” I want to help” “Tell me what to do”, “I want to make a difference” were telling the truth and were going to step up. Silly me
What I really need to do is to start just working on Fl. I need to start a major advocacy for FCCC and take care of my son instead of these ingrates who want to sit in their chairs and cry “woa is me” and do nothing else. I need to start taking care of ME and MINE and let the rest of em go to hell!
I have told the members over and over and over and over and over again that we are NOT asking for a time minimum or expecting anything from them that they can not give. And NOBODY said ANYTHING about a “required committee” don’t want to do it? fine, but how about 20 people with some spine! Pressure be damned. THey don’t give a stinking SHIT about how much pressure WE are under, but just let them not like a word said to them or the color of the background of the fourm and they jump all over us.This is nothing new…it has always been like this…just a few people doing the work, BUT I did expect the people who came here and SAID they wanted to work to be truthful.
I am so upset that I am crying. I was so hopeful. I was realistic. I was NOT expecting even 50 or 100 people to step up. BUT 20!I think I need to stay the hell away from this place for a while. See ya
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lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2008, 06:42:00 PM »
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All I asked was, How are the comittees going to interact with the general membership.
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2008, 07:00:44 PM »
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At this minute there are 7 staff members online and 2 regular members. total for the day 17. I know there were a couple of new people who came and visited. So, all in all, regular members aren’t visiting in droves, much less volunteering for anything.——————————————————————————–
lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2008, 07:06:57 PM »
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We’ve had 50 members visit today
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2008, 07:11:27 PM »
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Where do you find that info. At the bottom of the Forum Index, it shows who is on like and How many different people visited. If we had 50, then what is this about. Why does it say 17 for today. I’m confused.Users Online 0 Guests, 12 Users
Users active in past 15 minutes:
letsgetreal50, lindape54, TimF, coolrich001, klpsupermom, Billm, Funkerwinkle, topwop, gratefulhoo, lead_brick_head, aljones, equal justice
Most Online Today: 17. Most Online Ever: 18 (January 07, 2008, 01:13:24 PM)——————————————————————————–
lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2008, 07:19:49 PM »
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Most Online Today: 17. that means at one time today we had 17 people all on at the same time
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coolrich001
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2008, 07:45:15 PM »
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Back to the original after I make this comment.
Only 10% of any group do 90% of the work. Also, 20% of the group do and will cause 80% of the problems. Those is the facts, Jack!Now, in another post, I stated that complaints/requests from those who participate will be taken much more seriously. I also said that requests should be put in a polite way. So, when a member asks for something, we should respond in a manner that indicates their participation.
For example, an answer to a request like this, “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Since you have done this that and the other thing this year for the group, we will make your request a priority. Once more, thanks.”Other side would be, “We are a volunteer group. Member participation is much needed. We will put your request/concern on our “To Do” list. The more that volunteer, the quicker things get done.”
If members start seeing more and more responses like this, they will get the idea. The workers get the honey!
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2008, 08:07:26 PM »
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Well shoot, that makes me feel a whole lot better. Now, where do you see, how many were online today totally. I can’t find it.——————————————————————————–
gratefulhoo
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2008, 08:10:13 PM »
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We have absolutely NO RIGHT to think we understand what other people’s lives are like and assume that every person here can and should COMMIT to something. A reluctance to promise to do something over the long haul does not mean that people aren’t interested in helping and doing what they can. We can’t force people to work. It is really harsh to come at this with the attitude of work or hit the road.As I stated before, I just wonder if we set this up more as just areas of interest, more people may put their names in those areas. Many of us are overwhelmed with our own personal lives. That doesn’t mean that we don’t do everything we can whenever we can. if that’s not okay, then there is a problem. The Type A’s here are going to have to chill while those of us who work best on our own do so.
We can all use direction and suggestions about how to work better and be more effective. Right now, I think this group is too small to overstructure and overstress everybody. I found the posts in National and other groups to be very demanding, and I immediately felt “bossed” and so did some others. My suggestion would be to emphasize the need but not push it so hard.
I have managed volunteers before. I was the Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the PTO president for some time, and have served on multiple volunteer boards. Getting volunteers to work is HARD. It’s much easier to get help for a limited project than for the long haul. Soliciting volunteers from a pool of generally interested people works well. Telling people that they must sign up for committees is not successful in my experience.
Can we just consider coming at it from just a little different philosophy?
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lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2008, 08:40:35 PM »
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The workers bees need their hives. These are the work areas/committee/interest area. What ever we want to call it. Then we have the self starters who accomplish tasks on their own. Al comes to mind with his data base. We could have him add the contact data bases in the proper spots on the forum. Everyone does need a home base, though. Flowergirl is another one that comes to mind. All the worker bees might surprize us. I hope so.
All the worker bees can see what the other bees are working on. We can post to the membership any call to action, projects implimented and completed, etc
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #16 on: January 09, 2008, 08:47:59 PM »
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OK. Tim called and explained how I can tell how many were on line today, yesterday, etc.——————————————————————————–
lindape54
SOSEN/CEO
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #17 on: January 09, 2008, 08:50:07 PM »
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Sorry Rod I didn’t see your post. My bad——————————————————————————–
equal justice
COO, Media Director
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #18 on: January 09, 2008, 10:22:20 PM »
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Quote from: gratefulhoo on January 09, 2008, 08:10:13 PM
Can we just consider coming at it from just a little different philosophy?We have attempted to come at it from SEVERAL other philosophy’s with NO success.
I feel like I am speaking a foreign language here that you are not understanding. I have NEVER assumed anything about anyone..and I NEVER expected, demanded, or even HOPED that “EVERY PERSON HERE” could or WOULD COMMIT to joining a committee. I distinctly remember posting RIGHT HERE that I had hoped for 20 out of 200. That is such a FAR CRY from EVERYONE! Again, this is a pretty small “commitment” that I am asking some people for. You are making it sound like they are having to sign a contract and are being asked to work a certain # of hours a day OR ELSE! What utter bull hockey that is. AND YES, I DO have a right to ASK!I have worked my butt off for these people, I have sat day in and day out at this computer, on the phone, writing and working for THESE PEOPLE. I have made myself SICK physically and emotionally, trying to save SOSEN and make it a worthwhile place for these members. I have opened myself up to public ridicule from other rso groups and from the AZ people. I have neglected focusing on FCCC and Florida to work for the bigger picture. SO YES I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK A FEW PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND MAKE A SMALL COMMITMENT THAT THEY CAN CHANGE AT ANY SECOND> DEAR GOD! GET REAL! WE are NOT asking these people for much.
OH they WANT much from us…they EXPECT much from us. BUT ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS A SMALL AMOUNT>I do not know what your problem with me is Lee-Lee. I tried to be a friend and reach out to you as a mother who knows some of what you are going thru and you threw it back in my face and accused me of trying to censure me…and did not bother to respond when I explained that that was not what I was trying to do at all. Why the HELL are you lashing out at ME?
You don’t even know me a little bit. TYPE A personality? I am about the farthest thing you can get from a type A personality. I should “chill” ok fine…but if I had “chilled” before, we would STILL be working for Shirley and be at Yahoo…if there WAS a yahoo since our National forum disappeared and our regional forums were disappearing before our very eyes. If I had “chilled” you would not be here, because you QUIT! and would not work with Shirley.
When you were busy at Christmas did any of us, me included bother you or did we say fine, do what you need to do, we will see you when you have the time again?! AND wish you luck in your business??? Have we EVER harassed ANYONE beyond what they were able to commit to? ABSOLUTLY NOT! The problem with just letting everyone do whatever they want to do on their own when they want to do it is that they don’t do much of ANYTHING! Like I said, we BEGGED for some help last year and got NOTHING.
Does it not make sense to have a group of like minded, talented individuals working as a team on a project??? That would make it easier for everyone. Would any business tell its employees to just come in when they felt like it and do whatever they felt like doing when ever they felt like it? ABSOLUTLY NOT…because NOTHING WOULD GET DONE!!!!! I was simply excited at the PROSPECT of actually getting some worthwhile projects done to REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE in a million and a half peoples lives.
NONE of this would have affected MY and MY sons situation. I am NOT doing this for ME!
BUT NO, I am the big bad meanie for ASKING people to step up to the plate…a FEW DAMED PEOPLE! WOW how DARE I be so BOLD as to suggest we get organized and try to accomplish change. HOW dare I interrupt the whining and crying, and whoa is me ing
and the asking others to help them, by asking them to do something. I guess I have got a lot of nerve.Yea, I have the PASSION to want to make a difference. I have the VISION to see that this is a critical time. I have the BALLS to ask others to get involved and (gasp) committed just a little.
I am the COO of this organization. IT is my job to organize, to see to the day to day running of SOSEN, to see that the VISION and MISSION of SOSEN is carried out and the GOALS met. THAT in itself makes me the bad guy. Linda is the one who holds hands and pats backs and says there there now. I have done my share of helping people too. I just don’t make it public.Man, I am tired. I am tired of working my butt off for people who don’t give a shit who or how I am. Who don’t care to work to help themselves. I am tired of catching shit for doing what needs to be done. For striving to get things accomplished.
Thanks Lee-Lee, you have helped me a lot. Why the hell should I care HUH? IF no one else does, why the hell should I care.
I am gonna take care of ME and MINE and the rest be damned! I will just slide by just like everyone else does.
I will work ONLY WHEN I DAMN WELL FEEL LIKE IT AND ONLY AT WHAT I DAMN WELL FEEL LIKE WORKING AT! What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Oh and thanks so much for the suport and encouragement. Perhaps if YOU had been around and reading posts, and involved in what was going on, had attended a single staff meeting, you would have been involved in this project and could have voiced your opinion BEFORE I spent the amount of time and energy I did on it.
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gratefulhoo
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #19 on: January 09, 2008, 11:29:31 PM »
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Cheryl, I expressed an opinion because I was concerned that the posts in the forums seems a little heavy-handed and may be off-putting to some people. I had received a couple emails about it as well as sensing it from some posts that I read. I was not criticizing you or attacking you as you just did me in this thread and in your PM. I simply felt that from my experience, the tone of a couple of posts may be too heavy for some people and may scare them off.If you noticed (but you seem too wound up to read), I supported the concept in the forum in several posts in terms of trying to get people to volunteer and in offering to edit for Rich. I didn’t publicly say I thought this was too much right now.
I did not respond to your recent email because I started a response and then got flooded with all this VA legislation. I have been working on that almost non-stop for the past several days in addition to being sick, having a sick child at home, running my business, and running my other daughter all over town among other life matters. I apologize for not responding immediately. I certainly didn’t think you would take it as a personal afront.
The time I took for Christmas was explained in advance. I make almost my entire yearly income from October through December. I don’t sleep many nights. That is a situation that can’t be helped. I am of no use during that time.
Yes, I did leave Staff before. This was MOSTLY because of Shirley but was also because of the constant bickering in Staff. I don’t have time or energy for that. It is not some kind of GIFT to me to be back. I came back at Linda’s request and after I had explained the constraints on my time. If you don’t want me here, I am happy to leave. You act like I should be so happy to be granted access to the club! I’m not doing this because it is fun or there are some accolades or perks involved! I am here to learn and work. Period. I would suggest that it will be difficult to stabilize the group if it is restructured on a weekly basis because staff can’t function together.
I have not attended meetings because I VISIT MY SON on weekends. Screw it if people don’t understand that every weekend I visit my son one day and spend time with my husband and young children the other day. That is non-negotiable, and I couldn’t care less what anybody thinks about that.
I have not at any point “lashed out” at you Cheryl. You seem very stressed as are we all. Your public attack on me was unwarranted.
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equal justice
COO, Media Director
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #20 on: January 10, 2008, 12:08:54 AM »
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And Lee- Lee I expressed my opinion right back attcha! You were not criticizing me or attacking me? How aboutWe have absolutely NO RIGHT to think we understand what other people’s lives are like and assume that every person here can and should COMMIT to something.
How about
It is really harsh to come at this with the attitude of work or hit the road.
that was NEVER SAID! or even IMPLIED
Or how about:
The Type A’s here are going to have to chill while those of us who work best on our own do so.
THAT was a really pissy statement…and untrue to boot!
overstructure and overstress everybody.
OVERSTRUCTURE? We have never HAD ANY structure. That was part of the problem. OVER STRESS? These laws that have and are coming down the pike are “stress” asking a few people to simply join a committee and maybe do some work as they are able, should NOT be stress.
I found the posts in National and other groups to be very demanding, and I immediately felt “bossed” and so did some others
My posts were increasingly desperate. They gave concrete examples of WHY we needed to do this. One long standing problem is if you ask our members to do something, then actually REACT when no one does anything, oh yea they get very offended. How DARE I interrupt their whining and actually ask them to DO SOMETHING!
It’s much easier to get help for a limited project than for the long haul.
again ask Linda how many of the projects she asked and asked for help on last year ever got done? How many volunteered?
I am/was simply trying a more organized different approach.If coming up with a way to be a bit organized and to try to get our members involved, again I am talking about around 20 out of 200, NOT YOUR every one, is so very bad then that is extremely sad.
I agree with you totally about the arguing in staff. It is ridiculous. All we need to do is to support one another, and not attack those trying to get something done.You KNOW my problem was more that you were VERY nasty to me in response to my reaching out to you in kindness in an email than it was to your not responding to my second email trying to reach out again and explain that I was only trying to be supportive. WE all know you are going thru a bad time now, but I did not create your problems and am NOT the one to take it out on.
As I said before, I am taking some time away from the forum. I am just too upset right now to be here posting, it is not a good idea. My being upset is spilling out into some posts in the Forum and I do not want that to happen. I need to take care of Cheryl for a change. Forgive me for trying to accomplish something here.
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static
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #21 on: January 10, 2008, 12:32:04 AM »
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Ok- well if everyone gets mad at me, so be it. But everyone needs to take their personal differences to PM. And, when dealing with personal disagreements, we should ALL remember that we’re on the same side!!! How much bandwidth are we going to use up trying to win these silly arguments? Sounds like we ALL need a day off- so lets ALL take one! I hardly think the forum is going to fall apart without us for a day…I know there is history here that I wasn’t part of (thank God!) but what’s happening right now is growing pains. It is a necessary part of the process!!! We can NOT let it become personal.
Let me give you all an outsider’s view– Every single member of staff has their strengths and weaknesses, but EVERY ONE OF YOU are good people doing a largely thankless job. We all volunteered for it, folks! So quit griping. Since it’s a volunteer job, every one of us can do as little or as much as we want. And if we must fight each other, do it privately with the intention of working it out quickly. We have to remember the greater purpose here… I’m not taking sides, just offering some advice. If I’ve made anyone angry, feel free to respond BUT DO IT PRIVATELY so SOSEN doesn’t get bogged down with petty disputes.
P.S. These growing pains are a good sign, BTW- in case you didn’t know…
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topwop
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #22 on: January 10, 2008, 01:10:37 AM »
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Well I had a long letter to post but for some reason it did not post so your getting the short version.Words like “committee”, “change”, and “commitment” scare off volunteers. Volunteers will do what they “WANT” and feel comfortable with. We are scaring off good members.
IMO!!!!
We do a top shelve job in the support and education department. We need to take this fight to our members instead of waiting for them to come to us and possibly have them miss the one thread that would spur them into jumping in.
We need to get our name out there in the public eye, we need to get credibility.
Information is power. We need to set up a weekly newsletter to send “out” to them. We could ask for input on one or two subjects, digest opinions and finalize things at our weekly meeting. We also could send out template letters for them to simply add their name to and mail. This newsletter could also be copied by our members as a flier to go to prospective members, increasing valuable membership.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease and we have little grease in the gun. We could put our pay pal account button on the letter.
We have 223 members as of now. If everyone donated $10.00 a month that would be $120.00 a year and $26,760.00 for us to do “their” work with.
Lee Lee has a great article that needs to be in print, we had a press release for Britney Spears pregnant sister. Both sit because we do not have the funds. Paper, ink, envelopes, stamps, future rallies, videos, where’s the grease?
Tim tells me we are already set up to do just this. We have writers and we could take turns with the newsletter.
WE “NEED” TO GO TO THEM!!!
Am I nuts?!
topwop
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #23 on: January 10, 2008, 09:07:10 AM »
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Static, your now an insider and words never rang truer when you said,“Let me give you all an outsider’s view– Every single member of staff has their strengths and weaknesses, but EVERY ONE OF YOU are good people doing a largely thankless job. We all volunteered for it, folks! So quit griping. Since it’s a volunteer job, every one of us can do as little or as much as we want. And if we must fight each other, do it privately with the intention of working it out quickly. We have to remember the greater purpose here… I’m not taking sides, just offering some advice. If I’ve made anyone angry, feel free to respond BUT DO IT PRIVATELY so SOSEN doesn’t get bogged down with petty disputes.”
Static is right, we need some time away from everything to refresh ourselves.
Our problems are really not with each other, but frustration with the lack of membership getting involved. We ’see’ and visualize the importance of these committees. We know, at least in our minds eyes that these committees can and will speed up the process of sosen being a force that will do great things.It would be ideal if we had 200 eager members, even 20, just biting at the bit to join a committee to do SOMETHING. But that’s not the case. I believe that is where the real frustration comes in at.
We’ve been through worse than this and have come out stronger for it.
When I had my contracting business in California, I had to go through at least 40 people to find that one. But when I found that one, what a difference it made. In fact, I showed my appreciation by giving raises and bonuses.
I thank God for every committed member of Staff and National. You are the glue that holds this organization together. You are the worker bees whether you like it or not. You are the few. We can only work with what we have and go from there. Perhaps we just need to start from there and hope and pray that we can attract individuals like Static, and a few other new people who are personally committed to this fight.
There are way too many RFSO and Family who are not in this fight at all. And that is frustrating to say the least. We need talent and money. Perhaps a few more NPR programs are in order. We do need to find talent who is willing to work for free. Not much incentive there.
So, consider taking a break. Get refreshed in mind and spirit. The year has just begun.
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equal justice
COO, Media Director
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #24 on: January 10, 2008, 01:39:11 PM »
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TOP,
That is my point exactly. WE NEED FOCUS GROUPS> things just keep getting lost, passed over, not focused on, missed, and whatever else. This is an AGE OLD PROBLEM it is not new. IT SEEMS TO BE INHERENT IN RSO GROUPS> ALL I was trying to do was get organized, for God’s sake so this would STOP happening. If what I have asked for in MEMBERSHIP will “scare off members” then we are in very sad shape and need to simply focus SOSEN on being a simple support group.
These people need to grow up and start acting like adults. Yea, some of them are fresh in the RSO process and need some hand holding and support….many are not and have just been whining for years, and the most work they are doing is coming up with excuses NOT to work. I have said NOTHING SCARY! I have not asked anyone to sign a contract saying they would be required to do thus and so or else dire consequences would occur.WE have OVER 200 members and TWO have stepped up…that are from general membership.
SO, fine, we can just continue as we have all along and the stuff can STAY not getting accomplished. NO skin off my back.I am real tired of being the bad guy around here, I’m done.
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letsgetreal50
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #25 on: January 10, 2008, 01:49:42 PM »
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Cheryl, you are certainly NOT the bad guy around here! You are one of the few who actually gets things done. If sosen turns into nothing but a support group for the emotional handicapped then I’m out of here.I know that won’t happen. Support is important but at some place in their lives, they need to learn to quit being an eternal child and grow up.
We, have work to do. Nothing gets done without someone doing it. Things just don’t happen in a vacuum! You are one of the shakers and movers that is propelling sosen into the future. Please don’t ever forget that. We are moving in different directions at one time. Support and fight on every front. We are going to make big advances in 08. WE WILL!
Lets
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TimF
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #26 on: January 10, 2008, 01:55:32 PM »
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Quote from: topwop on January 10, 2008, 01:10:37 AM
Words like “committee”, “change”, and “commitment” scare off volunteers. Volunteers will do what they “WANT” and feel comfortable with. We are scaring off good members.
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Information is power. We need to set up a weekly newsletter to send “out” to them. We could ask for input on one or two subjects, digest opinions and finalize things at our weekly meeting. We also could send out template letters for them to simply add their name to and mail. This newsletter could also be copied by our members as a flier to go to prospective members, increasing valuable membership.The 90% that are ’scared’ by the words like committee, change, and commitment are the 90% we don’t want or need to have access to our committees which are the WORKING groups that our organization NEEDS in place.
The 10% that already DO WORK (and are NOT on staff) should NOT be scared of these words — as there is no minimum committment of time involved.
The very suggestion of a newsletter, templates, fliers, etc. have been ‘projects’ that staff has talked about for a YEAR now. These are the very reasons WHY we need committees that allow a larger group than just the roughly 15 of us on staff to help spread the load.
Volunteering for a committee — ANY committee — should be seen as a PRIVILEGE! It will allow that particular member to be more apprised of ALL committee work. It will allow them to feel that they are ‘giving back freely what was given to them’ and feel that trust and respect implicitly. This IS a STEPPING STONE for our regular members to be MORE active and apprised of the internal workings of SOSEN — without giving them FULL ACCESS to all the sosenSTAFF discussions, planning, arguments, and distractions.
I dislike the infighting (and I’ve certainly been a part of that in the past — so I’m not innocent of this problem). But I was MORE put off by the original question of addressing HOW we deal with people that want to help but NOT be on a committee. It just seemed like a no-brainer — they EITHER want to help or they don’t. An offer of helping us gives THEM additional access and privilege — simple as that — and take it or leave it.
Of course, STAFF benefits too. We have MORE brainpower. We have a place to do work that the membership (lurkers and especially miscreants) cannot see UNTIL a task reaches a milestone. We can put the dozens of projects staff likes into a committee and allow the task to unfold (in its own time) by those specifically interested in that project.
Win-win. I like this. Let’s not be put off by those few that are scared of work — as they will NOT LEAVE the main group for this. They are just NOT the ones we want to have working on our committees and projects.
coolrich001
SOSEN Staff
Member
Re: comments recieved
« Reply #27 on: January 10, 2008, 03:28:15 PM »
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And, when the “do nothings” want something done, their request will be waaaaay behind the “do somethings”.
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