strathspey@strathspey.org:53283

alan mair

Re: The RSCDS dance publication process (was: Tunes for "Hornpipes Suitable for Catch the Wind" on the "More Memories.....)

July 31, 2008, 4:18 p.m. (Message 53283, in reply to message 53282)

> It is also a matter of priority - if we have to spend several hours
> researching why a dance 10 years or more ago did not or did have a 
> preferred
> tune, and why that tune was or wasn't used in order to pacify several 
> RSCDS
> members, then there are less time to deal with researching where there are
> 'isolated' dance groups who could do with a helping hand. Not that it 
> isn't
> important to the people who devised the dances etc., of course it is - as
> someone said it is their baby, but it was a wee while ago.

I can see no conflict whatsoever between doing what needs to be done to 
support branches in the quest to recruit and retain members (surely the main 
priority) and taking time in the publication process to show appropriate 
respect to the devisors of dances. We should be expecting Pia, as a member 
of the Management Board, to be saying "I will find out what did go wrong in 
this case and make sure it is dealt with, lessons learned etc".

> It is a fine balance of servicing the members, listening to all the ideas,
> suggestions, critique, grievances etc that are now, due to the change in 
> the
> communication environment and the change in how the Society is run, coming
> to the fore and also 'opening up new markets' when you are only a handful 
> of
> people trying to do everything, for everyone.
Perhaps some new people are hearing all the ideas, suggestions, critiques, 
grievances etc but it was to deal better with them that the management 
structure was changed in the first place.(Previously only the Chairman and 
Vice Chairman saw the whole picture). If there are only a "handful of people 
trying to do everything", why is the Management Board being reduced in 
number?

> I would also like to ask how many of the oft heard grievances are
> historical? but perpeturated ad infinitum?  And how many are recent?  Not
> that there are no mistakes or errors now, of course there is.
That is easy - the grievance will be as old as the problem. The role of the 
Management Board is to solve the problems - not cause them.

> Things are changing for the 'better' - Communication still needs worked 
> on,
> but it is getting there albeit slowly.  Perhaps someone who is paid to 
> have
> an overall view can help making everyone feel a little bit better, and 
> make
> the RSCDS a little more exciting for old and new potential members.
The Management Board are elected to have an overall view and to make the 
decisions that will influence how everyone feels and how exciting the 
Society is. I'm with  Anselm on this one!! We need better than "perhaps" 
from a member of the Management Board to justify spending 35K+ on an annual 
basis.

Alan
Cupar, Fife