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Random thoughts on leading an amateur
astronomy group.
You need not be an expert in astronomy;
there are plenty of those in the club already. You only
need to be willing to give some of your time to help
get things organized and keep things focused.
Always be on the lookout for potential
officers. When someone speaks up at a meeting, does
the individual appear self-confident, or nervous and
unsure? Does a program presenter have good "presence"
in front of a group? Once identified, do a little coaching
to spark the individual’s interest in running for office.
Often, a member will present a proposal
"out of the blue." Unless you think fast on
your feet and can see the way to implement the idea,
thank the proposer for the suggestion, but explain your
difficulty envisioning the implementation. Ask the individual
to develop the idea more fully, including the resources
needed and where they will come from, and report back
at a future meeting when the idea has been "fleshed
out." Do not bog down a meeting trying to implement
the proposal "on the fly."
Be sure to give recognition to those
in your organization who really do the work. It may
sound trivial, but a few "attaboys" and "attagirls"
for a job well done not only reward the recipients,
but they also let others know that help is appreciated
when given.
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