Monday, September 26, 2004
Jason Burke
The NBUA is the most professionally run amateur association in the state and perhaps the country. It is necessary to have the right people on the board to continue this fine association. Why am I running and what can I contribute? I have umpired in the NBUA for 10 years now and have seen many changes. Overall I like the direction the association is going. There are a few things that the association can do to improve itself.
In my opinion, membership retention is not a sufficiently high priority. While our recruitment has improved over the years, our retention rate has dropped over the past few years. Retention is important on the basis of growth and our ability to serve new and continuing customers. I think a reason for members "dropping-out" is their concerns are not acted-on.
If elected I will:
- Review every concern a member conveys.
- Improve the channel of communication between the board and membership.
- Record board meeting minutes (assuming it is appropriate). I will volunteer to assume this responsibility.
- Help with the recruitment, and work on the implementation of the retention program.
- Continue to work with the mentor program.
- Build recognition programs and social events that maintain NBUA camaraderie and mutual support.
- Organize the NBUA board of directors into several committees and segregate the duties to the appropriate committee. Each committee will be responsible for their own discussion agenda at board meetings.
I also want to put in place is a committee that handles CONFIDENTIAL ethics issues for members to address concerns about other members. If elected, I will ask trustworthy members to assist me with this committee. EVERYTHING that is brought to the committee's attention will be kept confidential and investigated. Currently the NBUA does not have this in place. The purpose of this committee is to ensure that each member is treated equally and not to feel inferior to ANYBODY. Everybody needs to feel comfortable to work with anybody so that will be the purpose and goal of this committee.
I have had the wonderful experience of growing from the bottom with the NBUA and I owe my development to the great mentors that have helped me along the way. I would like to use my learning to contribute to the continued success of the best damn umpire association in the world.