Jim, in response to your apathy/motivation question probably the only thing that stands a chance of success is a directed effort by those that are already doing most of the work.
The most likely scenario for that premise would be for the active members in the district clubs to come together and pick the most political and diplomatic one or two individuals from that group.
The remainder would have to agree to act as background support and resource for those that make direct contact with the AMA.
In theory that is part of what the district VPs are charged with. However that area has too many other demands on the position to allow them the luxury of trying to implement change.
Those outside the stayed structure would be less swayed by the insiders but would also have to be much more persistant to gain any real recognition from the AMA leaders.
My experience is limited to what I have seen and experienced in the manufacturing world. Either the corporation recognizes where the market is headed and changes of its own volition or a group within the stockholders puts together a consortium with enough power and authority to force a change of direction.
The final thing that I have presided over is the salvage of assets of collapsed corporations that failed to stay competitive in the market.
For all of our sakes I wish that there was a silver bullet solution for the problems but the reality is probably as Patton said,"Victory is for those that believe in it the most".
ORIGINAL: Gremlin Castle SNIP
The AMA and clubs will always exist because of the efforts of the dedicated and sometimes misguided efforts of a dedicated few.
As for the AMA, yes I care that it exists because there is no viable alternative out there. I do wonder though whether the apathy of the general membership has allowed an internal structure to take hold that will prove fatal in the next several years.
SNIP
The question is what can we create that will help address those apathy issues within the AMA and our own clubs? Remember, this is to be an all inclusive answer rather than a targeted one to me, or you, or our clubs. That is the challenge and we both know it is possible, we just have to find the right mix of open communicating minds.
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