May 17 2007
Changing guard
Another example is my town’s Chinese association. When I joined a little over a decade ago, we had an active board and pres, had black tie dinner with our next door neighbor to raise money every Chinese New Year, the county executive would come… I organized skating evenings, bowling afternoons, skiing trip … The dinner was no longer held together, becasue there were under currents, with each town claiming that they sold more tables … So we decided to part. We did black tie on our own for once or twice, then it just died, b/c there was under currents too … Now the annual voting became a joke, only few attend. Most of us don’t know nor do we care who’s new skipper. People who had paid life time membership aren’t happy, no more activities. The small group who took over the board didn’t really have much to offer, nor do they have any tolerance, very cliquish. On their first bowling, I went to help, and was basically told to get lost. Ironically, soon after I got home, I got a fanatical phone call from the pres asking what should they do, for money was short. It’s just that pathetic. Many people seem to ignore the fact that to head this kind of group, you need to be influential and well-heeled, willing to reach out. My way or no way won’t work.