[SJAAboard] SJAA and CalStar

[Craig Scull]

Dave,

This history is very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

This whole topic of SJAA versus TAC around CalStar is a black box to me, and I have no particular predisposed position about who drives CalStar. I'm also not aware of any contentious issues between SJAA and TAC, and it sounds like Rob isn't either. That being the case, I can only speculate there may be some issue of politics, territory, or ego on the side of TAC that would cause them to behave in an unfriendly manner ?!

I don't like to speculate, but I hope this inspires someone to come forth with some facts. It feels like a completely uninformed and wasteful discussion without them.

Craig





----- Original Message ----
From: Dave North <north at znet.com>
To: Business list for SJAA board of directors <sjaaboard at sjaa.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 11:50:13 AM
Subject: [SJAAboard] SJAA and CalStar

Rob:
> What is the benefit of not having SJAA involved

There would appear to be only one obvious benefit: if the SJAA is not 
involved, there is no need to deal with the SJAA board.
    Exciting and fun as all us former officers found the board process, 
it's best to remember that not everyone enjoys it ... or even sees the 
value at all. Kind of a typical American attitude in a way.

Since CalStar began on my watch, I can only see "returning it to TAC" 
in kind of a half light. Certainly SJAA sponsored every CalStar from 
the very beginning; there's no room to dispute that. So it has always 
been an SJAA event by that measure.
    However, the actual participation by SJAA in the first CalStar was 
very ad-hoc and hands-off. We simply sponsored the event without any 
strong contribution (or, if you wish to view it that way, 
interference).
    This means, of course, that virtually all the initial impetus for 
CalStar came from TAC with a little (but I like to think significant, 
whether it was or not) nudge from SJAA. The idea was to very definitely 
not interfere with the CalStar event or process, at lest initially. So 
though it has always been sponsored by SJAA, CalStar was not at all 
"run" by SJAA.
    Over the years, that has changed and evolved. Perhaps SJAA is seen as 
getting a bit too involved and "cramping the style" of CalStar. In that 
sense, I can easily parse "returning it to TAC" in a reasonable light.

So much for history, which I do not consider significant in this 
context.
    It might be a good idea for the club to consider the idea that it 
should not poke its nose where it is not wanted. If TAC -- indisputably 
the major driving force behind CalStar -- through whatever muzzy 
process has come to a consensus that SJAA is a liability to the 
continued success and/or improvement of the event (or even just 
enjoyment) then SJAA should probably bow out and accept TAC's warm 
gratitude for all the past support.
    Or should the club turn into The Thing That Wouldn't Leave? (Or just 
as problematical, The Thing That Wouldn't Shut Up?)
    I no longer follow TAC discussions, so I don't know which way the wind 
is blowing. But I very much dislike the idea of SJAA attempting to 
cling to organizational dominance where it's not wanted.
    When I first proposed our sponsorship to the board, it specifically 
included the idea of not interfering where we were not wanted. 
Contribution is one thing, "smothering with love" is another.
    Besides, it's hard to see the point of insisting on doing a job that 
someone else wants, especially when there is no pay. If the singular 
argument is that SJAA is left without a dark sky party if it noses out 
of CalStar (prestige? what?) then perhaps it's time for SJAA to flex 
it's considerably organizational muscle and cough up a star party it 
can control to its heart's content.
    Another ain't gonna hurt anyone.
    Besides, with the weight of experience and resources the board can 
bring to bear, there can be no doubt it would be an exceptional and 
heavily-attended event; a benefit to the whole community.
    Even TAC.


Dave North


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