Constitution and By-laws changes

[macclellan]

And because every thread needs pitchers, Janie, if you really were a ninja you'd look like this:

Perfectly color-coordinated - even the irises!

 

[Runner]

Mentioning, threatening, or recruiting for a so-called "split" a public forum is totally over the line.

The board determines the meaning of something that vague. I personally would determine active members to be those who have been at 3 of the last 6 meetings or something to that effect. But that is what we have all those nasty by-laws that some don't want to help determine.

 

[knoxtnreef]

i wish this kind of negative cr@p WOULD go to the private forum...a couple of these posts just make us look like a bunch of whiners. we're working our rear ends off to bring this club back around to being a real club and have come a heck of a long way in just the last couple months despite the president and the VP just walking off. comments like "a split is likely to occur" does nothing to help, and is just BS. the last meeting was a great one...there were a lot of good ideas throw out there and i've heard from several that it was the most fun they've ever had at a meeting.

i hate the status you left the club in too, most everybody did.

a couple disagreements about the bylaws does not mean the club is falling apart or even that there are opposing sides. randy, i've always thought of us as friends, AND i've always respected you, but with posts and comments like that, its fading fast. if you care about this club, help. if you can't, at least don't try to kill it.

Mentioning, threatening, or recruiting for a so-called "split" a public forum is totally over the line.

just go ahead and remove me from the group. i'm done. If it wasn't for Randy this club wouldnt exist. he can voice his opinion any time any place IMHO

 

[Fishboy42]

I am having a hard time calling what has happened in the last several days a "œdiscussion", however. Example, "œI guess ETRC could solicit local middle schools..." But, that may be a function of the forum format.

Perhaps it is an artifact of the forum; I think at face-to-face meetings the club members get along fine and are generally productive if there is an agenda, but of all people, those in this club I think understand/appreciate humor and maybe even appreciate each person's particular brand. (we all know each other at least a little bit after all this time I hope?!)

With my quote above, for instance, as some famous dead guy once said (when he was alive), "Jesters do oft prove prophets." Maybe getting the younger crowd involved in an educational hobby like keeping reefs (and learning the language of by-laws ) would be a good thing for them and for the club even if we don't encourage them to run the club and serve on the BOD at that age (an otherwise full membership to the proposed 15 years age is something I totally agree with).

SA has done work-study programs for students, and I present at the local middle and high schools about marine biology whenever asked (many may not know that the young member in-question was introduced to the club this way) and don't think recruiting younger members through such visits is a bad idea. I was maybe 19 when the club started but had been keeping fish for 15 years--those kids are out there

 

[digidana]

i would like to apologize to randy. for the record, i know that the club had gone downhill primarily because of time-constraints, and randy has always been very helpful to me personally.

that post just hit me wrong this morning. i know i've said it before, but i feel like we've really been working hard to get the club on track and something that everyone can enjoy, and that post just felt like our effort was being sabotaged.

 

[Engloid]

Perhaps some people have gotten too concerned with bylaws and rules to enjoy what the club should be about. I'll be honest...I wasn't in a big rush to get to today's meeting on time. I figured I would rather miss out on the bylaws stuff. I tend to be the type that plays devils advocate in many situations, and I have made some enemies that way. If I begin to care about bylaws in this club, somebody smack me...cause it's not what I joined for.

I have purposely avoided reading a lot of the debating in this thread, because I honestly think that NONE OF IT has to do with what the club was started for...and that's enjoying the hobby together.

If this club is the biggest problem you have, you should smile and consider yourself a very lucky and blessed person. If it is not, then you have bigger problems to spend your time on and this one isn't worth the trouble.

So in short, I guess I just don't care about it and wanted to voice my opinion that others likely share.

 

[ct_vol]

Well Dana, I have received many texts throughout the day about the posts on here today, and I am disappointed by your statements. I do appreciate the apology, but the thing about the internet is, that once its out there, it is out there. It is especially disappointing to me considering that I was still taking the time to help you with problems just a couple of weeks ago when you were having pump issues. What I said was not meant as a threat. Most people know that I do not BS or gossip and only speak from the truths that I have been told. Understand that I do have people still talk to me about the club, whether they catch me at the store or call me on the phone.

As Englod said, If this club is the biggest problem you have, you should smile and consider yourself a very lucky and blessed person. If it is not, then you have bigger problems to spend your time on and this one isn't worth the trouble.

I have a lot of things going on in my life right now that I cannot change. I have to play the hand I have been dealt. If you or those in the club knew what I have been dealing with the past 6 or 8 months, I know that you would be more forgiving of my lack of participation. To say that I just "walked away" from the club is far from the truth. I also advised you on electing a new president and have helped you with any questions that you asked.

You all know how active in the club I have always been, and should know that it would take a lot to pull me away. I now see how much my work over the years have been appreciated.

Don't worry, I am done with the club from this point forward, and will not post again in this forum.



I wish the club the best.

 

[EvilMel]

I think "you two ladies" are doing a good job too.

Mel, yes, I am interested in following rules. BUT, I did not create the rules for the club. I have been a participant with those who are trying to change the "œrules" we have. On several occasions we have made an attempt to make them less restrictive. This was just another attempt.

I am not sure why, since as a part owner of CR and therefore by the current rules are/where already disenfranchised, that you cannot see that.

Our attempts were open for discussion. Nobody said that they were not.

I am having a hard time calling what has happened in the last several days a "œdiscussion", however. Example, "œI guess ETRC could solicit local middle schools..." But, that may be a function of the forum format.

Oh good grief Eddie. Had we been face to face you wouldn't have misunderstood that I wasn't casting aspersions on you. I GUESS I should have said "you guys" too that way no one's dainty feelings would have gotten hurt. It wasn't the way I meant it AGAIN. Everybody's being too dang sensitive. That's what I'm talking about. Matt can't even make a stinkin' joke without accidentally stepping on someone's toes. MATT! Of all people...he's like the nicest guy in the world. I can see how you'd think I meant something negative...I'm hot headed. But MATT? Gimme a break.

I hate the status you left the club in too, most everybody did.

a couple disagreements about the bylaws does not mean the club is falling apart or even that there are opposing sides. randy, i've always thought of us as friends, AND i've always respected you, but with posts and comments like that, its fading fast. if you care about this club, help. if you can't, at least don't try to kill it.

Absolutely uncalled for. I'm glad you apologized. He has a ton of personal stuff going on and you have no idea what he's dealing with.

I carried this club on my shoulders for YEARS until I was getting divorced and couldn't bear the burden anymore. Then Randy carried it for the next bunch of YEARS. (Remember that he was the main one who did stuff for BOTH of the two frag swaps we've had.) Now it's up to someone else to pick up the slack and carry the burden of the club.

I was hoping that maybe at the next election I could be that person to step up and stop all the infighting...by being president again. I was hoping that we could resolve all of it. I have always felt that it should be changed but honestly didn't give a rats patoo about changing it becasue no one cared about rules at all up until now. NO ONE. So it wasn't an issue. But it seems that since the club is made up of some people who want to enforce the rules, now might be the time to remove the commercial versus regular member distinction.

What Randy means in terms of a division in the club is that some of us are getting mighty dang sick of the way things are going and have been joking for over a year about starting our own club. NOW...not such a joke anymore...getting kinda serious about it. I don't mean that in a crappy way, just that all this BS is too much.

 

[Engloid]

I used to get ticked off at work fairly often. I'd get upset if the company did something I felt was stupid or a bad decision. I learned that sometimes, I have to take things for what they are and not be so concerned about things that I shouldn't.

My motto, for quite some time, became: "They can't **** me off if I don't give a f___."

It really helped me to relax. :lol:



I'm really no part of this stuff, being new like I am, but ...

If you really want the clube to be based on enjoying a hobby, then just continue enjoying it...and forget about rules and regulations. Don't even read them. Just go with what you enjoy, the socializing, events, etc. Screw the rules. :bounce3:

 

[Runner]

@Mel and Randy: Before you cast stones at Dana for expressing her frustration (which she now regrets, as shown above), remember that she and Eddie are now in the position of responsibility and burden that you guys have been before. They have been working hard to keep the club going at what appeared to be a low point (but is now looking like a rebound). If anybody can understand, it is you two.

The rules changes are good things in that they address some of the problems by "official" means rather than ignoring the rules or having to deal with them when they come up again. The best change, IMO, is the explicit allowance of members with financial interest in the hobby to be on the board (thereby leaving it to the membership to determine if somebody is engaging in self-promotion or not). Hopefully Eddie will post them here or at the other site soon for a final voting (I think that was the intent).

 

[reeflover101]

I agree, Eddie and Dana are doing a great job,and dont think they need criticism. I agree the bi-kaws need to be addressed now rather than later. and i fully support the BOD.

 

[digidana]

Eddie and Dana are doing a great job,

don't forget janie! :frog: in addition to being the secretary AND treasurer, she's taken on the responsibility of recruiting sponsors for the swap...and has done a he!! of a job so far. :celeb1:

 

[TriMax]

I would like to appreciate everybody in the last several weeks that has worked on the swap. I am not even sure who to put on the list. We have a wonderful list of vendors and sponsors for this swap. The BOD, mostly Janie and Dana, may have taken on the responsibility for the swap, but several of the club members have been great in helping with contacting some of the sponsors/vendors. Some of those sponsors/vendors are ones that we would not even have known about.

You guys keep an eye on the May meeting thread when it gets started. Make plans to come. Dave has a wonderful tank. You will not want to miss it. There will be lots of sinners at the meeting. Most of us will be coveting his tank. We will also be discussing swap details.

 

[reeflover101]

yes Janie as well lol