Hello all! I for one appreciate the tried and true system there’s been set in place. I feel reassured when I leave and join again, I come back to people with great experience, knowledge and sound judgement that I recognize and trust. And I also really trust that they will select and train the best qualified new position holders. This is one of the most stable* organizations around —worldwide! I applaud the board, the task force and all the volunteers and members that make PBS awesome! (*stable in both senses of the word) I think there’s no secret to the job descriptions. I can figure it out by observation and the board members are pretty friendly and I’m sure they would happily mention the roles if a volunteer reaches out and asks them. For lower and mid level jobs, there’s a need for job descriptions, but C suite jobs, there’s a different way of selecting a suitable candidate. I seriously think the jobs at PBS are CEO, CFO etc level , as they deal with global members and issues, and their connections to institutions are worldwide. The board and task force also need to consider future implications of actions and decisions. They just don’t hold fancy titles. So in short I trust the system. And as they say in Star Trek: Steady as she goes… Have a good day everyone! -Elaine Jek On Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 5:00 AM <pbs-request@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > Send pbs mailing list submissions to > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > pbs-request@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > pbs-owner@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of pbs digest..." > > > List-Post:<mailto:pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > List-Archive:<http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. PBS after morning coffee?? (Denis Kearns) > 2. Re: Putting the cart before the horse (Ray Vanveen) > 3. Re: Treasurer's role (Mike) > 4. Re: Putting the cart before the horse (Tim Eck) > 5. Re: Treasurer's role (Jan Jeddeloh) > 6. Re: Putting the cart before the horse (Mike) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2023 09:37:10 -0700 > From: Denis Kearns <bogdmk@gmail.com> > To: pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > Subject: [pbs] PBS after morning coffee?? > Message-ID: > <CALenvZFXbDaNjML7QqB3_JTjHdMNfhMJw8+HLN= > Lax9P5DqaHg@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > I would like to thank all the folks who donate their time, energy, > expertise, seeds, and bulbs to making PBS such an amazing resource. It?s > nice to be part of a community that is doing something to make the world a > little nicer and that has a focus on sharing. This includes sharing > tangible items, like seeds and bulbs, but also the vast amount of > experience and expertise that can be found within our membership. I > particularly like that the ?Pacific? includes other parts of the world, > both in plants and in membership. Some of us are retired and have the > luxury of being able to contribute more. Some have extensive collections > which allow a greater contribution to the exchanges (thank you!); some may > only have a few items within the geophysical universe that we can offer, > and some don?t have anything extra to share, but still enjoy being a part > of PBS. We all have different stories and all are valuable members of our > wonderful little society. We are all human, with all our idiosyncrasies (a > word I learned from my mother at an early age!) and we all need to remember > to be kind to one another. Just my two cents. In the future, I hope to > be more involved with PBS, once I end this veliger stage and, for once in > my life, build something other than another ?temporary? greenhouse. > - Denis > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2023 10:49:16 -0700 > From: Ray Vanveen <rayvv@aol.com> > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Putting the cart before the horse > Message-ID: <B1561A74-B340-4769-A57D-3EAF6176FC09@aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > Well said. I do appreciate the the volunteers that make the society a > success. As for the complainers I do not see them step up and volunteer > for a position. But that is the world we live in TODAY SAD > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Aug 9, 2023, at 12:37 AM, Shmuel Silinsky via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > ?My two cents: > > I am not currently a member of PBS, though I have been in the past. I > have > > donated to the SBC even though I have never asked anything from it. The > > point is that PBS, especially from my point of view, is an incredibly > > valuable resource. The website / Wiki are amazing and extremely useful. I > > have seen other plant oriented groups, in particular one dealing with > > succulents, that devolved into pointless arguments and offensive comments > > back and forth until the site was ultimately destroyed. I dearly do not > > want that to happen here so please, as an outsider, I hope everyone takes > > all comments as helpful suggestions and not personal attacks. May the > love > > of geophytes be the ruling motives and may PBS continue to be a wonderful > > organization into the future. > > > >> On Tue, Aug 8, 2023, 3:50 PM Mike via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > >> wrote: > >> > >> Hello All, > >> > >> Forming a nominating committee. Really in 2023. > >> > >> I frankly find it elitist and condescending. Also haven?t we had > enough of > >> this back room politics ? No we need transparency., > >> > >> I have a much better idea to discuss. Janes committee should be focused > on > >> building coherent job descriptions for each position. Typical duties > and > >> responsibilities. The most important thing would be an annual review to > >> goals. > >> > >> Imagine understanding what the job was knowing how the job was going to > be > >> measured and then deciding if you want to participate what a novel idea > >> > >> We have languished for 4 years in a limbo of ineffective governance why? > >> Because we still use a system designed to allow the original founders to > >> stay as long as they wanted and leave when they got bored. > >> > >> I will provide just one example of how poorly we are doing and have > done. > >> > >> Let?s agree that the BX and SX have the role of generating income for > the > >> group in fact should be the number one income generator. This is fact > >> > >> What is the percent of members who have made one donation to the BX/SX > in > >> the last two years ? I can assure you its way below 1/2. > >> > >> So this is our life blood and yet, I rarely if ever hear anyone on the > Exec > >> board other then the two hardest working people in PBS. Jan and Bridget. > >> They are not discussing it in the same way an executive should. This > has > >> been one of the biggest blunders allowed to fester in PBS. Our primary > >> executive should have been the BX/SX biggest cheerleader period. > Reminding > >> all what it does and encouraging everyone to participate. This never > >> happened. > >> Let?s go further down this rabbit hole. We have a few big hitters that > >> easily donate over half the products sold at our events?.What has our > >> executive done that is immune to the will of the membership, only > beholden > >> to a few who are also either out of touch, new or want to be president? > >> Not a very good group to govern and manage an executive is it. I have > seem > >> some of these big fish actuallly antagonized by our executive team. > >> > >> What if they pack up and donate their time and amazing bulbs to other > >> groups?.maybe its already happened? > >> > >> These are the members our next President should be close with. I hope > our > >> next president makes it very clear we are all bound by the honorable > common > >> sense rule to share..meaning provide and take. > >> > >> What should we do? The folks that donate. All of us should be noted in > the > >> winter bulb garden in a Growers. Circle. > >> > >> The big hitters meaning the top 5 donors in each of the SX and BX > should go > >> into the President Citcle. > >> > >> Isn?t that a simple and cost effective way to help solve a huge problem? > >> > >> It?s time for the whole executive structure to be scrapped. > >> > >> > >> > >> All of the members I?m acquainted with are very smart and busy people. > I > >> have a feeling that if they could see job descriptions. They are all > mature > >> enough to decide if they want to throw their hat in the ring. > >> > >> In fact in 2023, we need an executive comfortable with social media?so > that > >> person will chose to participate on their own. We don?t need or want a > >> person who, own their accord is not aware they have the calling to > >> volunteer . > >> > >> > >> The nominating committee model is outdated smacks of cronyism and has no > >> place in the mgt of a bulb group in 2023. > >> > >> I expect a lively discussion, you should all be outraged that the group > is > >> run this way. > >> > >> One last thought we have never had a shortage of volunteers we have had > a > >> shortage of people willing to work under a bullying manager , as a good > use > >> of their free time > >> > >> > >> > >> Respectfully > >> > >> > >> Michael Lowitz > >> > >> San Diego > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > >> PBS Forum latest: > >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2023 14:05:33 -0700 > From: Mike <mike.lowitz@gmail.com> > To: Arnold Trachtenberg <arnold140@verizon.net>, Pacific Bulb Society > <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Treasurer's role > Message-ID: > < > CABtzRWk5cSPBJCzkjKOujpQhTUYGfGBGMjBoTzO6rXEE3pqDng@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > I think you have hit the nail on the head we are group of bulb enthusiasts > who all share a love of geophyte?s. I don?t think or at least not me feel > there is any financial shenagsns going on. By the same standard why the > unnecessary control of the executive group. I understand when a group ie > new. It?s not needed now. All the members are extremely capable of deciding > if they want to volunteer or not to be on the board. Transparency, job > descriptions and how their success will be measured is what is needed. > > > It?s time to allow the best and brightest to > run the group. If there is a good arguement against it, other than ego > and tradition I would like to hear it? > > This is a discussion long overdue. So let?s be adults and move forward > with what?s the best path for PBS?.not some private back room transfer of > power > > > > > Mike > > > > On Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 10: 36 AM Arnold Trachtenberg via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > Do we really believe there have been mistakes with finances? I do not > know > > of them. We are not here to bankroll money from bulbs. We are a > > not-for-profit organization. Through PBS, there are minor gifts and > > financial awards given. That's better than some other 501(c)3 > > organizations with far more money. Creating a larger bank account means > > more accountability for the organization and more work for unpaid board > > members. I think it is far better to keep a volunteer organization lean > > and as streamlined as possible to avoid complications caused by large > > amounts of money. > > > > I was somewhat dismayed that a comment like this. What was the source > of > > this comment? > > We print the financial report in each Bulb Garden and a Treasurer's > > report is provided prior to every Board meeting.Any financial decisions > > that are made are voted on by the full board out in the open. Minutes > are > > produced following each meeting and voted on the next Board meeting. > > If anyone has any questions or concerns about how and where funds are > > allocated please contact me. > > ArnoldArnold140@verizon.net > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2023 18:52:02 -0400 > From: Tim Eck <timeck17582@gmail.com> > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Putting the cart before the horse > Message-ID: > < > CA+ur5iYgDcGc2SLXhbNu9tMY-C6kHt3yE0KgOw39kWsgsAdggg@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > I think a lot of the credibility issues are due to contrary facts where > complainers did volunteer and were rebuffed and even denigrated by mispost. > > On Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 1:49?PM Ray Vanveen via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > Well said. I do appreciate the the volunteers that make the society a > > success. As for the complainers I do not see them step up and volunteer > > for a position. But that is the world we live in TODAY SAD > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > On Aug 9, 2023, at 12:37 AM, Shmuel Silinsky via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > > > ?My two cents: > > > I am not currently a member of PBS, though I have been in the past. I > > have > > > donated to the SBC even though I have never asked anything from it. The > > > point is that PBS, especially from my point of view, is an incredibly > > > valuable resource. The website / Wiki are amazing and extremely > useful. I > > > have seen other plant oriented groups, in particular one dealing with > > > succulents, that devolved into pointless arguments and offensive > comments > > > back and forth until the site was ultimately destroyed. I dearly do not > > > want that to happen here so please, as an outsider, I hope everyone > takes > > > all comments as helpful suggestions and not personal attacks. May the > > love > > > of geophytes be the ruling motives and may PBS continue to be a > wonderful > > > organization into the future. > > > > > >> On Tue, Aug 8, 2023, 3:50 PM Mike via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> wrote: > > >> > > >> Hello All, > > >> > > >> Forming a nominating committee. Really in 2023. > > >> > > >> I frankly find it elitist and condescending. Also haven?t we had > > enough of > > >> this back room politics ? No we need transparency., > > >> > > >> I have a much better idea to discuss. Janes committee should be > focused > > on > > >> building coherent job descriptions for each position. Typical duties > > and > > >> responsibilities. The most important thing would be an annual review > to > > >> goals. > > >> > > >> Imagine understanding what the job was knowing how the job was going > to > > be > > >> measured and then deciding if you want to participate what a novel > idea > > >> > > >> We have languished for 4 years in a limbo of ineffective governance > why? > > >> Because we still use a system designed to allow the original founders > to > > >> stay as long as they wanted and leave when they got bored. > > >> > > >> I will provide just one example of how poorly we are doing and have > > done. > > >> > > >> Let?s agree that the BX and SX have the role of generating income for > > the > > >> group in fact should be the number one income generator. This is fact > > >> > > >> What is the percent of members who have made one donation to the BX/SX > > in > > >> the last two years ? I can assure you its way below 1/2. > > >> > > >> So this is our life blood and yet, I rarely if ever hear anyone on the > > Exec > > >> board other then the two hardest working people in PBS. Jan and > Bridget. > > >> They are not discussing it in the same way an executive should. This > > has > > >> been one of the biggest blunders allowed to fester in PBS. Our > primary > > >> executive should have been the BX/SX biggest cheerleader period. > > Reminding > > >> all what it does and encouraging everyone to participate. This never > > >> happened. > > >> Let?s go further down this rabbit hole. We have a few big hitters that > > >> easily donate over half the products sold at our events?.What has our > > >> executive done that is immune to the will of the membership, only > > beholden > > >> to a few who are also either out of touch, new or want to be > president? > > >> Not a very good group to govern and manage an executive is it. I have > > seem > > >> some of these big fish actuallly antagonized by our executive team. > > >> > > >> What if they pack up and donate their time and amazing bulbs to other > > >> groups?.maybe its already happened? > > >> > > >> These are the members our next President should be close with. I hope > > our > > >> next president makes it very clear we are all bound by the honorable > > common > > >> sense rule to share..meaning provide and take. > > >> > > >> What should we do? The folks that donate. All of us should be noted in > > the > > >> winter bulb garden in a Growers. Circle. > > >> > > >> The big hitters meaning the top 5 donors in each of the SX and BX > > should go > > >> into the President Citcle. > > >> > > >> Isn?t that a simple and cost effective way to help solve a huge > problem? > > >> > > >> It?s time for the whole executive structure to be scrapped. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> All of the members I?m acquainted with are very smart and busy people. > > I > > >> have a feeling that if they could see job descriptions. They are all > > mature > > >> enough to decide if they want to throw their hat in the ring. > > >> > > >> In fact in 2023, we need an executive comfortable with social media?so > > that > > >> person will chose to participate on their own. We don?t need or want > a > > >> person who, own their accord is not aware they have the calling to > > >> volunteer . > > >> > > >> > > >> The nominating committee model is outdated smacks of cronyism and has > no > > >> place in the mgt of a bulb group in 2023. > > >> > > >> I expect a lively discussion, you should all be outraged that the > group > > is > > >> run this way. > > >> > > >> One last thought we have never had a shortage of volunteers we have > had > > a > > >> shortage of people willing to work under a bullying manager , as a > good > > use > > >> of their free time > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> Respectfully > > >> > > >> > > >> Michael Lowitz > > >> > > >> San Diego > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> pbs mailing list > > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> PBS Forum latest: > > >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pbs mailing list > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2023 16:00:17 -0700 > From: Jan Jeddeloh <seedyjan1@gmail.com> > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Treasurer's role > Message-ID: <5C1AF675-ED94-4458-AB9C-9C840BCB1C1B@gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > Mike, I think you misunderstand the use of a nominating committee in small > horticultural organizations like PBS. Nominating committees are not > uncommon at all, our local NARGS chapter has one and I believe national > does too, and really their main purpose is to beat the bushes to find > people to do the work. Having been on nominating committees I can assure > you this can be like the proverbial pulling teeth. It?s very, very rare > someone qualified volunteers and even more rare to have two people > competing for one position. If PBS relied only on folks volunteering for > positions I can almost guarantee the group would fold quickly because > damned few would volunteer. > > Nominating committees, in my experience, aren?t some way to arrange ?back > room transfer of power? but it is true that people often look at people > they know. This is because their experience with possible candidates tells > them who can do the job and who can?t. And yes nominating committees can > and do ask around for references on people they don?t know. The plant > world is really very small. I got the job of seed exchange organizer > because I?ve known Robin and Jane for years AND, based on that knowledge, > they knew I had the skills and experience of come up with a workable > system. They also knew I wouldn?t flake on doing the job and leave the > group high and dry. > > Peace? > > Jan > > > On Aug 9, 2023, at 2:05 PM, Mike via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > I think you have hit the nail on the head we are group of bulb > enthusiasts > > who all share a love of geophyte?s. I don?t think or at least not me > feel > > there is any financial shenagsns going on. By the same standard why the > > unnecessary control of the executive group. I understand when a group ie > > new. It?s not needed now. All the members are extremely capable of > deciding > > if they want to volunteer or not to be on the board. Transparency, job > > descriptions and how their success will be measured is what is needed. > > > > > > It?s time to allow the best and brightest to > > run the group. If there is a good arguement against it, other than ego > > and tradition I would like to hear it? > > > > This is a discussion long overdue. So let?s be adults and move forward > > with what?s the best path for PBS?.not some private back room transfer > of > > power > > > > > > > > > > Mike > > > > > > > > On Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 10: 36 AM Arnold Trachtenberg via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > >> Do we really believe there have been mistakes with finances? I do not > know > >> of them. We are not here to bankroll money from bulbs. We are a > >> not-for-profit organization. Through PBS, there are minor gifts and > >> financial awards given. That's better than some other 501(c)3 > >> organizations with far more money. Creating a larger bank account means > >> more accountability for the organization and more work for unpaid board > >> members. I think it is far better to keep a volunteer organization lean > >> and as streamlined as possible to avoid complications caused by large > >> amounts of money. > >> > >> I was somewhat dismayed that a comment like this. What was the source > of > >> this comment? > >> We print the financial report in each Bulb Garden and a Treasurer's > >> report is provided prior to every Board meeting.Any financial > decisions > >> that are made are voted on by the full board out in the open. Minutes > are > >> produced following each meeting and voted on the next Board meeting. > >> If anyone has any questions or concerns about how and where funds are > >> allocated please contact me. > >> ArnoldArnold140@verizon.net > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > >> PBS Forum latest: > >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2023 17:27:10 -0700 > From: Mike <mike.lowitz@gmail.com> > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Putting the cart before the horse > Message-ID: > < > CABtzRWmpj_8uGfR4iq1TMpTqzOv+0mg1qhx2t64ysfJPa1ZrYw@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Tim, > > > I agree with you whole heartedly. > > I intentionally was brash in my comments to bring about a discussiom we > have danced around for years. > > It?s time for everyone who pays dues to be treated equally. > > If anyone can find a document that says a private board of directors that > is not beholden to the membership is a road to longevity and success please > bring it forward. > > All I?ve seen is yes at first it may be necessary to create the environment > for sustainability. So after 5 years or so it is changed if the board is > strong enough and believes in its mission. > > Create Job descriptions and tools to measure progress. > > We can have an annual zoom meeting and go from there > > Accountability is what will drive us forward fairly and with the right > people in place. > > I think we all want PBS to thrive, id like to hear from Robin and other > board members why this is not a good idea. > > Specifically why. Transparency and an open election of members who want to > take on the challenge is not a good idea. > > > How a nominating committee is better? > > I don?t feel this is a time for silence from the current board? It?s a time > to discuss why the nominating committee is best ? > > Mike > > On Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 3:52 PM Tim Eck via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > I think a lot of the credibility issues are due to contrary facts where > > complainers did volunteer and were rebuffed and even denigrated by > mispost. > > > > On Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 1:49?PM Ray Vanveen via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > > Well said. I do appreciate the the volunteers that make the society a > > > success. As for the complainers I do not see them step up and > volunteer > > > for a position. But that is the world we live in TODAY SAD > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > On Aug 9, 2023, at 12:37 AM, Shmuel Silinsky via pbs < > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > > > > > ?My two cents: > > > > I am not currently a member of PBS, though I have been in the past. I > > > have > > > > donated to the SBC even though I have never asked anything from it. > The > > > > point is that PBS, especially from my point of view, is an incredibly > > > > valuable resource. The website / Wiki are amazing and extremely > > useful. I > > > > have seen other plant oriented groups, in particular one dealing with > > > > succulents, that devolved into pointless arguments and offensive > > comments > > > > back and forth until the site was ultimately destroyed. I dearly do > not > > > > want that to happen here so please, as an outsider, I hope everyone > > takes > > > > all comments as helpful suggestions and not personal attacks. May the > > > love > > > > of geophytes be the ruling motives and may PBS continue to be a > > wonderful > > > > organization into the future. > > > > > > > >> On Tue, Aug 8, 2023, 3:50 PM Mike via pbs < > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > >> wrote: > > > >> > > > >> Hello All, > > > >> > > > >> Forming a nominating committee. Really in 2023. > > > >> > > > >> I frankly find it elitist and condescending. Also haven?t we had > > > enough of > > > >> this back room politics ? No we need transparency., > > > >> > > > >> I have a much better idea to discuss. Janes committee should be > > focused > > > on > > > >> building coherent job descriptions for each position. Typical > duties > > > and > > > >> responsibilities. The most important thing would be an annual > review > > to > > > >> goals. > > > >> > > > >> Imagine understanding what the job was knowing how the job was going > > to > > > be > > > >> measured and then deciding if you want to participate what a novel > > idea > > > >> > > > >> We have languished for 4 years in a limbo of ineffective governance > > why? > > > >> Because we still use a system designed to allow the original > founders > > to > > > >> stay as long as they wanted and leave when they got bored. > > > >> > > > >> I will provide just one example of how poorly we are doing and have > > > done. > > > >> > > > >> Let?s agree that the BX and SX have the role of generating income > for > > > the > > > >> group in fact should be the number one income generator. This is > fact > > > >> > > > >> What is the percent of members who have made one donation to the > BX/SX > > > in > > > >> the last two years ? I can assure you its way below 1/2. > > > >> > > > >> So this is our life blood and yet, I rarely if ever hear anyone on > the > > > Exec > > > >> board other then the two hardest working people in PBS. Jan and > > Bridget. > > > >> They are not discussing it in the same way an executive should. > This > > > has > > > >> been one of the biggest blunders allowed to fester in PBS. Our > > primary > > > >> executive should have been the BX/SX biggest cheerleader period. > > > Reminding > > > >> all what it does and encouraging everyone to participate. This never > > > >> happened. > > > >> Let?s go further down this rabbit hole. We have a few big hitters > that > > > >> easily donate over half the products sold at our events?.What has > our > > > >> executive done that is immune to the will of the membership, only > > > beholden > > > >> to a few who are also either out of touch, new or want to be > > president? > > > >> Not a very good group to govern and manage an executive is it. I > have > > > seem > > > >> some of these big fish actuallly antagonized by our executive team. > > > >> > > > >> What if they pack up and donate their time and amazing bulbs to > other > > > >> groups?.maybe its already happened? > > > >> > > > >> These are the members our next President should be close with. I > hope > > > our > > > >> next president makes it very clear we are all bound by the honorable > > > common > > > >> sense rule to share..meaning provide and take. > > > >> > > > >> What should we do? The folks that donate. All of us should be noted > in > > > the > > > >> winter bulb garden in a Growers. Circle. > > > >> > > > >> The big hitters meaning the top 5 donors in each of the SX and BX > > > should go > > > >> into the President Citcle. > > > >> > > > >> Isn?t that a simple and cost effective way to help solve a huge > > problem? > > > >> > > > >> It?s time for the whole executive structure to be scrapped. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> All of the members I?m acquainted with are very smart and busy > people. > > > I > > > >> have a feeling that if they could see job descriptions. They are all > > > mature > > > >> enough to decide if they want to throw their hat in the ring. > > > >> > > > >> In fact in 2023, we need an executive comfortable with social > media?so > > > that > > > >> person will chose to participate on their own. We don?t need or > want > > a > > > >> person who, own their accord is not aware they have the calling to > > > >> volunteer . > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> The nominating committee model is outdated smacks of cronyism and > has > > no > > > >> place in the mgt of a bulb group in 2023. > > > >> > > > >> I expect a lively discussion, you should all be outraged that the > > group > > > is > > > >> run this way. > > > >> > > > >> One last thought we have never had a shortage of volunteers we have > > had > > > a > > > >> shortage of people willing to work under a bullying manager , as a > > good > > > use > > > >> of their free time > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Respectfully > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Michael Lowitz > > > >> > > > >> San Diego > > > >> _______________________________________________ > > > >> pbs mailing list > > > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > >> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > >> PBS Forum latest: > > > >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > pbs mailing list > > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > > PBS Forum latest: > > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pbs mailing list > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > PBS Forum latest: > > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > ------------------------------ > > End of pbs Digest, Vol 78, Issue 7 > ********************************** > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…