John Tornabene
Member Guest
I'm contemplating on running for the VP slot. I think Ron can do a good job as the president and I'm thinking what would be best for this org. If I ran for a position. I have a very good understanding of the bylaws, I have the time(this is big) to commit since I am 3 weeks out from retiring from my other job and I always keep myself busy with relative ease. I have experience from every position within the union from bottom to top. I served 3 yrs on the PWNA board and left as treasurer with a certificate of a job well done.
I started with a few here to search out someone to lead this org. When it was about to start it's new beginning. I donated to this org the day it open it's doors which I think Don Phelps might have been the only one who donated more because he won a free membership if memory serves me right(if I new it was for a free membership I would have donated more.
I can give this org. 110% because my Powerwashing business pretty much runs itself every year for at least the past 5 yrs so I won't be bogged down at all.
I know Ron for probably 12 yrs or so now and I have always been a good team worker but I would never roll over if a guy is determined to do something if the majority is against it which could cause the non profit to collapse... Another words stay close to the bylaws and if Ron has the correct vision then we could be an unstoppable pair.
To me it's always the sum of the parts that comes first. I carry no agenda's except one.. Does what we do benefit the members.
If Ron is right I can stand up and defend him probably like no other here can because I know how to fight those battles. If Ron is wrong, again I can stand up to him and get him on the right track.
Ron and I talked all the way thru our bad time this year. He's never afraid to back down from any and I'm never afraid to talk to anyone.
When people ask me to do something... I do it...I've always been like that and sometimes I over do it because I was asked but the people or in this case the members would and have to come first.
The drawbacks to some is I support the PWNA. To me that shouldn't be because relationships yes even in the org. Business is important. Tearing any of them down or any individual down is a negative approach and that attitude is predestined to fail... Especially if your looking for also crossover members which should be a no brainer.
Another drawback is how I handled the fallout here with Carlos. What some may not know is I spent countless ours to get Ron and Carlos to iron out there differences including taking calls from both and going back and forth as a mediator relaying there
Thoughts. Why? Because I gave a darn.
My biggest drawback was what I did on the Internet with some people backing me. I did not want to take that approach and I said all along that we should fly down to Cali and talk to Carlos. The net doesn't work. So since no one did that and I mentioned that numerous times I stand here and I'll say it again.. I should have went there on my own then and sat down with Carlos.. It was IMHO a tremendous mistake in my part and I don't fault others because they didn't go.. I should have because remember its what would have benefitted the members the most....and in a not for profit that is paramount!
If I run it will be in that position. The same position that me and Mike T. Wanted to run for back when but in that case I looked at what was better for the membership and I stepped back to take the Secretary slot...before all heck broke loose.. . That was a bad experience but as I outlined above..I'll take alot of the blame for it because if you can't admit blame then your most likely helping no one because where not perfect.
I do have some friends and I'm sure I have some people that can't stand me. Personally I don't have any enemies but I did get into it with a few and it was always over being passionate and trying to do right for the membership at large. Those people that I went at it with... We all have benefitted from it today because we stayed connected.
I think most people will tell you that when I say I'll do something...I do it. I will also support things within this org because I believe in it like I did when we had our last convention. If I have extra cash I tend to give it away if it helps the members. I've done this for the PWNA in the past where my teenie tiny PWing company sponsored a dinner in Memphis at one of there conventions.
I also was the lead in inviting Wrapi with Russel Cissel who had some huge supporters in Carlos, Celeste, Beth to come to our board meeting in Tenn. Back then because I believe in making a bond with many orgs. Where not each others enemies. Yes we should prove we can be the best.. But not by taking others down. When you become the best you still want to align yourself with many other groups and never be steered away from that because of personal dislikes a person or two may have against one or two others.. It's all about building and it's all about what benefits your members the most...and personal gain as good as that can be...still goes on the back burner if it doesn't benefit your members the most.
So that's what I'm contemplating and let me have it. I like honesty no matter how brutal it can be. Ron talks about death threats somewhere...well being a soon to be ex law enforcement I've been told to my face that I was going to get killed and it wasn't pleasant but besides that... I'd appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks,
John T.
I started with a few here to search out someone to lead this org. When it was about to start it's new beginning. I donated to this org the day it open it's doors which I think Don Phelps might have been the only one who donated more because he won a free membership if memory serves me right(if I new it was for a free membership I would have donated more.
I can give this org. 110% because my Powerwashing business pretty much runs itself every year for at least the past 5 yrs so I won't be bogged down at all.
I know Ron for probably 12 yrs or so now and I have always been a good team worker but I would never roll over if a guy is determined to do something if the majority is against it which could cause the non profit to collapse... Another words stay close to the bylaws and if Ron has the correct vision then we could be an unstoppable pair.
To me it's always the sum of the parts that comes first. I carry no agenda's except one.. Does what we do benefit the members.
If Ron is right I can stand up and defend him probably like no other here can because I know how to fight those battles. If Ron is wrong, again I can stand up to him and get him on the right track.
Ron and I talked all the way thru our bad time this year. He's never afraid to back down from any and I'm never afraid to talk to anyone.
When people ask me to do something... I do it...I've always been like that and sometimes I over do it because I was asked but the people or in this case the members would and have to come first.
The drawbacks to some is I support the PWNA. To me that shouldn't be because relationships yes even in the org. Business is important. Tearing any of them down or any individual down is a negative approach and that attitude is predestined to fail... Especially if your looking for also crossover members which should be a no brainer.
Another drawback is how I handled the fallout here with Carlos. What some may not know is I spent countless ours to get Ron and Carlos to iron out there differences including taking calls from both and going back and forth as a mediator relaying there
Thoughts. Why? Because I gave a darn.
My biggest drawback was what I did on the Internet with some people backing me. I did not want to take that approach and I said all along that we should fly down to Cali and talk to Carlos. The net doesn't work. So since no one did that and I mentioned that numerous times I stand here and I'll say it again.. I should have went there on my own then and sat down with Carlos.. It was IMHO a tremendous mistake in my part and I don't fault others because they didn't go.. I should have because remember its what would have benefitted the members the most....and in a not for profit that is paramount!
If I run it will be in that position. The same position that me and Mike T. Wanted to run for back when but in that case I looked at what was better for the membership and I stepped back to take the Secretary slot...before all heck broke loose.. . That was a bad experience but as I outlined above..I'll take alot of the blame for it because if you can't admit blame then your most likely helping no one because where not perfect.
I do have some friends and I'm sure I have some people that can't stand me. Personally I don't have any enemies but I did get into it with a few and it was always over being passionate and trying to do right for the membership at large. Those people that I went at it with... We all have benefitted from it today because we stayed connected.
I think most people will tell you that when I say I'll do something...I do it. I will also support things within this org because I believe in it like I did when we had our last convention. If I have extra cash I tend to give it away if it helps the members. I've done this for the PWNA in the past where my teenie tiny PWing company sponsored a dinner in Memphis at one of there conventions.
I also was the lead in inviting Wrapi with Russel Cissel who had some huge supporters in Carlos, Celeste, Beth to come to our board meeting in Tenn. Back then because I believe in making a bond with many orgs. Where not each others enemies. Yes we should prove we can be the best.. But not by taking others down. When you become the best you still want to align yourself with many other groups and never be steered away from that because of personal dislikes a person or two may have against one or two others.. It's all about building and it's all about what benefits your members the most...and personal gain as good as that can be...still goes on the back burner if it doesn't benefit your members the most.
So that's what I'm contemplating and let me have it. I like honesty no matter how brutal it can be. Ron talks about death threats somewhere...well being a soon to be ex law enforcement I've been told to my face that I was going to get killed and it wasn't pleasant but besides that... I'd appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks,
John T.