We need to recruit ... Now that brings back memories!
As new Airstreamers at Jackson Center's Homecoming in 2004 we were solicited more than once or even twice by very aggressive zealots with coupons and Blue Berets in hand. We didn't know what to think.
Fast forward and now we do know what to think. We are holding on ourselves by a thread. There is no way we could see our way clear to recruit anyone to the club as it is now. We aren't even successful in getting members to stay in the club.
Again the ball is punted, the IBT took its turn and now it's up to the membership to scramble to make a play. No. It is up to the leadership representing us to act on behalf of the membership, the ones they have, now. That should be their first loyalty and duty. Instead of counting all the dollars they are going to make with all the new members that are going to stream through the WBCCI floodgates trying to get in after they spend more money promoting the club and losing an acceptable (to them) amount of members from a dues increase; instead of that, how about they just spend less and make it more fun by listening to the members that they have
now, and let
the IBT try to retain and recruit members by what
they can offer and not by soliciting units to do their bidding to see what
they can get in the amount of increased revenue!
Continued growth of the club... is that newspeak for finding a group of new quality members that will be more accepting and less trouble or would that be the continued collecting of more money. I think it is both. They are definitely multitasking, especially with a bit of slight of hand to make it all seen as positive.
I have never seen a group such as this count so many many chickens repeatedly before they are hatched. A little fiscal review instead of unrealistic dreaming or denial would be in order. They keep looking so much towards the new horizons and back at the old traditions that they keep tripping and falling over the present.
The flag ceremony and colored pants and jackets may be horrifying and a huge culture shock to many younger participants along with the activities and entertainment but there is so much more than that to be concerned about. They are responsible for overspending and keeping by far the lion's share to spend upon themselves and not giving a voice to unit and MAL members and either engaging or allowing obstructionistic practices to go unchecked.
