THE CLIQUE EXISTS.

There is a clique in this hobby. The clique is the group of individuals who volunteer their time, their skills and their wisdom to make the hobby better. They are the CCA Officers and other officials, the MoGH Officers, convention volunteers and so on. The clique recognizes that negativity is bad for the hobby and tries to have internal debates when confronting issues. Those that are part of the debate can express their different opinions, but once decided we are all on the same page, at least publicly. That is how a successful organization is run. Those in the clique are just ordinary people like everyone else with the one exception that they step up and volunteer to help make the hobby better.

Who is not in the clique? Those that attack the Club, because there is something that they personally do not like, but do not offer any real solutions or volunteer to help make improvements.

The Club is not perfect. It can never be perfect. It is impossible to be everything to every club member. No matter what you do, some will always be disappointed and some will be pleased. Even if the club decided to give every member $1,000, believe it or not there would be individuals that would not be happy about it.

There are many who have left the hobby because of the negativity posted on the ChipBoard. A former club officer resigned his position and left the hobby because he was so embarrassed by the negativity on the ClhipBoard, especially to his friends and relatives that he brought into the hobby. My suggestion, if there is something that you are not happy about, don't post about it on the ChipBoard, instead contact any of the CCA officers and let them know how you feel.

Final point. Those in the clique volunteer their time for free. They sacrifice time away from their family, jobs, friends and other interests to make this hobby better, to make it better for you. They do not get paid and they do not get any other compensation other than the feeling of satisfaction for being a volunteer. It is especially hurtful, then, when these volunteers are personally attacked because someone doesn't like something. Please give the Club's volunteers the courtesy of hearing your concerns first. Try to put yourself in their shoes. "Here I am volunteering and yet instead of any positive recognition, instead I am being personally attacked." That's why many who are capable decide not to volunteer.