[Vacets] VACETS revived or dissolved?

[Tin Le]

With all due respect, I also have lots of admiration and respect for anh
Tri, anh Chris and other board members... as individuals.  I am sure that
as a person, they are decent and upright people.  I have not doubt that
they have been working hard on VACETS matters.

My intention was not to point fingers or lay blame.  I firmly believe
that the bucks has to stop somewhere.  If an organization failed, then a
thorough and honest failure analysis is needed to understand why and how
that can be prevented from happening in the future.

There is clearly a failure to communicate, especially when members had to
send queries asking what is going on, that is a failure on the part of
the organization to communicate.

Yes, there were the occasional announcements sent out, but that does not
make it good nor effective communication.  That is one way.  It's
autocratic.  There must be transparency in what an organization does. 
There must be a feeling of inclusion, of allowing inputs and of making
members feel that they can be empowered to contribute.

I am glad that my email has started the storm of communication.  And
again, my sincere apology if I offended anyone.  I was not personally
singling out anyone.  I am simply saying there is a failure in the
organization, and it need to be recognized.

With that say, I realize that it is easier to criticize...  I've made
some suggestions as to some of the things that can be done better.  I am
not an officer, and have no power to do anything.  So it is up to the
leadership to do what it will.

Cheers,
Tin Le
-- 
"The real point is that you cannot harbor malice
 toward others and then cry foul when someone
displays intolerance against you. Prejudice
tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in
righteousness when you witness the words and
deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to
rise up against them all, including your own.
 Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of
disrespect silently." - Harvey Fierstein


> Dear all,
>
> I have normally kept my comments to a few, but in the face of recent
> communications, I am compelled to address all.  I have personally worked
> with Tri and Chris for the past few years on VACETS related activities
> and not only consider them colleagues but friends.  However, my comments
> are based on my observation of their professional leadership of VACETS
> the past few years as a non-contributing member of VACETS.  I will be
> the first to admit that my interest in VACETS has waned this past year
> for a variety of personal reasons, none of which are related to
> leadership.
>
> I have witnessed ample calls for participation by members both in terms
> of activities and leadership roles.  There have been very few, if any
> responses.
>
> There must be members to be reached out to, there must be members to
> empower, and there must be members to read what is spelled out.
>
> That's it.
>
> This dialogue reminds me of a quote by the great George Bernard Shaw,
> "the greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been
> accomplished."
>
> Regards,
> tuan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vacets-bounces at mail.saigon.com
> [mailto:vacets-bounces at mail.saigon.com] On Behalf Of Tin Le
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 9:24 AM
> To: vacets at saigon.com
> Cc: vacets-gen at saigon.com
> Subject: Re: [Vacets] VACETS revived or dissolved?
>
> Hello VACETS,
>
> As one of the original founders of VACETS, I am sad to hear of this
> recent development.
>
> One of the biggest problem facing any volunteer organization is lack of
> participation.  You can ask any groups out there, big, small, they will
> all tell you very similar issues they have to deal with.
>
> 1. How to increase member participation.
>
> Without members participation, any organization will eventually wither
> away and die.  It may take years for that to happen, but it is a
> certain, but painful death.
>
> I do not have the answer, nor do I have a solution for VACETS.
>
> However.  As someone who have been involved in many similar volunteer
> groups, either as founder, co-founder, or major participants, I would
> like to contribute what little I've learned.
>
> 1. The organization _MUST_ reach out to its members.  It must make its
> members feel a part of a community. E.g. community building efforts is
> key.
>
> 2. The organization _MUST_ empower its members.  E.g. give its members a
> chance to be active, whether big or small projects, but allow its
> members the opportunity to grow, to feel that _they_ have a voice.
>
> 3. The goals of the organization _MUST_ be spelled out, rigorously
> applied and maintained.  Its ethics and standards must be above all
> reproach!
>
> In the last few years, I do not see any of the above applied with regard
> to VACETS.  I apologize in advance if anyone feel offended.  I am
> speaking from the point of "just another member".
>
> 1. VACETS did not reach out to me.  I had no idea what's going on, no
> constant updates, no information.  I had to actually go around asking
> various people what is going on.  This is a terrible break down in
> communication and leadership.
>
> 2. VACETS so far has act in an autocratic manners.  The top do things
> and tell the rest what to do.  No empowerment.  My impression is that
> VACETS do things that are in the interests of current leadership and not
> what its members want or need.
>
> 3. I am not sure what the current goals and ethics of VACETS is.  If it
> was published, then it was poorly advertised.  It's the responsibilities
> of VACETS as an organization to communicate to all its
> members/constituents its actions and plan of actions.
>
> That's it.  I almost did not send this email... but as a long time
> member, I thought I should contribute my 2 cents.  If my email stirred
> up some discussions, good!  VACETS need more communications!  Not less.
>
> Cheers,
> Tin Le
> --
> "The real point is that you cannot harbor malice  toward others and then
> cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice
> tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you
> witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise
> up against them all, including your own.
>  Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently." -
> Harvey Fierstein
>
>
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Here is the recent development within VACETS:
>>
>> Right after VTIC'07, I submitted to the Board (7 members) a
>> recommendation to dissolve VACETS as a non-profit, 501c corp citing
>> several reasons (e.g, non-responsive membership, overburdened
>> governing structure, diluted mission, and an unclear future with few
>> committed leaders). This
> motion
>> also suggests VACETS (or part of it) continuation as an unofficial
>> network whose activities (Vietmentor, VTICs, seminars,...) would still
> continue.
>> Chris Pham, submitted his resignation as the President-elect which I
>> accepted.
>>
>> After email deliberations and one teleconference with the Board and
>> several past Presidents, we agreed on one more effort to sustain and
>> revive VACETS as an official entity. Here are some details:
>>
>> 1. Hold-off election and recommendation, extend the term of current
> BoD
>> for another 6 months until 12/ 1.
>> 2. Chris will referee this 6-month rebuilding effort with accountable
> and
>> clear success criteria:
>>     2.A. Infrastructure: anh Dat Nguyen has expressed strong
> commitment
>> to
>> lead this (website, logo, additional forums)
>>     2.B. Fund raising: Ban Tran & Tri Tran
>>     2.C. Membership and forums: anh Hai?, anh Hu`ng, Hung and James.
>>     2.D. VietMentor: Christopher Pham
>> 3. While those above are identified names, you are welcome to
> particpate
>> or lead. Call them if you want to help.
>> 4. The main reason I cited and Chris and several agree was lack of
>> concrete contributions. Over the years, there were many ideas,
>> discussions, half-hearted attempts at several projects. Chris and I
> had
>> focused on tangible activities and had succeeded in getting several
>> through (VTIC'05, VTIC'07, Vietmentor, leadership panel at VANG'06,
>> project with GS Canh's Youth Outreach group,...) We need more people
> to
>> share these tasks obviously beyond the core 3,4 people.
>> 5. There are many things you can contribute. Call one of us, donate
> some
>> money, identify simple tasks and do it..The groups above are to
> propose
>> clear deliverables.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Tri Tran
>> VACETS President
>>
>
>
>
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