Wed 4 Mar 2009
Is it the public versus the members?
Posted by Peg Smith under General
No. Nearly 6 years ago, the ACA national board of directors created a chart with concentric circles indicating ACA’s owners. In the center of the circle you find the ACA leadership, then members, the camp industry, those interested in camp, and finally the public. Influence flows from all directions. As we demonstrate value and relevance to the public, we serve members and the public. As we provide members with excellent service and programs, we serve the public and members.
Many of us have also been talking about how important local, grassroots relationships are to the camp community and ACA. From those discussions have come some interesting perspectives. A young camp professional said to me yesterday, “but the word community today has many definitions”. He said being in close proximity and face to face is not the only way communities come together today. Communities today are not necessarily (only) defined by borders and boundaries. A couple of days earlier a SEction Executive said to me, “opening up as one nationwide association may actually give us a chance to be smaller”. She went on to talk about more opportunities to bring not only more small groups together at the local level but expand our social networking communities in a way not yet realized by ACA.
Bottom line, some great conversations are taking place.
March 6, 2009
We’ve been trying various projects over the last few years to see how people want to participate, what they want/need most from us. And, this will be no surprise to anyone, it turns out there are many different ways in which people want receive information, resources, education, etc. Deciding which things attract and would be a benefit has been especially frustrating as limited resources force us to choose when we really need to offer many options.
So, when you were speaking about communities and opportunities for us to bring small groups together I was reminded of how these days I constantly contemplate the difference between planning, controlling vs. empowering. We tend to control more when there is less money. To find those new ideas and opportunities, we can not force participation into just the current boxes we hold. We have to empower a culture of participation in a way we have not yet tried. I am excited about the idea that we will be the resource that helps people form communities in really organic ways. Do you see ACA in that role?
Just as an after thought, as we become a bigger association, I also hope we do not push away the small idea just because it has a small rate of return.
[Reply]
Peg Smith reply on March 9th, 2009 11:49 am:
Thanks Dani,
Good thoughts. And, I agree with your after thought. Have a good week.
[Reply]
March 9, 2009
Hi Peg,
I definitely agree with what your saying. However, I do think there is an issue in the way that ACA’s “new focus” is being talked about.
While ACA is a 501(c)3, created to serve the public, I think that we also serve camps - we even serve the public by serving camps. What better way to serve the public than by educating camp professionals and encouraging best practices throughout our industry?
My concern is that the way we are talking about this revitalized focus - about adding the public as a major audience and always keeping them in our minds as we move forward - is alienating our current members. Many people feel that what we are saying is that we plan to abandon camps completely, rather than simply enlarging our audience and providing more services.
I hope that’s helpful in understanding the context of the grumblings you (we) may be hearing.
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