All - Since my name was brought up I guess I'll add some 2 cents to this discussion. Luckily the computer is not, and will not be, my main avenue for communication, tho' I have "lurked" at the forums - seriously that's the term ? I have also e-mailed and spoken with many many many members over the phone, at conferences, in person for a long time. Actually, Ken H., I tried contacting you by e-mail several times this past year to speak with you as a fellow Mainer about the Guild and to invite you to the great Regional Gathering I had, and you never responded. We had several good programs and many discussions about the pros and cons of the Board decisions past and present, the history of the Guild, what it meant to all of us, where it was going. And we didn't all agree by any means. And the responses from membership that the Board has received are not all in agreement with each other. Some think the decisions that have been made this past year were a long time in coming, others think every action was severely flawed, others fall in the middle. I fall in the middle - recognizing poor decisions, in hindsight, made by Boards in the present and past - but also recognizing that changes had to happen in order for an organization that is incredibly important to a lot of people to survive. It is important for many different reasons - and we all hold unique memories of experiences and benefits that we have gained from the Guild. One of the things we did agree on at the Regional in Maine was the significance of the Guild in each of our lives.
I have a very hard time understanding the choice to quit one's membership in the Guild as a statement. How does that help the organization ?? What did it do to you ?? It is about equivalent to giving the finger to a fluctuating group of nine (usually) individuals who made decisions and took actions that you didn't agree with. A group that has already changed, and will change again next year and so on. The Guild is not about 9 individuals. Meanwhile the Guild doesn't have your dues. We do not all agree - within membership or within Boards. But if the Guild has actually meant something to you don't give up on it. Work to make the changes that will allow the organization to continue to serve and educate not only membership, but "communities".
The people, projects, gatherings, disagreements, educational materials, experiments, mistakes, amazing successes, ups and downs, fun and games are all a part of the Guild. For me, the positive of being a part of this organization far outweighs the negative. I have gained tremendously over the years - many many others have gained tremendously - whole communities have benefited- and that is reason enough for me to push for the future of the Guild.
All the best in 2014 - come to the Regional in Hallowell Maine - date to be set soon - fallish. I'd be happy to converse further - my contact info. is on the web site.
Ellen
