Any member could have stepped forward with alternative solutions, there was no restriction or disinterest on the Board's part. No one did that. I am still wide open to alternatives if they exist, any member that has been sitting on a proposal for an alternative structure should bring it forward. I am serious, if you have a better way, make it known.
I have offered my assistance to anyone that needed it, only one asked for it and they got it. I have had suggestions that we should have taken one chapter through the process so the others could see that it was possible, yet no one offered to be that chapter to go first, I would have gladly assisted as I have stated from the beginning.
As far as timeline goes, there was ample time allowed, many did not talk with their members until 2+ months into the process. When a chapter handicaps themselves by allowing 2/3's of the time to go by then I would agree, they are not allowing enough time to get it done, but that was not a decision or requirement that came from the BoD.
The bottom line is that the change was needed for the future of the club and proper governance of the club. Of the people that I consulted, that understand non-profit chapter systems, every single person agreed without question that a contract chapter structure was the only real choice and the only prudent choice for the club. I fully understand that the Chapters and their leaders don't like it, I don't either, I wish this had been addressed a long time ago or that the subsidiary system had never been introduced, but it was and a correction at this time was not optional.
The club is made up of many members, only a fraction of the overall membership is a member of a chapter, decisions have to be made in the interest of the entirety of the membership and not one subset of members.
As far as where the club is going: We have in the last 12 months gone from being in the red each and every month to having a profit each month, our financial picture has turned around for the much better. Our membership is up about 10% from a year ago and with the reconstitution of Chapter 2, it will be closer to 15%. The library has grown by a few hundred documents, we have a YouTube Channel and we are putting out a monthly electronic newsletter via email. All things we did not have last year. We continue to deliver a quality magazine four times per year, something not available anywhere else. You will also see in the next issue of the magazine a significant new show policy and club support of them.
Anyone that is concerned about the direction of the club, or has ideas they would like to see put into action, there are plenty of places to volunteer and anyone can throw their hat in the ring for a board seat.
D4 D 78A 6678
D4 6U 1139
RD4 4G223W
D2 5U 1164
JD 350B
JD 420C