Ausmo

Management. - Guys, the quality of the CEO/GM is so vitally important. Recently I read an article how the wrong person in a critical job could totally destroy a very successful business or company. Those with a business background could name names and businesses this has happened to in Australia in recent years, and it has nothing to do with the salary. Some of the greatest failures were caused by CEO's on the highest salaries..........

Future. - Everyone, I am very positive, with the right new GM who has ability with systems, finances, budgets, etc. and who can implement policy, will have us back on track in no time. What you people must do is demand openness and transparency from the elected ones so you become aware of issues early, and steps can then be taken for early corrective action.

 

John McK

I've said this before, the most important job for a Board to do is to hire the best CEO/GM they can find and get rid of him/her if they can't do the job. Poor performance or mediocrity should never be tolerated, John is right, it is a cancer, an organisation-killer.

 

Erik

 

 

errr, check the date of the post you've replied to. Things may have changed in the last 4 1/2 years ;)

Whoops, you are no doubt correct!

 

 

For those folk that have mode S transponders, be advised that RA-Aus has been allocated 5000 Mode S codes by the CASA.Therefore, if you want to put a mode S in and need a code, let me know at the office and I will allocate you a code.

Chris

Chris, now I am confused (not uncommon). I emailed Dean Tomkins for a code and he referred me to CASA....................................help!

 

Erik

 

 

Pulsar EXP in RV-12. http://www.aeroleds.com/products/navigation-lights/experimental.aspx

 

Erik

 

 

ErikI hope to see you in Canberra on the 9th of Feb, hopefully you'll provide some balance to the rest of us mobsters!

 

Andy

Don't get me wrong, I support the meeting plan. My dictionary calls a 'mob' a disorderly crowd of people or (more worryingly) a loose affiliation of gansters in charge of criminal activities or an association of criminals! 'Frenzied' carries the connotation of a mob hell-bent on a lynching. I doubt that will produce the desired result. We need to be positive and proactive, advocating reform that will resolve serious issues.

 

Erik

 

 

I've been having trouble getting a response to an email from the President, Secretary, Finance Manager and the NSW board members, and I'm wondering how other people manage to get a response from their board members.Can anybody give some suggestions on methods that have worked for them?

 

The method I tried was an extremely polite email to the President and Secretary (given the president's hissy fit over other emails, i thought being polite might work), and after days of no response I resent the email to the finance manager (my questions were about financial reporting) and the remaining two board members, asking for a response, or for them to encourage the president and/or secretary to respond. Its now been a week since my first email with no response at all.

 

Is it best just to post my questions here, and then whip everybody up into a frenzied mob that the board can no longer ignore?

I got a response within 24 hours from the President to a polite email offering advice. Mind you that was a couple of weeks ago, I imagine his email traffic has stepped up a notch or two since then......

 

A frenzied mob sounds like a dangerous concept unlikley to result in sensible change.

 

Erik

 

 

........ We have a board of management, not a board of directors (in which case, yes they would be making governance policies for a large paid management structure to carry out.)

My point is that the current arrangement has failed the members and not only because of the deficits in those involved. This organisation is too big and the task too demanding for a footy club style mangement committee. These people likely have a very clear idea of what the members want, but they are not professional managers so they struggle to deliver it. Better they focussed on setting the agenda, hiring the best General Manager they can find, telling him/her what they want, hold them accountable and get rid of them if if they don't deliver.

 

Erik

 

 

No need to change or replace the RaaUs ship, just change some of the crew.Alan.

The man has a point. It's not rocket science. What we need is:

 

1. Competent governance (the Board) employing
    
    
   
2. Competent management (the General Manger)
    
    
   

 

 

Both of whom recognise they are accountable to the membership for what they do. This will require high level communication.

 

I reckon the Board needs good quality Governance Training URGENTLY!

 

Erik

 

 

A thought.......

 

There is clearly a need for reform in RAAus. I want to offer a context in which that reform needs to occur, based on the notion of accountability. I see plenty of evidence that our Board has struggled to understand what this means for them. Hopefully recent and perhaps coming events might stimulate a steep learning curve in this regard.

 

I feel qualified to do this having worked as a CEO in both Government and non-Government organisations for over 30 years, mostly employed by and accountable to Boards of Directors. I have also been a member of Boards of Directors, including Chairing two of them.

 

The accountability of a Board of Directors is to the owners of the organisation, who are the shareholders in the corporate world or in our case, us - the members of our association. The job of the Board can simply be described as 'to see to it that the organisation produces what it should for its owners.' Were that happening in RAAus, and we the members could see that was happening, all would be sweet. The problem is that we can't see that the organisation is producing what it should, mainly because they are not communicating their achievements, and problems to the membership in an open and transparent way. This failure coupled with clear evidence of instances when the organisation has failed to act appropriately on a range of issues results in the frustration, anger and resentment expressed by so many of us. Folks it doesn't have to be that way. What we need is for the Board to step up the accountability plate and start focussing on seeing to it that the organisation produces what it should, for our sake.

 

You will have gathered that in my view, the nature of RAAus demands that we have a Board of Directors as opposed to a Board of Management. A board that involves itself in management is OK for the local footy club or the Lions club, it needs to be that way. We need a Board that can see the big picture, think strategically, understand what it is the organisation needs to do and where it needs to go. It doesn't need to be fettered with the responsibility of managing the organisation as well, a task for which some board members may not be competent. In our case management best left to specialist and professional managers.The board needs to set the direction, delegate the task of management to the managers and make damn sure they are doing their job. I once heard a speech by a distinguished Chairman of a number of high profile national boards. He said, 'The most important job a board will ever do is to hire a CEO, and get rid of him if he isn't doing his job'. Failure to manage competently, or to tolerate mediocrity in management at any level should be abhorrent. If an organisation has a clear distinction between the role those who govern and those who manage, and the governors truly hold the managers accountable for the management, the organisation must be on the road to success.

 

I am certain there are plenty of our members with the vision and the capability to think strategically and drive this organisation down the right path. There are no doubt some among the current board. Perhaps removing from them the obligation to manage and instead obliging them to be accountable for what the organisation is doing, and holding the managers accountable might set us on a better road and deliver what we the members are entitled to expect.

 

Sorry to be preaching folks, but I really believe this is the way forward.

 

By they way, holding only a couple of board meetings a year is laughable, how on earth can the board know what's happening and be accountable if it is only meeting with its CEO twice a year - give me a break!

 

Erik

 

 

Erik,The hardware I sell is certified aircraft grade and is traceable back to the manufacturer. Since it's my business to support homebuilders, I put a price on my hardware that I'd be willing to pay if I was in my customers' shoes. I also try to keep postage costs to a minimum and only accept cheques or direct credit as a method of payment.

Old Man Emu

Thanks OME, I'll be in touch.

 

Erik

 

 

I'm looking to source a small quantity of AN hardware in Australia. Any advice?

 

Thanks

 

Erik

 

 

A tragic event. Condolences to all their familes and friends, particularly those here who knew them.

 

Erik

 

 

Shut hot eh!

 

 

Hi Ausmo.. it was underwritten to Chris via OAMPSS Adelaide Office. Contact is Bill Galka on 817280000he is very helpful

 

regards

 

Mardy

Thanks

 

Erik

 

 

Thanks all. Got my insurance via Chris Speru here in Adelaide... All happy now

Herm, do you have a contact number for Chris?

 

 

I won't be at Temora this year, but Recreational Flying gets my vote.

 

Thanks for all you do Ian.

 

Erik

 

 

Hi Ian, at the end of the day, what ever is the easiest for you ...........ditto to the above comments........I turn this compt thingy on....all works, chat and comment....Great by me......do what ever suits you.......Cheers Alley

What she said!

 

 

I think it was King Island that had a abattoir and a need of workers to stay alive, the school was closing from too few students, the shops were struggling.They stood up and asked to have refugees come live on the island.

 

All of a sudden the new arrivals were employed, reviving the local economy, keeping the school and thus the future of the island alive and making it grow again.

 

At the beginning we were all refugees, immigrants, convicts etc........excepting rightfull owners of the land, the Aboriginal tribes.

 

We all benefited from our own efforts and mostly from the sweat of those that lived before us. We are a country that gives a hand up and not a kick in the guts to those who need a hand.

 

At least I hope we are.............

I'd be proud to be a citizen in a country that welcomed refugees and treated them with compassion, respect and dignity. This is a hallmark of a civilised country. So what are we?

 

 

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/news/russia-probes-dancing-jet-caught-on-video/story-e6frezi0-1226050223022?from=public_rss

 

 

 

Ausmo = Erik Moen

 

 

Erik

 

 

Thanks for the great advice guys - unfortunately a tad late in this instance. I will certainly take advantage when it comes time to purchase the balance of the kit.

 

Cheers

 

Erik

 

 

Thanks guys for your prompt and very helpful advice - which of course I will take! I had not thought of the task of inventory and storage of all the kit components. Indeed I imagine that will take some thought and planning!

 

I have already found the Vans Airforce forums and looked at a number of builder's logs and blogs. These all seem to be an incredibly helpful source of advice.

 

I apprerciate your kind offer of help and will no doubt be calling on that. Vans have advised they will be shipping in about 8 weeks.

 

I heard a word that there might be a builder in Murray Bridge in SA, does anyone have any knowledge of such a person?

 

Cheers

 

Erik

 

 

I have taken the plunge and placed an order for the RV-12 kit. :big_grin: The AUS $ looks pretty good just now so I have committed to the empennage/tailcone, wing, fuselage and finishing kit components. Let me tell you the hand shook a bit when I hit the send button with the credit card details for that lot! All done now though and I am eagerly and impatiently awaiting the eagle's landing.

 

I thought I should use the waiting time to get a bit organised in the workshop. I would be particularly interested in hearing from all you experienced RV builders out there what particular tools/tool kits you acquired and where you sourced these. Also your experience with these -any tips and pointers would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Erik

 

 

Peter, sincere condolences. Words seem inadequate at a time like this, but these and our fond thoughts are pretty much all we have.

 

Best regards,

 

Erik

 

 

Congratulations! Stay up there for as long as you can, its a priceless experience!

 

Erik