Thought 05DEC2008

9 POINTS FORMULA TO KILL AN ASSOCIATION
(1) Don't participate beyond paying your dues. Let 'them' handle the things. Then complain that the members have no voice in the association.
(2) Decline all offices, committee meetings and appointments - YOU ARE TOO BUSY. Then offer vociferous advice on how to do the things.
(3) Even then, if appointed to the executive committee, don't work - it's a courtesy appointment. Then complain that the association has stagnated.
(4) If you do attend General Meetings, don't initiate new ideas. Then you can play "Devil's Advocate" to those submitted by others.
(5) Don't volunteer your talents - that's ego fulfillment. Then complain that you are never asked and never appreciated.
(6) Don't rush to pay your dues - these are too high anyway! Then complain about the poor financial management.
(7) Don't encourage others to become the members - that's selling. Then complain that the membership is not growing.
(8) Don't read and respond mail from the headquarters - it is not important. Then complain that you are not kept informed.
(9) Don't inform about your change in job and address - it is 'their' duty to find out. Then complain that you are not receiving the mail and bulletins.

Grasp every opportunity to tell the younger generation, how tough it was and how hard 'we' worked in the old days to bring the association to its present level of success.
extracted from 'Management Thoughts' by Promod Batra, Golden Book Centre Sdn Bhd, reprinted 1995

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The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn - David Russell