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“Marvin...this reminds me of how people like to spread the blame when their President does something wrong...but give him all the accolades when HE does something right. Are you saying that in effect Cedars was just a figure head or there were too many leaders at the helm? Or a smiling fictional person in the position of president that held NO authority on important decisions? One has to wonder what the point of a leader is if there is a pressing matter that needs an immediate decision that cannot be agreed upon, to the detriment of the people who NEED that decision made.”
still thinking,
I completely understand that skepticism.
It sounds counterintuitive to think the president of an association is not “in control”. Regardless, in nearly all professional and trade associations (associations that press agendas, which is what BBXB is) the real power is held collectively. Most often this power is held by the association’s board of directors. Sometimes it’s held by an executive committee made up of select members of the association’s board of directors.
All this was made more complex because BBXB was just getting off the ground, and worse, things were rushed. Regardless, under BBXB’s operating structure, Cedars had equal authority with others. There were, as you say, “many leaders at the helm”. One of the problems caused by this sort of structure is reduced ability to react. Most associations require at least 7 days notice for a board meeting. Typically this can only be avoided by a unanimous vote by the board. This means a single person could put off a decision for at least a week. When the board does finally meet, depending on bylaws it will take either a simple majority or a super majority vote to take an action. It’s often the case that this inhibits a decision from being made as soon as it should be made.
“You also seeming to be adding in a lot of what you think Cedars felt. Are you a mind reader? Is this how you look at EVIDENCE? If that is the case, what about how SST felt? Are you taking his feelings into account since you seem to think how you feel about their feeling are good enough evidence for you to support Cedars position.”
I don’t know where I’ve premised anything on Cedars’ feelings. I had a couple of firsthand discussions with Cedars, but that was mostly after the fact of the Facebook thing, and maybe each was afterward. I don’t recall off hand. If I’ve premised anything on Cedars’ feelings it's based on what he said to me; not any attempt to read his mind.
I don’t know why people think of me as supporting Cedars’ “position”. Cedars is to me as everyone else here is. He’s a fellow poster at JWN. I have far more communication with others here than with him. I’ve spoken with him twice and we’ve exchanged probably 5-10 emails since he joined here in 2011. I’m not sure what people think Cedars’ position is. I accept that he much regrets harm caused by actions taken by BBXB during his time there. He cannot undo what happened. He’s willing to respond directly to direct questions. That means a lot to me. Many here don’t bother to do this. I’m not sure what others want him to do that he’s not already done. When he’s spoken of his role, authority and responsibility as BBXB’s president he’s been honest about it insofar as I can tell. My take is that readers don’t believe him that he was not in a position to demand something, or else. My take is also that readers don’t believe that he stayed on at BBXB as he did based on a sense that he could fix things better and faster by staying on rather than resigning. My take is also that if he had it all to do over again he probably wouldn’t. What position is it I’m supporting?
Marvin Shilmer
