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My real ADVICE..."Hey FOLKS Please Listen Up....Look, I'm the Sponsor, these are the Students, You are the Engineers & Mentors (WE ALL REALLY VALUE YOU AS LONG TIME EDUCATED AND SUPER DEVOTED VOLUNTEERS)...But, THE STUDENTS, our real reason for being FIRST Mentors, want to try some different things NEXT YEAR, I'm willing to invest more, and we need to do this NOW! OK?"

That is very risky (and just may or may not work, but it's who I am)...I bear no responsibility for any negative results of the advice though (which is why I impart experiences rather than Advise & Counsel)...But, that is how you really make people change that don't really want to change. And, sometimes you just need to kick people really hard in the butt. Or, win them over w/ handfulls of honey. One draws flies, the other doesn't...It flat chases people away.

Not quite "Gracious Professionalism" though, Eh? (BTW, I'm usually called in to solve problems in a different Non-Profit Organization...BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T WILLINGLY CHANGE THEMSELVES even after direct multiple warnings).

And, at that long lost, no turn around point, after they are so far gone as a real business, they are definitely headed to bankruptcy court sooner rather than later (On Last Legs)...Their Charter to operate as an independent club is SUSPENDED, then I am appointed as an AGENT for the Umbrella Organization so they have 1 person making all decisions including whether they are salvageable, or I close up shop, and sell and settle up w/ the creditors, or even file the bankruptcy turn it over to an Attny. or Judge, and walk away after I transfer all the existing dues paying members elsewhere....I go in and make the changes for them, with or without their officers & members help.

Total, complete, and non-reversable changes, and those decisions stand, or they go down...PERIOD! All those I served as Agent in...Still exist today, I would rather work months/years to help save them, rather than days or weeks to end them (usually even after organizational years of issues w/ them). (Some are 19 month and 38 month assignments long, and they still don't really change their hearts and minds a bit, just their actual habits)...So I work on changing their bad habits, rather than actual hearts & minds. I personally have not learned that secret either.

Understand though...They have no choices, but to go along, get along, or just leave. Many choose the "I'll Leave" angle...But, they almost always come back soon enough...Not so, w/ highly educated mentors.

BTW, When you find the secret(s)...Please impart the wisdom. I could also use it too. Tact isn't one of my best & greatest virtues...I live by experience, and breed off of it! No crystal ball here. Wish I could help ya...I really do. GOOD LUCK FRIEND!