[20086] in APO-L
Re: Sections Chairs: Who do the work for?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (jgrossi)
Mon Feb 1 09:53:17 1999
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 09:44:46 -0500
Reply-To: jgrossi <jgrossi@bbnplanet.com>
From: jgrossi <jgrossi@BBNPLANET.COM>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
> I respectfully disagree here, Brother. While we did make the Section Chairs
> accountable *to* the Regional Director, I would submit that Section Chairs
> work for the *chapters* in the Section; the Chairs are chosen *by* those
> chapters, NOT the Regional Director. Perhaps this is a semantic argument, and
> perhaps we aren't interpreting the role of the Chairs the same way (you, I
> believe, ARE a Section Chair, and gives you a different perspective than
> myself, a member of section staff.)
Brother Stratton--
I'm very clearly a Section Chair (got the phone bills and car bills to
prove it) and I am serving my fifth term in my position. Fortunately, I've never
had to deal with this situation, and count myself lucky for having had the
privelige of working closely with Cheryl Smith during my time as Section Chair.
(your the greatest Cheryl!) Cheryl has taught me a lot about APO and has become
a very good friend over that time. She's also had the paitence to deal with me,
and has spent the time to listen to me, and made it known to me that my opinions
do matter. I've also taken the time and had the paitence to listen to her, and
made sure that when a point was under debate between us that I've given her the
full picture.
My concern here is that in the stiuation where the relationship between
a Sectional Chair and a Regional Director has detiorated to the point where the
Regional Director is telling the Section Chair to; "Go do because I said so?"
something is seriously wrong.
I'm concerned that there is no avenue of appeal and dispute resolution
should the Regional Director be clearly out of touch with the situation or
trying to relive there role as a Section Chair. I'm also concerned that there is
no provision to ENSURE that paralysis does not ensue due to the lack of a
working relationship between a Sectional Chair and a Regional Director. I would
submit to you in cases of this nature an avenue to appeal should be open to the
National Vice-President in his role as Chair of the Spirits and Standards
Committee, the committee that ultimately arbitrates fraternity policy. It should
also become clearly evident that the National Fraternity needs to become
concerned that this dispute between the two levels of fraternity administration
does not lead to a paralysis in that Section, during which no services are
getting to the chapter (possibly in need) due to a lack of coordination between
the fraternity's two levels of administration.
Yes the Sectional Chair is elected by the students and responsible to
them, but a nine month wait until the next election is a long time for a dispute
to simmer, and may not be the end as the RD can even after a mandate from the
students of that section overide the Section Chair AGAIN. Ultimately it would be
better if everyone could agree and get along... in the cases though were you do
have to legislate things of this nature, you need to do the legislative i's and
t's to ensure that things do end and do not simmer and do not cause paralysis
while they are resolved (if they ever are)
just some thoughts... now off to do work...
-John Grossi
Section 94 Chair
