Hello Members,
I would like to get some feedback on this posting please. At the end of this message, you will see “Leave a Comment”, just click that to post your feedback. Thank you.
I am wondering what direction the group would like to go at this time. Attendance at the monthly meetings has been very low. Usually only 10-12 members. I guess we have a few options.
- Have Elections of new officers to run the group, continue with monthly meetings.
- Shut Down the group, sell assets and donate all funds in treasury to charity.
- Stop the monthly meetings at Coco’s grill and just have social events like island hopping, potluck dinners, bowling night, night golfing range, etc.?
- Open to suggesting.
Maybe we need new officers, i’m not sure, but I know Stacey Baird and myself will not continue running the group in the current “Monthly Meeting” format. Any fresh meat that would like to volunteer? Stacey and myself are very busy and simply don’t have time to run the group.
Thank you,
Curtis L. Cooper
Interesting topics at the monthly meetings.
Hi Curt,
My view is that the DAEA should continue to exist as a social network.
That way, newcomers will at least have a point of contact.
Most of us have the experience now to guide new people without lectures.
It is hard work to run an organisation and little thanks are forthcoming.
I think the occasional outing is the best way forward.
Regards
Bob Windley
I would get rid of the monthly meetings and take care of any new business at the social events. ( briefly ) Just my humble opinion.
Hi Mr Cooper,
Any Country one goes,you ll find the same that for the Board members its hard Job to entertain all and get Thanks at all.
The best thing for the Organisation is to Involve all members in the managing Social events and make them responsible with Alphabetical Turn with not only one name rather three members at a time to coop. I agree with Mr Windleys comment that its important to countinue as Social net work and also agree with Comment of Voluntteer to make Monthly Meeting as Social event then Meeting, where all the Members and Family get togeather and celebrate activities for children and Adults,
If its required to hire a Place then all members should contribute and everytime Potlock Lunch or dinner. good luck and all the best.
Shakti
Would be good to keep going in some form, but seems to be little support going by the large amount of replies.
First, anyone that takes time and effort to be responsible for an organization like this deserves a lot of thanks. So a special thanks to Stacy and Curtis as well as past directors.
Pls excuse the tardiness as I currently am traveling in the states. And Pls accept the following comments as they are intended– courteous feedback.
OPINION — The reason the group’s attendance has fallen so low is because it has strayed so far from it’s original founding purpose. Francis started this group with the express purpose of making life better for foreigners living in the Philippines. We were asked to suggest and develop ways in which this could be done. One of the original ideas Francis had used in previous successful groups was to develop a list of businesses, craftsmen, and services that members could recommend and / or had good experience with. Such a list doesn’t exist with the current group. He also deliberately excluded wifes, girlfriends, kids, and Philippinos in general for a good reason. It was so the members could freely express their experiences, stories, good or bad, along with their frustration. The last meeting I attended this simply couldn’t be done as the room was full of the above. Also when the group started and for the first year or two (very robust attendance) there was ZERO mention of ‘charity’. For those that want to participate in those kinds of things there’s ample opportunity but that was not the purpose of the group nor should it be.
I see that there are a couple comments that advise to make it a ’social group’. While I respect everybody’s opinion—I disagree– for these reasons. As it is now–when the formal meeting concludes everybody breaks off into small groups of established friends anyway so if it officially goes to a ’social group’ then there will be little or no new attendance nor friendship established because these same friendships (that already exist) will dominate the scene and everything else will fall away. Potential attendees will feel uncomfortable going to someones house or a function, where as Coco’s is a well know public, therefore neutral place. This applies especially to those few single guys. The formal meetings create an atmosphere were strangers have reason to approach each other due to positions, experiences, or opinions that come up spontaneously in the meetings.
Conclusion–
In my opinion (and several others) to invigorate the group it should keep the formal or modify to a “semi formal” setting in a public place like Coco’s. It should vigorously get back to its original founding purpose. That is —generate and implement ways for making life better for foreigners living in the Philippines. If it’s too difficult to have a target subject and guest speakers each month, try an every other month target subject schedule . The alternate months have brainstorm and open forum secessions in a formal meeting setting. The group should separate completely the ‘charity’ from itself. The ‘charity’ issue has seemingly taken over our group.
Thanks for your consideration