Yesterday I was advised that
Aiesec US Inc was facing a leadership crisis, which seemed rather old hat. These "
mutanies" have occurred every few years. The organization seems be stuck on a
pendulm which swings (unnecessarily) between the competing forces of membership focus and corporate/financial/sales focus.
I became aware of this because I was called by a friend and asked some dang tricky questions on the legal structure of the
organizaiton corporately. Regardless of how out of date my knowledge is, it was 'neat' to 'play'
Aiesec again. Cat and I have wasted several hours this evening going through the documents in the
google group to see what is going on.
The short of it for those that won't take the time to read the group but read this blog:
1. The
MCP resigned citing a lack of control and interference created by the executive director
2. 23 of 30
LCPs signed a letter posted internationally, dissenting the current structure of the MC and listing 4 very specific charges
3. It's blown up really good and now involves
Aiesec International's Ethics Committee
While reading and researching I looked back to my own documents as the MC-
VPF in 2000-2001. While I can't disclose hardly any of the internal discussion of the time or the Rae Group's own operational
anaysis on why
AIESEC was soon to fail (I have signed the
NDA that keeps all this silent from the world), I find it sad that it has come to be.
There are some statements that I will share as they are my own thoughts from the past:
Statement 1:
"Aiesec was defined once as "an irrational organization based upon the exuberance of youth united in the goal of changing the world." In observing and having information passed on from Colleagues around the world, this definition is still very applicable to the people and the performance of the organization."After this statement I went on to say that an excess of corporate structure would cause the membership to fight against it because exuberance of youth and the corporate order do not work together.
Statement 2:
"The MC tried to use the members as work horses to raise and service a large number of Trainees. Unfortunately if you talk to the “lifers” and ask them what their most memorable experience is they will almost always revert to “the story.” The story is where they worked to raise a traineeship, got all the legwork done and then were able to watch that faceless person walk off the plane and know they had changed a life forever. It is a personal relationship."'
Nuff said there. The old school people can think back to
MCP elections - if that story wasn't part of the speech, then that person wasn't gonna get the nod.
Best of luck to all, especially Diana who is not the enemy. In looking back, it's funny, because while she has always been
disdained by those at a distance, within the national group she has always been respected for her competence and skill. She has always acted with such ethical high standards and with such integrity... Had she broke the consulting relationship and simply dictated changes it might be an entirely different and better
Aiesec, but she merely facilitates. The MC and the
LCs will need to weather this together.
None of this is really new, and I wish all the current participants the best of luck.