| Username |
Post |
| bik |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 12:41 PM
There were several issues brought up on another thread about the entrance fee for the Annual Fall Party being $15. This is an attempt to answer those concerns:
1. The party was organized by only a few people. People who put in a great deal of time and effort. As a result, we did not have time to address all the issues that need to be addressed. Including the questions posted on this site about why the price tag was $15. We are always seeking volunteers. Please help us, so we can do a more complete and thorough job.
2. GBNC tries to set the entrance fee as low as possible on any event it organizes. The two most determining factors that help determine the fee are the cost of organizing such an event and the number of people who attend the event. The first one is easy to predict. However, the second one is extremely difficult. We have tried RSVP and that has not worked well, as the response to the committee was very poor. So, unless people change their behavior, we always have to allow for a large safety factor. This results in a higher entrance fee than otherwise possible.
3. We try to use certain events to raise funds to operate GBNC. Dashain Party and other large parties are such events. We will be making the Balance Sheets of the organization public soon, so you can see exactly how much we are able to raise from such events.
4. Having to come up with $15 is difficult for a few members of GBNC. However, please remember that this amount is still one of the lowest fees charged by similar organizations for similar events. Just to cite a few examples: a local Thai organization charges $25 for a similar event. Loshar Party in New York costs $45 to attend. Kathmandu Night in San Francisco was set at $20 and that did not include dinner.
Please be assured that GBNC is trying to balance many things while deciding upon an entrance fee and that it is always trying to make it as low as possible.
5. Since there were some questions on who was charged how much last night, here is a breakdown: General Members: $15, Volunteers: $10, Artists: $5.
I hope this helps answer most of the concerns. If you don’t hear from us, please remember that it is not because we don’t want to respond, but because we are limited on resources. We need more volunteers. We need more people to join as Executive Members to help carry out these functions.
Bik Yonjan
President 2001-2002.
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| Koko |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 01:20 PM
Mr president,
I could not understand why volunteers have to sweat their bums and pay on top as well. Where is the incentive ? why would anyone want to pay, spend time to organize, and bust their chops while they could just walk in, watch , eat and leave ? Put yourself in that position, would you do it ?
Which brings back the topic I had mentioned before. gbnc Needs to show incentives to bring volunteersto work. Same with the performers as well. If GBNC does not show that they are appreciated, then they would not come to help. You guys keep yelling volunteers...... they are not going to come help if you treat them like crap. Same goes for the performers...
Lesson for gbnc- do not take people for granted. treat them well if you want them to come back again. If this party was crappy expect less people next time. Logic=reason=cause. thank you for your time.
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| DA |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 02:30 PM
KoKo,
I think the incentive is that it is your orginazation - this alone should be enough to
contribute both fincainally and as a volunteer to GBNC. Frankly, when I attend any GBNC events and asked to pay - I think of it as an contribution to the Nepalese society that I share interest and background with and a society that brings us together for festivals and celebrations that would otherwise go unnoticed/uncelebrated.
The ex-comm does not get paid, but why would they choose to volunteer for a year? The mere fact that people have volunteered for a year and serve the GBNC is an indication of the fact that they do care about the GBNC and apprecaite its members, otherwise why would they do it? Would you become part of soemthing that you don't believe in? It is OK to make a lot of noise about what is not being done, however please let us not lose sight of what is being done.
Yes, it would be nice to get things for free. I am sure GBNC would have done so for the volunteers if it would have been economically viabale. And like the president pointed out, if the could be a better way of estimating how many are going to show up, the prices could definately come down/up and/or volunteers are let in for price/free.
-DA
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| spoo |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 02:32 PM
Very Well said DA. People need to learn there is joy in 'giving'.
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| Koko |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 03:22 PM
Mr Da,
I understand your point that people should contribute for their community to make it better. I agree with you on that note but is it coming through, that is the question. Before it was a small community it was not a big deal. But look at the community now .. I think it would be a little too much for anyone.
Besides it does not seems to be working. When you have no opposition for presidency, no individuals volunteering, and dwindling attendence..... there is something wrong with the organization. The leadership and the organization needs to ask the question .. what is wrong ? Why arn't people coming ? And how can I make it better ?
There was a lot of mistakes made by GBNC last year, the current committee needs to learn from that, instead of the happy go lucky attitude.
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| Jay Shrestha |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 05:49 PM
Dear Koko,
I came across your recent postings on this forum. However the last comment you posted caught my attention. This is the first time I am writing on this forum so I may not be aware of all the points of views that different groups have regarding GBNC. So please forgive me if I make mistakes in this posting.
Your query about the dwindling interest among the members to run for office is very appropriate. But I think you should know part of the answer by now. Why would people want to run for office if all they hear is dissatisfaction from members after every event? I am not saying that the exec. comm. never makes mistakes. We do make mistakes at times. But there is little point in fretting about things that go wrong. It is hard to organize events and there are bound to be some mistakes, especially when the number of volunteers is so low.
This is the third year I have volunteered to stay in the GBNC Executive Committee. Frankly, I have no incentive to stay in the Exec. Comm other than personal satisfaction. MIT gives me enough work to make my life miserable. I don't have time to run around organizing GBNC events. But every year I decide to stay in the Exec. Comm. because GBNC needs to use venues at MIT in order to organize different events. If GBNC had to organize these events at some other location, the cost of renting the place could make tickets more expensive, possibly resulting in a sharp decline in the number of people attending these programs.
I am not trying to brag about my devotion to GBNC. I am sure other members of the Executive Committee share similar stories. The only reason GBNC is surviving today is because of the commitment of the volunteers, and the unity of the Nepali Community in the Greater Boston area. GBNC needs more volunteers who represent all the different groups scattered around the Greater Boston area.
Volunteering for GBNC itself is a tough job. The pessimistic views that you post on this forum are only going to make it harder for the volunteers to do their job. If you are so dissatisfied about the way the organization is run then why don't you volunteer to join the Executive Committee and try to effect some change? Afterall, GBNC is your organization too.
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| Dhiren Gurung |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 06:13 PM
Dear Boston Friends,
Please accept my Namaste. Well !!! Actually, I am an outsider for Boston society but my younger brother Mr. Sachendra Gurung has had an affiliation with Boston Community. He has treasured many good memories with you guys ( Currently he is living in Texas !!), that's why I am just writing to show my little concern regarding issues of Charing $15.00 for Dashain party.
I think it entirely depends on how do you integrate that amount ? I mean, How much dough goes to organizing Dashain party and other social activities they might have in the near future. If it is meant solely for Dashain party then it is a bit too much for those who are still going to "Patsala". For those who have handsome amount of earnings, it's just a tips of an ice-berg for them.
Well !!! Anyway, to me, amount is a secondary thing as long as you enjoy Dashian party and exchange some lovely greetings with each other. Have a blast Dashian party to Boston Community.
well wisher,
Dhiren Gurung (:->)
Hi Dhiren, welcome to the GBNC Site and regards to Sachendra. Boston misses him.
Best Wishes,
SP (10/23/2001)
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 22-Oct-01 06:39 PM
Hi All,
I know I am an outsider for Boston area. But just want to contribute a few cents
worth of my view on the complaints that occupied so much space here.
When I volunteered to work in a lot of organizations, (Nepali) members were never
satisfied with my performance. NEVER. Either I was very poor at handling the
complaints, or it was inherently the nature of work in such organization.
I don't know why people don't want to see a particular person when evaluating
him and his work in such organization. If we think about Sachit(or sb else), his
work schedule and compare it to ours, and imagine how we would do if we were
him, probably we could empathize with him.Let's not forget, we are all busy here.
Also, please don't think that without fund, any organization or executive committee
can be effective. Actually, it is a major handicap for any kind of body. We need to
understand that gbnc is something that operates from members'fund. If members
are not willing to fund it, who else will?
I remember listening to NPR. Just last week, they were vigorously raising money
from listeners here. May be GBNC should start that sort of campaign sometimes a
year.I remember one of our posters here had (without posting here) organized one
fund raiser for an ailing singer in Nepal just by sending emails to those he knew a
few months ago.
It is very difficult to be organized, and the return from having one's
own "organization" may not be very tangible to a lot of people.But people should
understand that without organizing ourselves,we will only lose because cities will
consider we aren't here,and the community will ignore us as an indistinct identity
or an indentity similar to other(Indians etc).
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| Koko |
Posted
on 23-Oct-01 04:54 PM
So is Gbnc doing anything for the future / to make it a more effective organization. And the whole approach should start from the top to bottom. once again current method of recruiting volunteers does not seem to be effective enough.
On the same note, how about sending a spam to all members. They used to call before to confirm. getting reply from your spam would give you a good estimate for the size of your crowd. The president needs to improve on this current situation. We cannot just let it be and go on every year with the same problem.
This whole Bahihalchaani attitude need to go out the window.
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| concerned |
Posted
on 23-Oct-01 08:25 PM
Koko, I am 100% sure that you did not attend the Dashain Party. You are like a typical Nepali who has no respect for other's work, especially voluntary work, and just likes to complain. Frankly, I was amazed by the way the Dashain Party went. The organizers should be congratulated for that. The turnout was also very encouraging. I have nothing more to say-- I completely agree with Bik and
Jay.
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| ashutosh |
Posted
on 23-Oct-01 11:40 PM
Jay Shrestha wote:
>Your query about the dwindling interest
>among the members to run for office is very
>appropriate. But I think you should know
>part of the answer by now. Why would people
>want to run for office if all they hear is
>dissatisfaction from members after every
>event?
I think we Nepalis should know by now running a
PUBLIC office anywhere -- in Boston or in
Kathmandu -- is NOT an easy task. (or, for that
matter, posting in public in one's name is NOT
an asy task either :-)]
You will be attacked for things you do, and you
will be attacked for things you don't. And that is a
fact, and you cannot control other people to say only
the nicest things about you - a public official.
What CAN be controlled, and controlled very
well, however, is YOUR own reaction to the just
and unjust criticisms.
You can choose to be defensive.
Or, you can choose to be offensive.
Or, you can respond to attacks by
shrugging them off, and so on.
As a Nepali follower, I am much more interested in seeing
how the officials handle feedbacks and
criticisms like confident yet caring
leaders than in the nature of
complaints itself.
And so, if I were a GBNC official, I would welcome
all kinds of criticisms from all kinds of Boston
Nepalis all the time.
After all, for the success of any organization, all kinds of feedback
from "customers", so to speak, are vitally important. Sometimes,
some people just want to complain because that way
they feel that they are doing something for GBNC and that's fine.
Other times, some people have realy good advice to give.
nd so, you canot be defensive on one hand and still expect
the organization to prosper on the othe hand.
By being OPEN to feedback in any form, and responding clearly,
openly and authoritatively to those feedbacks, GBNC sends a signal
to all that it is NOT afraid of criticisms and is trying to do its job well
within e limitations it faces.
If some people still complain after that, then that's life.
I, for one, would try NOT to let such criticisms distract me, and
would just focus on doing my job well.
Being a PUBLIC official is NOT so much about being a dynamic
person than about having a dynamic mindset.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| Koko |
Posted
on 24-Oct-01 09:52 AM
Mr Concerned,
For your kind information, I was there and did shell out the much talked about $15 for the party. How do you think I know that the comittee charged the performers ? Please do not I repeat DONOT go around talking out of you ass if you don't know what you are talking about. And Yes I have volunteered in the past when Mahendra Sakya was the president(beenthere donethat). And before you go on bitching about your own people just look in the mirror first.
You don't even see any of those people around from that time coming to any GBNC events. So the comittee needs to address that question, what can we do to bring these people back ? As they say more the merrier.
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| concerned |
Posted
on 24-Oct-01 10:26 AM
Koko, I was criticizing your negative attitude. Just ask someone you trust to go over your posting and ask her/him about the attitude of the writing (in case you can't do it yourself),and it should be evident. I do share your concern about charging the performers. I also respect the effort the volunteers had put into. From what I know, the volunteers and performers were not charged in other events last year and most of those programs went in a loss. I believe the organizers , thinking that the turnout would be dismal, as in previous occassions, decided to charge. If there is a good turnout, I am sure the volunteers and performers will not be charged.
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| Koko |
Posted
on 24-Oct-01 04:06 PM
If Gbnc want to take my suggestions as negative attitude, I am not to blame. I was just trying to drum up support for people that have concerns. Gbnc is a social org. and every voice counts. If Gbnc wants to improve then they would take my coments as suggestions but if they have that happy go lucky policy them of course my words would be negative attitude.
So the question is, DOES THE CURRENT COMITTEE WANT TO TAKE THE CHALLEGE OF MAKING GBNC BETTER OR THEY WANT THAT SAME OLD NEPALI ATTITUDE OF" BHAAIHALCHA NI" AND LET THE NUMBERS DWINDLE DOWN TO ZERO.
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| NK |
Posted
on 24-Oct-01 04:17 PM
Dear Koko,
Now I am officially a member of the GBNC council so I thought I should reply as an official voice. Past few months I was also voicing my concern about GBNC 's performance so I thought this was an opportunity for me to do something about it. You know not only talk the talk but walk the walk also. I have not talked to the President about your concern yet but I thought the sooner somebody responses the better it is.
To make my response short - I hear you! We hear you. We will try our best to make this organization serve our community better. I don't know how we are going to do it yet but maybe you should come to some meetings and contribute you insights. I don't know when the next meeting is but it will be posted here. So, can we count on you?
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| concerned |
Posted
on 24-Oct-01 06:34 PM
Koko, let me make this very clear. I am, like you, a normal GBNC member and
in my capacity,took it as a negative attitude. I don't know how GBNC members will take it-- it's their business.
I am sure that the new committee is trying very hard to do something so that there is a good turnout. I guess they will analyze the strategies they took
for the Dashain party and how it affected the turnout. They had sent many emails, the website was updated and the Dashain Party was mentioned in the newsletter. I am sure they would very much like to have you in the executive committee so that you could represent the "unsatisfied", but hopefully very valuable members of the community.
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| Koko |
Posted
on 25-Oct-01 12:31 PM
As I said earlier been there done that. Do not have the time to participate in GBNC comm. When I did have time Helped Honda in every way(back in the days). Its your turn now. But it is really sad to see that the org. that full of enthusiasm(back then) is being taken for granted and people running it seem to be running it to the ground.
Its up to the president and his supporting team to run the org. You can ask for help but cannot blame other people for it. Its like asking Bill Clinton to come help cause Bush cannot handle his own. If you take the office, its yours and take the responsibility. Running an organization you get both +ve and -ve feedbacks, but you take them to make it better.
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