Involvement: I was one of the initial group that started the move to make NCPARS a more formal organization in the past 2 or so years (I think with Sanjay, Mo, Mal, Tagamet, and Bill Straka). I've been on the board of directors since then. I've been reefkeeping for about 2 1/2 years, and I am one of the team that helps run the PSU HUB tank. I was the primary local organizer of the PSU swap in spring 2005 (for better or worse). I've been involved in drafting a lot of the current formal documents in the club, such as bylaws and sponsor letters. I've also attended swaps and the NCPARS-at-TFP event last summer. Outside NCPARS, I'm president of our homeowner's association and treasurer of the parent organization at my kids' daycare.
Present and future ideas: I have supported the idea of the club as an NPO and formal corporation, the minimum idea was to make it easier for sponsors to donate to the club, while the maximum idea was to allow us to go for funding available to non-profits. This gives us a status that most clubs don't have. Unfortunately, filing the NPO took much longer than anticipated and we lost some momentum (and increased a lot of frustration). We also decided to file as an educational organization, which means we need to do more work to support educational activities, either through donations or helping members become active in local schools or other settings. Sanjay has started the ball rolling on us doing more of that in State College, but we hope to encourage more individuals to do the same.
I agree that we need more communication between board and members, as I think the root of the recent discussions of problems is the lack of information about what the BOD has done, and our slowness at times. I'm encouraged by the new names and ideas that I've seen floating around. At the same time I'm distressed by the "stone-throwing" (without any constructive ideas) that I see in some cases. While some members have relationships outside NCPARS that may be problematic, we need to set those aside as best we can when we are dealing with the club. Part of what the new President must do is juggle some strong personalities. This may even be more important than him/her having many original ideas, since the ideas can be brought forward by members and the BOD. [Note: I'm not running for President.] One of the advantages of formalizing the organization the way we have is that we can survive some personality clashes because we have formal positions and procedures that we can finally follow. Since the basics are now set, I think there is an easy way forward with just a little more communication between board and members, and involvement on the part of all of us.
-- Scott Bennett
Present and future ideas: I have supported the idea of the club as an NPO and formal corporation, the minimum idea was to make it easier for sponsors to donate to the club, while the maximum idea was to allow us to go for funding available to non-profits. This gives us a status that most clubs don't have. Unfortunately, filing the NPO took much longer than anticipated and we lost some momentum (and increased a lot of frustration). We also decided to file as an educational organization, which means we need to do more work to support educational activities, either through donations or helping members become active in local schools or other settings. Sanjay has started the ball rolling on us doing more of that in State College, but we hope to encourage more individuals to do the same.
I agree that we need more communication between board and members, as I think the root of the recent discussions of problems is the lack of information about what the BOD has done, and our slowness at times. I'm encouraged by the new names and ideas that I've seen floating around. At the same time I'm distressed by the "stone-throwing" (without any constructive ideas) that I see in some cases. While some members have relationships outside NCPARS that may be problematic, we need to set those aside as best we can when we are dealing with the club. Part of what the new President must do is juggle some strong personalities. This may even be more important than him/her having many original ideas, since the ideas can be brought forward by members and the BOD. [Note: I'm not running for President.] One of the advantages of formalizing the organization the way we have is that we can survive some personality clashes because we have formal positions and procedures that we can finally follow. Since the basics are now set, I think there is an easy way forward with just a little more communication between board and members, and involvement on the part of all of us.
-- Scott Bennett
So, below is the list of names with positions that was posted earlier and with info. that I received through emails.
