SSA Leadership after 12/31?

On Dec 17, 3:42 pm, ras comment wrote:
On Dec 8, 12:36 pm, Chip Bearden wrote:



Those who haven't repressed the memories of last year's SSA financial
scandal may recall I was somewhat outspoken at the time. I was pleased
that the SSA Board ultimately created entities to monitor their and
the ExComm's actions and to recommend changes for the future. I wasn't
happy that it took so much pushing and shoving to get these entities
chartered--some directors didn't seem to "get it" regarding what the
real issues were. But I was just as unhappy at the unseemly behavior
of some SSA members and other critics on this forum who either
couldn't or didn't want to understand. But in the end, the process
worked and I think we're on the right course.

Will this debacle and subsequent turnaround mark the beginning of a
dynamic resurgence in U.S. soaring and the SSA's fortunes? Probably
not. We're a tiny, expensive, difficult-to-learn, time-intensive,
weather-dependent, fundamentally individual sport in a highly
regulated environment at a time when most Americans have less
available time and myriad other ways to spend it, preferably with
their families. But thanks to the efforts of a few volunteers and SSA
staff, our interests are fairly well served. Having spent almost a
decade on the SSA Board (part of that time on the ExComm) before the
recent scandals, I'm well aware of (a) the difficulty of getting
anyone to serve at all, and (b) ensuring that at least some of those
who do serve possess the right skill sets for critical Board-level and
staff positions.

In a perfect world, I'd make a few changes to the current structure
and staffing. But in the real world, if (as is my impression also) the
majority of SSA members wish the majority of our leadership to at
least effect a smooth transition if not continue in place, then I'm
all for it. If skilled, dedicated candidates with time, patience, and
funding (the latter either from their own resources or their regions')
wish to run for election to the Board, I doubt seriously if they will
have any difficulty winning. Prior to that, they can approach the
Board for consideration as a director at large (a position I once
opposed but learned was absolutely necessary to bring needed talent
into the Board). I'm sure there are directors who, for all of their
"I'd love to give up this job and let someone else do it" will fight
tenaciously to retain the privilidge of spending their own time and
money to attend boring meetings and listen to themselves pontificate.
I suspect more would, as is the case with Dianne Black-Nixon, like
nothing better than to retire but feel a true obligation to finish the
work they started.

It's very easy to be absolute: "they promised to resign so they must."
It's much more difficult to assess the situation rationally a year
later and determine what is the right decision considering all that
has transpired since then. A year ago I wanted a clean break, too. But
at this point, I can wait for the evolution to continue.

Chip Bearden

I think that the surviving problem is the issue of getting the correct
skill sets working on the Board. The idea of Mr. Bearden's struggle
to have Board members "get it" is an illustration of that problem.

It does appear to me that while the Board is not resposible for any of
the related alleged illegalities, it has brought to light some other
problems for which the Board and for which various Board members and
the Board as a whole are responsible.

I think that the problem of getting good and appropriate people to
serve on the Board is a chicken and egg problem. Good Boards will get
good people.

I am sure that Ms. Black-Nixon and the others all have the best
interests of the SSA at heart. I also think that they probably
inherited a problem already established. I think we should look at
the original source and implementation of the idea that audits should
not be done. However, Board members should have been insisting on
seeing audited reports and copies of the IRS returns. This is not
Management 101, but remedial Management 001.

I do not think that continuity is the real reason of asking Board
members or Officers to stay. There are other more limited methods
that would ensure that continuity. therefore, I must wonder what are
the other (even unconscious) resons for doing so.

TheBoard can do a much better job of getting the right skill sets.
First, I think that the Board is looking at credentials that do not
ensure getting those skill sets. Second, let us go out and get people
with the skill sets needed.

Didnt Harris Hill have a director some years back that kept asking for
reports and when he actually got an audited report, he brought to the
Board some bad things? Couldn't all of this have been prevented if
SSA had picked up this person to contribute to the Board?

I would recommend that SSA directors and regional organization and
chapter board members, or those considering serving on non-profit
boards in voluntary organizations, read the following, in the order
presented. Indeed, from reading the excomm minutes, I would say at
least one excomm member has read O'Connell's book, or some of the
resources he cites. From the FRTF final report, I'd say none had read
either or related works, at least recently, as I sense a lack of
certain appreciations. Both should be available in local lending
libraries. Familiarity with the SSA board and excomm minutes is a
must to get the most from these. I suspect many members volunteering
to serve in SSA leadership positions may not have significant
experience in such matters. Most of us deal primarily with private
enterprise and government in our daily experience, though several I'm
sure have served on local non-profit boards, but perhaps without
understanding some of the underlying requirements and concepts. Non-
profit organizations are those special entities removed from both
'private' and 'government' and require a different mind set for
effective stewardship. Indeed, a proper appreciation is the
necessity to defend a vibrant non-profit culture of voluntary
organizations. Neither are omnibus works, nor 100% current in the
shifting paradigms of the non-profit world, but are the best topical
presentations I've found to date. This comes on the heels of a couple
of stints on my own club's board and leading a second non-profit to a
successful 501c(3) determination. I'd rather have discovered these
before a lot of the hand ringing and teeth gnashing that comes from
boards behaving badly, usually through ignorance. Like funerals, we
often learn the best lessons or secrets after someone has died. How
wonder it would have been to have learned these beforehand.

Hopkins, Bruce, R., Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization, A
Legal Guide, Wiley, 4th Edition, 2005
O' Connell, Brian, The Board Member's Book, Making a Difference in
Voluntary Organizations, The Foundation Center, 3rd Edition, 2003

Frank Whiteley