SPAR to "get rid of" Membership?

[stephendare]

OK.  Have to know.

Did one of the board members seriously suggest at a recent board meeting that SPAR should just 'get rid of the membership" and become an advocacy group instead?

Un be freaking leivable.

[GatorShane]

OK.  Have to know.

Did one of the board members seriously suggest at a recent board meeting that SPAR should just 'get rid of the membership" and become an advocacy group instead?

Un be freaking leivable.

Stephen, would this have any sort of negative impact on the historic designation?

[jbm32206]

I hadn't heard that, but in all honesty, nothing would surprise me....hopefully someone that attended will come along and let us know for sure. If it's true, then what about the membership monies they've collected?

[uptowngirl]

Yes, one APPOINTED member did make this comment.....

[jbm32206]

Uptowngirl: Yes, one APPOINTED member did make this comment.....

You're kidding me, and this was someone appointed....well, isn't that just lovely...clearly with an attitude like that, no wonder there wasn't an election and this board member who is supposed to be working on our neighborhood and it's residents behalf....was appointed.

On another note....does anyone else find it strange that, on the sparcouncil website...the weekly updates have not been posted since October 17th? Nor have they been posted on the forum...what's up with that? Why isn't the spar secretary posting them anymore?

[zoo]

Must be intentional, and have nothing to do with busy work or personal life (though those excuses for missing important community meetings is fine...)

[downtownparks]

Why is one persons bad idea taken as some sort of conspiracy or movement?

[Karl_Pilkington]

One person's bad idea of itself wouldn't be an issue, but when that one person happens to be a board member of an organization that purports to represent the residents who make up the membership,  yes its a big deal.

There is no humor in this kind of statment either and frankly its kind of sad and pathetic that someone who volunteers their time for the supposed benefit of their neighborhood would make this kind of comment about their neighbors.

But, honestly, its very typical of these SPAR types don't you think?

[downtownparks]

No, I dont. I am fortunate enough to actually know all of the people involved, and have made my mind up as to what kind of people they are outside of the shrill tone generally being bandied about on this forum. I think SPAR screwed up with the elections, and with the way AlexS was handled, but I also know that was not the action of the board, but of a couple of people who have positioned themselves as power brokers. If I were the other board members, I would be tweaked at that alone. I guess we will see how strong the other board members are.

I was on the board for 2 and half years, and I heard a bunch of bad ideas. It happens. People want to find new and innovative ways of pushing the agenda of the neighborhood forward. Perhaps the thought of that individual was, if SPAR could stop spending so much time dealing with infighting, it could get more done. Perhaps the individuals thoughts were that since SPAR isn't a HOA, why try to be like one. I really dont know, and neither does anyone else, until the person who put the idea forward tells us what his/her thoughts were when they made that statement.

I am among several former board members who has expressed concern, and address everyone on the board. Even AlexS, who is one of the few people among us who has a legit reason to want to go in with torches and pitchforks has maintained a professional tone.

If they hold elections, and stop unnecessarily circling the wagons I will be much happier in regards to SPAR.

[strider]

Think of it this way, if SPAR Council now decides that it should not have membership, they would have to change the articles.  To do that requires a vote by the membership.  That would mean to eliminate the membership, it would have to get the majority of the membership to vote to eliminate itself. 

If they just do it and decide not to hold elections, they may very well be putting their 501 (3) (c) status in jeopardy

[downtownparks]

I also think its a bad idea. My point it, there are lots of bad ideas out there. This is just one more bad idea. Dont give it too much credit.

[downtownparks]

You go to jail for bad ideas?

[FinnegansWake]

I am so going to jail. My life is filled with bad ideas.

There was ONE idea at a meeting?...where someone said that if both sides took the time to take a deep breath and listen to each other and meet each other face to face?...a lot of "conspiracies" and "outrage!" would disappear.

It was two meetings actually: a SPAR Council meeting and a meeting at 3 Layers (or so I've been told).

Phil

[FinnegansWake]

Well, all I am saying is that it was ONE person who said that. And I totally disagree with the idea. As do most people on the Board I would imagine (I wasn't at any meeting where that came up, and I wasn't at the private meeting where that person suggested it).

It was not the whole group. There are good people working with idiots in all walks of life.

Phil

[downtownparks]

Oh. You were there to hear the context? Who was it that said it?