11.1 Presidential Campaign Thread
In an ideal world people would become voting members and volunteer for assignments and lead projects which help the CFC fulfill its mandate. They will be known by their results and demonstrated competence and rise through the ranks and be seen as leaders who can then challenge for higher levels of responsibility based on the positive results and outcomes that they have clearly shown. We don’t live in that world. Our world is a fast food paradise where everyone is in a hurry, everyone wants a participation award and everyone wants to start at the top and become CEO without having to put in their dues. It is not clear what he would do differently than what we are already doing.
I am not going to say anything bad about Mahmud. I have met him a few times over the years and my impression has always been positive. He’s a nice guy but that doesn’t mean that he is the right guy to lead the CFC.
The candidate and his team have stated that I have been a good president but that it is now time for a change of direction. I disagree with the two aspects of this statement. I am a good president right now, present tense, today with seven years of experience as president over the course of which we have totally reversed the negative momentum that had been a feature of the CFC. I am a good president with the experience to deal with the considerable challenges that we are facing today. I have the connections and the skills which are needed to help chess get over the hurdles that have been placed in front of us through nobody’s fault. The direction that we were going was up, up, up.
We already got a taste of a change of direction with the Covid pandemic which has hit us like a train hitting a car at an unmarked railway crossing. If I am re-elected I expect that with the help of the volunteers, officers and executive to reassemble the vehicle that was the CFC and head forward in the same direction we were going previously which was up, up, up. The CFC does not need a change of direction nor does it need a change of leadership.
In any endeavour, there is a learning curve. This is true for the CFC presidency as with anything else. Mistakes will be made. The key is to make lots of them and correct course when results are disappointing. If you do make mistakes, make sure they are not catastrophic ones.
Mahmud for President (My Platform)
Dear Voting Members;
Further to my two Zoom sessions with you, here is my platform. Based on my outside experience with Rotary International and the NFP sector, I think the CFC needs to be “updated”, for lack of a better term.
First, I propose the establishment of 3 commissions:
We need an Online Commission and that includes online play, online messaging, and live online meetings. The technology for meetings is there. I appreciate and value that Vlad and others have started work on this frontier, and he is the first to come to mind as chair for this commission.
Next, I am calling for the Arbiters' Commission. This replaces the National Appeals Committee and it will be assigned with training, educating and certifying arbiters, in addition to its traditional role with national appeals.
Finally, I am calling for an Ethics Commission. We know that every decision has the capacity to present ethical dilemmas, real or perceived. The CFC will be a better organization for having an Ethics Commission.
These three commissions, I believe, are foundational. Other commissions such Fundraising, Events, etc. will flow from them.
Second, I am calling for creating a Strategic Plan, which is a living document. We need to check with it at least twice a year, not left dormant. I specifically call for creating our Mission, Vision and Values, which must be front and centre on our website. From experience, the last one (values) is easily neglected and this is dangerous. From our values comes a Code of Conduct for our membership. For example, as long as I am an officer of the CFC, I must conduct myself 24/7 in respect to the CFC values anywhere, including online.
This will not create a bureaucracy! We are doing many things well. With your support, I believe we can do better.
Feel free to contact me here.
Best regards,
Mahmud