Hi Netters....

I have some questions to ask you, especially those of you who live outside
Ohio.  Yesterday, we had our state affiliate meeting.  Some of our members
have proposed that we divide Ohio into 5 areas so that the members living in
the areas will have better representation on the Board of Directors and will
have better "sheparding" from the area representatives.  This requires a
by-laws change, so we are thoroughly discussing it.  Our membership is very
vocal and wants to be included in the major decision making.  I discovered
early in my presidency that it is not wise to exclude members from affiliate
business (we had a closed board meeting about some sensitive business and
members were highly offended--some have never gotten over it and it was
nearly 3 years ago).

As we were discussing our representation needs, I began thinking about ILCA
(it is our custom, as an affiliate to look to what Mama ILCA does so that we
won't have to think so hard...)

I don't know about anyone else,  but I feel rather "in the dark" about what
is going on with ILCA.  I was surprised to see the new mission statement on
my ballot.  I am concerned that since the affiliates are not polled on the
feelings of their membership regarding ILCA decisions (such as the mission
statement) that the members may not be supportive of the decisions that the
ILCA board makes (last year, there were several impassioned speakers at the
Annual Meeting).

As a dietitian, I am active in my local dietetic association.  Our state
 association has  delegates (based on number of members in the state) who
attend the national ADA meetings.  Our delegate presents at our meeting twice
per year and has informational sheets regarding decisions that are pending.
 We mark our preferences on the sheets and he uses our input to formulate his
position.  He also takes our concerns back to ADA.  I wonder if ILCA could do
something like this, only do it by mail or fax to the affiliates (which are
ready made organizations to poll  local ILCA members).  I am curious what
other ILCA members  think about this.  I have discussed some of these ideas
with Mary Grace (and have sent her some of the forms we use in Dayton), but
to my knowledge nothing has ever been done about them.  I do know that as an
affilate President I never received minutes from the ILCA Board meetings.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this (maybe I am the only one who feels
this way).

Martha Grodrian Brower RD LD IBCLC
953 Gardner Road
Kettering, OH 45429-4520
phone/fax (513) 293-0553
[log in to unmask]

P.S.  Did you see where the US pilot who was downed in Bosnia ate ants?
 Wonder how many it takes to even make a dent on your hunger?  What courage!!