There was a thread on this forum for almost a year a while ago, begging members to help run the club. There were no responses, so your statement holds no water.

I thought when you all stood for election to office, you were doing so to represent us, the membership.[/quote]

and who exactly do you think the board is doing all this work for? It was my idea to copyright the logo, so if you have a problem with that, Peter, you may direct your comments to me via PM.
The issue with PaPal was that they were making it impossible to get access to OUR account without jumping though myriad hoops. For the last 6 months, Stacey has unstintingly given of her time and effort to resolving this problem, but until then we couldn't use them because it meant putting members' money in an account we had no control over. The issue was finally resolved only 3 days ago. So that's why you got that notice. All you had to do was ask, instead of being a ................. Sheesh, you make it sound like we're making it impossible to join or renew. We're not. period.

To reiterate:The minutes of every board meeting are in the newsletters and have been from the get-go. Everything that is discussed during meetings is in these minutes. Current members can ask any board member at any time about anything contained in these minutes, so don't make it sound like we're being secretive.

The administrative issues facing the club are numerous and more than one board can handle in a 2 year period. Some of these issues, like getting a mailing address that isn't someone's personal address, take months to do. Or dealing with those..those...people at PayPal. That took 6 months of unending phone calls. Tax status? That took a year.

One of my goals was to make the club secure as far as our logo (which was already used without permission once, and that person tried to profit from it) and our domain names. So, if you or any current member has a problem with this, I repeat...all communication, via PM, are to be directed to me and me alone.

I have poured 6 years of my time into this club. I have served this club more than any other member to date. So when you make comments like the ones above, Peter, how do you think that makes me and the rest of the board feel?

 

I think my perspective is very different than yours on some of these issues you cite as examples.

1. Your first item refers to the plea for help. I seem to remember that Laura stepped up for the newsletter and there were more people interested in volunteering for the board than there were vacated seats.
   My actual reference when I was replying to Jay's post was more pointed to logoware and events being put on in the name of the club.
2. You keep saying that all discussion of these and other potentially controversial items should be done by PM. To quote you:
   Quote:

   Originally Posted by kgdblu

   So, if you or any current member has a problem with this, I repeat...all communication, via PM, are to be directed to me and me alone.
   Why can't they be discussed in these forums, with all the associated information, perspectives and potential actions shared among the members? What is the advantage of keeping it hush hush by PM? Does the rest of the Board need all communication with members, about Board business, filtered through a single point of view?
3. Quote:

   Originally Posted by kgdblu

   The issue was finally resolved only 3 days ago. So that's why you got that notice. All you had to do was ask, instead of being a .................
   I did not get a "notice", it was the fact that the only info about it was the grayed out line," Please note - We regret that we are no longer able to accept payments via Paypal".
   
   A simple blog entry on the Club Site or an announcement here in the forums would have been more informative.
   and.... I did send an email on the morning of 10th asking how to renew. No one has responded yet.
4. Quote:

   Originally Posted by kgdblu

   To reiterate:The minutes of every board meeting are on the website and have been from the get-go. Everything that is discussed during meetings is in these minutes. Current members can ask any board member at any time about anything contained in these minutes, so don't make it sound like we're being secretive.
   Besides what I said in point #2, what I'm requesting is that in addition to minutes posted after the meetings, would the board consider posting agendas before the meetings. There may be issues that some members would like to address the board on either before or at the meeting.
5. Quote:

   Originally Posted by kgdblu

   So when you make comments like the ones above, Peter, how do you think that makes me and the rest of the board feel?
   I'm challenging DCMM Board of Directors Policies and decisions, not attacking any individuals. The Board has vehicles, the websites and newsletter, to use as it chooses where this forum is the only place I have to address the board in a public manner. I am only responding using the same vehicle the board uses to tells us about these actions.
   
   So when you make comments like the ones above, Katie, how do you think that makes me and the rest of the membership feel?

Thank you for considering these points. Thats all I can ask.

 

Let's please take this offline. Use the PM's for debates about policy We might want to consider using the polling feature a little more to get input from members.

 

I asked to communicate via PM, but apparently that's too "hush hush".

 

I am getting a sense of deja vu. The Matrix has changed somehow

 

Katie:

I bought the .com and .net names for the club and donated them. If there is any problem with the URLs from my side let me know. I believe I still have the master login and password that Jenn wanted for securing the account. If you need them I might be able to find them.

.net and .com both point to .org

Oh and Peter - All board meetings are open to the membership - nothing is kept secret. All the board members have busy lives yet volunteer their time - and besides the minutes are always available. Just ask or contact a board member and they will give you a synopsis. Or you could attend one of the meetings by conference call.

Peter I would caution you on extreme criticism of the board as it is strictly a volunteer position and the board members have a tipping point. Any of the board members can quickly tire of the criticism and simply walk away from the club. I believe that the board is altruistic and I know that decisions are made from a consensus.

I am not a board member

 

so, will board members be able to alter the logo at their whim for official merch? (careful - trick question)

 

This is one of the main reasons why we decided to TM the logos. When you order a grille badge, you know what it will look like. When you order something embroidered, you know what it will look like, ect.... I don't want another "hat situation".

 

no, why do you ask?

 

don't patronize me. you know exactly why I asked.

 

Since you're not a club member, I was simply curious as to why you asked that question. I wasn't patronizing you. That's your misconception...sheesh..... snappy.

 

apparently it was more than 'my misconception' eh? \/

Snappy? No....as for 'not a club member' - you're wonderful handling of the club and allowing the backbiting to continue says more about you than me. Neither you nor any other board member besides Haemish had the ***** to talk to me. Congrats....you alienated two members...both my wife and I joined way back in 2004. We were both at the annual meeting this year hoping things had changed.

 

Dan,

Don't single out Katie. She is by no means the sole source of your feeling of alienation, and you know it! There were many people involved in some of our clubs uglier social interactions, I'd really like to put it all behind us.

Please don't open old wounds.

 

WAA WOH WOH WOH. Over and over and over and over. (Insert small fiddle between fingers) Getting tired of the same story.

You know what's funny, it is ALWAYS the same 2 people on here causing ****. If I didn't know that Feedback was really in Hawai'i, I would swear that they lived near each other and have "Stir the pot" luck parties or something.......

 

Ahh Jayson, you've used your superior intellect and uncovered our master plan! Oh noes1!!

 

never singled out Katie but her reply to my question was unbecoming the Pres. of a club. What she really meant to say was ''you're no longer a member...why do you care?" Instead, she decides to be coy and dodge teh question I asked which from Jay's comments was apparently right on target.

It's not about ''old wounds'' - it's about the continuing lack of professionalism shown by some on the board. This is the same reason I decided to no longer be a member....nothing to do with ancient history, but the way Katie and Marina went at each other in a previous thread (that was a recent wound....you know this....we discussed it in person).

 

I knew that somehow I was involved in this again...

I am not longer a member of DCMM because the club was NOT FUN anymore and this thread proves my point ..
Leave the politics (and ego) out and keep the MINIs

get out, get in your MINI and go motoring .. it's such a beautiful day !!!

 

no, don't give yourself that much credit. it could have been anybody.

 

Marina and Dan have both focused on the exact problem, under the reign of this board, DCMM is no longer a fun place. A drop in membership from well over 300 to around 250 in just over a year is an good indicator that there is a problem. Three years ago, the club was thriving! It was an active body with lots of massive cruises, new activities every month and everybody was having LOTS OF FUN. Now, its bleeding members.

But, hey! The logo is safe from piracy and no member will ever organize an unauthorized cruise!

Since then, look at the changes in the board; the criticisms of members efforts by board members; the lack of board member participation online and at activities; the laying of blame on previous board members; the driving out of officers and volunteers, etc....

This will probably be my last post on this topic as I, like others once excited by and active in this club, am not going to renew my membership. I have made many good friends here and look forward to seeing any and all of you either here in Hawaii or on my visits back to the DC area.

While those of you who view me as an antagonist will probably see this as a victory, getting FeedBack to shut up and go away, I'd only suggest that you look inward and convert your vitriol towards me into fuel to energize your efforts to make DCMM the fun auto club it once was.



Ohhh, I'd better protect this post from potential improper use!
© 2008 by FeedBack

 

at that last bit Peter

I do find irony in the fact that DCMM felt the need to trademark the design to protect against future 'hat incidents' when it was a board member (or two) who created the 'hat incident'. You just can't make this stuff up.

A trademark is only good if it's 'vigorously enforced' and the since chances of others attempting to earn profit from the logo is nil - therefore, in a sense, you've spent money to protect the board from, well, the board. Bravo!!

 

This whole thing makes me very sad.... PLEASE let's get this club back on track - quit the snippy stuff - attend the meetings to give input - I know we don't live back there any more - but we DO keep up with what's going on - and when we are back there from time to time, would still LOVE to get together.

Remember the fun times in the past - maybe that will help going forward...

Donna

 

+1 ....


The next board meeting will be on Sunday, January 18th, 2009. I'd like to encourage everyone to join the meeting.

 

PGT - "old wounds" in this case meant wounds that are no longer in the public air, and your veiled attempt to reopen them was not helping, and still isn't.

Peter - you have never served on the board, you have no idea how much organizational "business" there is to take care of... and somehow people still get the wrong idea that it's the board's job to create fun events. That's crap.

The organizational details of the club have been in various states of disarray for some time, and this board has been working very hard to try to get them sorted out and "cleaned up" precisely so that we can focus on "having fun" again without worrying about things falling through cracks.

Ask Jen, our esteemed former president, just how much hell she has been through, several years after she left the board... and there were still bank accounts, domain names, and other items attached to her name, because some of those organizations don't make it easy to update, particularly for a club whose board members change every year, and who doesn't have a fixed address. That's just a smidgen of the issues we've had to face, and we've been trying to work hard to make it better.

Katie stepped in to the thankless task of joining the board again, and agreeing to be president, precisely because she knew we needed someone who was willing to get tough and get matters like this sorted out.

It's very easy to be an armchair critic, ripping the board members to shreds. It's a totally different story when your own butt (and your own time) is in the hotseat. You want to blame the board for the state of the club? Heck no, this is a volunteer club, and that means all members, not just those of us who chose to step up and take on the extra responsibilities. There is no glory, no power and very little thanks for being on the board.

I challenge each and every one of you who insists on blasting the board, to put up or shut up. Most of us on the board do attend every event we can, and even organize events of our own from time to time. At the rate we are going, with negativity like this, this club will cease to exist, and there's no way in hell I'll accept anyone claiming it's the "board's fault". If you didn't lift a finger to help out (which does not require being on the board), then it's your fault as much as anyone else's.

Do I miss the "fun days"? Of course I do. And I have (or had) hope that the board itself would put more direct focus on getting there again... just as soon as the "business side" of crap was taken care of. But I will not stand idly by and listen to you hopelessly negative critics whine and moan without stepping up to the plate.

The only people who recently posted that have any idea about the headaches of board matters are Marina and Sam, and they left the board at different times for their own reasons. Go back and read Sam's post, dammit.

This is (or was) your club. If you want to make it better, YOU have to help make that happen.

To paraphrase JFK: "Ask not what your club can do for you..."

 

You know, it is very interesting that it is NON-MEMBERS that have the issues with DCMM.

On that note, I am tired of reading this, so this thread is DONE!