Text of other pages in this issue: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
8 THE OBSIDIAN - JUNE 1957
LET'S FIRE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
by Bob Medill
I have been thinking, now don't ask me what with? That is an old question and besides I could not answer it. Anyway, I have, and it's all about the Obsidians and their way of life, all the things they stand for, all the things they do, their strong points and their weak ones, their gains and their losses. And the five years that I have been a member the losses have exceeded the gains. Why does our membership continue to shrink in a constantly growing population? That is a question that I have asked myself many times as other members have asked themselves but as for myself I have not gotten a definite reason. I go back to the time that the Obsidians first organized. I was living in Eugene at the time and many times over the years I would read something in the Eugene paper about the Obsidians and I would say to myself, Boy, I would sure like to belong to that outfit. One reason I never tried to join you is that I imagined that it took more money to belong and chase around with you folks than it really does Another reason was that I did not know any of you people who were members, which, if I had would probably have helped me to become a member much sooner. But even after I had become a member I can say that there were a number of times that I almost let my membership drop. Mostly because I could find nothing definite to the organization. My only contact with the organization as such was at the annual meeting only once a year and then you tried to do a whole year's business at that one time. For about three years I did not know for sure whether the outfit had a president - to be sure the constitution said someone would be a president. And the constitution also said that there would be several different classes of membership and all kinds could not vote. So what was the use of paying in dues to an organization if you could'nt vote. So I decided to become a voting member fast as I could. But after I became a voter I found there was nothing to vote for except for some board members once a year. The rest of the time I was just out on the street.
It is my firm conviction that we should do away with the board of directors. Have a president, a vice president, recording secretary, and a financial secretary, Treasurer. Have an open business meeting once a month following a potluck. Our membership is not so large that we can not do this. If it was as large as the Mountaineers or the Mazamas there might be a reason for having a board do all the business. It is my firm belief that we would have a closer knit, more democratic organization than we do now. It is also my opinion that the members should be allowed to vote on all things that are presented and that they should be allowed to present questions and problems and desires. Why make the board pass on all decisions. Who will be elected to membership, how much money will be spent for what? These things should all be settled at regular monthly open meetings, and I believe that we would have a much more successful club. The time allowed to each speaker on the floor could be set by popular vote and I feel that all business could be transacted in an hour and a half. Members would feel more like they were having a tangible part in our organization, instead of feeling that they are just on the outside looking in. As far as the benifits to be derived from the organization they can be had just the same and at less cost by not being a member. Would like to know what others think along this line.
Bob Medill
Note: With some possible modifications, we, the following members of the Board, extend our support to Bob Medill's article above.
James H. Jeppesen, Jr.
George R. Hermach
Several Obsidians attended the lovely wedding of Dennie and Janet Koupal, June 8.
OBSIDIANS, INC,
P. O. BOX 322
EUGENE, OREGON
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