[SJAAboard] Loaner program discussion (was: Agenda for board meeting)

[Rob Hawley (SJAA)]

My own list has a slightly different motivation then others.  I am not as
convinced as others that the program as currently structured is flawed.  The
program has worked for many years. Anyone that does not want to store a scope
returns it. The other members are happy to contribute to the club.  The present
method neither requires expensive storage nor places a further burden on those
running the club.  While from the outside it looks messy, it does work and
allows us to maintain a larger and more varied inventory.

When I look at the inventory what I still see is a program that grew by
accreting other's cast offs.  Over the past year we have shown we are willing to
get rid of the scopes that are just not working.  I believe there are still a
number of scopes that do not belong in the program either because they are
unlikely to be used or will disappoint the loanee.  I also believe the program
has some holes that need we need to fill to make it well reasoned program.

Those discussions will be more difficult. While Gary's goals fulfill a missing
external statement of what the program's goals are, they do not answer questions
such as whether we should eliminate scopes that require AC power. I agree with
Rich that in the end we will simply have to look at each scope individually.


Rob Hawley 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Craig Scull [mailto:craigus at rocketmail.com]
>Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 6:23 PM
>To: Business list for SJAA board of directors
>Subject: Re: [SJAAboard] Agenda for board meeting
>
>In discussion with others off-list I had a flash of insight I wanted to share
>with the broader group with regard to loaner program inventory reduction.
>
>My first emotion to many of these is "no! don't let it go! that's a
>great scope!" -- but then I realize that it doesn't make sense to store
>scopes that don't get used because we are just sequestering them away
>from the people who could actually use them. The "auction" is in some
>cases a better match-making venue than the loaner program.
>
>That is all,
>Craig