I think the best idea for individuals at this point would be to find an attendee who they can  contact directly for ideas/questions.  That way it would not be 1 persons job to try and convey the thoughts of an entire group.  Then, we could use a webinar for them to see and hear the conference, but they could have 1 person who they could trust to try and help get their ideas/thoughts out.  However, that will be tough.

I will be there and my vote is going to be to make the final decision on this topic via online vote so that the final decision would be made by membership.  I also will suggest that vote be postponed until all open requests for access to the site/vote are reconciled.

Finally, I wonder if members could give proxy rights to an attending member to vote for them.

Anyway, those are my thoughts.

Brew wrote on Jul 5^th, 2009 at 10:24pm:


Brew, if you disagree, then don't make yourself available, period.  y suggestion is purely voluntary.

I am paying my money, but somehow I don't think that entitles me to more of a say in the direction of this group.  To me the money is going to pay for the extras I get for being there, not towards having a say to the future.

Just my opinion.

seaworthy wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2009 at 10:43pm:



Don, Jim was referring to the fact that OUCH Inc. is having their annual meeting, just like any other corporation. OUCH may not be General Motors, or any other large corporation, but a corporation it is. And being a corporation, it has legal obligations to meet.

And just as it is at other corporations annual meetings, the meeting is announced, some folks are there, some are not.

To me, saying "it's an all volunteer organization made up of a bunch of headache sufferers and nothing more" is insulting to the work that OUCH has done. Is there something wrong with the BoD volunteering their time?  OUCH could pay salaries to get some experienced people in there to run it.   

At this late date, it will be hard to accommodate all members of OUCH to attend virtually. I suggest an agenda be listed, and stuck to in the discussion.

To everyone who wants to have the members involved, just exactly what do you mean by that? I don't mean putting up a message board, so come people can talk about how they would do things, and flame the current BoD, I would like to know what you all mean by involving the members. Are you all prepared to volunteer to work for OUCH? Or to sit on the sidelines and comment?

Having streaming video so people can see is one thing. Having everyone not in attendance able to comment will stagnate the meeting, and it will get nowhere fast.



A few things I'd like to see on the agenda:

Having a 3rd party webhost, overhaul and host the website. Fix the log in problems.

Bring in a BoD that has a business background. They don't all need to suffer from CH. They need a business background. Pay them.

Keep Family Services.

Plan the annual meeting, preferably in the middle of the country, so more people can attend, and be involved in the meeting. Afford more time to discuss OUCH business.

The membership should be paying annual dues. Tax deductible.  How many members does OUCH have? Then lifetime memberships would be just that. In addition to being honored with this award, the awardee would not paying dues for the rest of their lives. Otherwise having lifetime members is kind of meaningless. If we aren't paying dues, then we are all lifetime members.


Anyone care to add to this?

When I asked to be able to “join” the discussion about OUCH, and be able to voice my
opinion I meant doing it now before the meeting! tossing ideas, tossing thoughts, in a way, a barometer to what the “mood” toward OUCH, and the priorities of the members......

During the meeting at the convention, I would love to be able to see, to listen.....but not to take an active role, the nature of meetings such as this one - it is not
a video conference - it is a members meeting, members that are present at the meeting
place, and not only I accept it, I support it.....
One can deposit a excuse letter with some points that he would like the chair to consider
during the meeting, but it is up to the chair to bring it up......

The discussion in the for front of the convention is important, it is in a way a compass
to the priorities of the members, to the commitment, to the interest in the organization
and goals.

Unfortunately I do not see much of that.....  I don’t know why, I can only speculate......
I am also (in a way) a frustrated member.... but I don’t give up..... I think OUCH is
not a corps! it might be (Seem to some of us) stagnating...... disconnected from the
members..... well I have the impression that it is our fault.... the members fault......
we ignored the instrument OUCH.....
we trusted someone else will do the job for us.....
But it doesn’t work that way....  it takes involvement..... if not direct then in direct....
but ignoring..... being apathetic dose not do!!!!
and when the situation we are facing
accurse it is mostly to late to say why didn’t we / they do any thing........

For OUCH it is not to late, it is almost midnight but not yet............
if we the members, are interested in an instrument called OUCH, we need to be
simply more involved.... on both ends.... but it is the individuals responsibility.....
to seek information, and the organizations to provide it..... at the same time
the organization needs to be more transparent...... and communicative..... and
try to do less and achieve more...... to set goals and priorities, (I do not suggest
it was not done) and communicate it to the members......

I know it is simple to suggest and not to have to take responsibility......
I know I am one that quit responsibility..... for what ever reason....  
But I still care..... I still would like to see OUCH immerge out of this with a strong
leadership..... (and we do have some very good ppl. in OUCH BoD)  and most important
membership that care and involve in the “life” of the organization.....

Michael

I read the Bylaws a couple of weeks ago (and I think I'm right on this) and proxy votes are not allowed - only those present and voting are counted, so I think proxies are a moot point.

But a lot of people will have laptops so members can watch and type in "suggestions" and "questions".

And anything said needs to be either a quetion or a "suggestion" not a cirticism - we know OUCH has problems - we don't need to expand on that - we need to figure out what to do to "solve" these problems.

One thing that (with volunteers) that can HELP OUCH is take a volunteer's "expertise" and use it for that PURPOSE. What I'm saying is if we have someone who's a computer whiz (like DJ - sorry Deej - you just came to mind) put that person to improving the website and making it the best it can be. If the person writes grants for a living - give him/her a shot at getting grants for OUCH.  If we've got someone who knows insurance - put them on a committee to research insurance, etc...

Right now we need an "organizer" - someone who's good at organizing - an office manager so to speak. As someone said a while back - we've got a lot of good cooks in the kitchen, but we're not getting a lot of cooking done.

But the membership needs to be informed of what's going on and they need to be involved. I really feel the more the members are informed the more they'll become involved.

Hugs BD

Carolyn, if you're comfortable being somebody else's eyes, ears, and mouth for the run of the convention, then bless your heart. If everyone there did that, however, the meeting would 1) be way out of order, and 2) become one huge clusterf*ck.

The more I think about this, the more I am of the opinion that the BoD and those members present make an honest effort to:

a) either transcribe or webcast what happens at the meeting

b) provide an avenue for remote members to comment or question (i.e., a chat forum), and

c) save any important votes for an online forum, much like has been done in the past for BoD elections.

If anybody wants to buddy up with somebody to provide briefings, there's nothing wrong with that. But that activity should not be allowed from within the meeting room while in session as it would prove to be extremely disruptive.

I always felt that there are so many voices yet it always appears that the majority only come out to protest or bitch when something happens.

I do not know how many are truly supporters other than those who are active in BOD and others with defined postions.

I do know that I have been asked to run or to hold certain positions and I have been unable to do so over the 5 yrs that I am a member. I will not take on anything that I cannot give 110%

That being said, I have always said that dues even if a minute amount are necessary for an organization to run. It also ensures some level of accountability for those who actually want to have input regardless of what it may be. It does make people feel as if they are a part of something.

Dues can be as little as $1.00 and those who do pay have the voice. If dues are not paid, then one cannot voice, vote nor participate in certain events.

There has to be some level of accountability for the members not just the BOD.

Members also have to take into consideration that these are volunteer positions and many may have the heart but (no disrespect) not the skill sets. So appreciation should be given to the individuals and also the situations that they may be involved in.

There's my opinion. I guess I compare it to those who discuss politics yet do not pay taxes nor vote. If you are not accountable or take the opportunity to make change then you really should keep your mouth shut.

This was not directed at anyone. It is directed at the spinning circle that seems still be occurring.

Some great things have happened.
The question is, how can it be brought to the next level and that remains everyone's issue.

Ex2

FramCire wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 10:05am:

Consider it done.

And I would appreciate not being lectured in return. We're all big boys and girls here.

Brew wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 10:25am:



This isnt a lecture, my friend.  It was just a simple request.  There was no intention of lecturing or talking down at you.  I said I was sorry, so I am not sure how you took that as a lecture.

I am sorry, but I still miss “strategic” thinking.....
I miss goals..... technicalities and procedures
are set according to, and upon strategy and goals,

I believe the BoD is ewer of the interest of some, or all to be
able to take "part" (long distence) in the meeting, in what ever constellation......

from my point of view – “see” if technically and procedurally possible
and “listen”.... if technically and procedurally possible.......
And this is for the BoD to decide..... and Ill go with it, if I like it or not
it is the responsibility, burden and right the BoD carry.....

but we need to focus at the moment, not much time left..... to look
what do we as members would like to see in OUCH... what should
OUCH strategically concentrate on..... what roll should it play in the
short and long term.....

once we have formatted some Ideas, we can start and look how we
get to them. and from there the BoD is to take the “Ship” and navigate....
and communicate..... success or failure...... ways... in other words inform
let us members be part of the process.....


I know it is for the BoD to provide the above “strategic” goals..... and for
us members to agree or not.....  but for the moment I just cant see it
happened..... not for lack of knowledge or dedication...... it is just that
the “Ship” is in a drift with out a set curse.....

I also miss some what an more active involvement from the BoD in this discussion, and the
officers..... if not now then when.....  this is not the moment for procedures
and collegiality.... or what ever....

It is about something that, as it seems is important to so many of us.....


Michael

Jimi wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 10:43am:


I love time out.  i got 3 kids and the idea of sitting in a quiet chair is soooooo nice.