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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
        
(Message started by: Magman on Feb 8^th, 2005, 4:43am)

Title: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Magman on Feb 8^th, 2005, 4:43am

I believe for the first time since its inception, O.U.C.H. now has a full time President. I have closed my business of ten years and will be devoting no less than 40 to 50 hours per week to running this organization.

Professionalism, fairness and understanding are key traits to moving us forward. Together, the leaders of O.U.C.H. will utilize these traits to further education, research and partnering in the fight against Cluster and other vascular headaches.

You will see many changes in organizational structure, its mission and vision in the coming months. These changes will provide useful tools and benefits for our members. O.U.C.H. is a business, and will be run as such. The Officers and Project Managers will carry the work load while the BoD will provide guidance and direction for the organization.

I will be looking to the masses for the talent needed to succeed in our mission. Volunteerism is a noble offer and effort, but does not lend itself to accomplishing our goals in a timely fashion. Eventually, in the not to distant future, O.U.C.H. will provide salaried and/or hourly paid positions for those that serve. The funding will come from grants and donations currently under research.

As your President, my ‘door’ is open to all. Your concerns are my concerns and I pledge to do my best to provide an atmosphere of unity. And as the President, there will be times when I will make a decision not to discuss or release certain information until the time is right. From this, I will not back down. Certain business information and dealings must be held ‘close to the vest’ lest an opportunity is swept out from under us. Rest assured O.U.C.H. will not be an organization shrouded in secrecy. Rather, it will be a business that will provide benefits to all who belong and take part in its activities.

Respectfully,
Dan Bemowski, President
Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 8^th, 2005, 8:23am

Thanks for stepping in with your commitment and time Dan.

Kevin M

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by john_d on Feb 8^th, 2005, 9:20am

wow, full time. Now that's promising. Thanks, I'll start paying attention now.

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by nani on Feb 8^th, 2005, 9:24am

Thank you, Dan. That sounds very promising. :)

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Mark C on Feb 8^th, 2005, 10:34am

BRAVO!

Thank you Dan!

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Racer1_NC on Feb 8^th, 2005, 3:00pm

...and so it begins. ;)

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by PrettyH8Machine on Feb 8^th, 2005, 5:02pm

Thanks Dan for stepping up to the plate for all of us.
I have no doubt you will do an excellent job with your new post.

Peace,
CD

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Pegase on Feb 9^th, 2005, 8:14pm

This is a really good news [smiley=thumb.gif]

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by taraann on Feb 10^th, 2005, 2:20am

Closing your business of tens years to be a fulltime president. What an awesome and promising level of commitment.

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Luke63 on Feb 10^th, 2005, 9:17am

And Hats off to you Dan!! Thank you. Luke

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Edna on Feb 10^th, 2005, 9:57am

WOW!!

Thank you Dan for your dedication.

EDNA

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by helpless23 on Feb 10^th, 2005, 11:00am

Although I don't spend as much time as I should here, I still lurk around and try to stay posted on as much as I can.

I think that Dan is a wonderful human being and perfect for this job. I think his ideas and his dedication will benefit the entire family of Clusterville.

I'm proud to be a part of it. Great job Dan. I see nothing but good things now that you've stepped into this position.

X's and O's.
Toni

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Frank_W on Feb 11^th, 2005, 8:38am

on 02/08/05 at 04:43:48, Magman wrote:

Closing your business of ten years? Wow... I've had a couple of days to think about things, and I have some questions. I'm not taking any potshots here, Dan. I just have some honest questions: What will a full-time, paid president do for OUCH that wasn't being done by the volunteers who have worked so hard? What happens to the business that you spent a decade of your life building? I am the president of my own company too, so that's why I'm finding it a little difficult to comprehend...

Quote:

Professionalism, fairness and understanding are key traits to moving us forward. Together, the leaders of O.U.C.H. will utilize these traits to further education, research and partnering in the fight against Cluster and other vascular headaches.

So it's no longer about cluster headaches? Why? As I understood it, "OUCH" stood for "Organization for Understanding CLUSTER Headaches." (NOT "other vascular headaches." ) And when did CH become a vascular headache, if indeed, it is being lumped in with other vascular headaches? May I have a link to the pertinent study?

Quote:

You will see many changes in organizational structure, its mission and vision in the coming months. These changes will provide useful tools and benefits for our members. O.U.C.H. is a business, and will be run as such. The Officers and Project Managers will carry the work load while the BoD will provide guidance and direction for the organization.

I see that the entire history/message board of OUCH has been erased and expunged. Why? What happened to all of the work that people have sweat drops of blood over?

If it's a business, then will it have stock, correct? Who are the stockholders? Who is fiscally responsible? Where is this money coming from for insurance, salaries, liability, etc. etc.

Quote:

I will be looking to the masses for the talent needed to succeed in our mission. Volunteerism is a noble offer and effort, but does not lend itself to accomplishing our goals in a timely fashion. Eventually, in the not to distant future, O.U.C.H. will provide salaried and/or hourly paid positions for those that serve. The funding will come from grants and donations currently under research.

Again, what is this mission? Where is this money coming from? Suddenly, OUCH is going to just supply information? There's no drive towards education, or attempting to liason with research hospitals/physicians, and other vascular headaches are being included? Doesn't that, in fact, fly right in the face of all the work our volunteers have done, in getting cluster headaches recognized as a specific condition, quite separate from migraine headaches, tension headaches, etc.?

Quote:

As your President, my ‘door’ is open to all. Your concerns are my concerns and I pledge to do my best to provide an atmosphere of unity. And as the President, there will be times when I will make a decision not to discuss or release certain information until the time is right. From this, I will not back down. Certain business information and dealings must be held ‘close to the vest’ lest an opportunity is swept out from under us. Rest assured O.U.C.H. will not be an organization shrouded in secrecy. Rather, it will be a business that will provide benefits to all who belong and take part in its activities.

Respectfully,
Dan Bemowski, President
Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches

I have quite a number of concerns, but these are definitely the biggest ones. Also, if you are going to be president of OUCH, (and did I miss the election, or people discussing whether or not the position should continue to be a volunteer position, or whether it should be salaried?) what is your vision for OUCH? Specifically, what do you see OUCH doing in the next three years? Five? Ten? specifically for cluster headache sufferers.

Thank you.

-Frank

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Magman on Feb 11^th, 2005, 11:02am

In response to Frank's post please see

ANSWERS (http://www.kdlltd.com/answers.doc)

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Frank_W on Feb 11^th, 2005, 11:22am

Sorry if I stepped on your toes, Dan. There are a lot of unanswered questions, and as a member of OUCH, this certainly seemed like a rather abrupt and fundamental change. Far from trying to potshot or persecute you, (and I don't know you at all, so how could it ever possibly be personal, in the first place?) I was asking some practical questions.

I am concerned that the greatest good for cluster headache sufferers is done. Period. If OUCH is the vehicle for that, then of course I am concerned about the direction that OUCH is taking, and will remain concerned, for as long as I believe in the organization and in its mission.

You can see how suddenly talking about including other types of headaches and making broad organizational changes can make people feel apprehensive, right?

Anyway... Sorry if this is irritating to you. So is the door truly always open, or only open if it's swinging outward? ;)

Be well,
-Frank

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by kissmyglass on Feb 11^th, 2005, 11:36am

See? this is why I'll never be pres...I would have just told Frank to STFU.

Kev

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by E-Double on Feb 11^th, 2005, 11:38am

on 02/11/05 at 11:02:08, Magman wrote:

In response to Frank's post please see

ANSWERS (http://www.kdlltd.com/answers.doc)

Well put and agreed with. Good luck and honestly, wholeheartedly I was in such a position....
Thank you!!!
E

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Frank_W on Feb 11^th, 2005, 11:47am

on 02/11/05 at 11:36:41, kissmyglass wrote:

See? this is why I'll never be pres...I would have just told Frank to STFU.

Kev

ROFL! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Magman on Feb 11^th, 2005, 11:54am

on 02/11/05 at 11:22:14, Frank_W wrote:

Frank,

No, you didn’t step on any toes. If my writing comes across as such, I apologize.

Yes, there are truly a lot of unanswered questions, for all of us. Put a bit of trust and faith in the organization and the people running it and I believe all will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

There ‘is’ a lot going on, trust me. Many things have been taken care of, or are in the process of being taken care of in the past week alone. Just to name a few, legal counsel has been terminated for non-performance and new counsel found and being met with, hopefully next week. Accounting professional has been contacted and I am awaiting receipt of resume and fees. An alliance is in the works with Men’s Health Network for information sharing and getting the word out about Clusters. An OUCH document server is in the process of being configured to hold all OUCH documents and projects in the event of a Project Managers personal PC crashing and to allow for ease in data sharing. An Exchange email system is being setup for better communication between the BoD and Officers. These are just a few of the items handled since the posting of O.U.C.H….a new beginning.

Yes, the door is truly open. My preference however, is that conversation/questioning be done via email and then posted when appropriate answers can be thought out and compiled. I have no desire and will not take part in open discussion on items that are not complete, in the works, rumor, or proprietary. There is much too much to do, and too many opinions to tie myself in such chit chat.

If everyone truly cares about getting somewhere, they can join me in taking O.U.C.H. where it needs to go. But, it will be under direction and guidance with specific goals, time-tables, and answerability. ‘That’ is what I mean when I talk about O.U.C.H. being run like a business. A business owner does not ask the employees what road to take or how to navigate. Rather, the owner leads by example, delegates’ responsibility and authority to accomplish tasks, and oversees the overall wellness of the organization.

Respectfully,
-dan

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Frank_W on Feb 11^th, 2005, 12:16pm

Thank you, Dan. I appreciate your replies and look forward to seeing what the future brings.

With best wishes for OUCH and for us all,
-Frank

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by pubgirl on Feb 11^th, 2005, 6:05pm

Dan

My admiration and awe.

Make OUCH US credible to its own members (which it isn't) would be great, to make it credible to the outside world would be awesome. Then we get somewhere.

Watching this space as always

W the B

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 12^th, 2005, 11:06am

Quote:

Make OUCH US credible to its own members (which it isn't) would be great,

This is exactly the kind of broad, generalized and inflammatory statement, that in the past has weakened OUCH and put it on hold, fired up tempers and prevented any work from getting done. [smiley=frown.gif] [smiley=frown.gif]

Linda

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by don on Feb 12^th, 2005, 11:11am

All this comes to fruitation and I may join again.

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by LadyElaine on Feb 12^th, 2005, 11:22am

When you post on a message board about anything. I think you know your going to get opinions of different kinds. I think Dan as others knew some would disagree with the changes. The questions and concerns Frank had I also had, I am glad he asked. If you want people to ask questions email, then you shouldn't post in the first place.
Dan and others I wish you luck in your work. I hope for everyone here you make it work. Frank thanks for asking the questions ! Dan thanks for kind of answering some of them.

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by Callico_Kid on Feb 12^th, 2005, 11:51pm

Thanks.

I appreciate your spelling out your position, and that you are able to make the commitment to OUCH that is needed. I'll be watching to see what happens, and that is not to be construed as criticism to anyone involved past or present. I truly appreciate all that has been done in the past, and look forward to what will be accomplished in the future.

Most of all, I look for someone to find a solution to this malady other than more drugs to make it bearable.

Jerry

Title: Re: O.U.C.H. – A new beginning
Post by guesst on Feb 14^th, 2005, 9:01am

I'm very excited at the promise this offers.