Growing Democratic Koi Clubs that Abide By Bylaws

[koicluboftheair]

The inner core of volunteers that always run the shows, so to speak in koi clubs would likely not agree with this point, but each club really should review and try to abide by their bylaws.

Call me cynical if you will, but there is a tendency for the inner core of any club under the stress and strain of getting things done to violate their own rules of order and bylaws.

What does it matter as I've heard some say. It matters for any number of reasons and harms the integrity of the organization if those in authority use force of will rather than concensus to conduct business. This isn't directed at any particular club, but as we have discussed better organization to conduct a national show within a bottom up organization such as AKCA those individual chapters need to abide by their own rules if ever a stronger national unit or project is to be successful.

-Do your new club members get copies of the bylaws or are the available on the club website if there is one?

-Do your club officers only make major decisions about your club via consultation with the general membership?

-If certain tasks are assigned in the bylaws to certain positions such as with the president and vice president are others allowed to step in and take over the tasks?

-Are your positions treated as figureheads for past members of the board that act as essentially a sort of secret or not-so secret government?

All these sorts of negative perceptions impact how well a club can grow as new members joining a club should have all the same rights as any other member whether they be a past president, etc. Sometimes it is easier for new clubs to grow as there is a sense amongst the members that there is a more level playing field without some long time members taking it upon themselves to push their agendas that may violate bylaws and use their personal influence with others who perpetuate such violations.

-Again this isn't directed at anyone in particular, but an attempt to gain the attention of those who would like to see things done otherwise where across the nation koi clubs might fall into patters of unproductive bad business practices.

[koicluboftheair]

Could it be that the club structure or lack of adherance to it is the limiting factor in bringing koi hobbyists together? How many total numbers of AKCA & ZNA clubs are there? If the number is 120 clubs and each had 150 members (allowing for those with 500 (few) and those with 50 (many)) that would be a whopping 18,000 members nationwide. I suspect the number is less. If each of them spends $1000 per year on koi, goldfish, and water garden related supplies that is $18 million/ year, but surely the hobby is much bigger than that. Could there be weakness in the existing organizations that stand the most to lose if membership doesn't dramatically increase?

[Auntiesue]

Ooo, bit of a touchy topic - hits close to home!! I just finished a 2 year tenure with our local water garden club (10 years old). 1 year as VP and the most recent year as President. While VP I noticed my fellow board members seemed to be quoting several "founding" members when it came to making decisions. Often is was said that "so and so" would prefer..... I finally spoke up and asked if "so and so" was on the Board and who was really supposed to be guiding this club? Silence!! I decided right then and there that the following year I would run for Prez and got it. It wasn't long after my tenure started that I was getting emails and calls from "certain" long time members "requesting" that certain things be accomplished or followed up with "or" I could see my volunteer base diminsh as these long time members wouldn't be happy if certain goals were not undertaken. Well, the stubborn Italian in me said no and I drew the line in the sand. We went to the general membership with all major undertakings and ideas instead. It was amazing how quickly members started to contact me (and the new board) with excuses for not following through with their prior committments. Within a very few months our board members were pulling the entire weight of the organization. It was one of the hardest years I've ever gone through and my last with that group. Since then several of us have started our own Koi club locally. I swear this will never happen to this club - EVER!!! Before we move on to anything that requires committment from a volunteer base or might impact the direction of the club, we will "take it to the people"...at least as long as I'm a member!!!

Sue

[Bern]

I've got to be honest. Several of your recent posts have got on my nerves and I opened up this one expecting to feel the same.

But not this time. You've hit on a topic close to my heart.
I fit the description of a club official and have occasionally seen the need to bend the rules out of expedency, but never without the full agreement of the committee, and the reasons noted and reported back to the membership.

If the current bylaws are no longer practical then change them, but change them through the correct process. A club has to progress and bylaws need to be reviewed. They can be amended but should never be broken.

They may appear restrictive sometimes, but when you have a committee made up of diverse individuals often living many miles apart and working on different shifts, the framework of the bylaws ensures cohesion.

rgds BERN

[koicluboftheair]

Very enlightening Sue
I find it particularly interesting that you note those were some of your hardest years and that you are no longer with that group. We could assume that your former club's leaders are continuing to do such not changing their modis operandi much and there might should be a sign out front before entering that there is no truth in advertising regarding their bylaws if in fact they even provide them to new members. Furthermore, some would criticize us or anyone else that talks of such matters claiming that is where the true harm to the club and hobby comes from versus there being any benefit possible available through reform. Some might say well Sue you don't know that situation exists anymore over at that club, but you likely suspect otherwise. Then in the AKCA bottom up sort of organizational framework you can see that such antics amongst members wielding power and influence while bypassing the edicts of the bylaws without consultation of the membership majority continue to be rewarded with the fruits of their status and a freehand to conduct their business as usual.

cheers

John

Quote: Originally Posted by Auntiesue Ooo, bit of a touchy topic - hits close to home!! I just finished a 2 year tenure with our local water garden club (10 years old). 1 year as VP and the most recent year as President. While VP I noticed my fellow board members seemed to be quoting several "founding" members when it came to making decisions. Often is was said that "so and so" would prefer..... I finally spoke up and asked if "so and so" was on the Board and who was really supposed to be guiding this club? Silence!! I decided right then and there that the following year I would run for Prez and got it. It wasn't long after my tenure started that I was getting emails and calls from "certain" long time members "requesting" that certain things be accomplished or followed up with "or" I could see my volunteer base diminsh as these long time members wouldn't be happy if certain goals were not undertaken. Well, the stubborn Italian in me said no and I drew the line in the sand. We went to the general membership with all major undertakings and ideas instead. It was amazing how quickly members started to contact me (and the new board) with excuses for not following through with their prior committments. Within a very few months our board members were pulling the entire weight of the organization. It was one of the hardest years I've ever gone through and my last with that group. Since then several of us have started our own Koi club locally. I swear this will never happen to this club - EVER!!! Before we move on to anything that requires committment from a volunteer base or might impact the direction of the club, we will "take it to the people"...at least as long as I'm a member!!! Sue

[koicluboftheair]

Bern,
Thanks for your honest assessment.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bern I've got to be honest. Several of your recent posts have got on my nerves and I opened up this one expecting to feel the same. But not this time. You've hit on a topic close to my heart. I fit the description of a club official and have occasionally seen the need to bend the rules out of expedency, but never without the full agreement of the committee, and the reasons noted and reported back to the membership. If the current bylaws are no longer practical then change them, but change them through the correct process. A club has to progress and bylaws need to be reviewed. They can be amended but should never be broken. They may appear restrictive sometimes, but when you have a committee made up of diverse individuals often living many miles apart and working on different shifts, the framework of the bylaws ensures cohesion. rgds BERN

[MikeM]

I have found that those who volunteer and help carry the load of club work have their opinions given full consideration. Those who have lots of ideas for others to work on get very frustrated when their ideas are not implemented. Folks burn out on club work quickly when they begin feeling that they have become mere servants of those who do not perform a fair share of the load. Bylaws are important, but I don't think they have much to do with the success of a club. They are most important in dealing with the failure of a club... rather like a prenuptial agreement. I do not believe the strongest clubs succeed due to democracy, but in spite of it. Nothing like a real debate within a club to assure that it implodes.

[koicluboftheair]

I beg to differ with you on much of what you wrote Mike. A person’s willingness to work on what they choose within a club does not constitute grounds to discount the rules of the club. The bylaws are rather like the constitution of a country that in by violation of those standing rules the violators undermine the organization at its core.

“Nothing like a real debate within a club to assure that it implodes,” Mike wrote. It would seem you are clearly expressing that those that can marshal support for implementing their ideas in spite of the bylaws and in spite of the club consensus deserve that right regardless, which defines a takeover whether hostile or not.

“Bylaws are important, but I don't think they have much to do with the success of a club,” Mike wrote. To the contrary they have everything to do with the success of any organization. To state otherwise demonstrates not only a lack of appreciation for organizational structure, but the very purpose of the club as stated in the bylaws.

“Folks burn out on club work quickly when they begin feeling that they have become mere servants of those who do not perform a fair share of the load,” Mike wrote. Surely, I agree with you, which is when those feeling like mere servants should try to encourage others to do business differently, but not do it by violating the bylaws.

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM I have found that those who volunteer and help carry the load of club work have their opinions given full consideration. Those who have lots of ideas for others to work on get very frustrated when their ideas are not implemented. Folks burn out on club work quickly when they begin feeling that they have become mere servants of those who do not perform a fair share of the load. Bylaws are important, but I don't think they have much to do with the success of a club. They are most important in dealing with the failure of a club... rather like a prenuptial agreement. I do not believe the strongest clubs succeed due to democracy, but in spite of it. Nothing like a real debate within a club to assure that it implodes.

[koicluboftheair]

"Those who have lots of ideas for others to work on get very frustrated when their ideas are not implemented," Mike wrote.
Would this include those older folks that can't do a lot of the heavy lifting, but the membership thought their ideas were good and voted to conduct whatever activity in that accord?

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM I have found that those who volunteer and help carry the load of club work have their opinions given full consideration. Those who have lots of ideas for others to work on get very frustrated when their ideas are not implemented. Folks burn out on club work quickly when they begin feeling that they have become mere servants of those who do not perform a fair share of the load. Bylaws are important, but I don't think they have much to do with the success of a club. They are most important in dealing with the failure of a club... rather like a prenuptial agreement. I do not believe the strongest clubs succeed due to democracy, but in spite of it. Nothing like a real debate within a club to assure that it implodes.

[Rich L]

If we don't listen to the folks that don't do any work, they will not feel a part of the organization and stop bothering to bring anything up, if they stay around. And we will not hear the many constructive ideas they would raise.

Bylaws are the only way to record the membership's common directions on how the organizational business is to be conducted. The alternative is a haphazard process that can change monthly.

If an officer or member can't follow the bylaws, the membership should be informed and the members should demand an explanation. Too often people want to bypass requirements that they think 'can't be done' when in actuality the job would have been accomplished if it were required.

What I don't see is long term planning. What does your membership want their club to look like in 5 years. What are the goals established that must be accomplished to get there. And what is the plan to accomplish those goals. A club that is going somewhere will be much more exiting and a better draw than one that just has a meeting every month.

The E-board should use that plan to draw up this years business plan.

As it stands, clubs only do what they did last year and no one is working to develop the future leaders so often we have to scrounge for people to take office.