Are You Reinventing Sex…
Posted on July 2nd, 2008 by Cynthia D'Amour
Or just ignoring your chapter’s past?
The emails and comments I’ve gotten about not crediting Joni Mitchell for “Big Yellow Taxi” made me think of a recent conversation with a chapter’s past president.
I attended the chapter’s annual transition meeting.
- Goodbye old officers.
- Hello new team.
- A new leader enthusiastically shared the very cool event the chapter would do in the fall.
“Big deal,” grumbled the past president next to me…
- We did the same thing 15 years ago.
- It was a huge success.
- The way he’s crowing, you would think he just reinvented sex!
I almost choked as I tried not to laugh at her.
- The past president was very serious.
- I was surprised at the passion of her comment.
I asked her how the new leaders might know about her amazing results.
- If they are going to be a leader, they should know the chapter’s past.
- I’m still involved.
- That’s even more reason why they should know what I did.
We talked a bit more…
- There was no chapter scrapbook.
- The past presidents did not get involved in training new leaders.
- No one asked her help - and she didn’t offer.
After the meeting, I casually asked the new leader if he was aware of the past president’s success.
- He was not.
- He was happy to have someone to go to for advice.
- He made a point to talk with her just moments later.
She practically glowed with his appreciation of her earlier contribution.
Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do new leaders learn about your chapter’s earlier successes?
Filed under: Board challenges
