Carnegie Currents: January/February 1999 Vol. XIII, No. 1

President's Note
The Year of Getting It All Back Together

First of all, I’d like to express my appreciation to the membership for re-electing me to the CLRA Board of Trustees and the board’s confidence in electing me president. I would be less than honest if I didn’t say I would have preferred to have continued as competition captain, a role I’ve really loved and one where I felt I knew what I was doing. However, I agreed to serve as your president because I’m extremely concerned about CLRA, about which I care deeply, and I feel I can help put things on a better footing. We’ll see.

To me, the election results made it crystal clear that a substantial number of our members were dissatisfied and it’s my number one goal to try to address the various issues that have resulted in this dissatisfaction. Your board consists of many of our most committed club members and I’m already enjoying the increased interaction with them that this year is bringing. However, for this to be the year of getting it all back together, all members of CLRA are going to have to make the commitment to make it happen and to actively participate in setting things right. I’d like to use this space to suggest some of the things we will all have to do to produce the results I sense nearly everyone wants: an end to CLRA’s "troubles" and a heightened focus upon rowing.

Treat each other with respect
Since becoming president, I’ve heard from a number of people about incidents that have occurred between them and other CLRA members. Frankly, I’ve been shocked at the intensity and unpleasantness of a few of these stories. There’s no way we can resolve issues if we don’t treat each other with respect and what I would call an assumption of good will. My father had the view that most people want to do the right thing, if you’ll just let them. I always viewed that as naive, but I’m beginning to grasp its power. I’d like to deputize the full membership to help eliminate any negative dialogue they may hear and to help constructively address the underlying issues. My hope is that Rower’s Night, held only two days after Valentine’s Day, will have helped set the right tone for this year in our interpersonal relationships. There is so much in CLRA to celebrate. Let’s all try to be softer, more relaxed and gentler in our dealings with each other.

Volunteer and participate in the running of the club
Last year and so far this year, I’ve heard a great deal from many club members about how CLRA should be run. I welcome the ideas and advice, although I may not always agree with it. However, what we need most are people who are willing to participate by volunteering to take on responsibility for some portion of our activities. In the short time that I’ve been President, I’ve been disappointed by my inability to get certain people to take on some portion of responsibility for making CLRA run. I very much want to involve people from all segments of the club. I’ve asked the people who agree to take on responsibility to make a special effort to involve new volunteers and to move people around with respect to the specific jobs they do. So, there are two points struggling to get out of this paragraph: 1) we desperately need some new blood to help make the club function, so step forward yourself or point out people who you feel would be especially effective; and 2) let’s enlarge the already significant volunteer group and spirit that make CLRA go. (See page 2 for a list of responsibility areas, including those that still need volunteers.)

Communicate!
If you have concerns with any aspect of the club, approach the club member with responsibility for the relevant activity. And please don’t wait until whatever it is that concerns you has become such an emotional issue that you can’t discuss it rationally. If you don’t get satisfaction, go up the chain, which is a very short one — i.e., 1) me, and finally, 2) the board. Don’t let things fester. We are conducting a survey of the full membership once again and it’s my hope that all club members will provide a response; especially this year. The purposes of the survey are: 1) to get a balanced and comprehensive reading on what club members think; and 2) to identify specific things we might do to make CLRA a better place for all its members. And I hope most survey forms returned will identify the responder (it’s optional), so we can get back to individuals on specific questions or issues or for volunteer help or whatever. This would also show a level of trust that I would interpret as a positive sign. In any case, the results will be tabulated and made available in full to any member who wants them and to all in summary form via Carnegie Currents. In addition, the board will devote a significant portion of one of its meetings to assess the results and consider appropriate actions.

Recognize and make peace with the fact that evaluation of our rowing, condition, etc., is part of CLRA membership
If you reflect upon what CLRA is about, there is just no way around the need for someone to make judgments about each and every one of us. This can be uncomfortable and reasonable people can differ on the calls that are made. Nonetheless, when it comes time to select the rowing groups, for example, which need to be sized to accommodate the facilities and times available, someone has to make the call; i.e., the coaches. Likewise, when it comes time to pick who rows in which boats at regattas, coaches need to make choices. I don’t know about you, but I get very opinionated when you’re talking about me and my rowing ability. Nonetheless, we can’t operate without having someone or group being asked to make the calls. The point I’m disguising in this paragraph is that there is an inherent potential for any of us to disagree with the calls that are made. I’m not arguing for blind acceptance of these calls, but I am calling for a degree of civility and humility as all of us struggle to cope with being assessed below our own self-judgments. Feel free to talk to the coaches, who are making these calls collectively — something which I believe should give us all comfort. If you feel dissatisfied, talk to Captain Gary Mount, who has responsibility for overseeing the coaching activity, and to me if that doesn’t satisfy you.

Focus upon specific issues as they arise
As a recreational club run almost entirely by volunteers, it’s not difficult to imagine situations where issues may arise. And we need to be sensitive to issues when they first arise. However, I feel it’s important to deal with specific items club members are concerned about, rather than trying to anticipate all matter of possibilities. It’s been suggested that CLRA establish a grievance committee. Frankly, I see that as a significant part of my job as president and I welcome contact from anyone who has a grievance. As always, I can’t promise that I will necessarily agree in all cases, but I can promise that I will listen and try to identify specific courses of action to alleviate the concerns involved.

Talk to me and other board members!
I urge all members of CLRA to feel free to contact me at any time with concerns, ideas, suggestions, whatever. I’m an email freak pgoodbody@sia.com or you can reach me at work (212-618-0589) or at home (609-737-0864), or simply accost me at the boathouse or at any club function. I want to hear your views and how we can work together to make the club better. I know the other board members feel the same way. Try us out!

The spirit of CLRA
I have a sense that virtually all club members want to focus upon why we joined CLRA and why we continue as members, including the joy of rowing, the opportunity to compete, and exercising and interacting with such a variety of interesting and nice people. Let’s work to make 1999 "The Year of Getting It All Back Together."

Go Lakers!

 — Pim Goodbody