Succession Planning

For years, the ASV has begged and pleaded for members to take on executive and exhibition co-ordination positions and responsibilities. Finding volunteers has been like looking for hen's teeth, but when people do come forward they always do remarkably good jobs. Perhaps the most daunting aspect for new volunteers is the fact that they have not done such jobs previously and they are afraid that they do not have the experience. To overcome this legitimate concern, the executive is trying to establish a succession planning process so that a member volunteering for a position will work with the outgoing officeholder for a period of apprenticeship before taking over fully. An example of this process at the moment is with Mark Cowie working with Patrick during the last MIFGS with a view to Mark taking over as Co-ordinator of MIFGS next year. Mark is already involved in negotiations with MIFGS for 2011. We are presently in the process of organising the Annual Show for October. If anybody is interested in apprenticing to Marija Patterson and Beatrice Magalotti, they could learn a great deal from two experienced co-ordinators. At present, the Treasurer's position is becoming vacant and we need a Publicity Officer who could learn a lot from Meredith Plain. …..Michael Meszaros