The Strength in Discord

Last Thursday, Maryland's Corporate Board met for one of our quarterly meetings to discuss where we were at and where we were going.  While the major event in Maryland is the seminar, the Board functions to oversee all events, that they are meeting their responsibilities fiscally, and that they represent HOBY well.

While I don't want anyone to think that our meeting was filled with discord (it wasn't), what was perhaps most interesting to me is there were two disagreements during the evening that struck me in the same way that liberals and conservatives might argue in politics:  that there was discussion about what was in HOBY's best interest, a new approach, or a tried and true strategy.   In the simplest sense, what you know works is a good thing, but if you stick to it too long you become stagnant.  New strategies offer opportunities for even greater things, but they also come at potentially great risk or sacrifice.

In this particular case, the first issue was about our recruitment.  HOBY International has a program in place to allow potential alternate students to attend the seminar along with their primary selections.  Maryland has not typically participated in this program, but it was brought before the Board about the possibility because our participation would help increase our recruitment, outreach, and inherent financial incentives.  At the same time, it could decrease diversity in the seminar because of who could afford to participate, and it could change the seminar experience for all.  It also potentially puts greater strain to make sure there are adequate volunteers.

The second issue was about the money Team Alumni are asked to donate to participate at $180 to pay for their room and board.  There was a time where they were not asked for this money -- their place was paid for.  However, it was at great cost to the seminar.   The cost was brought on when HOBY Maryland was financially struggling.   However, now that we are not, are we potentially losing students who would be TA otherwise because they cannot afford the $180?

It wouldn't be appropriate for me in this forum to comment about the Board's decisions, and besides, that wasn't the point.  The point is that the discussion was good for all of us.  It reminded us -- reminded me -- of why things don't just happen.   Why I can't just make arbitrary decisions as LSC.  Why we have "checks and balances."  And it also reminded me that in the path we have chosen for each issue, what the other side is looking for in their concerns -- it gives us the opportunity to address those concerns as they are happening.

Leadership isn't always making everybody happy.  It's about doing something and trying to get a critical mass to follow you.  To work towards the goals you have set out.  They don't have to agree with what you're doing, or how you got there.  In fact, you may even have to push them outside of their comfort zone.  In this sense, together, only then might we achieve the true potential.