Around the CoRner

How many times have we all heard the statement “Well, it’s always been that way” after we report a defect?

As if saying that will make us change our minds about what we’ve found!? When hearing this statement, I sometimes think to myself, “Why, you say it’s always been that way? Exactly like that? Well, I’ll be! Let me just erase that from my report right this very minute. I mean, gosh, if it really and truly (no pinky promises now) has been just exactly, identically like that, nary a molecule moved in any direction East, West, North or South…then, by golly, I have no business whatsoever suggesting you do anything about it at all! I have to ’fess up and tell you, Sir and/or Madam, that I did remove the fork from the dryer’s electrical receptacle—I mean, after dousing the flames and all—and I feel right bad about that now. Should I put it back?”

We face similar situations from time to time with ASHI, as with any organization. The “that’s the way we’ve always done it” attitude. Well, times change, situations change and needs change. Sometimes the way we do things can seem silly, though it’s likely you’ll receive a long explanation as to why it is done this way (as if it won’t continue to seem silly after hearing the explanation). We hang on to tradition and repetition as an anchor, steadying us as we do our jobs. But, as with anchors, they don’t let you make any progress, they just keep you in the same place all the time. That is, in part, the purpose of the Council of Representatives (the CoR)—to identify those things that ASHI can be doing better or more efficiently and to “raise the anchors,” so to speak. It is your job to help point things out to your Council Representative that you feel could be done differently or more efficiently. We on the CoR look to you for the next great idea that can improve membership in ASHI.

Please contact your Council Representative, or if you do not have one, contact me with your thoughts and ideas. Believe me, I will listen eagerly to all of your ideas and work to bring them before the CoR for action.

I assure you, I am not “panda-ring” 🙂

What’s YOUR Great Idea? Write me at Speaker@ashi.org and share your ideas with the CoR.

~ Jim

James Funkhouser, Speaker, ASHI Council of Representatives, Speaker@ashi.org