[members-discuss] Marketing? Really?

Hi Nigel,

> Since I got mentioned by name, perhaps the list won't mind if I respond to this one.

Very much appreciated even!

> In actual fact the board drags Axel over the coals every time he
> proposes a budget. Every item on the budget is debated and in many cases
> reduced. Axel has a personal objective (with real personal implications)
> to reduce per member spending, year on year and to bring expenses in
> below budget. That's one reason why the expenses are consistently
> falling. Every extra staff position is identified and debated before
> making it into the budget. It normally takes 2 or 3 iterations to come
> to a final budget, and only then will the membership fee be proposed. If
> the community thinks that the board just rubber-stamps the NCC's
> management decisions, then I'm afraid they are much mistaken.
> 
> In addition to that, the NCC generates a monthly board report, running
> to 20 pages or more, which the board reads through and picks over.
> Between us, we've got pretty good at spotting anomalies and Axel knows
> better than to try (not that he would, of course).

Thank you for this reply. I think it is very good that the members see what  their board is doing for them. And I guess it might make the board's job a bit easier if we as members think about and discuss what we expect from the NCC in a constructive way :-)

Cheers,
Sander