Calling all National Directors and Zone Coordinators

[PeterHawk]

On page 6, October, 2012 Turning Wheels Carl Thomason details the SDC elections. Under "Job Descriptions" title, "National Director" section, he writes, in part, "...As a member of the SDC Board of Directors, he or she has the final authority to act in all matters concerning his or her Zone, subject to the SDC by-laws. The Director communicates with and maintains a good working relationship with the Zone Coordinator and Regional Manager(s). ..."

[41 Frank]

The short answer to your question is that the membership in each Zone elects the Zone Coordinator and Director every two years. The Zone Coordinator deals exclusively with the Regional Managers and Chapters. The Director deals mostly with Board issues. Since he is elected by the membership in his Zone he serves as their representative on the Board. He therefore deals with each Board issue as it surfaces by voting on issues in the best interest of the membership. It is sort of like our elected people in Washington, they act in our best interest, we hope, without consulting their constituancy every time. The SDC BOD works something like that. If the Board had to consult with the membership every time something comes up for a vote nothing would ever get done and there would be no need for a BOD. Important issues like bylaw changes are now dealt with only at the annual Board meeting so the membership can attend the procedures. Basically throughout the rest of the year motions are made, a five day waiting period starts, after which the motion can be seconded, then the BOD votes on whatever issue it happens to be. Hopes this explains it for you Peter.

Frank van Doorn
SDC North Central Zone National Director

[PeterHawk]

So information flows from the Director to the Coordinator to the Regional Manager to the Chapters to the membership?

[41 Frank]

Basically yes Peter. In my case, and I can only speak for myself, I do send a message from time to time directly to the Coordinator, the RM and the Chapters to recap some of the things that have been dealt with on the Board.

PS I might add to that that the only time I have been contacted by the membership on anything so far was when members wanted to relate to me their choice for SDC President.

So information flows from the Director to the Coordinator to the Regional Manager to the Chapters to the membership?

[PeterHawk]

What is the best way for information to flow in the other direction?

[41 Frank]

Peter, if there is a National issue one is concerned with it is best to contact your respective Director. Chapter issues are dealt with mainly by the RM in that State/Province who consults the Zone Coordinator if need be. If the ZC feels he is not informed enough to deal with whatever the issue happens to be he will contact his Director. I hope this clarifies things.

What is the best way for information to flow in the other direction?

[2moredoors]

Peter:
I too attempt to correspond with the Zone Coordinator, regional mangers, local chapter presidents and publishers of the "news bulletins" whenever I am involved with board activity. I also speak with the zone coordinator, speak directly to or correspond with other board members and attempt toanswer questions directed to me by club members in the zone that I represent.

[Welcome]

What is the best way for information to flow in the other direction?

BINGO!!!

Communication in the SDC ONLY flows from the TOP (BoD) DOWN, not from the BOTTOM (general membership) UP.

Once there actually was a glimmer of hope this might change. At the 2009 SDC BoD’s Annual meeting, one of three Bidders for the TURNING WHEELS printing contract offered to print & insert mail-back questionnaires (membership surveys) in their poly-bag up to twice a year for absolutely FREE!!! Of course, why would the BoD want to know the general membership’s opinions on important Club issues? And you guessed it; the TW printing contact was then handed to a different printer. This was only one of several "fork-in-the-road" over the past 12 years the SDC has come upon …and chosen the wrong one!

[Colgate Studebaker]

Peter, is your question due to the hoopla that occurred at this years IM? The important part of Carls notice in TW is that elections are open right now, and anyone dissatisfied with their current representation needs to act now to produce a qualified, willing candidate. If a change in leadership is desired, it is up to the general membership to effect the results. I am right in the middle of moving from here in Wisconsin to sunny Florida, so I don't want to get deeply involved in this issue, however, I feel it is extremely important for the members of this club to be involved in the management "team" that guides the club. The elections under way need to be put on the forefront of the memberships discussions. B.V.

[Skip Lackie]

BINGO!!!

Communication in the SDC ONLY flows from the TOP (BoD) DOWN, not from the BOTTOM (general membership) UP.

Once there actually was a glimmer of hope this might change. At the 2009 SDC BoD’s Annual meeting, one of three Bidders for the TURNING WHEELS printing contract offered to print & insert mail-back questionnaires (membership surveys) in their poly-bag up to twice a year for absolutely FREE!!! Of course, why would the BoD want to know the general membership’s opinions on important Club issues? And you guessed it; the TW printing contact was then handed to a different printer. This was only one of several "fork-in-the-road" over the past 12 years the SDC has come upon …and chosen the wrong one!

I was on the board for that decision, and don’t remember that the proposal to include questionnaires having much of anything to do with the decision to chose the printer for TW. The specs that were distributed to the printers had been poorly crafted, and the bids that were submitted were not directly comparable. The board ended up requesting revised bids twice before it finally made a decision, and the vote (not unanimous, as I recall) was made largely on the basis of cost. Printers frequently include extra benefits with their bids, but the decisions are usually ultimately made on how well the bid matches the specs and at what cost. There was no conspiracy to prevent feedback from the membership.