[clue] Ettiquette and volunteers

[Mark G. Harvey]

Dave, thanks for your leadership, judgement, & clarity.  Group dynamics can be a 
tricky thing.  Its a given that a leader can't please all the people all the 
time.  But what people forget is that being a good leader doesn't necessarily 
mean winning a popularity contest.  

Crawford, thanks for your work on the clue website.  I hope to aspire to the 
technical prowess that you have shown.  Indeed there are many others in this 
group with similar knowledge & talents.  I hope to learn & contribute.  For me, 
that's what its all about.  

Thanks to you all.  See you next Tuesday.

Mark


----- Original Message ----
> From: David L. Anselmi <anselmi at anselmi.us>
> To: CLUE's mailing list <clue at cluedenver.org>
> Sent: Sun, February 6, 2011 1:09:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [clue] Ettiquette and volunteers
> 
> Crawford Rainwater wrote:
> > When people started requesting "I want  this...with CLUE." it was a nice to 
>hear some "fresh
> > ideas" to help  enhance this Linux user group I said to myself.  I have been 
>involved with  CLUE
> > since 2001 myself.  I even stepped up on a few ideas with  running CLUE-North 
>and the InstallFests
> > for 5-6 years along with the  server maintenance work for a similar time 
>frame.
> >
> > Then it the  requests started to become "I want this...and this...and 
>this...with CLUE."  which
> > became a bit trying to even perturbing I must admit.
> 
> Thanks  Crawford, for giving everyone a chance to reflect on how things get 
>done in our  community.
> 
> *HEY EVERYONE!*  Take a minute in between Super Bowl ads  to reflect on what 
>Crawford wrote.  Thanks!
> 
> It is the nature of  organizations (volunteer or not) to have more good ideas 
>than time or people to 
>
> implement them.  There's lots of opportunity to fail to communicate,  resulting 
>in hurt feelings, 
>
> wasted effort, and lost resources.  It's  disappointing how often I fail, 
>despite being aware of the 
>
> risk.
> 
> Here  are my reflections:
> 
> If you have a good idea (I want ...)
> 
> - Be  patient.  It isn't going to happen over night.
> 
> - Don't be offended  when someone says, "that's not what I want".
> 
> - Be proactive in learning  what it takes to implement your idea, how you can 
>do those things, and 
>
> how  you can energize others to do things you might not be able to.
> 
> If you're  out doing things and people keep telling you what they want:
> 
> - Be clear  about what you'll do and what you won't do.
> 
> - When people say "I want  ...", don't take it as criticism that what you're 
>doing is inadequate or 
>
> unappreciated.  Don't feel like they're signing you up to do  it.
> 
> - Be proactive about understanding what others want, what others are  doing, 
>and how your work meshes 
>
> with those things.
> 
> On both sides,  recognize that people get anxious about change, think about how 
>your ideas and 
>
> actions will cause change, and try to communicate in a way that helps the  
>anxious  people.
> 
> Thanks!
> Dave
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