PRA Board - Chapter President Roundtables

[perbgyro]

Out of the PRA improvement thread, this is one action that I proposed and working to implement since becoming the president of chapter 65 in central Texas.

The goal is to have regular roundtables on a periodic basis (to be decided, but monthly to start) between the PRA board members and chapter presidents to facilitate a better communication, more transparency and input into the direction of the organization.

Since Mentone will have a general meeting of this type, I'd like to propose an initial phone conference call in the evening of September 13th around 8pm CDT.

I'll need to setup something different given the time zones of the non-US chapters, where we could do one early morning CDT, but start with the evening one at this point.

[ms80831]

Originally Posted by barnstorm2

What do you think of August 21, 7:30pm eastern?

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Originally Posted by ms80831

Sure

So that's 5:30pm MDT on Tuesday 8/21.

How does the conference call work?

Who else will be participating?

Mark Shook
President PRA38.

SO...

The meeting has been rescheduled to:

Thursday Sept 13th at 7PM MDT.

I will be available and waiting for connection instructions.

Mark Shook
President/ PRA38

[Steve Weir]

Paul, I will be available also keep me informed of any changes.

[gyroplanes]

Hey guys, I would suggest that you make the events "Chapter Contact Person" events. I have found, through experience as the PRA Chapter Coordinator, that often the chapter president isn't the one to communicate with for various reasons. Inviting chapter contact persons opens the door for more chapter involvement and is impervious to changes in the club's officials.
Just a thought.

[PW_Plack]

Invite the chapters to send an official representative they choose. I know of at least one chapter which will have members at Mentone, but no officers. The same thing may happen with conference calls.

[perbgyro]

Originally Posted by gyroplanes

...often the chapter president isn't the one to communicate with for various reasons...

I don't get it... then why are they president? If they don't communicate with their chapter, then something is wrong. What do they do, make decisions via proxy or are they just a figure head/puppet?...etc.

[jcarleto]

There are clubs that are in a state of organizational disarray either by design or attrition. Fortunately, there is generally someone who is willing to take calls or otherwise stand up for the club. The concept of "President" may not exist or be appropriate in that organization. What may have once been a traditionally-organized PRA Chapter may be simply a gaggle of pilots where one guy agrees to take the calls. You can measure neither the size nor strength of the organization by its structure.

One thing needs to be understood. Not all gyroplane clubs are the same.

[PW_Plack]

Originally Posted by perbgyro

I don't get it... then why are they president?

Because the president's job is to preside at meetings, appoint committees and delegate tasks.

Most organizations have bylaws which put secretaries in charge of handling official correspondence in/out. PRA chapters apparently are not usually set up this way.

[Mike484]

I have found on occation that if you want to get information on a chapter you will get a lot more from someone other than the President and sometimes from ones that aren't even an officer. You may have a President that just does not communicate outside of the chapter and may not want to participate. And if the Prsident does participate, will he take the information back to the members? Even if this is to be a 'Presidents' meeting you may want to allow for a representative to participate in his place.

[ms80831]

What happened to the Pra Chapter Presidents conference call that was supposed to happen tonight?

[Adam H]

I'd like to participate, please keep us informed as to when it will take place.

[perbgyro]

Sorry,
I dropped the ball and will get with Tim and reschedule.
Paul...

[barnstorm2]

I can set you up with a phone-only conference or a go-to-meeting conference that is held on the internet.

Just let me know the date at least 2 weeks in advance.

Must be after 6:30p Eastern.

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