Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 15:54:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Barry Meyers-Rice <bamrice@ucdavis.edu> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1677$foo@default> Subject: ICPS membership woes
> I have not been a member of the CPN for a few years. Yet my history with the
> ICPS/CPN goes back to the beginning. I sent my dues in on Feb. 13, 1999.
> Realizing I wouldn't get the March issue. Yet as of this date the check
> hasn't cleared the bank. Maybe it never even was received? I don't know. I
> tried to contact a source on May 3rd to find out the status of my
> membership. Again I realize its certainly not a top priority, but I have not
> received a reply.
Hi Michael,
I'm sorry to hear that you are not getting the answers that you want, as
quickly as you'd like them.
Indeed, as you point out, the ICPS is a volunteer organization. I am
flattered that we are constantly held against the standard of professional
magazines and organizations with paid staff. This is good. But we are just
a few volunteers, after all.
We have been working hard over the last two years to restructure how we
process memberships. The old method was so bad it resulted in at least one
officer resigning from work overload. We have made many improvements.
Still, as you pointed out, there are ways to improve our membership
interactions.
I'm not sure who you contacted on May 3rd (I don't believe it was me, was
it? If so I lost your mail.) This is a busy membership time of the quarter
for us since our membership coordinator is readying the mailing list for
the June issue. In a few weeks the new membership list will be ready and
I could answer your situation with more details.
> While talkng with other members about this matter they all say the
> samething, "Oh it takes forever and a day!" While this has always been true.
> I never remember it being this bad.
Actually, I am quite proud to say that, despite your experience, it has
never been this *good* before. CPNs are being delivered on time, and while
there is a certain amount of backlog of communication just before each new
issue is prepared, we are quite on top of most membership woes. I would
like to point out that "Those slow guys at the ICPS" is rarely a topic of
discussion on this list.
I understand that you have had a bad experience, and I am not trying to
negate that. But I do want to point out that, on the whole, the ICPS is
vastly more responsive than it was just a year ago, and even more so than
it was in previous years. I expect that with our new responsiveness, the
ICPS will actually need at least one part or full-time staff member within
the next few years. All us officers already have no lives because of our
dedication to the Society and the time commitment it demands.
Still, we will strive to improve always.
Sincerely
Barry
------------------------
Dr. Barry A. Meyers-Rice
Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
Conservation Coeditor
barry@carnivorousplants.org
http://www.carnivorousplants.org
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