The Change

[Michael I.]

Re: The Change

Shannon,
Please explain what "motions" you are talking about in the following statement: "Those motions have already been put into place."
Mike

[Shannon U.]

Re: The Change

Shannon,
Please explain what "motions" you are talking about in the following statement: "Those motions have already been put into place."
Mike

Mike and our membership,

I have reached out to our IT department, current moderators as well as many others who know of the historical perspective that I lack, to re-institute the previous Membership Discussion Forum from decades ago. I believe the current threads are important for all of NCRS membership to have a voice in their organization. Unfortunately, a few of our current threads have absolutely no place in our Technical Discussion Board. I believe this might actually be something that we ALL can agree upon. The TDB is for technical items and not a place for membership related items. Instituting a forum to allow our membership to voice their concerns is absolutely paramount to me. I believe this membership discussion forum also affords the opportunity to be a depository for additional items that need to be easily accessible to ALL of the membership. For example, the most current policies and procedures of the NCRS. I vision this forum to include things such as our Policy and Accounting Procedures, the most current Hold Harmless Agreements, our Drug and Alcohol Policy and the currently, and the ever so popular, Conflict of Interest Policy of the NCRS (which has been offered by many but is not current since revised in August of 2019). I believe this forum is in the best interest of the entire membership which is why I have chosen to re-institute one of the things from the past which has significant merit.

Respectfully,
Shannon

[Ed N.]

Re: The Change

Mike and our membership,

I have reached out to our IT department, current moderators as well as many others who know of the historical perspective that I lack, to re-institute the previous Membership Discussion Forum from decades ago. I believe the current threads are important for all of NCRS membership to have a voice in their organization. Unfortunately, a few of our current threads have absolutely no place in our Technical Discussion Board. I believe this might actually be something that we ALL can agree upon. The TDB is for technical items and not a place for membership related items. Instituting a forum to allow our membership to voice their concerns is absolutely paramount to me. I believe this membership discussion forum also affords the opportunity to be a depository for additional items that need to be easily accessible to ALL of the membership. For example, the most current policies and procedures of the NCRS. I vision this forum to include things such as our Policy and Accounting Procedures, the most current Hold Harmless Agreements, our Drug and Alcohol Policy and the currently, and the ever so popular, Conflict of Interest Policy of the NCRS (which has been offered by many but is not current since revised in August of 2019). I believe this forum is in the best interest of the entire membership which is why I have chosen to re-institute one of the things from the past which has significant merit.

Respectfully,
Shannon

Excellent Shannon. Your mindset of transparency, reasonableness and forward-thinking is exactly what this organization needs. Unlike the censorship and manipulation that was going on before, to include, but not limited to the NCRS Facebook page.

At this point, enough of these shenanigans, let the new administration govern.

[Jack M.]

Re: The Change

In order to heal the gaping wounds within the club, I believe we need to triage the situation...
Assess the degree of urgency to wounds, then decide the order of treatment.
Why move forward, without even acknowledging the wounds... do we intend to just leave members bleeding?
A physicians code of ethics is to DO NO HARM... no reason why that can't apply here.
First, we need to fully comprehend how the wounds were inflicted... to that end, I respectfully repeat my post from a different thread:
-------------------------------

PREFACE: I detest politics and may regret this post... but here goes.
I don't know a single person on the BoD, so please consider a few thoughts from an 'impartial nobody':

There is a huge difference between a HUMAN BEING, and BEING HUMAN.
Unfortunately, it appears some people really don't comprehend these concepts.
Many readers are missing the main point of contention... itz not about a change of officers, itz HOW it was done.
CLASS... DIGNITY... RESPECT... COMMON SENSE... regretfully, they were all tossed aside, for no good reason.

Put yourself in this scenario:
You are walking with a group of friends, and come to a closed door.
Upon opening the door, a few friends walk thru... then purposefully close the door on their remaining friends.
If you were in that second group, how would you feel?
There is no 'law' that a person is REQUIRED to hold a door open for others... itz simply common courtesy.

Letz go a little further... pretend one person was hurting/injured and another was carrying them on their shoulders.
Both people couldn't fit thru the door at once, so the injured person gingerly got down, went thru the door...
And proceeded to immediately slam the door in the face of the person that selflessly carried them.
Pretty cruel treatment... don't you think?

Well, Mike Ingham was that person carrying the NCRS on his shoulders... leading them thru difficult/unprecedented times.
To slam the door in his face, was a HUGE insult, a symbolic spit in his face... how can some people NOT be so upset?
Instead, common courtesy should have been invoked, in advance of the meeting...
THANKING Mike for his service, and letting him know that several Reps wanted to move in a new direction.
Heck, even a boxing match starts with a 'clean' tap of gloves between participants... not a sucker punch.

Empathy is an important trait for our species... itz the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
if you do NOT feel Mike was wronged at the last BoD meeting, I truly feel sorry for you and the future of NCRS.
In the end, I can try to EXPLAIN why many people are upset, but I can't UNDERSTAND it for you.

Respectfully,
Jack

[Leif A.]

Re: The Change

Jack,
Best post to this entire debacle. Thoughtful, insightful, intelligent. Your last sentence in your last paragraph says it all..."In the end, I can try to EXPLAIN why many people are upset, but I can't UNDERSTAND it for you." EXCEPTIONAL!!

[Roy S.]

Re: The Change

In order to heal the gaping wounds within the club, I believe we need to triage the situation...
Assess the degree of urgency to wounds, then decide the order of treatment.
Why move forward, without even acknowledging the wounds... do we intend to just leave members bleeding?
A physicians code of ethics is to DO NO HARM... no reason why that can't apply here.
First, we need to fully comprehend how the wounds were inflicted... to that end, I respectfully repeat my post from a different thread:
-------------------------------

PREFACE: I detest politics and may regret this post... but here goes.
I don't know a single person on the BoD, so please consider a few thoughts from an 'impartial nobody':

There is a huge difference between a HUMAN BEING, and BEING HUMAN.
Unfortunately, it appears some people really don't comprehend these concepts.
Many readers are missing the main point of contention... itz not about a change of officers, itz HOW it was done.
CLASS... DIGNITY... RESPECT... COMMON SENSE... regretfully, they were all tossed aside, for no good reason.

Put yourself in this scenario:
You are walking with a group of friends, and come to a closed door.
Upon opening the door, a few friends walk thru... then purposefully close the door on their remaining friends.
If you were in that second group, how would you feel?
There is no 'law' that a person is REQUIRED to hold a door open for others... itz simply common courtesy.

Letz go a little further... pretend one person was hurting/injured and another was carrying them on their shoulders.
Both people couldn't fit thru the door at once, so the injured person gingerly got down, went thru the door...
And proceeded to immediately slam the door in the face of the person that selflessly carried them.
Pretty cruel treatment... don't you think?

Well, Mike Ingham was that person carrying the NCRS on his shoulders... leading them thru difficult/unprecedented times.
To slam the door in his face, was a HUGE insult, a symbolic spit in his face... how can some people NOT be so upset?
Instead, common courtesy should have been invoked, in advance of the meeting...
THANKING Mike for his service, and letting him know that several Reps wanted to move in a new direction.
Heck, even a boxing match starts with a 'clean' tap of gloves between participants... not a sucker punch.

Empathy is an important trait for our species... itz the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
if you do NOT feel Mike was wronged at the last BoD meeting, I truly feel sorry for you and the future of NCRS.
In the end, I can try to EXPLAIN why many people are upset, but I can't UNDERSTAND it for you.

Respectfully,
Jack

Well said Sir, I applaud your masterful use of words and explanation. Bravo

[Roy S.]

Re: The Change

Mike and our membership,

I have reached out to our IT department, current moderators as well as many others who know of the historical perspective that I lack, to re-institute the previous Membership Discussion Forum from decades ago. I believe the current threads are important for all of NCRS membership to have a voice in their organization. Unfortunately, a few of our current threads have absolutely no place in our Technical Discussion Board. I believe this might actually be something that we ALL can agree upon. The TDB is for technical items and not a place for membership related items. Instituting a forum to allow our membership to voice their concerns is absolutely paramount to me. I believe this membership discussion forum also affords the opportunity to be a depository for additional items that need to be easily accessible to ALL of the membership. For example, the most current policies and procedures of the NCRS. I vision this forum to include things such as our Policy and Accounting Procedures, the most current Hold Harmless Agreements, our Drug and Alcohol Policy and the currently, and the ever so popular, Conflict of Interest Policy of the NCRS (which has been offered by many but is not current since revised in August of 2019). I believe this forum is in the best interest of the entire membership which is why I have chosen to re-institute one of the things from the past which has significant merit.

Respectfully,
Shannon

Wonderful, I'm sure you have filled out of the appropriate forms with the IT group, seems to me like there are at least two, and help desk guidelines to go with it. Not to mention acquired moderators and administrators that are needed for it, or server storage space and capacity, or where the money for this new project is coming from. You see I worked with the IT group from 2005 inception through 2013 when I retired, its a never ending full time job for that group to stay up with and improve things as they have, any additions will require funding. Have you discussed that with your Directors? I assume you are in contact with Gary Chesnut he will explain all of this too you in a way much more succinct and accurate than mine. I suspect any change will require a board vote because to move anything ahead of a scheduled project is extremely inefficient and cost prohibitive. I suspect some of this is why Mike ask the simple question what "motions" are taking, not seeing anything in writing from you regarding a motion from you for Board Approval. Oh wait you have the silent 5, never mind maybe the others can be kept in the dark again.

[Shannon U.]

Re: The Change

Wonderful, I'm sure you have filled out of the appropriate forms with the IT group, seems to me like there are at least two, and help desk guidelines to go with it. Not to mention acquired moderators and administrators that are needed for it, or server storage space and capacity, or where the money for this new project is coming from. You see I worked with the IT group from 2005 inception through 2013 when I retired, its a never ending full time job for that group to stay up with and improve things as they have, any additions will require funding. Have you discussed that with your Directors? I assume you are in contact with Gary Chesnut he will explain all of this too you in a way much more succinct and accurate than mine. I suspect any change will require a board vote because to move anything ahead of a scheduled project is extremely inefficient and cost prohibitive. I suspect some of this is why Mike ask the simple question what "motions" are taking, not seeing anything in writing from you regarding a motion from you for Board Approval. Oh wait you have the silent 5, never mind maybe the others can be kept in the dark again.

Roy,
Great timing as I am just finishing my final of many emails, telephone calls and Zoom meetings about this topic to present to our Board of Directors. I have collected the information from our IT department for the Board to decide how best to proceed with the requests by many in our club for a membership forum. We will let the membership know once it has been officially decided.
Respectfully,
Shannon

[Harry S.]

Re: The Change

A Membership Forum is useless unless the Membership can vote. It is a waste of time and money.

Today, if I want a change I convince my Region Director and he brings it to the National Board to sell the idea and have it approved. So far I can not recall anything I asked to be brought forward approved. Here is a small problem I wanted to fixed. A Member and Significant Other are both heavily involved in supporting NCRS. In my example, the Significant Others are Chapter Board Members, One in NH, one in NY and one in CA. The Significant Others do not receive NCRS emails because they are not the actual member. The request to fix this was taken to the National Board and turned down because it was too expensive. This is a real world fix, the Membership Forum fixes nothing.

Ethics and respect will fix more than a Membership Forum.

[Ed N.]

[Don H.]

Re: The Change

Your profound display of concern and empathy is heartwarming.

[Tim S.]

Re: The Change

Perhaps give him a plaque (hugs, whatever it will take) and once the situation deescalates

I clearly understand you are in favor of the changes and that is fine. But, your comment as quoted....... is just arrogant.

[Ed N.]

[Jack M.]

Re: The Change

Even the worst of wounds (if we want to call it that) heal through time.

Perhaps... but scars might last forever.

[Ed N.]