We Get It. And We Always Have.
Posted: February 1, 2010
Ross Gorman, Candidate for President
Walt Heiges, Candidate for Vice President
As many of you know, two long-standing members of the SVAS are running for President and Vice President in the upcoming March elections. For those who don’t know us yet, let us introduce ourselves:
We are Ross Gorman and Walt Heiges. We have a combined continuous membership in the SVAS of over 37 years. Many of those years were spent volunteering in leadership roles as President, Vice President, Past President, or Director. We are also both veterans of organizing several successful Astronomy Days, Star-B-Qs, and Community Events. During our long tenure we have developed a team-focused leadership style that has served the Society well, even during periods when membership levels were over 300 members. We both employ this same approach in our business lives where we manage variously skilled people to complete complicated projects. If you want to learn about the activities we have planned for next year, refer to last month’s newsletter article titled, ”Things are Looking Up“.
As you can see from the article, we are already working with other Board members to bring back the fun, cooperation, and astronomy that the SVAS once enjoyed. In fact, both pairs of candidates running for President and VP strive for this goal. However, there is a major difference in the philosophy of how to achieve this goal. We believe in being true to the mission, purpose, and Bylaws of the SVAS. We believe the Society comes first over our own interests, or those of any one person or small group. In other words, “We get it.”
· We get that the SVAS is a Social Society, which is recognized by both CA and the US to have a special purpose and as such it is given special rights to achieve that purpose. SVAS’ purpose is to promote and foster an interest in astronomy among the public and among its members. In order to accomplish its purpose, the SVAS is given the right to select members best able to help it achieve its purpose. We have understood that from the beginning.
· We get that looking out for the well-being of the Society and the safety of its members is paramount. And that on very rare occasions there will be someone that will demand more from the Society than they bring to the Society. We can make the tough decisions, in the best interest of the Society as a whole, and move on. We accept that.
· We get that the Board of Directors meetings are the appropriate forum to debate the issues of the Society. That such debate is a healthy means of analyzing the issues and coming to the best decisions. And that debating is not “bickering”, unless some of those involved in the debate can’t, or won’t, accept the Board’s decision. We respect Board decisions, even if we disagree with them. We don’t make it personal.
· We get that the e-mail addresses of SVAS members are private, and are not to be used for political propaganda or promoting one’s business. Only SVAS or astronomy-related announcements or news should be transmitted to personal e-mail addresses of SVAS members. We won’t spam you.
· We get that those in SVAS leadership are responsible for safeguarding the financial and physical assets of the Society. That proper insurance must be in place at all times, and that an accurate inventory of assets needs to be maintained. We get that the SVAS observatory at Blue Canyon is for all of its members to enjoy, and that it’s not anyone’s personal astronomy toy box. We are trustworthy.
· We get that when you make a commitment, you fulfill that commitment. We have never let our memberships lapse (19-years and 18-years, respectively), nor have we resigned from any leadership position. In fact, just the opposite has happened. We have stepped-up to leadership roles whenever there was a need. That’s why seven past Presidents of the SVAS have asked one of us to serve as their Vice President, and why we both have served as President. We are respected volunteers giving of ourselves because we are committed to the SVAS and its mission.
For those that do know us, they know that these are the principles that have guided our leadership. We are Ross and Walt. We get it. And we always have.
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