response 25 of 36:

Jan 2 02:36 UTC 1996

heartily agreed. And Rane has more experience with issues of non-profit 
organizations than just about all of us. I find that I usually agree with his
ideas (although not always), and I will miss his presence on the board.

response 27 of 36:

Jan 2 17:37 UTC 1996

Yet another metoo response here: I very much value Rane's contributions to
Grex, and hope he continues to stick around and offer ideas and advice.

response 29 of 36:

Jan 3 13:09 UTC 1996

geez, ya'll make it sound like he's dead or something. I think he's just
in Florida.

...that's not to say that I wouldn't miss him too. :)

response 31 of 36:

Jan 4 00:45 UTC 1996

Hmmmmm. That does seem to be true, doesn't it?  I guess being on the board
burns people out.

response 33 of 36:

Jan 4 23:04 UTC 1996

The report of my demise has been greatly exaggerated....B^}. 

I was not particularly surprised that I was not reelected. In fact, I
would not have run if I had not been nominated by someone else. I had been
seriously considering whether I was contributing much on the board, where
my background and knowledge was becoming more evidently not what was
desired. I suspect that neither I nor others realized this when I was
elected, there not having been any prior board members with an extensive
knowledge of non-profit organizations but little knowledge of
computer-related things (a unix dummie, and barely more than a network
user). 

Being on the board *can* burn people out - though not necessarily. I see
one problem as the level of almost daily time involvement that is nearly
mandatory to be aware enough of what is being discussed, *to act
responsibly*. I had never before encountered an organization that requires
the time involvement of Grex, while at the same time producing very little
in terms of substantial decision or change. 

Staff has the best of it, as they both like what they do, and can take
actions that produce changes. Non-staff members of the board - and
non-staff members in general - have a much greater problem in feeling
useful and effective. Grex was, of course, founded by "staff", and the
board concerns itself primarily with staff concerns. I have mentioned
elsewhere, and more than once, that I think he board should be concerned
with *purposes*, and their development and support. However Grex's
purposes are only a minor concern of most Grex members, who are more
concerned with better hardware and software and links to the internet and
other concerns of staff. This is likely to remain the case until some
limit is reached - of resources and/or technology - so that attention can
be transferred from how the system functions to why the system functions. 

Well...I didn't intend to lecture (even though that is my profession). I
don't expect to disappear, but will certainly be less involved. Grex still
offers me many enjoyable conferences, and computer resources I can use in
my other activities and organizations. I might even pass comment now and
then on how I think things *should* be run. It will be OK with me if
anyone either likes it, or lumps it. 

response 35 of 36:

Jan 7 22:33 UTC 1996

Go Arnold!!