frydenlund@topaz.decus.org (04/30/91)
I post this here because I am unhappy with the way the flow
of information about this issue has been controlled (the
opposition gets 400 words while the pro side gets unlimited
access to the communications channels of DECUS), and
because there have been numerous accusations that all the
opposition can offer is misinformation and character
assassination.
People almost always vote FOR a change proposed by a Board
of Directors. For reasons of content, consequence, and
process, this is a time to vote NO.
What follows is a draft of a proposed CON statement which
I, and a small committee of other volunteers, created for
consideration by the Board members who voted against the
proposed reorganization of DECUS. It was not the one
selected for sending with the ballot. While there are
unsupported allegations here (written against a 400 word
limit) there is nothing here I can not support (nor is there
a character assassination in sight). After canvassing some of
my peers in DECUS Leadership, I am quite sure that an unstated
consequence of passing this change to the bylaws will be the
loss of the services of many of the "doers" who make DECUS
function.
A PROPOSED CON STATEMENT
You should vote NO. The proposed bylaws will impair the
ability of the volunteers to deliver DECUS technical
services.
This particular Board of Directors would have you believe
that almost everyone in the chapter is in favor of this
change.
Not true. There is substantial opposition to this process
from many volunteers who actually produce DECUS services.
These include:
- key volunteer leaders who produce Seminars,
Symposia, Library Tapes, SIG Newsletters,
Session Notes, and DECUServe;
- the Council of the Special Interest Groups
(SIG's) who petitioned the Board NOT to pursue
this issue at this time;
- Local User Group (LUG) leaders at the local,
regional, and national levels.
Many volunteers are opposed to this bylaw change because it
recreates centralized control which:
- didn't work last time we tried it;
- provides a Board of Directors that can easily
overrule and demoralize its volunteer work
force;
- concentrates power in the Board and, with the
Digital delegate traditionally coming from
Marketing, provides an avenue for Digital
Marketing to exercise undue control over the
direction of the chapter. This fosters
substitution of marketing for technical
information.
The problems of the chapter today are not best addressed by
this proposed drastic reorganization because it:
- will cause great disruption of service,
delivery, and innovation.
- won't solve the real problems;
The fundamental problem being that the present Board, rather
than assuming their role as leaders, have focused on
operations. This has fractured the chapter by creating a
conflict with those who provide products and services.
To resolve this conflict, the Board asks you to replace the
volunteers' elected forum which currently resolves operations
issues. This forum, which also acts as the volunteers'
advocate to the Board, is replaced by multiple committees
which are appointed by (and with the interests of?) the
President.
The proposed change effectively removes the checks and
balances which have, until now, protected the volunteer work
force and your products and services.
IF you believe:
- volunteers who provide you services have a
right to a vote about the services they
provide; OR
- DECUS must be kept independent of Digital
control; OR
- control of the chapter should be shared by
many instead of held by the few;
THEN, these proposed bylaws are not for you.
If you are unsure that the proposed change is right for the
chapter, JUST SAY NO.
David D. FRYDENLUND, Session Note Chair for DECUS US
Communications Committee
As I am not normally found on the net, I would appreciate
if you would address any reply to me to:
FRYDENLUND@DCSA1.DECUS.ORG
I post this here because I am unhappy with the way the flow
of information about this issue has been controlled (the
opposition gets 400 words while the pro side gets unlimited
access to the communications channels of DECUS), and
because there have been numerous accusations that all the
opposition can offer is misinformation and character
assassination.
People almost always vote FOR a change proposed by a Board
of Directors. For reasons of content, consequence, and
process, this is a time to vote NO.
What follows is a draft of a proposed CON statement which
I, and a small committee of other volunteers, created for
consideration by the Board members who voted against the
proposed reorganization of DECUS. It was not the one
selected for sending with the ballot. While there are
unsupported allegations here (written against a 400 word
limit) there is nothing here I can not support (nor is there
a character assassination in sight). After canvassing some of
my peers in DECUS Leadership, I am quite sure that an unstated
consequence of passing this change to the bylaws will be the
loss of the services of many of the "doers" who make DECUS
function.
A PROPOSED CON STATEMENT
You should vote NO. The proposed bylaws will impair the
ability of the volunteers to deliver DECUS technical
services.
This particular Board of Directors would have you believe
that almost everyone in the chapter is in favor of this
change.
Not true. There is substantial opposition to this process
from many volunteers who actually produce DECUS services.
These include:
- key volunteer leaders who produce Seminars,
Symposia, Library Tapes, SIG Newsletters,
Session Notes, and DECUServe;
- the Council of the Special Interest Groups
(SIG's) who petitioned the Board NOT to pursue
this issue at this time;
- Local User Group (LUG) leaders at the local,
regional, and national levels.
Many volunteers are opposed to this bylaw change because it
recreates centralized control which:
- didn't work last time we tried it;
- provides a Board of Directors that can easily
overrule and demoralize its volunteer work
force;
- concentrates power in the Board and, with the
Digital delegate traditionally coming from
Marketing, provides an avenue for Digital
Marketing to exercise undue control over the
direction of the chapter. This fosters
substitution of marketing for technical
information.
The problems of the chapter today are not best addressed by
this proposed drastic reorganization because it:
- will cause great disruption of service,
delivery, and innovation.
- won't solve the real problems;
The fundamental problem being that the present Board, rather
than assuming their role as leaders, have focused on
operations. This has fractured the chapter by creating a
conflict with those who provide products and services.
To resolve this conflict, the Board asks you to replace the
volunteers' elected forum which currently resolves operations
issues. This forum, which also acts as the volunteers'
advocate to the Board, is replaced by multiple committees
which are appointed by (and with the interests of?) the
President.
The proposed change effectively removes the checks and
balances which have, until now, protected the volunteer work
force and your products and services.
IF you believe:
- volunteers who provide you services have a
right to a vote about the services they
provide; OR
- DECUS must be kept independent of Digital
control; OR
- control of the chapter should be shared by
many instead of held by the few;
THEN, these proposed bylaws are not for you.
If you are unsure that the proposed change is right for the
chapter, JUST SAY NO.
David D. FRYDENLUND, Session Note Chair for DECUS US
Communications Committee
As I am not normally found on the net, I would appreciate
if you would address any reply to me to:
FRYDENLUND@DCSA1.DECUS.ORG