What is the nature of the task which is generally to be assigned to the Board of Directors of the Germanna Association? It could be advisory only, meeting perhaps three times a year, and issuing recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Germanna Foundation. (Those of you who have served on a local Planning Commission, as I have, are aware of how this might work. The Planning Commission hears the evidence and makes a recommendation to the Supervisors who are free to accept or reject the recommendations.)
Another view of the Board of Directors is that it is a body of people who are willing to work. They might assume, for example, the responsibility for the Germanna Seminars and recruit speakers, make the arrangements for food, advertize the meeting, etc. These things cost money. Who controls the budget and purse strings? Where does the labor come from? From the Board or from the membership at large, after being recruited by the Board?
Who has access for editing the web page, "Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies of Virginia" , at www.germanna.org ? Or does the Board of Directors get its own separate web page? A web page does not cost much. This could be a means of communication to the majority of the membership (but not necessarily to all of the members). Would a List Service be useful?
Will the Board of Directors take on the responsibility for (the/a) newsletter?
The Board of Directors might want to sponsor DNA studies by finding a coordinator for each family.
Now, the main reason that I putting forth these ideas is stir up a discussion among the potential members, which is probably the majority of the readers here, prior to the first meeting of the Board of Directors this November. The Board may set several things in concrete at that first meeting. This may be the best chance that the membership has for expressing their opinions.
Remember that a major objective is to make the whole Germanna organization responsive to the desires and objectives of the general membership. So let’s hear your thoughts.
I have hoped for more than a decade that the members would have more say in the organization, both in the election of the leadership (Board of Trustees) and in the establishment of its programs.
There are some programs and objectives that I would hope come to fruition. Some of these are best met if they are placed in the hands of a central figure but there is no reason that the membership cannot be involved. How are they to work together toward common goals?
(27 Jul 06)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.