|
|
|
P.O. Box 160223 Nashville, Tn 37216-0223 615 262-1119 - Office
|
August, 2003 In the last few weeks I’ve been involved in several events and conversations that could only be described as frustrating. It’s not that I was frustrated. I don’t get frustrated - I get mad, I calm down and then I go to work. Everyone else was frustrated – generally not with me. Be it a poorly attended event, a lack of perceived progress on issues important to them, non-cooperation between charters, the inability to get members to show up or work, lack of response from someone (sorry Dale, I really am trying to get to all these emails and calls), inter-charter squabbles, or whatever it was that happened or didn’t happen – it causes frustration. We are in a volunteer organization. It is easy in a business to end this kind of frustration. You fire someone and hire someone else. We can’t do that at the state or charter level. Let’s face it – people aren’t lining up to take on positions. We have to use a carrot – not a stick. One of the things I keep trying to communicate to people is
that this is a marathon – not a sprint.
Pennsylvania reminded us of this last month when they modified their
helmet law after decades of trying. A football game isn’t won on the first
play of the game. However, it can be lost anytime during the game when essential
people give up. At one event I had many past members of defunct charters tell me
that they will be come members again when we show them results. By this they
meant that the helmet law be modified. That was their measure of success. They
had been members for a year but dropped out when it didn’t happen that year.
Using their logic none of us should keep trying either. Since it hasn’t been
modified we should all drop out until it has been changed. Of course that means
no one would be working on it but that logic didn’t register with them. They
were Welfare Riders – wanting to benefit from the work of others. I told them
that once we achieved this ‘success’ we wouldn’t want them as members.
Personally, I’d like to adjust our helmet modification bill to read that for
the first three years after passage only members of CMT/ABATE at the time of the
vote would be allowed Freedom of Choice. Everyone else would have to wait. But,
that is probably unrealistic. Did these people frustrate me? A little, but I also got even more determined. I reminded myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Do I get frustrated with the fact that some positions are not filled? Do I get frustrated that some charters are struggling? Do I get frustrated with poorly attended events? Not really, but I do get mad and turn it up a notch. I remind myself of the success we have had and the growth we are experiencing – and we are! We’re growing! Last weekend I finally did a little ‘recreational’ motorcycling. I rode over to the mountains in east Tennessee with no purpose other than to get a few State Wide Poker Run signatures and enjoy the warm weather. I did 750 miles in two days and had a blast wandering the back roads. The folk from the new Thunder Mountain Charter in Del Rio, TN have a great place to stay and wonderful hospitality. But, the thing that got my attention the most while riding the two lanes in this beautiful state was one of the ‘message’ signs in front a church. It said, “Failure is the Path of Least Persistence.” I hope we all take that to heart. If you are a charter officer or position holder – remember the successes. Take pride in what you do. If you are a member – be proud that you comprise an organization that is fighting for you. Winston Churchill said, “Never, never, never give up.” This is a marathon – not a sprint. Until later, just ride…. Steve |
Send general questions and comments about CMT/ABATE to
.
|