Organizational Meeting
Saturday, November 7th
5:30 p.m.
Community Room, Phoenix Bookmans
NW corner of 19th Ave and Northern

If you caught Tuesday's AzBc Membership meeting or have had a chance to read the recap online, you should already be prepared for this announcement. If not, I'll catch you up now...

AzBc, Inc. has been in operation for just over a year and a half now. As the current President, a sitting board member, and the most recent CSTS Coordinator (not to mention former Secretary and Vice-Chair of the Board) I've recently become aware of a metaphorical pain in my neck from all the hats I'm wearing. When I joined this organization and saw what it was doing, and the potential it carried, I was excited and eager to please. When no one else would volunteer, I would because I didn't want whatever opportunity this group had to go to waste. Even so, many of our opportunities are still going to waste because those few in our group who consistently take on projects are simply spread too thin and can't give 100% to each task.

Coming to this realization, I think it is time for our group to re-evaluate itself and do a little future planning. In other words, where do we go from here? I want to be clear that the Arizona Browncoats have done some amazing things during and before its incorporation and I am proud to have been part of it. I have no intention of dismantling any of what has made our organization Arizona's "Best Geeks With A Cause," but I believe any organization our age deserves a frank discussion about what its goals and ideals really are now that we have a little bit of hindsight on our side. If this group wants to keep doing what it's been doing, we're going to need to nurture our current and new members a little better and spread out some of the responsibilities. If people aren't able to take on more responsibilities (heck, we all have work, school, kids, families, etc.), then we need to re-evaluate what it is we want this group to be. If we can sustain our support and get fresh commitments, there's every reason to continue or even increase our current activity level, but that's a substantial "if" to commit to as an organization and group of friends. There's also nothing wrong with returning to the social organization we started as and carrying on as we as we always have without the responsibilities of being a not-for-profit organization. Either way, there needs to be consensus and a proper support system in place to handle whatever direction we head. So, what do you want the Arizona Browncoats to be? What do you want from the Arizona Browncoats? And what are you willing to give?

In my capacity as President, and with the Board of Director's approval, I will be hosting an Organizational Meeting in order to facilitate a discussion about our group's future. This organizational meeting is meant to be more informal than our typical business meeting and will be held in a round table setting, moderated by me. You don't have to be a member of AzBc, Inc. to participate. I will welcome the ideas, input, and opinions of anyone willing to show up and participate. To spur your thoughts on the issue, check out the new poll on the left hand menu of our website. I know how hard it is in the heat of the moment to express your ideas in the meeting setting so feel free to email me your ideas or share them in this thread. If you have anything you want to share with me directly before the meeting (or because you can't make it to the meeting), please send me an email: president@azbrowncoats.org.

Thanks and hope to see y'all there!

Jennifer

Jennifer Anderson
President
Arizona Browncoats