I am returning to this space after a big time lag. Many developments have taken place ever since. One of them being that my professional colleagues have entrusted me with an important responsibility in our teachers' association.
Although this association which I inherited as its General Secretary is existing since last ten years something, but it has hardly to present its credit. Not even a agreed upon Constitution, upon which the association is supposed to function. Moreover, no one could tell who were its members or how many were there in number. So, what to talk about the official records and accounts of the association.
It was a start from scratch. From designing and creating of stationery to mobilizing finances for its functioning. Some members were kind enough to offer their co-operation while some even evaded. Reasons for such cold shoulders may be their low or even non existing confidence in the association. But then, that's the beauty of it. People don't complain to whom complains should have been addressed. I realized that I am a successor to a daunting task ahead, a task never done. The task of kindling a ray of hope and building a confidence in my constituency that should drive them out of shells.
The creating of the Constitution of the association was a learning in itself. As a member of the drafting group, I had the opportunity to further my learning in democracy. It was a feast to watch how different interest groups would like to pull a common association in different directions. Some would like to add, for furthering personal interests, but I would say that its a natural human tendency to establish ones supremacy in groups to which one belongs. Did they not follow Maslow? Yes. They did.
Once through with the draft, the intricacies of actually putting the whole thing in words and finally putting it for the consideration of the members at a General Body meeting. Each phase offered a new platform to enhance my paradigms of operating in a group which is also my constituency. Now I am through with the initial and basic technical work that are required to call an informal group a formal association. I am not only feeling relaxed but also happy that I have done my bit for the challenge, I had accepted on August 27, 2009.
I believe that even bigger tasks are now ahead. The task of managing people's ego. Infact, bloated egos. The egos which keep us divided and prevent from moving ahead towards a unified goal. During the ground work done so for, I have discovered that there are divergent views of people, not on how the affairs of the association should be conducted but on how his / her personal well being is not being catered to. Hardly, did I find people coming forward on how the association should function or what programmes should it take up. Each one of us is an intellectual and has a head above shoulder.
Even when some did voice their hearts out, they were hardly willing to say the same on a proper platform i.e. a general body meeting or over the internet group & mailing list that is just being hosted to facilitate people voice out amongst their own fellow members, from the comforts of their personal PCs. Some even expect the Office Bearers to be having some Jinie who would wash away all the issues in one go. Experiences are innumerable and possibly one post may even be a bad idea to put them all.
I return with more on my Learnigs in Democracy.
Although this association which I inherited as its General Secretary is existing since last ten years something, but it has hardly to present its credit. Not even a agreed upon Constitution, upon which the association is supposed to function. Moreover, no one could tell who were its members or how many were there in number. So, what to talk about the official records and accounts of the association.
It was a start from scratch. From designing and creating of stationery to mobilizing finances for its functioning. Some members were kind enough to offer their co-operation while some even evaded. Reasons for such cold shoulders may be their low or even non existing confidence in the association. But then, that's the beauty of it. People don't complain to whom complains should have been addressed. I realized that I am a successor to a daunting task ahead, a task never done. The task of kindling a ray of hope and building a confidence in my constituency that should drive them out of shells.
The creating of the Constitution of the association was a learning in itself. As a member of the drafting group, I had the opportunity to further my learning in democracy. It was a feast to watch how different interest groups would like to pull a common association in different directions. Some would like to add, for furthering personal interests, but I would say that its a natural human tendency to establish ones supremacy in groups to which one belongs. Did they not follow Maslow? Yes. They did.
Once through with the draft, the intricacies of actually putting the whole thing in words and finally putting it for the consideration of the members at a General Body meeting. Each phase offered a new platform to enhance my paradigms of operating in a group which is also my constituency. Now I am through with the initial and basic technical work that are required to call an informal group a formal association. I am not only feeling relaxed but also happy that I have done my bit for the challenge, I had accepted on August 27, 2009.
I believe that even bigger tasks are now ahead. The task of managing people's ego. Infact, bloated egos. The egos which keep us divided and prevent from moving ahead towards a unified goal. During the ground work done so for, I have discovered that there are divergent views of people, not on how the affairs of the association should be conducted but on how his / her personal well being is not being catered to. Hardly, did I find people coming forward on how the association should function or what programmes should it take up. Each one of us is an intellectual and has a head above shoulder.
Even when some did voice their hearts out, they were hardly willing to say the same on a proper platform i.e. a general body meeting or over the internet group & mailing list that is just being hosted to facilitate people voice out amongst their own fellow members, from the comforts of their personal PCs. Some even expect the Office Bearers to be having some Jinie who would wash away all the issues in one go. Experiences are innumerable and possibly one post may even be a bad idea to put them all.
I return with more on my Learnigs in Democracy.
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