At the Crossroads with Founders Syndrome
Jun 30, 2016 11:28:07 GMT -7
Admin, dorothykeeler, and 3 more like this
Post by chris on Jun 30, 2016 11:28:07 GMT -7
To: The GLA Board of Directors
For some years now we, and other members of the association, have been greatly concerned and even critical of the way the board manages (or mismanages) the affairs of the GLA. Most of our comments and suggestions to the board go unacknowledged and unanswered. We are written off by you as a small vocal group of disgruntled landowners who only interfere with your (misguided) views on how the association’s business should be conducted. More and more landowners are seeing the errors of your ways and desire positive change. Unfortunately, that will never take place as long as the board is dominated with “Founders Syndrome.”
“Founder’s syndrome is primarily a conflict of interest issue for a person – often well-intentioned and passionately committed – who exercises leadership so strongly that it results in undue influence over the organization, thereby weakening the effectiveness of other leaders and ultimately the organization itself. Frequently, an organization with founder’s syndrome has a leader (or small group of leaders) who exercises a large degree of control, where little happens without that person’s approval. Often, the bylaws lack board term limits, thereby allowing long-term directors to dominate the organization – albeit with good intentions. The board members are typically weak, acquiescing to the leader’s control based on institutional history (“the way things work”), personal factors (perhaps too busy), or other reasons. Unfortunately, the person or persons in the “founder’s” role may effectively strangle an organization by dominating it, even though it may seem such control is necessary in order to keep the organization working. Because of their weakened positions, the board members are unable to fulfill their duties of care and obedience.
The effects of founder’s syndrome, if left unchecked, can be extremely detrimental. Often,
otherwise qualified directors and employees either leave the organization when they run up against founder’s syndrome, or they, themselves, become entrenched along with their leader. In serious cases, the organization will cease to function effectively and will be forced to go through a painful and often destructive transition.”
For a more thorough description of Founders Syndrome and an excellent primer on Not-for-Profit Directors’ and Officers’ Responsibilities see this document:
www.mosherlaw.com/docs/doliablegalissues.pdf
As one reads through this treatise, the many transgressions of GLA boards and directors are evident. Many things need to change, and soon. Will the GLA board members who read and understand this do what is necessary to eliminate Founders Syndrome? Will GLA landowners demand a change in directors and leadership at the annual meeting in November? Can this association continue to function based on institutional history, as it has in the past? Or shall the members seek to establish a simpler, leaner, more-easily-managed association whose main or sole function will be proper maintenance of our roads?
Sincerely,
Chris & Ia Williams
For some years now we, and other members of the association, have been greatly concerned and even critical of the way the board manages (or mismanages) the affairs of the GLA. Most of our comments and suggestions to the board go unacknowledged and unanswered. We are written off by you as a small vocal group of disgruntled landowners who only interfere with your (misguided) views on how the association’s business should be conducted. More and more landowners are seeing the errors of your ways and desire positive change. Unfortunately, that will never take place as long as the board is dominated with “Founders Syndrome.”
“Founder’s syndrome is primarily a conflict of interest issue for a person – often well-intentioned and passionately committed – who exercises leadership so strongly that it results in undue influence over the organization, thereby weakening the effectiveness of other leaders and ultimately the organization itself. Frequently, an organization with founder’s syndrome has a leader (or small group of leaders) who exercises a large degree of control, where little happens without that person’s approval. Often, the bylaws lack board term limits, thereby allowing long-term directors to dominate the organization – albeit with good intentions. The board members are typically weak, acquiescing to the leader’s control based on institutional history (“the way things work”), personal factors (perhaps too busy), or other reasons. Unfortunately, the person or persons in the “founder’s” role may effectively strangle an organization by dominating it, even though it may seem such control is necessary in order to keep the organization working. Because of their weakened positions, the board members are unable to fulfill their duties of care and obedience.
The effects of founder’s syndrome, if left unchecked, can be extremely detrimental. Often,
otherwise qualified directors and employees either leave the organization when they run up against founder’s syndrome, or they, themselves, become entrenched along with their leader. In serious cases, the organization will cease to function effectively and will be forced to go through a painful and often destructive transition.”
For a more thorough description of Founders Syndrome and an excellent primer on Not-for-Profit Directors’ and Officers’ Responsibilities see this document:
www.mosherlaw.com/docs/doliablegalissues.pdf
As one reads through this treatise, the many transgressions of GLA boards and directors are evident. Many things need to change, and soon. Will the GLA board members who read and understand this do what is necessary to eliminate Founders Syndrome? Will GLA landowners demand a change in directors and leadership at the annual meeting in November? Can this association continue to function based on institutional history, as it has in the past? Or shall the members seek to establish a simpler, leaner, more-easily-managed association whose main or sole function will be proper maintenance of our roads?
Sincerely,
Chris & Ia Williams