The Argony and the Ecstasy

Being at the helm of an organization attracts certain duties and obligations which in many cases may not be legal but may be a moral one, especially if you represent a community or national body whether professional, semi-professional voluntary or elected.

It is a burden that is particularly awesome if you have undertaken to carry out the management functions and duties of an organization that already had a credible existing track record with its association with other existing bodies or in its representation of the more vibrant sector of any community , namely, the youth. It is a responsibility that can make or break ones reputation if you take it lightly.

And here, I respectfully wish to point out that the current executive of the Mon Repos Youth & Sports Council had certain basic programmes in place that defined its relationship with the public at large especially at this time of the year.

I refer to the fundraising in the form of the Grand Annual Raffle that has taken place for nearly 25 consecutive years and the Annual Awards Ceremony that has taken place for a similar time period. I admit that if one takes on the mantle of leadership as a brand new executive and it usually brings with it, a new mandate that would easily facilitate progressive change which is commendable. My concern is that if people who generally look up to the leadership, have been used to an activity for nearly a quarter century which fails to take place, all of a sudden, you should use the opportunity to let people know that there is a better and improved activity in the making. That should not be for affiliates alone, but the public at large, including sponsors, news media and well wishers who may wish to know the reason for the non- appearance of an event in their calendar of activities.

I am fully aware that in the current format a large number of persons for whom such activities are organized fail to attend anyway. In fact with few exceptions the vast majority of the current executive members probably did not attend the last Awards Night or participated actively in the last Grand Raffle. But that is a situation that occurs in most organizations.

My point is that these two activities that have in large measure defined the operations of the Mon Repos Youth and Sports Council over the years and so the current executive is attracting negative and perhaps unnecessary criticism unto itself if they cannot give a credible reason for the non-occurrence of these events. Was there a shortage of man/woman power or lack of response from sponsors. Or as is usually the case, people claim too busy to undertake such responsibilities at this time. Or, did the recession in the world economy had something to do with it?

Your critics and detractors out there, and there will be some, will say “these guys can’t even do so and so… they just came in and we don’t see what they doing”. This might very well be an unfair comment, because the other form of forms of fundraising may be more productive and a newly revised format of the awards night might make more sense. We don’t know and we must not be afraid to try. However, if you are going to make significant changes you will need to inspire confidence and so you have a duty to explain to the wider community why the cancellation or postponement.

Please bear in mind that in the wider community you may have a lot of sponsors, former sports reps and administrators, parents etc. So it is not only the players who turn up (and many at times late) for the games who matter in the development of sports in our community. Public relations are therefore extremely important, and the judgment is out as to what the profile of Mon Repos Youth & Sports Council is like these days. You have to secure the confidence of potential sponsors, past administrators, prospective members who are willing to help. I will be quick to point out however that with all its shortcomings it is better than most communities. I just feel that we can do better in this age where we have a wider pool of talent to access.

Even if some of the other events are too challenging surely the Council could send out some Christmas Cards or even a message in the print or electronic media. None of that has happened. That is below that standard that was set. When one says or do nothing in respect of Public Relations to a public that was used to hearing what is happening in Mon Repos it is a sad day. Unless I am misguided or being from the old school, did not realize that a lot of the PR is fact takes place via cell phone and so everyone gets to know what is happening.

Now, on a serious note our community deserves better and with a little effort from each of us we can do better. Small things matter and perception is a lot.

Now am I being too hard on the guys and gals? Where have I gone wrong?

STOCK TAKING (part 2)

by Nicholas Jean-Baptiste

balancing people’s right to express themselves

From my vantage point I get a lot of positive feedback from people who are to shy to write a comment on the website. There are also many others who use pseudonyms and make a valuable contribution. We hope that as time goes on you will have the courage to put your name. It makes such a difference when your readers can add a name to a face and a piece of writing. Your choice, but continue to send in contributions.

Of course there is the problem of verbal abuse on the site. My view may or may not be well-known in that respect. There is the constant challenge of balancing people’s right to express themselves and that of offending the wider public. One can take the high moral ground or one can take the view that it is a discussion and many of these views would not be expressed without the avenue for expression and discussion. I go further and in reference to my previous submission, a lot of us remain passive and do not comment on things that we object to. By and large most people are offended by certain writers and guest comments made -, and in some cases rightly so – but with few exceptions very few express their disgust, so that it can be shown that the overwhelming majority take umbrage to use of a particular, expression or exposition of a particular line of thought or ideology. No do you ban the person or people responsible for the offensive comment and pretend that only people of a particular persuasion exist. Mind you, there are limits. Anyway, we all should be better off after such experiences.

interested in hearing all sides

In a similar manner, I have grown out of the political culture where historically the Mon Repos community and the majority of influential figures lean toward a particular political ideology or more aptly political party. Now, in the interest of a free press and information and education, if the Leader of the Opposition has a policy statement or a major address at his annual convention should a medium that informs, educate, entertain and create an avenue for discussion refuse to put it out there for public consumption. Or should I leave it to Juke Bois, Radio St. Lucia, GIS or Radio Caribbean to put it out and then analyze it. Or should it be part of our mission that people should be confronted with views and force them to discuss it, or react to it. I have to worry about the site is “too political”. Would that change anybody’s mind about how they perceive their party or the opposition. And even if it does, so what. The other media outlets do have a fair amount of political discourse in their day to day running. I have noted that it is usually people bent on a maintaining a particular political culture that are quickly offended when they get a contrary view to their. The reality is that there exist a wide number of persons including students of politics and people abroad who may be interested in hearing all sides. It cannot be that we get our views only from the established media houses. People are free to share their political views especially as this may affect their daily lives or that of their family and loved ones. What one must ensure is that no views are stifled. It is therefore left to people to submit article or views that reflect their interest. But it will not be fair to complain that only one side is being portrayed if the other side is too complacent to submit or publicise their views.

In other words with the advent of youtube and i-report etc, public news is now quick and spontaneous and hot button issues are usually what keeps a medium interesting. I have found that the public figures and politicians can fend for themselves so they should have nothing to fear. And certainly the average citizen who by and large support their cause should be the last to take up their defence.

how underutilized the website continues to be

While six years is a relatively short period in the life of a news and communications outlet (compared to the Voice of Saint Lucia – 1885), sometimes unreasonable expectations are placed on the Webmaster to update. The best newspapers in Saint Lucia have a bi-weekly circulation of news but we expect a daily update. The webmaster would be prepared to do this but it would be important that people contribute, articles, photographs or simply use the interactive features such as the forum, guest book or chatroom.

opportunity for people to share their experiences

I wish to point out how underutilized the website continues to be. It is a medium which can be used if one wants to advertise their business - and for free. We would be happy to write out a short bio on you or your business whether you are a hairdresser, barber, plumber, builder etc. Even for those with knowledge of accounting you can make your services available to other who has to prepare their income tax return. In addition those who are looking for services. A short note placed in the website can help. This is the modern world and advertisement goes a long way in business.

And also there is the wonderful opportunity for people to share their experiences, childhood as well as adult experience, amateur and well as professional. I am sure that those who have done so, can tell you how wonderful they felt, even if they number of comments did not appear to justify it. My wish is that there are a lot of professional and semi professionals in the teaching field, legal, medical, building, sports, health, transport, care giving, accounts, economics, literature who can come up with a two, three, four five or six-part series or start a column for which many visitors would be thankful. Sometime a photograph and a comment is all that it required.
So I call upon, Mathaline (birthdays), Array, Marie-Celia, Julius, Melania, Adela, Phyllis, Elsa, Melissa, Ryan (you promised), Jacob and Jude (send the results of your league games, Thomas Goodman (provide us with what is happening in Scotland) and in anyone who has an issue or area of public interest that they would want to share with web visitors.

STOCK TAKING (part 1)

by Nicholas Jean-Baptiste

1, 130,000 hits

Just over seven years later and 1, 130,000 hits or visits to this website would seem like an opportune moment to take stock. It is a tremendous achievement, considering that we were estimated to reach the one-millionth hit in December 2008. It was reached as early as September.

it was not without its ups and downs

On the positive side we would want to note the contribution of Octave Fevrier who through his easy teaching style facilitated the idea of a website in the days when it looked so technical, so foreign, so expensive and formidable. Through the provider Netfirms.com we experimented with the first website. Do you remember MRYSC.netfirms.com ? Later on we had the invaluable contribution of Remy Avril, an Air Traffic Controller of Vieux Fort who specialized in creating websites as his past time and who subsequently developed the prototype to this current one. You will remember, it was not without its ups and downs and various challenges. Visitors had to be encouraged to accept the changes that came about. Even today, I am certain that persons still yearn for the old format. In the end there had to be a balancing act between the ease of use by visitors (who will in any case get used to a new format) and the cost of maintenance and servicing.

many untold stories of human interest

For me personally, it has been and continues to be a labour of love. It is so gratifying when one meets a Saint Lucian or someone from Mon Repos in a foreign jurisdiction who boasts of how he or she keeps in touch with what is happening in their hometown, via Monrepossports.org. What is more fascinating is when it comes from persons that you had not interacted with for years or may have forgotten altogether. Their kind words of encouragement and objective criticisms of the website are really a strong source of encouragement. But more particularly, hearing their natural yearn for home and how they miss some of the things that we take for granted, leaves me with no choice but to continue keeping people informed and establishing links.

There are many untold stories of human interest as well. People who had not heard from each other for decades, much less see each other; people who did not know of existing relatives, and of course, the announcements of births, marriages or departed loved ones. It then dawned on me that a photograph is really worth 1000 words, as people usually look forward to seeing acquaintances and loved ones via photographs taken at public functions. I am sure that it brings at least some joy to their life, even if the occasional “bad photograph” slips in, for which one apologises profusely.

the webmaster would get more criticism by way of comments

Feedback is always a critical aspect of a facility like a newspaper, website or television. It is one of the ways of measuring whether people out there are taking any interest in what is being put on the medium. Luckily, with the advance in technology, one is able to keep tabs on the number of visitors on a daily basis. And yet the feedback by way of comments, contribution or criticism remains a little disappointing, in my view. It is disheartening to see, that even the best written article by some of our very own, the obituaries, the polls, the unwarranted remarks, the human interests stories such as the passing of someone well known to all of us, fails to attract more than a few comment although it is read by most visitors. Although no one is forced or being asked to comment, it is ironic, that the webmaster would get more criticism by way of comments for not publicizing the passing of an individual in the community, than condolence messages sent to individuals or bereaved families. It is also disheartening to see human interest stories or activities, not being highlighted or going through the annals of history without a note recorded. Is it that we are too shy to write a positive comment or are we unwilling to give praise to the outstanding achievements of others or to write a short condolence note, or indeed a short thank you to someone who has made a voluntary contribution.

I just feel, and have the confidence that we as a society, many of us can be more forthcoming in dropping a word of praise, encouragement, and thank you in respect of many of the articles submitted. And here I must praise, a few people who come to mind like, Julius James, Marie Celia Gaston, Phyllis Wilson, Adela, Melania, Claudius Emmanuel, Liza Charles, Mathaline Wilson, Brenda and Linus Wilson, Hermia and many more. And in more recent times those involved in some very fruitful debate and discussion in the guess book. Unlike some purists I pay little attention as to whether the guestbook is an appropriate forum or not. I am just heartened that people are expressing thoughts and sentiments, albeit a little over board sometimes. Once again those who are interested in a blog can get one – at no cost.