I just quit the club I was on the board of.

mikester · 09-09-2011, 08:25 PM

Just sent in my letter of resignation. Board meeting was this week - really messed me up.

I've been betting the leadership to communicate better to the membership - bring it up at every board meeting - ignored every time.

I was at the field one sunday and hanging out with my buddies who are all members and they began asking me questions about the finances, actions, intentions and plans of the club. All of which I have been advocated be better communicated to the membership. So I took their concerns and sent them to the board - I felt it was important for that feedback to get to the board. I wasn't sure I would be able to make it to the next board meeting due to some local travel so I emailed the notes to the board for discussion.

I got a few comments and what not but nothing from the actual leadership.

So, since I got very little response I drove 3 hours to the board meeting this week.

We go around the horse shoe and everyone gets to talk - I was dead last because I was late due to traffic and distance. It's always that way because I live pretty far from the meeting place and traffic in LA is what it is - I can't leave earlier due to work and family so I do my best.

I start talking, I bring up the notes I took and our president starts laying into me about how offended he was personally and felt that I was just stirring things up and that no members come up to him and complain about communication...etc - he lays into me for a good 20 minutes - back and forth we go. I'm purposefully not apologizing because I don't believe I've done anything wrong and he's making accusations about my intentions and conduct. So; I moved onto my next subject and concluded my business.

Tuesday night on the way home I just didn't know what to think - I was in shock as to what had just happened. My term is up soon and I wasn't planning on continuing due to family obligations and needing a break from the traffic. It wasn't worth continuing so I sent my resignation in.

I sent messages to a couple of people who I wanted to communicate with directly and to express my respect and appreciation and then I sent a message to the whole board simply stating that I resign - please remove me from the contacts, listings, etc.

For now; I think I'm just done entirely with the club. If leadership changes (which an election is due in November) I will consider coming back but otherwise - I'm out. There are other clubs - more local to me that I can serve and take part in.

Just venting...

M.D. Holloway · 09-09-2011, 08:29 PM

Good for you! The prez sounds like a fool.

DavidI · 09-09-2011, 09:05 PM

Mike, I believe one should always attempt to end a membership or club on a positive note. That is difficult in many situations, but the membership needs guys like you who will look out for their best interests and transparency.

Some of the leadership in these types of clubs have little or no power in the rest of their lives and exercise extreme methods when given a little power. If I remember correctly, it is an RC club, which is your passion. Leave on good terms at a time of your choice, David

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

Too bad it did not work out in communicating amongst the Board. Its not easy with clubs- it seems like 2-3 out of the 6 or 7 , on the boards do the majority of the work. Then for better or worse they beat down different opinions.
It usually starts out all rosy at the beginning of the term, then degrades with not meeting goals initially set forth. Its understandable, given volunteer status, life's other pressures, but not fulfilling when not all involved are passionate in getting things done.
Yeah, you can detect the sour grapes I've enjoyed from serving on several boards. I found that the most progress was accomplished by working one on one in advance of each meeting. That was the most effective, yet time consuming, way to get things done.
Best of luck on finding a better group to work with
db

HardDrive · 09-09-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidi

mike, i believe one should always attempt to end a membership or club on a positive note. That is difficult in many situations, but the membership needs guys like you who will look out for their best interests and transparency.

Some of the leadership in these types of clubs have little or no power in the rest of their lives and exercise extreme methods when given a little power. If i remember correctly, it is an rc club, which is your passion. Leave on good terms at a time of your choice, david

+1

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

I am sorry to hear your frustration Mike. The invite is still open for you to come to Miramar and fly whenever you find yourself in the San Diego area. I am the field Marshall and sometimes it is frustrating with the ( original / old / opinionated ) club members, I hear ya.

DanielDudley · 09-10-2011, 02:58 AM

Some clubs are very poorly run, but fun to be in. Are they concentrating on clubness at the expense of business, or are they reducing the fun by being overly wrapped up in the leadership ?

This is the big question. In any case being in a club, and serving the club should be fun. You should not have to quit if it is not fun to be on the board. Try to figure out what you enjoyed about the club, and see if there is any of that left in it for you.

tabs · 09-10-2011, 03:55 AM

Sounds like you got bent over..and the President got rid of what he views as being an unruly and obnoxious Board & Club member.

My attitude is you want to fk with me..."You want to fk with me????? Ok I am going to give you WW3, it ain't nothin to me, I am used to it. So lets get started.

M.D. Holloway · 09-10-2011, 04:34 AM

TABS! Yo sucha hardco muddaf***ah! Love that line - I shall steal it and use it at my next HOA meeting!

M.D. Holloway · 09-10-2011, 04:37 AM

Mike, you could always go rogue and start your own club with likeminded members. If this guy pushed you over the edge than he prolly has turned others off as well. Start a Grouppe XRC of your own.

mikester · 09-10-2011, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crustychief

I am sorry to hear your frustration Mike. The invite is still open for you to come to Miramar and fly whenever you find yourself in the San Diego area. I am the field Marshall and sometimes it is frustrating with the ( original / old / opinionated ) club members, I hear ya.

I would love too but it's pretty far away...

I can still use the field as it is public. If I did not have other responsibilities in life I might have considered running for president myself but I can't make that level of commitment.

The president is not a bad guy, I can't explain his reaction, he just isn't a good president. Poor leadership but the club has a hard time finding anyone willing to lead so they get what they get.

Seahawk · 09-10-2011, 07:19 AM

Never underestimate small people, Mike.

Zeke · 09-10-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Never underestimate small people, Mike.

Ain't that the truth.

I doan do clubs anymore. I was part of reconstituting a dead kart racing club as the result of several members of a like club wanting a better club. Kind a mutiny.

I lasted about half a year. Leaders always seem to have an agenda and it's not often just for the club. I never got that.

The best club ethos is the Rotary International Four Way Test:

The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:

Of the things we think, say or do

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

(copied from Rotary.org)

Cloggie · 09-10-2011, 08:05 AM

I just left a board a few months ago, very stressful. They are government funded (it acts in a charitable fashion), but the funding has been cut by 1/3 and government has stated categorically that no more was forthcoming. They have an accumulated cash surplus that will fill the gap for about 18 months, but then they are bankrupt.

After about 12 months of arguing that they needed a plausible plan to deal with lower revenue, either cost reduction or seeking other sources of revenue, I finally voted with my feet. Being a director you are financially accountable to meet payroll if the organization cannot, no way I was going to do that.

Painful....

D.

Seahawk · 09-10-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

I have never seen that. Thanks. Makes complete sense to me.

pwd72s · 09-10-2011, 09:01 AM

Some Gruppes and some people are just a bad fit. Like Milt, I no longer do the car club thing.

vangndy · 09-10-2011, 11:34 AM

I can't believe those members didn't approach the president with their issues, he sounds very approachable.... /sarcasm

lisa_spyder · 09-10-2011, 02:10 PM

Mikester,

I have been through the same this year. Yes we are all volunteers but I'm sure the responsibility of boards the world over is the same. The board is responsible to the membership. It is not a cartel; nor a secret society and must act appropriately. Every association has rules; board members have responsibilities (as do all members).

If the board do not fulfill their responsibilities to the members by reporting the state of affairs of the association to the membership then they are derelict in their duty. If you are the lone voice on the board trying to fufill your collective responsibilities to the membership and are unsuccessful then I see no option but for you to step away. By staying on and trying to fight the good fight you will only end up frustrated and it all becomes NO FUN for you. From what I see here; you have resigned on the platform of morals, ethics and the inability to perform your duties as per your status on the board. IMHO you have done the right thing. Now it is up to the common membership to push for answers from their board. If they don't then there is nothing more you can do. Retire gracefully...and find another club if you feel you cannot stay on in the capacity of normal member.

FWIW I don't buy the "we're all volunteers" BS...if one takes on a position on the board of an association then one must meet the legal, moral, ethical reponsibilities of that position. No matter how small the bank account of the association; the board is still responsible for the funds held and generated by the association. Members have a right to know where their association money is being spent and what plans there are for the future.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

"if one takes on a position on the board of an association then one must meet the legal, moral, ethical responsibilities of that position" AND if there is much money involved, then there can be some serious legal consequences if they do not

you are smart to get out of it - other like-minded folks in your area

and BTW I LOVE quitting things - have twice quit things that others were dying to get into and it was fun both times

Like Johnny Paycheck said "Take this job and shove it!"

lisa_spyder · 09-10-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb

"if one takes on a position on the board of an association then one must meet the legal, moral, ethical responsibilities of that position" AND if there is much money involved, then there can be some serious legal consequences if they do not

True about the legal consequences. In my case, not a lot of money involved but a LOT of questions about conduct of the previous board members and their actions regarding finances etc. The other members of the current executive decided not to try to answer any questions that members had raised about where the funds had gone...ostrich syndrome and they didn't want to put any work into it at all. My position was such that I was answerable to the relevant authorities as Public Officer and Secretary. I wasn't about to lodge fudged figures just to save the work. The others all voted to cop a fine (membership funds to pay said fine) if it came to that. I resigned immediately without any fanfare. Just stated that I could not continue to serve the membership in my elected positions; as I was being compromised legally, morally and ethically. I wished them well...and served out my term as manager (with no committee involvement) for Billy's football team in the club and next season will transfer him out. HE wants out and into another club- can't stand all the disorganisation and lack of commitment from the committee and has hated watching his Mum trying to right things. He's seen a lot of the behind the scenes stuff and has the smarts to work it all out. Tough as it should be all about the kids in this instance...but poor leadership always ends with a poorly run club and I don't do poorly run clubs.