I did not renew my AGA membership.

[daniel_the_smith]

In the past I have offered my services to the AGA for anything that is needed. I got no response in return. I never pushed an Idea or an agenda, I offered services. Help with the aga website if needed. help with database systems, if needed. just tell me what you need and I will do it. I work for one of the largest state college systems in portal/systems integration and you would think that the AGA would have a need. ...

Yeah, that's a problem. Unfortunately if you told the wrong person (through no fault of your own, of course), communication is poor enough that probably the right person would have never found out. Can you PM me who you told, and when (if you can remember)? Obviously there's probably nothing I can do to make it right at this point, but the more such details I have, the better decisions/recommendations I'll be able to make.

Obtaining and taking good care of volunteers is extremely important to me, for obvious reasons. I include below a part of a recommendation that Lisa, Allan, and I made back in November as the result of our discussion of what the "improve the member experience" priority might mean practically.

Ask more of the volunteer coordinator:
* The volunteer coordinator should call all new volunteers, and tell them who they can call/email if they need help or direction. Should tell them who else has worked on this task or similar tasks in the past (or present).
* Perhaps the volunteer coordinator could give them a personalized organizational chart with names and phone numbers on it.
* The volunteer should call all recurring volunteers at least once per year; progress on this should be noted publicly (the same way board member phone calls are tracked).
* The volunteer coordinator should be in regular enough contact with volunteers to notice when they feel overworked.
* The volunteer coordinator should maintain a list on the website of current projects and their statuses, so that members can see what the AGA is doing and how they can help. Major accomplishments or needs should be announced in the e-journal.
* Of course, for this to be possible, the volunteer coordinator should be informed whenever someone begins volunteering. Everyone who is capable of recruiting volunteers needs to be informed of this.
* This is a lot of work, so perhaps regional volunteer coordinator positions can be created as appropriate and as people become available to fill such positions. The volunteer coordinator would then have the task of coordinating between the regional coordinators.

The month before that, when the board was discussing our priorities for the year ahead, I made this suggestion, which turned into the priority "improve the member experience" (and if I hadn't said something of this nature, Lisa probably would have-- I'm not the only person on the board thinking about these things):

1. Fix the AGA "user experience."
Sub-ideas:
* Make interacting with the AGA as easy as possible (example: no one had been looking at the email to the webmaster while the position was vacant; lots of requests had gone unnoticed for months).
* Don't overload/overwork volunteers; make sure volunteers get public recognition.
* Improve/fix/change whatever the AGA does now to make a system which: a) notices when a volunteer goes AWOL and recovers, b) doesn't make volunteers feel like we don't trust them, and c) reduces the chance that volunteers will go AWOL.
* Create a "How to run an AGA chapter" document. Send it to new chapters. (method: task someone with soliciting feedback from current chapter reps and compiling it. Have someone else edit it.)
* Create a chapter mentorship system. Obtain and publish a list of chapter reps who are willing and able to help new chapters get started. Make sure everyone knows who to contact when they have a question they don't know the answer to.
* Announce our goals in the ejournal so members can hold us accountable. Inform the membership about what the board is doing; I think there ought to be a position, held by one of the board members, with a job description of keeping members informed. This person would do things like write press releases for the ejournal, etc. Posting the minutes to the website is not enough; people don't read them and they're a month behind anyway. If you all agree, I'll volunteer.

I'm posting all this up here so that hopefully you guys can see that we recognize that we have a problem, have recognized that for some time-- and that continuing to tell us how bad our problems are isn't a useful thing to do at the moment. Concrete suggestions are welcome, moreso if they are things that are actually feasible.

[direwolf]

Dan,

thanks for the response. I responded with details of what is wrong that everyone was questioning Bearz on. As you know, there is a long long list of issues that go way back that are systemic in nature. I commend you on the work you do and the positive responses you have given. For me, i would suggest creating a 10yr strategic plan and have it published. give us 10 items that the AGA would like to do in 10yrs. each year publish a score card of what was done and how the AGA is going to accomplish another part of the plan.

what happens now is that a project needs a champion to get ti thru the board and possibly to completion. If that person leaves or stops for what ever reason, that project falls by the wayside later to be picke up and many times redone by someone else.

This should not happen, the AGA needs a person/people in charge who are true leaders and vision to accomplish what is needed.

[bearzbear]

Daniel,

It seems like you are trying to work in the right direction. That's good.
I like what you are saying.

Did you get my email?

Also, in the event that it got lost in the melee here, I did post that I would be happy to help in whatever way that I can.

To repeat one of my suggestions, it might be good for the AGA to look at how some other professional organizations that are thriving with a similar size "market" are organized?

Adding on to that, I suspect that by hiring full or part time persons to fill positions such as the volunteer coordinator or better still the person who handles the "day to day" coordinating there would be far better continuity from day to day and over long periods of time.

(anticipating the objection: these days one can work via online... so no overheads there)

(yes, anything like this has to be funded by some means... that is a tactical consideration that needs to be addressed subsequent to finding this to be an appropriate approach. At least it should be considered and studied, maybe tested)

But, what this alone says is that the AGA is improperly organized and as constituted presently is unable to effectively carry out many of the most basic tasks and reach simple goals.

Go analogy: you want to win games, get ur opening right first before worrying about which pro to emulate...etc.

At least two posters have suggested means by which incoming calls and emails can be tracked, and not lost. I haven't seen a post that acknowledged that this is something to do, and that it would be seriously looked into at all...

The "volunteer" thing. It seems to me that the "volunteer coordinator" idea is not a good way to do things. Since that depends on the abilities, time and interest of a single person, the outcome is unclear. Volunteers are crucial to the operation of the AGA. A policy and strategy of "inclusion" needs to be at the very core of the AGA.

While I was a member, and for a longer time receiving the eJournal, I can not recall one single indication, notice or other statement that in any way invited members to participate. Nothing I have seen or read at any time at all (it may be there, but I did not see it) coming OUT of the AGA has suggested anything other than the AGA leadership is telling everyone what they have decided. Top down 100%.

It's not a friendly, open or welcoming tone or image.

I have heard and read of stories of vicious political infighting.

Daniel, let's say ur on the right track. What happens if you suddenly are gone? Why will the basic organization not veer off course and back to the current state IF the underlying "way that things are done" isn't changed?

_-_-bearzbear

[daniel_the_smith]

bearzbear, I responded to your email earlier, I guess you haven't seen it yet.

Also, I don't think you noticed this thread: viewtopic.php?p=90384#p90384

I guess I wasn't clear: I would like to see some redundancy in AGA volunteer positions, so that things do not depend on single individuals. This includes the volunteer coordinator.

While I was a member, and for a longer time receiving the eJournal, I can not recall one single indication, notice or other statement that in any way invited members to participate.

Allan has solicited feedback via email from strong players (>=5d) and pros on two issues in the past month. I am now here listening. This issue is being fixed.

Daniel, let's say ur on the right track. What happens if you suddenly are gone? Why will the basic organization not veer off course and back to the current state IF the underlying "way that things are done" isn't changed?

Others are working towards the same goals I am. I do not plan on being a board member forever. The thing where the board sends the ejournal press releases after each meeting? I volunteered to do that on the condition that the board make it an ongoing position, so it will outlive my presence (they did, and it will). My goal is to get the system into a state where the individual people can drop balls and everything will still work fine, and then go back to playing go.

This is a pretty ambitious goal, and I'm not arrogant enough to just start trying to attempt to take over and force everyone to do things my way. That is the path towards being the idiot in books and movies who takes over the business and just about destroys it, because they don't take the time to understand why things are the way they are. I'm in the process of learning how things work and why from the inside, and I intend to attempt only incremental changes at this point in time.

The people running the AGA are not stupid, yet the AGA has many problems. Why? A number of reasons, but a big one is because they are difficult to fix.

OK, I have to go, so I'll cut this short.

[badukJr]

As for the comment about ineffective regional representatives being re-elected, I think most ordinary AGA members don't pay attention to most of what goes on at board meetings. Most ordinary members just want to play go and aren't interested in AGA politics so they don't know whether their regional representative has an axe to grind or is out to get another AGA official. Also, if I recall correctly, it has been difficult to find people to run for positions on the board. The critics who go on and on about the AGA not taking up their (obvious) ideas should just put their money where their mouth is. More suggestions of what to do aren't needed but more people who are actually willing to do some work are sorely needed. We all know that the AGA is an organization managed by volunteers, almost all of whom have a full time job outside the AGA. Recently a list of jobs that could be done as one time projects by volunteers was published and discouragingly few people actually offered to do any of the jobs. I certainly understand that people don't have time to take on a job for the AGA but someone who passionately criticizes ought to have some energy to put into actually doing something productive rather than just criticize.

I don't think in any organization more than 10% of the members pay attention to what happens at board meetings. Ultimately each individual member must determine if the end services the org provides satisfies them. They could care less about the process. I apologize I offer only criticism and not my time, I personally have absolutely too much on the table right now. Later, in June, when one of my commitments ends, I will re-evaluate.

In general, I believe criticisms is much more productive than a member who leaves the org without comment. The other poster said that if a critic can do better, they should run for president. This is a really sour attitude, and should not be a response to members of an org. Yes, they are volunteers, but when you begin volunteering for something you should know that its absolutely thankless. You do it because you believe in the cause. This is what makes volunteers so great, but they should not be shielded from criticism. As a volunteer elsewhere, I welcome criticism to improve my process. Yeah, there will be insane people who sound off with inane suggestions, you just learn to deal with it. People will end up hating your guts.

That said, I believe the AGA board members (not the LI19x19 board members, i think the term caused confusion) in the thread have given really good feedback and I've been really satisfied with their approach. I thoroughly hope that those who seek to streamline the process at the AGA can gain consensus from the rest of the board to such changes.

[msgreg]

The other poster said that if a critic can do better, they should run for president. This is a really sour attitude, and should not be a response to members of an org.

Yes, sorry. This was me. My comment was a reaction to all of the impractical and not-well-thought-out "solutions" being offered. Constructive critism is one thing, but comments such as "the AGA needs a person/people in charge who are true leaders and vision to accomplish what is needed" do not qualify. Even if the comment were true, there is nothing here that is plausibly a solution or in any way a constructive criticsm.

My apologies to single out this particular comment. I don't mean to imply this "criticism" was unique in its unhelpfulness.

My flippant/sarcastic suggestion was inappropriate. What I should have said perhaps more directly, was that many of the comments being made were unhelpful, and that one way for the criticizer to better formulate their comments into a helpful critiscm would be to have some experience in a group and/or board and/or volunteer setting. Such experience would go a long way toward knowing how to formulate a workable approach to solving problems.

I should have more carefully written my thoughts.

As an example: See this post on evaluating a solution to the communication problem.. It's a plan with distinct steps, solution evaluation, summary generation, AGA "staff" touch point, board touch points, and cost analysis.

[bearzbear]

There is a big difference between the submission of a plan and a discussion of general ideas and issues.

I think the first step is not the submission of plans, but gaining the general understanding that there is a problem, and then what the nature of the problem truly is.

WRT these two points, in the past there has been a general denial either in the form of outright denial or deflection via a number of tactical means. It's impossible to discuss the nature of the problem(s) if there is no willingness to even consider that one exists.

Looks like this has changed now, at least to a substantial degree compared to the way things were in the past. Personally, I am hopeful and encouraged. We'll see what happens next.

As far as working in a volunteer setting, I agree it can be a very difficult thing to cause change, especially when there is an entrenched orthodoxy.

I'd like to apologize for the tone (not most of the content) of my posts so far. However, sometimes (not always) it is necessary to "light a fire" to get things in motion...

_-_-bearzbear

[Joaz Banbeck]

I think we've fed this troll enough. Can we lock it?

[admin]
Not yet. I was thinking about it when there was some rudeness. But the worst we have now is vagueness and speciousness. Besides, it is giving DTS a platform to discuss the AGA.
[/admin]

[illluck]

Yes, impressed and surprised how this is turning into a productive discussion.

[Kirby]

The thread has taken a turn towards sniping, but I think the original message had some points. Someone has declined to renew their AGA membership because they didn't feel like it was worth it. He identified three items that he received as a member:

E-Journal--nice, but regarded as light on content
The Congress
Tournaments--actually rated tournaments, since the only AGA contribution is the rating

.

I agree with this. And in my case, I have never attended congress because of the time commitment and burden on my wife. Plus, the ejournal is free without the bonus content (eg. sgfs). This leaves only one reason for me to sign up for the aga: tournaments. And in my case, the city I live in now is kind of far from anywhere that regularly holds tournaments. So I also didn't renew this year. I renewed last year, but that was because of the go world promotion

At least I got something for my money in 2011.

[xed_over]

WRT

...means what?

[imabuddha]

WRT

...means what?

http://bit.ly/w1QOHA

[HKA]

The thread has taken a turn towards sniping, but I think the original message had some points. Someone has declined to renew their AGA membership because they didn't feel like it was worth it. He identified three items that he received as a member:

E-Journal--nice, but regarded as light on content
The Congress
Tournaments--actually rated tournaments, since the only AGA contribution is the rating

.

I agree with this. And in my case, I have never attended congress because of the time commitment and burden on my wife. Plus, the ejournal is free without the bonus content (eg. sgfs). This leaves only one reason for me to sign up for the aga: tournaments. And in my case, the city I live in now is kind of far from anywhere that regularly holds tournaments. So I also didn't renew this year. I renewed last year, but that was because of the go world promotion

At least I got something for my money in 2011.

I guess I take issue with this whole attitude of "what do we get" Yes, the AGA should of course do whatever it can to give members benefits and to promote go, but joining an organization should be more than "what do we get"

I mean, seriously, its $30 a year. That is less than a week's worth of coffee for most of us. Now, I ask you a question, which do you identify as - a go player or a coffee drinker?

Because it seems to me if you are a go player, you belong to your national association.

Again, I am for improvement, but evaluating this decision based on "Well the ejournal is interesting but I can get most of it for free" is truly missing the point. The only reason the ejournal is interesting is because other people support the AGA and make the things happen that you find interesting.

The reality is the ejournal is not interesting for free, it is interesting because others pay and work to support it - whether it be 5 cups of coffee a year or my $1000 for life or articles written and quizzes guessed.

And the bottom line is the more you put into it, the more you get for your money - the more tournaments you attend, the more tournaments you run, the more people you meet the more interesting the ejournal becomes and the more good you do for go, and even KGS and Life in 19 gets more interesting because you actually, as opposed to virtually, know the people you play and interact with.

Life can be more than getting something for as little money and effort as possible, life can be about investing (barely) and actively belonging.

[hyperpape]

I mean, seriously, its $30 a year. That is less than a week's worth of coffee for most of us. Now, I ask you a question, which do you identify as - a go player or a coffee drinker?

I'm concerned. It sounds a bit like you're drinking the overpriced milkshakes places try to disguise as coffee. Drip coffee is less than $2 a cup. I used to frequent a few places that had really nice coffees at $3, and two of those a day would add up to $30 over a week.

Oh right! The AGA...

Because it seems to me if you are a go player, you belong to your national association.

I can't endorse this wholeheartedly enough. Unless you think the AGA is a complete disgrace, you should be a member.

I don't mean that judgmentally. I let my membership lapse through part of 2010-2011 as I moved across several states, changed fields and found myself rather unprepared to raise a child. Stuff happens. But I would say your membership shouldn't be a purely instrumental thing.

We have to offer things that are interesting because not everyone will see it that way. And an AGA that looks like it's efficiency, active, and concerned about members does a lot to make people feel like they're part of something good.

[bearzbear]

Well this is exactly the question. How do you view the AGA.

Is it sufficient that it is the "only game in town" for Go in the USA, and therefore it's "my country right or wrong"?

There are those whose opinions of the AGA past - we can hold the present in reserve to see what really happens - are far far less complimentary than mine.

I think if you run an organization or a business it is probably a good idea to do the best job possible and to use whatever means you have available to do that job. When that organization's mission is to represent members AND all Go players in the USA, and foster the game then the standard of measure is higher than if it is an organization with only a mission that represents a parochial point of view or a narrow focus in a local area.

It is instructive to recall that 75-90% of all members do not renew for one reason or another. No for profit business would not maximize their "customer" base for "repeat sales" at the very minimum. But this is just a symptom that points to a broader issue.

That issue is what I've tried to bring across - fixing this or that, even if done well simply isn't a solution. Sure the one thing gets fixed, or two things. But do they stay fixed, or fixed in time? Rather, I'd suggest that we discuss how to set up a system & structure that is adaptive, self "curing" and able to address problems as they arise, and find solutions to both old and new operational and tactical deficts in the AGA.

If the AGA structure andsystem is able to support being adaptive and flexible to meet these demands, then it will find the proper solutions to these various problems.

It's a slightly different discussion...

_-_-bear