On 2/17/2023 11:32 PM, Mike via pbs wrote: > Bob, > > You are 100 percent correct what a sad distraction this sideshow has been. > > I’m also happy to see what a class act Vlad is. Even in his acceptance of > the apology offered by Robin. I agree with him, where is her real sense of > remorse? I will go further why have neither she or the person she was > emailing sent him personal apologies? Are we ok with that? I’m personally > struck by the insensitive nature. I spent the week reviewing documents on > “best practices board members for small non profits” I suggest any with an > interest google this or “governance for small non profits. “ > > Vlad this week has shown immense restraint and bravery through his > thoughtful comments. A capacity to not only forgive but find value. Tells > me more about his qualifications to be VP than a resume. > > I know we seem to have a crisis called lack of volunteerism. Intimating > that the membership is disinterested in volunteering. > > I learned this week that the amount of volunteerism is seen as the canary > in the coal mine of good governance. If members trust and are generally > satisfied they volunteer. So the lack of volunteerism should be an > opportunity for the board to reflect on its activities and policies. It > seems to me that the level of volunteerism was dealt a mortal blow not so > much by the painfully inappropriate email, but what happened after. Robin > does not apologize at all until prompted by Arnold. Then she asks for our > foregiveness and understanding, a teaching moment if you will. I step > back further. Vlad who just months ago wrote a great article for her on > Hipps to fill the bulb garden, now answers another call of hers for a VP. I > see a dedicated volunteer who wants to further serve the group? Instead he > is tripped up in private never to be given the chance to learn, grow and > change? > I find that ironic at best. > > One of the most important characteristic valued in a chair or president is > empathy, that ability to understand. Also a nurturing welcoming demeanor. > Who creates an environment where fair play and equality are important. > > What is the common thread ? it’s called a closed board of directors. It’s > typically initiated by young organizations who need to establish best > practices and gives them protection. A safe haven to govern. Many times > its just left in place because., > > What are examples we could develop in our board? > > A board that serves at the pleasure of the membership. Who understands > implicitly it’s a privilege to serve on the board. It’s not a right. > > A board that values diversity of thought and idea. Achieved with diverse > representation. > > A well established succession plan where several younger members of the > group are groomed over time to participate in governance. > > A nominating committee who takes direction from the membership not the > board., > > Term limits spelled out in advance. > > Roles of all board members in writing. > > A process to remove poorly performing board members. > > A code of conduct signed by all board members > > There are many more.. > > > I apologize if some find my tone not to their liking. I do not mean to > offend anyone. Our group will never be perfect and people make mistakes > all the time I’m guilty of all the above. > > However being on a board wether elected or appointed you work for the > membership what we witnessed last week was a board member who laid low, > offered half an apology. Still has not apologized to the one she spoke > poorly too. I have personally been accused of taking an extreme stance? > My responce what if you were on the receiving end of that conversation. > In my research on closed boards and the fallout.., other board members > fearing reprisals, don’t act. these are the product of the closed board > system. > > I’m reminded of the saying by Lord Acton: > > Nothing corrupts absolutely like absolute power > > The current board is aware of the shortcomings of the current system but > typically quips it protects the board from a take over by forces > unfriendly? > Folks we can offer that protection so many other safer ways., > > Will this be the board to do the right thing and create the opportunity to > build the system of checks and balances we don’t have ? > > It’s scary to look inward and admit there is a better way. I know each > member has that capacity. > > I don’t blame anyone for calling me out or saying I’m stirring the pot. I > only ask you to go down the governance rabbit hole for small non profits to > realize it’s time for fairness acccountability and checks and balances. We > can be that group., > > I feel the current board every member is capable of change. They are the > group that can make the difference. I hope they accept the opportunity. > > The first step is just knowing we all can do better. > > Respectfully > > Mike Lowitz > San Diego > > On Wed, Feb 15, 2023 at 9:50 PM Robert Lauf via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > >> All, >> We seem to have fallen down a rabbit hole with all this back and forth on >> list vs forum, and perhaps the Mother Ship prefers this sideshow to >> distract everyone from the original discussion triggered by the outrageous >> email snafu and the underlying attitudes that it exposed. But to get back >> a bit to the general topic of whether PBS has some strategy and what it >> might be, has the organization really thought about the big picture: why >> are we gathered here in the first place, and what are we doing (or what >> should we be doing) to further that mission? >> Facebook and Instagram are great tools for 14-year-olds to tell one >> another what they had for lunch today; they are inherently ephemeral and >> very content-light. The real value of the PBS community, in my view, is >> the sheer weight of expertise that many of our members have to offer to >> relative rookies like me. Maybe we should be thinking of how best to >> harness that expertise to help interested members, rather than trying to >> appeal to 14-year-old nonmembers and their phones. >> Not too long ago, one member offered to take others on a wildflower >> expedition in CA. To me, this represents the absolute best of what PBS can >> and should be about. So is there a way for us to harness technology to >> make more things like this available to our members? A fellow >> member/enthusiast suggested that PBS could host Zoom meetings, which might >> be informal lectures, tours of member gardens or greenhouses, or wildflower >> walks. (Wouldn't it be great to have Uli walk us through his gardens and >> the surrounding countryside, for all who cannot practically biff off to >> Portugal for the weekend!) This proposal struck me as a wonderful idea, >> which PBS could implement and moderate at practically no cost in money or >> manpower. But, alas, it was given the brush-off for reasons known only to >> our totally unaccountable "leadership" team. Perhaps they can explain to us >> why they blew off that brilliant suggestion? >> What is our tagline? "PBS - where good ideas go to die"? >> Bob Zone 7 >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> >> PBS Forum latest: >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… >> > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum https://… Mike, Well said, indeed! _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…