About the Amherst Club

[Michael]

May I suggest that you read, or re-read, the statement About the
Amherst Club, on our website, www.theamherstclub.org

What would you change, add or delete?

[els...@umext.umass.edu]

Good afternoon Michael,
I hope that all of our members will read or re-read the statement
about the Amherst Club on our website.
The first section which is entitled "A Service Organization", might it
be an idea to state that The Amherst Club has raised more than
$280,000 for community service organizations? It would strengthen the
third paragraph which states that "The Club performs fundraising for
local service organizations....."
If I were not already a member of the Amherst Club and was reading our
website, I would look at the first sentence of Membership which
states, "Membership is by invitation only...."
If I did not know any members of the Amherst Club, how could I
possibly be invited? I think that this point needs to be covered in a
questionnaire to be answered by all Amherst Club members.
If I moved into the community and did find someone in the Amherst
Club, how would an Amherst Club member explain to a prospective or
interested person that the name could be presented - but that is no
assurance that I would be accepted. And then when I am further told
that my "credentials" need to be reviewed and approved not only by the
Membership Committee but also the Board of Directors, would I then
become discouraged and give up?
All I am doing is taking the words on our website and reading them
from a stranger's point of view......
Elsie

[Arthur Kinney]

Dear All,

End the first sentence after "Amherst area." Reverse paragraphs 2 and
3; service comes before society.

Arthur

[Vivienne Carey]

I have two comments concerning the club's statement on our web site:

1. At the risk of ruffling some feathers, although in no way wishing to
cause offence to anyone, my initial response to being reminded of one part
of our club's statement is as follows:

"It seeks diversity of background, age and experience among its
members, and particularly intends to represent the racial and ethnic
diversity of the greater Amherst community".

The negative reaction to the acceptance of a recent new member left me
greatly dismayed and disappointed. I would have hoped that our common goal
of working toward the betterment of the community and of doing what we can
to help those in need would have enabled us to overcome personal differences
when meeting another community member who has so fully commited themself to
these very goals.

If we had first spent time reaching out and making some attempts to connect
and work together to change what was problematic, a more positive outcome
might have been achieved. We did not try, and therefore will never know
whether or not harmony could have been reached.

2. "These social events serve to bring together community leaders who
might not otherwise come to know one another".

Many of us do not regard ourselves as community leaders, but merely
concerned Amherst residents who are pleased to be involved in a club whose
annual fundraising activity reminds us of the many local people whose needs
cannot be met by their own efforts alone. The suggestion that only community
leaders are eligible for membership is misleading and suggests a degree of
elitism that I would rather not be a part of.

3. "Reverse paragraphs 2 and 3; service comes before society".

I agree with this comment by Arthur.

Thanks,

Vivienne

[Roger Webb]

Out of interest, I have compiled a list of membership numbers for the past
decade (from old billing data). These are members as of July 1, except for
the 2010 numbers which are January.

The Rise and Fall of the Amherst Club, 2000-2010
================================================
Full Partner Associate Total
2000 60 6 19 85
2001 57 4 27 88
2002 61 2 20 83
2003 57 6 21 84
2004 63 6 20 89
2005 71 6 22 99
2006 63 6 17 86
2007 62 4 18 84
2008 63 4 11 78
2009 57 4 16 77
2010 52 6 18 76

Roger

[Roger Webb]

There appears to be slight confusion over whether to comment on the "Home"
page or the "About the Club" page. Michael asked for comments on the About
the (Amherst) Club page, but of course the Home page is what people see
first. The Home page is a slightly updated (by me, to include current
pricing and the endowment fund) version of our old web page, which has a
short summary of the club. The About the Club page is (I think) the text of
our "brochure", which is somewhat more detailed. Both are of course
relevant, but it would be clearer if members say which page their comments
refer to.

Roger

[Michael Greenebaum]

My intention was to have members click on the "About the Club" link on the left and comment on the statement that is the clearest summary of what we think about ourselves.  This is what we are currently telling ourselves as well as others interested in the Club.

Michael

[Lorraine Desrosiers]

I couldn't agree more with Vivienne's comments. I, too, felt that
communication between members of the club and a recent member whose hasty
withdrawal signified something unusual, was somehow inadequate and
incomplete. It makes me want to review our highest standards for inclusion,
and by this I do not mean exclusionary definitions, but stricter moral,
ethical and inclusive ones.

Times have changed. Membership has changed. It will be a challenge to put
the same kind of effort into redefining ourselves now as was put in when the
club was first conceived. I believe that while many of us might, in a
nostalgic mood, describe ourselves as community leaders, that no longer
applies or is even as relevant as it once was. Some of us no longer live,
or even ever lived, in Amherst per se, which has caused us to think of
community in broader terms, all to the good. I suggest we apply these
broader terms to membership qualifications and processes. I have heard many
others express the same inclinations.

Our club has meant much to me over the years. I experience it as a family
of people whose common goals and mutual respect have provided a "home" for
me personally, a haven of reason and kindness. I realize there have to be
boundaries between us and the community as well as those between us as
individuals. There have to be rules. We need to define ourselves if we are
to maintain a discrete and identifiable presence to accomplish our goals and
remain viable. But we must take care not to define ourselves into such a
corner that we are no longer accessible or relevant to those we wish to
associate with or to serve.

That said, I think the notions of "leadership", "invitation", and "Board
approval" should be reviewed and reworded. I hope we can offer standards
such as those Vivienne described so well. See her email.

Lorraine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vivienne Carey" <vivien...@comcast.net>
To: <future-of-the...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 5:06 PM
Subject: About the Amherst Club

[jer...@aol.com]

INTERESTING STATS, ROGER.  I WONDER IF ANYONE DOES AN "EXIT INTERVIEW" WITH PEOPLE WHO QUIT BEING MEMBERS....EITHER FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY.

CYNTHIA

[Arthur Kinney]

Roger,

Is there any way to account for the surge in 2005?

Arthur

[Roger Webb]

The increase is really 2003-2005. There may not be a single reason, or it
could even be a random fluctuation. But I do recall that we have sometimes
had initiatives where members were encouraged to each find one new member.
Or it could have been a more activist president or membership committee. I
don't have details of the 2003-2004 board, but 2004-2005 had Lois as
president an A Kinney as membership chair.