WMSGA session causes confusion

ORONO – The Women’s Maine State Golf Association held its annual meeting at the Penobscot Valley Country Club here Wednesday.

The golfers probably had a bit more fun participating in their annual Texas Scramble than they did participating in some segments of their their annual meeting which, if President Julie Green will pardon me for saying, might well have been labled a Maine Scramble.

Having observed and listened to the frustration exhibited both by the officers of the association and the dues-paying members during what should have been a thoughtful, constructive session to enhance the operation and image of the association, I can only say the WMSGA needs a little help.

But that help has to come from within. To that end, I offer some well-intended suggestions, hoping to provide some food for thought. I’m taking a bit of a stab in the dark here, since I have only the 1990 WMSGA Tournament Rules book for guidance.

In that book, however, are listed the officers of the WMSGA, and I do not see printed there the office of Parliamentarian. Having served in several offices of several organizations, I know well the value of conducting, and participating in, meetings by the book.

Roberts’ Rules of Order may make some people see red from time to time, but they should be followed, and adhered to. And it sure does make things easier for a beleaguered president, trying to run a meeting smoothly, if she has someone to turn to for guidance and support.

I would suggest, if the office of WMSGA Parliamentarian does not already exist, it should be created. The person who holds that office should be trained, well versed in Roberts’ Rules, and present at every meeting of the association to enforce them, and the bylaws of the association.

Every organization needs reorganizing from time to time. I have also been involved with associations that have gone through the painful process of updating their bylaws and, here again, I think this is something the WMSGA needs to explore.

The frustration of those present at Wednesday’s meeting at not being able to act on issues before them because of confusion on how they could, and should act, is something that must be rectified. I hope every member of the association has a copy of its bylaws. If not, she should have.

And I would suggest the WMSGA institute a board training program for each incoming board of directors.

To the credit of President Green and the officers serving with her, they are running the organization well under less-than-perfect circumstances. Green, for example, assumed the office of president last year without the benefit of having served as president-elect, since the incoming president was unable to serve.

Every organization has its ups and downs, its good times and bad, its plusses and minuses. The WMSGA is not in real trouble, by any means. Obviously, the positives here outweigh any negatives.

According to information from the United States Golf Association provided by Green, the WMSGA conducts one of the most aggressive weekly tournament schedules in the country for an organization of its size and short golf season.

Nearly 600 women are proud members of the WMSGA who work to promote golf in Maine through their assocation and their local clubs.

Wednesday’s annual meeting was a fruitful one. The members did vote to change the posting of 18-hole adjusted scores in Maine from May 1 to Oct. 31 (rather than May 15 to Oct. 15), and did vote to change the tournament requirements for non-residents from five to three tournaments prior to the state championship.

Having covered Maine women’s golf for more than a decade, I can attest to the fact that the desire is there for this organization to remain strong. With a little help from within, I have no doubt it will.