Parent Board Members?
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
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2muchParentPOWER
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 3:23 pm
Parent Board Members?
Do they really think they're fooling anyone, Really your on the board for the program or just your kid. My bet is 80% of the boards in youth hockey are a joke.
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skateguymn
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:01 pm
Boy you sound like just the thing these boards have been waiting for, a person that knows everything about hockey. What an idiot. Just who do you think will do the work required to insure YOUR kid has a place to play hockey. While I do not doubt there are board members that may have alterior motives a vast majority have to be respected for the work they do.
What a great first post, why don't you get off your A%* and go do something about it if you are not satisfied?
I assume you have excuses, you are probably too lazy or let me guess you are too busy in your personal or professional life to deal with the business of hockey.
Get a life and then come back to this board and gripe.
What a great first post, why don't you get off your A%* and go do something about it if you are not satisfied?
I assume you have excuses, you are probably too lazy or let me guess you are too busy in your personal or professional life to deal with the business of hockey.
Get a life and then come back to this board and gripe.
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oldtimer64
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:15 am
I always love responses like this. Instead of reciting the same pathetic response how about we actually talk about the issues that this type of behavior often time creates. Just maybe, by talking about it and drawing attention to it, one of these parents who is doing it for the wrong reason will see the light and do it for the right reason, association first, their personal interest second.skateguymn wrote:Boy you sound like just the thing these boards have been waiting for, a person that knows everything about hockey. What an idiot. Just who do you think will do the work required to insure YOUR kid has a place to play hockey. While I do not doubt there are board members that may have alterior motives a vast majority have to be respected for the work they do.
What a great first post, why don't you get off your A%* and go do something about it if you are not satisfied?
I assume you have excuses, you are probably too lazy or let me guess you are too busy in your personal or professional life to deal with the business of hockey.
Get a life and then come back to this board and gripe.
This response actually makes these idiots think they are in the right, because they are doing something. Too bad they are only doing it to get a benefit. Great that they are doing something, but isn't volunteering only volunteering when you are NOT expecting something back in return?
nobodey will see the light... its a simple fact their is politics in hockey!!!!!!!!! i use to think it was in local associations but i have seen and learned it runs all the way to the nhl.. it will never change so the best way to handle it is not to let it get to you. you also have to teach your children how to handle it and thats not by having a fit yourself. to beat politics plain and simple keep working hard to rise above it. you cant keep a kid down thats winning the battle on the ice.
I don't think it is appropriate to question volunteer parent board members. Are there problems with some associations out there? Perhaps.
I began running a board over 4 years ago because nobody would step up (a lot of whining about the board, but none of the whiners participating in the process).
There is no one within our association that can complain that our board is just a bunch of old cronies with an agenda for our kids. Virtually every board member, including myself, has seen the disappointment of our kids when rosters are posted and they ended up on the 'south side' of the bubble whether it was the selection process, imperfect tryout processes, or other reasons. No board members have received preferential treatment.
Sitting on a board takes a lot of time and energy. Any parent is welcome to join the board or at least attend board meetings (few do). As we tell those who are wanting to join our board - if you are a one issue parent (I want to get rid of a coach, etc.) do not join the board. Join if you want to make the program better for all and if you are just showing up to give your opinions, but unwilling to roll up your sleeves on some of the grunt work....don't bother.
If you are unhappy about your board, join it. Review the bylaws and the election process for changing your board if you feel that there is cronyism or other problems. Personally, I have always said to our board that if people are unhappy with the leadership that I would be overwhelmingly pleased to step aside for a new "regime" to take on the board (no need to go through the bylaw process!)...so far no takers. No need for a hostile coup....I would be happy to step down as you would find MOST of your board members would feel the same way - they make up a small percentage of the association membership, but do all of the heavy lifting.
In the end - someone has to run things. Membership has the power to select that someone. Excercise your rights as a member under your bylaws to change things if your association is out of whack - but be prepared to do all the 'hidden' work that you never knew board members do to make your association run. Parent board members are how associations are run. There are few conspiracies once you really start asking questions and understanding what went into decisions. Step up....but don't complain!
I began running a board over 4 years ago because nobody would step up (a lot of whining about the board, but none of the whiners participating in the process).
There is no one within our association that can complain that our board is just a bunch of old cronies with an agenda for our kids. Virtually every board member, including myself, has seen the disappointment of our kids when rosters are posted and they ended up on the 'south side' of the bubble whether it was the selection process, imperfect tryout processes, or other reasons. No board members have received preferential treatment.
Sitting on a board takes a lot of time and energy. Any parent is welcome to join the board or at least attend board meetings (few do). As we tell those who are wanting to join our board - if you are a one issue parent (I want to get rid of a coach, etc.) do not join the board. Join if you want to make the program better for all and if you are just showing up to give your opinions, but unwilling to roll up your sleeves on some of the grunt work....don't bother.
If you are unhappy about your board, join it. Review the bylaws and the election process for changing your board if you feel that there is cronyism or other problems. Personally, I have always said to our board that if people are unhappy with the leadership that I would be overwhelmingly pleased to step aside for a new "regime" to take on the board (no need to go through the bylaw process!)...so far no takers. No need for a hostile coup....I would be happy to step down as you would find MOST of your board members would feel the same way - they make up a small percentage of the association membership, but do all of the heavy lifting.
In the end - someone has to run things. Membership has the power to select that someone. Excercise your rights as a member under your bylaws to change things if your association is out of whack - but be prepared to do all the 'hidden' work that you never knew board members do to make your association run. Parent board members are how associations are run. There are few conspiracies once you really start asking questions and understanding what went into decisions. Step up....but don't complain!
well stated - those that complain the most typically do nothing that pertains to action.SWPrez wrote:I don't think it is appropriate to question volunteer parent board members. Are there problems with some associations out there? Perhaps.
I began running a board over 4 years ago because nobody would step up (a lot of whining about the board, but none of the whiners participating in the process).
There is no one within our association that can complain that our board is just a bunch of old cronies with an agenda for our kids. Virtually every board member, including myself, has seen the disappointment of our kids when rosters are posted and they ended up on the 'south side' of the bubble whether it was the selection process, imperfect tryout processes, or other reasons. No board members have received preferential treatment.
Sitting on a board takes a lot of time and energy. Any parent is welcome to join the board or at least attend board meetings (few do). As we tell those who are wanting to join our board - if you are a one issue parent (I want to get rid of a coach, etc.) do not join the board. Join if you want to make the program better for all and if you are just showing up to give your opinions, but unwilling to roll up your sleeves on some of the grunt work....don't bother.
If you are unhappy about your board, join it. Review the bylaws and the election process for changing your board if you feel that there is cronyism or other problems. Personally, I have always said to our board that if people are unhappy with the leadership that I would be overwhelmingly pleased to step aside for a new "regime" to take on the board (no need to go through the bylaw process!)...so far no takers. No need for a hostile coup....I would be happy to step down as you would find MOST of your board members would feel the same way - they make up a small percentage of the association membership, but do all of the heavy lifting.
In the end - someone has to run things. Membership has the power to select that someone. Excercise your rights as a member under your bylaws to change things if your association is out of whack - but be prepared to do all the 'hidden' work that you never knew board members do to make your association run. Parent board members are how associations are run. There are few conspiracies once you really start asking questions and understanding what went into decisions. Step up....but don't complain!
I did two years on the hockey board and over 12 years on the soccer board. When I left the soccer board I told the membership. That I enjoyed being a servant to the players, but I was no longer going to be a slave to the parents.
fighting all who rob or plunder
You have it exactly right.SWPrez wrote:I don't think it is appropriate to question volunteer parent board members. Are there problems with some associations out there? Perhaps.
I began running a board over 4 years ago because nobody would step up (a lot of whining about the board, but none of the whiners participating in the process).
There is no one within our association that can complain that our board is just a bunch of old cronies with an agenda for our kids. Virtually every board member, including myself, has seen the disappointment of our kids when rosters are posted and they ended up on the 'south side' of the bubble whether it was the selection process, imperfect tryout processes, or other reasons. No board members have received preferential treatment.
Sitting on a board takes a lot of time and energy. Any parent is welcome to join the board or at least attend board meetings (few do). As we tell those who are wanting to join our board - if you are a one issue parent (I want to get rid of a coach, etc.) do not join the board. Join if you want to make the program better for all and if you are just showing up to give your opinions, but unwilling to roll up your sleeves on some of the grunt work....don't bother.
If you are unhappy about your board, join it. Review the bylaws and the election process for changing your board if you feel that there is cronyism or other problems. Personally, I have always said to our board that if people are unhappy with the leadership that I would be overwhelmingly pleased to step aside for a new "regime" to take on the board (no need to go through the bylaw process!)...so far no takers. No need for a hostile coup....I would be happy to step down as you would find MOST of your board members would feel the same way - they make up a small percentage of the association membership, but do all of the heavy lifting.
In the end - someone has to run things. Membership has the power to select that someone. Excercise your rights as a member under your bylaws to change things if your association is out of whack - but be prepared to do all the 'hidden' work that you never knew board members do to make your association run. Parent board members are how associations are run. There are few conspiracies once you really start asking questions and understanding what went into decisions. Step up....but don't complain!
Those with one (or their own) issue/agenda; find out real quick that being a board member equates to work. Work for all.
Most of them don't like it and leave.
Thanks SWPrez. That's it in a nutshell. I had a long time board member carrying on in my ear last year about all of the women on our board (I am not one of them) and how we needed more hockey people on the board. I told him I was pretty sure everyone of the board members would step aside for a "hockey person" if we could find a few that want to be part of the fundraising and finding volunteers, etc. We finally have one of our biggest whiners on the board and so far he seems to be putting his actions where his mouth was, time will tell but I will be the first to publicly run all over the association and sing his praises if he sticks with it and continues to help the kids. Congrats to all who volunteer for our kids. 
The first post in this thread is laughable and barely worthy of response, but...
All due respect to SWPrez (I know him and have a lot...) He does a good job of defending the hard-working, well-meaning, board-members who (no doubt) represent the vast majority of the people who hold those positions - and all of that bears a lot of repeating on this board and elsewhere. I don't believe it should end there though.
It is at least important to recognize that small political groups like these form their own cultures and have a tendency to replicate and perpetuate themselves, and they are not "all good".
It is also true that not everyone can serve on the board. Sheer numbers, social cliques, time constraints for many, and people that serve or help in other capacities, etc. preclude that.
There are a lot of reasons why small volunteer elected boards often struggle in many ways, including the occasional "volunteer" who is there only for his own self-interests. It's all worthy of discussion.
Change is sometimes needed and it begins with dissent and discussing that dissent with others ("complaining" and "questioning") eventually can move on to influencing others and/or altering the status-quo.
Board members should not be above questioning.
SWPrez - see ya at practice!
All due respect to SWPrez (I know him and have a lot...) He does a good job of defending the hard-working, well-meaning, board-members who (no doubt) represent the vast majority of the people who hold those positions - and all of that bears a lot of repeating on this board and elsewhere. I don't believe it should end there though.
It is at least important to recognize that small political groups like these form their own cultures and have a tendency to replicate and perpetuate themselves, and they are not "all good".
It is also true that not everyone can serve on the board. Sheer numbers, social cliques, time constraints for many, and people that serve or help in other capacities, etc. preclude that.
There are a lot of reasons why small volunteer elected boards often struggle in many ways, including the occasional "volunteer" who is there only for his own self-interests. It's all worthy of discussion.
Change is sometimes needed and it begins with dissent and discussing that dissent with others ("complaining" and "questioning") eventually can move on to influencing others and/or altering the status-quo.
Board members should not be above questioning.
SWPrez - see ya at practice!