I have come to understand that navigating governance changes can be a hard transition for a passionate and ruggedly independent membership like ours. However, it is a growing pain that thousands of other associations have proven successful in taking their associations to a higher collective level. The outdoor industry is evolving quickly, just as participants needs and interests, our lands, administration and access to funding are. As a result, AORE needs a governance structure that allow us to be nimble and progressive in a fast moving and dynamic industry.
“The future of governing must be different” writes Jeff De Caga. “Creating a different future of governing means focusing the work of governing on the future. Associations need their boards, with the support of their staff partners and other contributors to focus their attention on understanding, anticipating and preparing for a complex and uncertain future for their organizations and stakeholders, as well as the broader system of connections, exchanges and relationships in which they participate and through which they also derive value.”
The board will be proposing to the membership significant governance changes. Ultimately, the current board feels these are the best changes to fulfill what you’ve elected the board to do - fulfill AORE’s mission. However, it is change, and change is hard and scary for all of us no matter how much we try to deny it. As we begin to roll these out to our membership this year I ask my fellow members to have an open mind, ask questions to your board members and challenge yourself to see what AORE could be in the next 5- 10 years. If you have questions, please pick up the phone and give one of us a call as that’s what you elected us to do: Represent you.
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