Ausmo

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

Whoops, you are no doubt correct!

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

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 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

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

The man has a point. It's not rocket science. What we need is: Competent governance (the Board) employing 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

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!

Thanks Erik

Herm, do you have a contact number for Chris?