While I'm not a paying member of PSAS, I do have an opinion and since this is in the General Forum, I'm going to express my opinion...lol. Not that I wouldn't anyway! I know an awful lot of you and consider myself friends with a whole lot of you. Even though I've not paid dues, nor ever attended a PSAS meeting, these issues are important to me, as they should be to all PSAS members.
Okay, for at least 3 years, there has been controversy about the meeting locations of the PSAS club. In the past, I've read about possible solutions, including alternating meetings, north one month, south the next. For some reason, even though that was discussed, it never happened.
The club is the "Puget Sound" Aquarium Society. Puget Sound covers a whole lot of area, which all of you are aware of. It does seem, that in the past few years, the majority of the meetings are held in the southern portion of Puget Sound, with a few more centralized. For awhile, your meetings were held at a college campus, in Bellevue, I believe, which was a bit more centralized. I don't know if you had higher or lower attendance, at that time.
I don't know about the procedures that would need to be put into place, to add a "North Chapter." I don't know how that would effect finances, club officers, etc. Would you have separate officers for the "North Chapter?" Would you stick with your existing officers and add a "North" liason member to the BOD?
If done right, with a lot of thought and communication, I can see a North Chapter being successful. It would open up the opportunity for more people to have meeting options. Having more meeting options would encourage more people to join, in order to attend meetings. Having more members join, does a few things.
Brings more money into the club coffers
Enlarges the membership base
Encourages more socialization, communication, cooperation and hopefully compromise
etc.
In the past few days, since this thread was started, I've actually been giving it a lot of thought.
So far, I can't see any negatives, unless this is done, without a lot of thought and communication.
Some possible negatives, if this isn't done properly.
PSAS has, in the past few years, already had issues with little cliques here and little cliques there, that don't seem to want to compromise.
I can see the possibility of this "addition," turning into a fiasco, with a North Clique and a South Clique, not being willing to communicate or compromise with one another. If that happens, it'll end in disaster, hurting the club, overall.
So, that's the only negative I see, however, it's a potential big one.
So far, with the votes and comments I'm seeing, members who are "FOR" this addition, are giving their reasoning. I'm not seeing any members who are "AGAINST" this addition, giving any reasons. Let's hear the potential Pros and Cons. Why are those that are against it, against it? Heck, there may very well be very valid reasons against this proposal. We'll not know, unless those members are willing to speak their minds.
I'm sure we, as adults, can all speak our minds and give our opinions, while still keeping the conversation peaceful and respectful.
As an addition, since this is a general poll, that may effect me in the future (I do plan on eventually joining PSAS lol) I will also vote. However, I'm going to wait a lil' to hear more feedback, before making my final decision.
