I Know it is Tradition but it is Still Annoying

[bobmac]

"I didn't get where I am today without cross-fertilising my ideas Reggie" (CJ 1976)

 

[Dodger]

How about this for management speak. I got a phone call one night from one of our directors. He wanted to meet myself and my engineering manager for a "3 way cross fertilisation of ideas". I kid you not. Note to anyone who speaks like this. When you put the phone down, people are laughing at you. And all respect is lost forever and ever.

Are you sure it wasn't his wife he was talking about?

 

[bladeplayer]

Like I have mentioned before you do get people on a committee that have their own agenda and their intentions are self motivated. Not exactly putting the what is best for the club first. But would those types listen to a mission statement if you did have them?

Could be wrong here but would a mission statement not prevent this happening ? ( ie own agenda & self motivated intentions) there is a document there to guide everybody & if there was an argument regarding anything you would have a document to relate to for guidance ? they would have a choice sign the mission statement or dont be on the committe , Open to correction tho as i wouldnt be well up on this ...

 

[stevie_r]

I can't see anything wrong with the Hayling rules. And I agree with Richart and Smiffy too.


As for a golf club needing a mission statement, words fail me. Actually they don't.

What a complete, total and utter waste of time for all concerned. Just think for a second, what could the mission statement for a private members golf club say?

"Acme GC - our mission is to provide our members with a great golfing experience and welcoming clubhouse environment."

Either this or a variation of this theme. Anything else would seem a bit daft and pointless to me??

Maybe not though, perhaps you can be more ambitious?

"Acme GC - our mission is to promote and end to violence in the world, to nurture the young people that are our future, to find a cure for cancer and stop global warming, all through the vehicle of our great golfing experience and welcoming clubhouse environment."

A golf club mission statement? Seems like a committee man from middle management in the public sector has been on one too many management training courses. Just ridiculous.

fully agree with Snelly (there's a first) - how on earth would a couple of sentences giving an overall vision particularly assist a committee in doing their job? Fail to see it myself.


Personal Specification prior to co-opting committee members - potentially useful
Job Description - definitely.
Properly formulated plan on achieving the short, middle and long term aims of the club (in consultation with the paying membership) - definitely

 

[MadAdey]

Could be wrong here but would a mission statement not prevent this happening ? ( ie own agenda & self motivated intentions) there is a document there to guide everybody & if there was an argument regarding anything you would have a document to relate to for guidance ? they would have a choice sign the mission statement or dont be on the committe , Open to correction tho as i wouldnt be well up on this ...

My point with that was that the types that go onto a committee for their own benefits neither give a toss about what other members want or what is best for the club as long as they get what they want. Showing them a mission statement that they had previously signed would probably not stop them being the way they are. After all they knew being on the committee was to make decisions that are correct for the club and it's members and they had already ignored that. IMO

 

[bladeplayer]

My point with that was that the types that go onto a committee for their own benefits neither give a toss about what other members want or what is best for the club as long as they get what they want. Showing them a mission statement that they had previously signed would probably not stop them being the way they are. After all they knew being on the committee was to make decisions that are correct for the club and it's members and they had already ignored that. IMO

Agreed but would it not give the club some protection tho if a few of these people we described got together , no mater how much they tried to get self motivated stuff through they couldnt ? again just asking ..

 

[Hobbit]

On the rare occasions that a group of committee members come to a meeting having prevbiously agreed to try and force an issue through its as obvious as the nose on your face. It only gets through the full mgt committee if it has the support of the majority of members. Typically any attempts to baffle with bullsh!t sees the item deferred till more info is available. The structure of golf clubs means members have direct access all the way through the mgt committee right up to the Secretary. Making a stupid decision is tantamount to posting a target on your back and shouting have a pop.

Mission Statements are the sort of thing that businesses create to get the workforce on-board. Club Mgt committee's are made up of volunteers, they don't need 'persauding.' As for Mission Statements for customers; the product is so simple, pay your fees and play golf, they are of no use at all other than to hide a stain on the wall.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Having been involved with a number of and activities (football, cricket, scouts etc) I have served my time on committees and think a lot of this stuff about people wanting to impose their own volition is unjust. Maybe I've been fortunate, but most people I've served with have always seemed to have the interest of the club at heart and the aim has been to grow membership, improve facilities and challenge for honours. No need to write it as a mission statement.

I think the same could be applied as simply to a golf club. Attract a full membership, improve facilities (the course and 19th) and have a full diary of fixtures and events on and off the course. Get that right and the profit margins improve, fees don't go through the roof and you don't have members walking. To be honest the buck stops squarely with however is in charge of each committee or the captain to ensure personal agendas, petty snipes and other motives are left at the door. If you can't do that don't waste your time serving

 

[MadAdey]

I would love to see a mission statement for a golf club if anyone knows of one. I do like the one nike uses:

"To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world." *"If you have a body you are an athlete."

Or Taylormade:

[h=1]Corporate Mission Statement[/h]

[h=4]The adidas Group strives to be the global leader in the sporting goods industry with sports brands built on a passion for sports and a sporting lifestyle.[/h]
We are dedicated
to consistently delivering outstanding financial results.
We are innovation and design leaders
who seek to help athletes of all skill levels achieve peak performance with every product we bring to market.
We are consumer focused
and therefore we continuously improve the quality, look, feel and image of our products and our organisational structures to match and exceed consumer expectations and to provide them with the highest value.
We are a global organisation
that is socially and environmentally responsible, creative and financially rewarding for our employees and shareholders.
We are committed
to continuously strengthening our brands and products to improve our competitive position.
​

 

[sev112]

All those major companies must have some crap folk in charge eh?

They certainly do, and they are all the same - i work for one of the biggest in my industry

We are a good strong company, but the Peter Principle is highly visible

 

[sev112]

Could be wrong here but would a mission statement not prevent this happening ? ( ie own agenda & self motivated intentions) there is a document there to guide everybody & if there was an argument regarding anything you would have a document to relate to for guidance ? they would have a choice sign the mission statement or dont be on the committe , Open to correction tho as i wouldnt be well up on this ...

All well and good, but you've got to write the bloomin thing in the first place and that ends up being a committee compromise. As a result people then spend ages making decisions against the Mission Statement when in fact they would be better off making decisions against sounds business and personnel management sense !
That's why Mission Statements are pants