The Officer Guide Book under the “Especially for the Chapter Director” section is unique in many ways.  It describes how a Chapter Director should function and work with their Chapter.  But nowhere in that entire section is the word “authority” ever used.  Imagine that, the word “authority” is never mentioned.  However, the word “responsibility” is used often.  You may say, “What’s the difference?”  Let’s examine both.

The dictionary defines authority as: “the right to control, command, or determine.”  Can a Chapter Director control or command any Member?  Of course not.  We are all volunteers so at any time a volunteer can simply say, “I will not” and the Chapter Director cannot do a thing.  Any Chapter Director, District Director, Region Director, and any other volunteer leader is bound by the same fact.  We exercise no control nor are we able to command any Member to do anything they do not wish to do.  A Member can choose to leave a Chapter or even the Association any time they wish.  Therefore, what authority does a Director really have?

The dictionary defines responsibility as: “answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power, control, or management.”  Does this better describe a GWRRA Officer?  It certainly does because every Officer within the Association has responsibilities.  The Officer Guide Book is full of the responsibilities for the GWRRA Officer at every level.

When a Member accepts a leadership position in this Association they accept “responsibilities”.  The goals of a Director at any level is to manage their area of responsibilities and to adhere to the goals and regulations of the position.  Yes, they may have to remind a Member of how things work in GWRRA.  It is not their authority that allows that but merely their responsibility.  The difference is largely in attitude and understanding of the Director’s position, not a power given to them.  The ultimate responsibility of a Director is the acceptance of what they can and what they cannot manage or control.  The only real thing a Director can control or have authority over is themselves.

In conclusion, the attitude of any Director on any level should be an attitude of service.  We have greater responsibilities with little or no authority.  We manage and direct volunteers, who at any time may choose to follow us and work with us or choose not to.  People are as diverse as you can imagine, and we as leaders need the tools necessary to be good leaders and motivators.  But to assume we have the authority to tell anyone what to do and expect them to follow our directions merely because we wear a patch is not realistic.  We need our volunteer Members to help us to fulfill our responsibilities, and a good leader finds ways to inspire and motivate the membership.  This is a primary goal of the Leadership Training Division, and we need to help our leaders to understand this.