Posted by Adam W. in Questions for the candidates - All candidates

Posted by Cale Reilly in Questions for the candidates - All candidates
Question in general. As there is always calls for change or things people around the club don’t like is you are successful in this election how will you ensure that suggestions as to this change or rectifying this dislike are heard.

Specifically what will you do and how will you ensure it is different than current practice?

Thank you

Cale

One thing I love about the role President is that the President is in great position to stand up for someone who is not being treated well. Regardless of my position in the club, I always have and always will fight to make sure we do what is right while working within our systems and chain of command. I’ve done that twice by proposing bylaw revisions that ended up becoming bills, which made the rules themselves more fair. I often find myself listening to and trying to encourage those who are dealing with a problem, giving them advise and helping them figure out the next step they need to take, at times helping them take it. Those are the moments that give me the greatest satisfaction of being a part of this community.

An important piece of making someone feel like they are heard is to respond to them. It’s really important that someone knows they aren’t being ignored, even if an issue can’t be resolved immediately. Even if there is a concern raised that isn’t a cause I have a particular vested interest in, it’s important to keep in mind it is important to the member raising it. And if I disagree with a proposed change, that doesn’t necessarily mean I can’t find a way to make their situation better.

A key aspect of responding to complaints is to be willing to get advise. Sometimes it helps a great deal to get a different perspective or maybe it’s a situation someone else has dealt with before. It would be really valuable to have a Vice President like Thomas, who has had experience running this club before and has had worked through different challenges than I have. And in certain situations it’ll be apropriate to reach out to other experienced members of the club who may be able to offer great insight.

I want to respond a bit to the other ticket’s answer to this question. They are suggesting creating an anonymous suggestion box, which is a poor idea in my opinion. I want to give our members the impression they should feel safe to speak up to me about anything. Communication that works both ways is a part of handling a complaint, and a conversation to address concerns and discuss how to make improvements can’t happen with someone who is anonymous. Less personal and interactive methods of communicating don’t create more trust. Let’s have a community that’s willing to approach each other.

Cale, thank you for your question. Please let me know if you have any follow-ups.

Adam
Adam W / Thomas B

Thank you for your response Adam.

Cale