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So,
you were the President. All eyes
had been focused on you for the entire year.
You presided over every Board meeting, seated at every head table, spoke
to the media on behalf of the many, the leader and chief spokesperson for your
peers. Others were put on hold while your calls were put through ...members
clamored for a moment of your time ...staff members dropped what they're doing
to give you the attention that you deserved ... the experience bordered on
surreal. Side by side throughout the year it had been you and your Association Executive deflecting a spectrum of potential crisis situations, collaborating on more innovative ways to involve members and strategizing about future possibilities. Because of your close working relationship, you and your AE partner had learned much about each other, both personally and professionally. All preferences had been noted and accommodated to make your year special for you. Then, the inevitable occurs, the installation of your successor. That is when the final remnants of your presidency are presented to you ...your presidential plaque commending you for your excellent service and an opportunity to express your 'Thanks' and 'Good Byes' to those in attendance. Your term has come to an end and an innocuous image seeps into the crevices of your mind. You are now a Past President. PAST? President ... The reality of that title does not fully become apparent until a little while later. Instead, it hides behind the mind's self-protective force field called Denial. At first, everything seems right with the world. Life goes on, no substantial changes, business as usual in the marketplace and then we slowly begin to realize that all is not exactly the way it has been. It starts with the phone calls ... members no longer call with questions or concerns, the media no longer calls for our comment or perspective and our AE no longer calls with any regularity, if at all! Before, all of our reservations to meetings were arranged for us but now we're once again left to our own devices. No more reserved seating, no more presiding over meetings, no more handling, no more pampering, no more nothing ...'Bye-Bye' head table - 'Hello' back of the room. It is at that moment that you can no longer deny your status ... you are a 'Dead' President ... the ultimate bummer! Well, I've been there, done that, got the T-shirt and burned it baby! Life goes on and so do you but take it from me, there are a multitude of ways to parlay that perceived 'persona non-gratis' status to you and your association's advantage. Being the President is great, don't get me wrong, but being a Past President, is by far the best position in the association. First of all, you can totally be yourself and secondly, no one can fire you from the position! Past Presidents do fall into only two categories ... 'Guardians' and 'Dust'. Those in the 'Dust' category do tend to pile up and collect for a while but eventually they just plain blow away or disappear. They were 'Legends in their Own Minds' while they were President, had no substantial respect of their peers during their term, got to the position because they hung around long enough and have no measurable talent to parlay. The 'Guardians' are the true personification of the 'Dead Presidents Society'. 'Guardians' have very special duties and there are no term limits for them or their following responsibilities: 1.
Partner We offer our loyalty to our association and partner with the AE when asked 2.
Mentors We are there, as a resource for every succeeding President providing insight, advice, guidance and a safety net when needed 3.
Lobbyist We are occasionally called back into active duty (by our AE and President) for overt lobbying activities or covert behind the scenes recognizance work to further the association's initiatives, goals and objectives. 4.
Talent Scout We constantly watch, monitor, evaluate and recommend potential talent that merits an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities 5.
Protector We help keeps future talent out of harm's way. Sometimes rising talent needs assistance navigating the hazards of controversial issues. We are there as a safety net when asked and on occasion, even chair controversial work groups. 6.
Messenger/Referee Sometimes, volunteer's egos collide and it is difficult for the AE to stop the madness. We are there as an alternative to re-direct everyone's attention to issues that truly matter or just tell them to knock it off. The 'Guardians' of the 'Dead President Society' continue to rise to other levels of service and believe in the greater good of the association. They are the backdrop, the fabric, the essence of the being ... ever watchful from the next plateau, offering their extended hand downward as the future ponders the next level and takes its steps up the ladder. January 2002 Issue |
