bradreef
always kidding
I am always willing to give some of my limited free time. If they can find use for my minimal talent.
PSAS Election Results
- Thread starter mattseattle
- Start date
Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:
DonW
R.I.P.
I think people are reluctant to commit 12 months. Honestly 12 events a year would be tough for most of us. I think there should be a commitee for just events. This way the work is split a number of ways. Possibly a commitee shake up every six months. We all know 5 heads are better than one.
Probably out of line since I've not had the time for a single meeting but hopefully that will change soon.
Don
Probably out of line since I've not had the time for a single meeting but hopefully that will change soon.
Don
No ill will was meant Reed just pointing out that it wasnt that hard to do. We have been doing it for years. As was mentioned above if you get a bunch of folks to take little bits, it makes it so that no one or two folks get burdened with doing it all, all the time.
The more folks involved the better and easier they are to pull off. Leaving things to the last minute and canceling meetings is just a sign of something pon the way out.
just my two cents
Mike
The more folks involved the better and easier they are to pull off. Leaving things to the last minute and canceling meetings is just a sign of something pon the way out.
just my two cents
Mike
My father would be interested in giving a talk to the club about the hobby, collection, etc. My father is American, but the rest of my family are native of Indonesia. We used to live in Bali and worked for collecting stations there, including plumbing, maintenance, packing, etc.
I was still very small then, but I think this was what made me interested in keeping reef tanks.
If the officers think this would be a good idea, I will let him know. He has worked with steve robinson in bali and also in California.
Thanks again,
Elmo
I was still very small then, but I think this was what made me interested in keeping reef tanks.
If the officers think this would be a good idea, I will let him know. He has worked with steve robinson in bali and also in California.
Thanks again,
Elmo
reedman
Well-known member
Elmo,
I'm not a board member, but I feel like you deserve some sort of response. I for one appreciate the offer to have your father speak at a meeting. I think it would be a very interesting talk and I think many people would like to hear it. I hope that one of the officers is able to talk to you about this.
-Reed
I'm not a board member, but I feel like you deserve some sort of response. I for one appreciate the offer to have your father speak at a meeting. I think it would be a very interesting talk and I think many people would like to hear it. I hope that one of the officers is able to talk to you about this.
-Reed
Gordo
Well-known member
Elmo,
I sent you a PM. The board will be meeting in the next week or so to finalize next years schedule and I want to talk to you.
Gordon
I sent you a PM. The board will be meeting in the next week or so to finalize next years schedule and I want to talk to you.
Gordon
Gordon, thanks for replying to this thread. You seem to be the only one on the board who will even answer a post.
I think there are other questions which deserve answers also, many of which I asked, repeatedly, and to which I never received an answer before I resigned my position. I think the members have a right to know what is going on in their club, but how are they supposed to get any answers when I never could as a club officer?
Just exactly who IS on the board now? My latest tally shows Paul Hamby, Gordon and Jeremy (sorry Jeremy; I asked your last name but that was one of my unanswered questions.) All other positions are open. How are the open positions to be filled?
What do the board positions entail and how much time should people expect to donate to their positions? Chuck, Mike and Paul Merkling worked tirelessly for the club the last couple of years and their proposal at our last board meeting to outline club officer duties before the scheduled elections went unheeded, in part because the elections were held off-the-cuff. The idea was to spread the work of scheduling, meetings, procuring speakers, sponsors, etc. evenly between all the board members. That was not done, and they threw up their hands when faced with another year of uncertainty and board-member burnout.
There are over $4000 in club funds, still being held by the former treasurer, Scott. I have complete trust in Scott but when he resigned his position, he repeatedly asked for someone to take over the accounts from him and unless that has happened in the last couple of weeks, he is still managing them.
Paul H; was Scott Michael’s speaking engagement in September cancelled or not pursued in favor of the Frag Swap, which is traditionally held as the first event? Scott would have been a huge success for the club, especially since his latest book is (supposedly) due out in August.
I think everyone is wondering what is going on with the club and wants to see it continue to be a success as it has been in the last couple of years.
Thanks in advance for your replies,
Alice
I think there are other questions which deserve answers also, many of which I asked, repeatedly, and to which I never received an answer before I resigned my position. I think the members have a right to know what is going on in their club, but how are they supposed to get any answers when I never could as a club officer?
Just exactly who IS on the board now? My latest tally shows Paul Hamby, Gordon and Jeremy (sorry Jeremy; I asked your last name but that was one of my unanswered questions.) All other positions are open. How are the open positions to be filled?
What do the board positions entail and how much time should people expect to donate to their positions? Chuck, Mike and Paul Merkling worked tirelessly for the club the last couple of years and their proposal at our last board meeting to outline club officer duties before the scheduled elections went unheeded, in part because the elections were held off-the-cuff. The idea was to spread the work of scheduling, meetings, procuring speakers, sponsors, etc. evenly between all the board members. That was not done, and they threw up their hands when faced with another year of uncertainty and board-member burnout.
There are over $4000 in club funds, still being held by the former treasurer, Scott. I have complete trust in Scott but when he resigned his position, he repeatedly asked for someone to take over the accounts from him and unless that has happened in the last couple of weeks, he is still managing them.
Paul H; was Scott Michael’s speaking engagement in September cancelled or not pursued in favor of the Frag Swap, which is traditionally held as the first event? Scott would have been a huge success for the club, especially since his latest book is (supposedly) due out in August.
I think everyone is wondering what is going on with the club and wants to see it continue to be a success as it has been in the last couple of years.
Thanks in advance for your replies,
Alice
Gordo
Well-known member
I'll try to answer your questions.
As I posted in another thread, Paul Hamby is President, Jeremy Palenchar is Secretary, and Gordon Carlisle (me) is Membership Chairperson. All other positions are open. Since the elections have already been held, these positions will be appointed by the board for the remainder of the term. This will happen in the next two weeks.
Please see my post about “Officers needed†to field most of your questions. As for the elections, the speaker was running late and I thought it would be a good time to have the elections. I asked the other board members that were present and they all agreed.
Scott and I have spoken and he has no problem acting as Treasurer until the end of the summer. We will be appointing positions in the next two weeks and the new treasurer will take over duties then.
We are going to pursue Scott Michael for either Sept or Oct. The Frag Swap will also be included in next years meeting. It's not one or the other. We will be having both.
Gordo
As I posted in another thread, Paul Hamby is President, Jeremy Palenchar is Secretary, and Gordon Carlisle (me) is Membership Chairperson. All other positions are open. Since the elections have already been held, these positions will be appointed by the board for the remainder of the term. This will happen in the next two weeks.
Please see my post about “Officers needed†to field most of your questions. As for the elections, the speaker was running late and I thought it would be a good time to have the elections. I asked the other board members that were present and they all agreed.
Scott and I have spoken and he has no problem acting as Treasurer until the end of the summer. We will be appointing positions in the next two weeks and the new treasurer will take over duties then.
We are going to pursue Scott Michael for either Sept or Oct. The Frag Swap will also be included in next years meeting. It's not one or the other. We will be having both.
Gordo
I know that me, Chuck, Paul M werent thier Gordon and had no idea the elections were going to be held. So who exactly agreed. I think the only board members thier were you and Paul H ...oh and Alice. ALice did you want the elections held then???
I know I was 15 minutes late and I am sorry about that, an octopus kind of held us up for a bit at the aquarium. I have to say that I was pretty dissapointed about the elections being held then. I kind of threw everything out the window that we (all the board members) discussed and planned for the clubs future based on the survey we put out. Also I have recieved quite a few emails and pm's from club members that wanted to be a part of the clubs board and would have came if they knew the elections were going to take place.
I have to also admit I find it a bit odd with this whole board member thing. elections are held at the spur of the moment going against the posted schedule and against all previous meetings and plans, also with out the folks that may have been interested in being apart of it present and now just the two of you are going to appoint folks with out vote ?? Maybe its just me sorry.
Well this is another strange one. I spent almost a year bugging and begging Scott Michael to come out to the club to speak (he doesnt do local club) after selling my first born at macna last year he agreed to come out and speak in september to kick the year off with a bang. This was also approved by all Board members. When talked about it with you and Paul H at our lunch in Kent you and paul H said no and that was going to be the frag swap at Pauls??? I relayed that to Scott M, along with my apologies for screwing him around on his speaking schedule.
Mike
aquariumdebacle
electrolyte addict
In light of the information being presented and the lack of information pryor to the elections, I am going to ask that ALL elected positions be put up for a vote. Let's start over make it fair, and have all potential canidates post their stated platforms and give enough time for them to be reviewed. Anyone not responding in a timely manner to this should be immediately disqualified and removed from the club's board! This is the only forum we have for information to be diseminated. If only one board member is taking the time to respond to our justified requests, then only one board member should be qualified to hold the annoited position.
reedman
Well-known member
It sounds to me like we need to have a new election. I am hearing that we have enough interested parties to fill several of the elected positions and that is contrary to what was presented at the meeting. This indicates to me that there was gross miscommunication at the meeting where i was led to believe that there was a general lack of interest and the existing officers would just continue to do what they are doing.
With the information coming out now, I wouls have to agree with Dan and suggest we put together a description of what the position entails, allow a period of time for people to determine if they are interested in the position, call for nominations, and hold a new election. This could be an electronic election here on the board or we could have a meeting for those interested in guiding the future of the club. I think either way is fair. I just want people on the board who are intested in making the club great and have the time and inclination to do so.
My 2 cents. I hope I'm not squashing too many toes here, but something just doesn't seem right.
-Reed
With the information coming out now, I wouls have to agree with Dan and suggest we put together a description of what the position entails, allow a period of time for people to determine if they are interested in the position, call for nominations, and hold a new election. This could be an electronic election here on the board or we could have a meeting for those interested in guiding the future of the club. I think either way is fair. I just want people on the board who are intested in making the club great and have the time and inclination to do so.
My 2 cents. I hope I'm not squashing too many toes here, but something just doesn't seem right.
-Reed
jesshimom
I have no fish.
Ok, everyone has finally had their say, put everything out on the table. Gordon put forth information as to what was going to be done, so why not everyone that is so interested, come forward and get involved. That's what is needed is those who are interested to put their words to action. Things are obviously trying to be made right, so get involved if that is what you want to do. THey said there is a meeting THursday, and if you are interested, there is the format to go and make your feelings known to those currently in charge.
I know everyone's goal is to make PSAS a better place and as with everything you will have rocky times but if everyone puts their heads together I'm sure PSAS will weather this storm.
Just my two cents.
Colleen
I know everyone's goal is to make PSAS a better place and as with everything you will have rocky times but if everyone puts their heads together I'm sure PSAS will weather this storm.
Just my two cents.
Colleen
Fragman
Well-known member
I have only heard/seen two voices Reed and Dan McGuire who seem to be interested in new elections. Quite Frankly if they had been present at the Delbeck meeting to see the general Apathy regarding participation through involvement as a PSAS officer then maybe there wouldn't be all of this negative rhetoric. Colleen hit the nail on the head! I would like EVERYONE who is interested in having a say in club activities planning and/or new elections to show up or send Gordon and I an email expressing your interests if you can't make it. Some of Reed's ideas regarding future PSAS meetings are great and should be discussed. I hope he is there Thursday. If it is left to Jeramy, Gordon and I to come up with all of the ideas for the events for the year, You'll get only a limited viewpoint. I would really welcome some fresh imput!
Regading the Scott Michael vs the Frag Swapmeet deal in September. Mike must have taken some "off of the wall comment" made by me, (also refered to as a joke) made in the aftermath of his sudden resignation from the PSAS BOD, seriously and started a subsequent rummer that the decission had been made to change the September meeting to a Frag Swap at my house. No such decission has been made! Gordon stated it accurately that those events were still to be worked out. That is one of the purposes of the organizational meeting this coming week. So to summarize:
We the remaining PSAS Board are seeking help through involvement/Participation!
Issues left to decide by the board with input from all interested parties include:
1. The club's event schedule for both this summer and next year.
2. Who is going to do the planning and Work for the normal monthly management of the Club and the PSAS Events?
3. Do we need to hold formal elections again? If so under what format? In person at a meeting or over the PSAS Forum Site. (which some people don't check regularly!)
I hope the any and all parties interested enough to post here are also interested enough to participate in Thursday's planning meeting!
Paul H.
Regading the Scott Michael vs the Frag Swapmeet deal in September. Mike must have taken some "off of the wall comment" made by me, (also refered to as a joke) made in the aftermath of his sudden resignation from the PSAS BOD, seriously and started a subsequent rummer that the decission had been made to change the September meeting to a Frag Swap at my house. No such decission has been made! Gordon stated it accurately that those events were still to be worked out. That is one of the purposes of the organizational meeting this coming week. So to summarize:
We the remaining PSAS Board are seeking help through involvement/Participation!
Issues left to decide by the board with input from all interested parties include:
1. The club's event schedule for both this summer and next year.
2. Who is going to do the planning and Work for the normal monthly management of the Club and the PSAS Events?
3. Do we need to hold formal elections again? If so under what format? In person at a meeting or over the PSAS Forum Site. (which some people don't check regularly!)
I hope the any and all parties interested enough to post here are also interested enough to participate in Thursday's planning meeting!
Paul H.
bradreef
always kidding
jessi has the right attitude. Involvment is key. Show up on thursday or email fragman or Gordo If you can't. Remember This is supposed to be a fun hobby. This is what most of us do to relax or get away. There is more controversy here than a presidential election. I think if people are going to call others out in a bad way then they should email them and keep it off the forum. I was at the meeting during the election and I wasn't led to believe that there was any bad intent.
bradreef
always kidding
sorry colleen has the right attitude. DUH.
Paul you said to me at lunch that the September meeting was a fragswap and that I should try to reschedule him for sometime later in the year. If that was a Joke you sure had me.
. Regardless. I think this thread shows that a few folks are interested in being a part of the BOD. Thier are a few others who have apperently being emalling you Paul about the same subject with out much success. Check the email address you have here to make sure it is still active.
Brad thiers no controversy. Thier are over 300 members of the PSAS club and alot of them care about it. With the last second tank tour, the cancelling of the June meeting and the resigning of most of the BOD some folks are concerned about its direction. I Have been asked many questions in regards to this and have told folks to post thier questions and concerns. Best way to figure things out is to openly discuss them. I dont see that as a bad thing, the club is open to all so should be the discussions. But that is just my thinking.
Mike
Lots of good discussion here for sure. In my opinion, instead of a Thursday meeting where people need to email to find out when and where, a meeting open to all members of the club is in order, a scheduled meeting, one that has an Evite and the whole works. Open communication regarding the positions that are open, as well as committees that would be helpful, the upcoming schedule and the things needed to get the schedule nailed down can be discussed. There you can get the help that is needed.
I agree that this takes more than a few people to make it a full success, believe me I know. And I agree that it sounds like there are some very willing people that have seen this thread and have responded. But like someone said earlier, not all of those 300 people will read this thread, so if an Evite about a club organization meeting is sent out, it will go to all.
On a side note, I concur with others that said that the elections were premature. The schedule which can be found on the PSAS information page clearly shows the elections to be held in May, not April and the schedule in that area was firm from the beginning of the season. I for one was frustrated to hear about those elections that took place in April.
I know that a few of us got overloaded with club activities even after meetings were held to help even out the load but not carried out in full. This thread certainly shows that a team effort is needed and can be accomplished given an adequate opportunity.
I started in this club when my first meeting (in 2001 I believe) consisted of 6 people sitting around a 55 gallon fish tank, BSing and having a few beers and going home with no structure. With the right thrusts and initiative of a few at that time, the distribution list now hovers to around 300, the paid membership is somewhere near 100, and we had some of the more renowned speakers in the industry come and talk to us here in the Seattle area.
I say let's keep that initiative, that enthusiasm, that energy to contine growing this club to the potential that it has. If someone has a position on the board, that person needs to take the bull by the horns, step up to the responsibilities of the club and make things happen. If it means soliciting help to get things done, that is what it means, but it can't mean sitting back and watching others do it all. I think the club members have what it takes to step up and take on the challenge of making this the best club in the country.
We certainly have the potential.
(P.S. If we don't have Scott Michael booked by now, it is likely we won't get Scott Michael for a while. My understanding is that he has a full plate and if we told him that the club is unsure of his speaking date, I am sure he has not kept it saved for us )
I agree that this takes more than a few people to make it a full success, believe me I know. And I agree that it sounds like there are some very willing people that have seen this thread and have responded. But like someone said earlier, not all of those 300 people will read this thread, so if an Evite about a club organization meeting is sent out, it will go to all.
On a side note, I concur with others that said that the elections were premature. The schedule which can be found on the PSAS information page clearly shows the elections to be held in May, not April and the schedule in that area was firm from the beginning of the season. I for one was frustrated to hear about those elections that took place in April.
I know that a few of us got overloaded with club activities even after meetings were held to help even out the load but not carried out in full. This thread certainly shows that a team effort is needed and can be accomplished given an adequate opportunity.
I started in this club when my first meeting (in 2001 I believe) consisted of 6 people sitting around a 55 gallon fish tank, BSing and having a few beers and going home with no structure. With the right thrusts and initiative of a few at that time, the distribution list now hovers to around 300, the paid membership is somewhere near 100, and we had some of the more renowned speakers in the industry come and talk to us here in the Seattle area.
I say let's keep that initiative, that enthusiasm, that energy to contine growing this club to the potential that it has. If someone has a position on the board, that person needs to take the bull by the horns, step up to the responsibilities of the club and make things happen. If it means soliciting help to get things done, that is what it means, but it can't mean sitting back and watching others do it all. I think the club members have what it takes to step up and take on the challenge of making this the best club in the country.
We certainly have the potential.
(P.S. If we don't have Scott Michael booked by now, it is likely we won't get Scott Michael for a while. My understanding is that he has a full plate and if we told him that the club is unsure of his speaking date, I am sure he has not kept it saved for us
)
bradreef
always kidding
Chuck, that is what we need to hear. Send the evite and we will be there.
Mike I have to apologize, It seemed to me from a readers point of view that there was a lot of tension. I for one want to thank you and Chuck and the rest of the former board members for the effort that you put forth and still do. Mike you seem to be one of the most informative people in the hobby and we all gain knowledge when you post.
Mike I have to apologize, It seemed to me from a readers point of view that there was a lot of tension. I for one want to thank you and Chuck and the rest of the former board members for the effort that you put forth and still do. Mike you seem to be one of the most informative people in the hobby and we all gain knowledge when you post.
