Posted by riccardo (212.216.69.60) on January 05, 2002 at 06:41:54:
Let me say a thing before: our OUCH-Italia will start subscriptions from the next month. We have approx 60 people coming on our site. I hope to make 60 OUCH membership, and I will send an e-mail to all those people to ask for this. But I will non ask on my board, by phone, by voice, by snail mail and any other way to become member. You want? OK here is your OUCH card. Don't want, no problem. A 'forced', obliged member is a member that will die the next renewal. I don't want this.
On this board I have seen so many requests, so many mosts, so many forced requests (all in bona fide, all made with the hearth, all honest) and the results are.... 60 members voted for the past elections.
SHIT, SHIT, SHIT! Is absolutely not useful to have 200 members, and only 60 that partecipate to the activities, committees, votes, and so on.
Many come and go (when they end their cycle, or, simply, forget us)
The most important thing is not to make new membership, but to have care of them, to make them active part of OUCH. And 60 effective members on a total of 200 is not a good goal, especially for USA.
We have to work with what we have, ON what we have. The membership is a consequence of the CH, of the presence on this board, not a goal.
I agree with those that say we need more members, but I don't want to have 'fading' members. I want to have active members, yes 60 could be enough for a good work, and go fucking the quantity, and let's grow the quality!
I suggest to all of you to avoid these stupid debates, these things that can be misinterpreted.
NancyC and Jonny and many others are NOT stupid! They want honestly increase the membership. But this may sounds odd to some others, that reply (honestly too) in bad way.
But if we accept the 'poor' membership (don't forget, we are 60!!!!! ...effectively) and work on it, we can grow much and better.
Ciao to all you, and please.... STOP FIGHTING!