MARS guys, need your help for the Chico Club, read!

M

mikekman

New member
Hey guys, over here in Chico, a reef club has been started and we are getting a good number of people. Its small still, 8 or so people at our last meeting but I'm sure more and more will come.

We have lots of people with enthusiasm so that helps. The pres of the club also is a member of MARS too.

Anyways, we are going to be having an election at next months meeting and here is a question I want to ask you guys here.

Should a lfs owner be allowed to be an official in the club? Like a lfs owner being a president, vp, public relations, etc?

I don't think a lfs owner should because there would be conflicted interests. What you guys think?

Thanks!
Mike
 
I tend to agree. But it really depends on the person. For example, our VP is a rep for a manufacturer. However, he does an excellent job of not self promoting his product during our club meeting.

There are also certain positions that would definitely present a conflict of interests. In my opinion, the person should NOT be the president or the PR person. As far as being a secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor, etc - it doesn't matter if he can separate his two roles.

Just my $0.02
 
I agree with that, but here is another point to keep in mind...
Do you have anyone else that is willing to take the office? The club is new, but think in long term, will you have the bodies later on? You may not want to exclude someone you will need later.
If they can keep their profession and the club business separate, LFS owners should have the same opportunity afforded every other member.

Just playing Devil's advocate...
 
Auntbeez,

I agree wholehearteldy with you. Most LFS aren't in it to make big cash - they are hobbiest too. As long as one can wear two separate hats(LFS & Club), are voted in an empty position by a majority, and actually want the position, I'm all for it. It would take a rather outgoing person to run a business as well as be an active and effective officer in a said reef club.
 
Im not sure of the status of your club if youve registered it with the Secretary of State's office as a nonprofit or what but if you have I would just suggest closely reviewing the rules and making sure that all proper conduct is adhered to. And to be on the safe side, I would make a very obvious paper trail with any donations or other activity is well documented as to segregate the fish store from the club. Otherwise, I dont see it a problem. However Minh's suggestion is much better but in that case Id steer clear of President and/or Treasurer of the club. VP, PR and other various BOD positions would be ethically fair game IMO.

Btw, congrats with getting the collective interest going! Looking forward to hearing more positive things from your club :)


-Justin
 
As long as they are promoting the hobby and not just their business I think they would be valuable contributors as board members.




<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10553791#post10553791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzv0TqVBSD0


For some reason this popped into my head.......
Click to expand...

bunnypancake.jpg
 
I like the way you think Dots. And agree totally with your picture MandM. I'd like to let this one lye so I'm debating on even posting this to bring it back up again. - oh well, Maybe I'm shooting for 500 tonight! Yeah right. :)
 
Ya now.......Star Wars........Emperor.......secret plots to undermine the Senate and take control of the Galaxy for ones personal gain.......like I said, I don't know why I thought of that......just thought it was funny.
 
I did pick up on that. Hilarious!!! I maybe got a lot more out of it than most people too. But the whole thread is what I relate MandM's rabbit with pancake photo to.
 
Seems to me to be a bad idea. Too easy to slip into business promotion. It's not fair, or realistic to ask someone to wear 2 hats like that.
 
As hinted by a few in this thread....

If the LFS is going to be a sponsor and be on the BOD the IRS will look cross eyed at it and most likely call foul. I stepped down from BAR's BOD for just this reason.
 
Thanks all for your input here. I too understand and agree with the conflict of interest issue. By the way, this is entirely a hypothetical situation and no one is 'asking' anyone to do this that I know of.

IMHO, I would not want an LFS owner to be an officer or BOG, but as long as they can keep the Conflict of Interests separate and not be in key posts (Pres, Treasurer, Public Relations) then who are we to stop them? After all, we are starting up and need all the help (with integrity) we can get. And for this to happen it would take: 1) an empty position that no one else of better background is vying for, 2) a willingness by the LFS owner to fill that position, 3) election by majority of an acceptable quorum, and 4) ongoing consciousness to wear the only one hat at a time.

Honestly, I can't see anyone who has the gung-ho to be a LFS owner (for profit) get involved with a local club (non-profit) and try in any way, shape, or form to influence his shop through the club. Clearly, nothing good would come of it and ultimately dissolution of the club and/or closure of the LFS (loss of sales and/or legal issues). And it’s plain to see here that the members wouldn't let this happen without due consideration of the SPECIFIC situation.

Again, thanks all for your comments.
 
Thanks guys! Really appreciate the responses from the guys from MARS. Hopefully Chicos Club can be as big and successful as the MARS club.
 
If you are truely registered with the state as a NON Profit I would say "NO". Could cause major issues for the store owner and IMO someone sooner or later would get jelous and accuse the store owner and other board members of erronus acts and then the whole thing goes to hell. The recent events with MARS is a great example even though no members had any vested interest in a LFS!

Just my .02c. And since I am close to Chico I think I will have to attend a meeting or two! Look forward to meeting more of you Chico folks!!

Peace
Rob
 
I would not be for the idea.

I went to Chico and got started reefing there. The owner of the place that is on Highway 32 should NOT be holding a position.

I liked the employees/owner of the store on the other side of town. (I can't even remember the name) Still, they are in a business to make money and support family/lifestyle..... Many members are in clubs for the education and reducing money. (Properly caring, understanding lifestock combinations that work saves money) Many stores will sell you a 24" eel for your 12gallon nano even after you provide details and probe for info.
 
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