I’m amazed how often I asked by design colleagues about the value of GDC membership or how they can get involved as a volunteer or Executive Board Member. There’s already been some discussion here in this venue on the topic as well as some fine academic perspectives on our national site, but a recent email conversation between a potential new member and myself and Yves Rouselle resulted in a great thread worth sharing (with their permissions of course). Worth a read if you’re considering coming out to our AGM on Feb. 1st and volunteering for a board or committee position.
From: Cory Ripley
Hi Mark,
I was just recently relayed the news that you are the new President of the GDC - BC Mainland Chapter. Congratulations! Although I attended a few GDC events when I was a student, almost 9 years ago, I have had little interest in the association for many years… until now. To be honest, I was awaiting a change of the (old) guard. I was interested on possibly getting on ‘the board’ or at the very least becoming a vocal member within the organization. I really believe there is some opportunity to improve the ‘design community’ in Vancouver (and have ranted about it for years). As you have moved up the ranks of the GDC within a short period, my question to you is: How does one get on the Board? Also, how much time do you commit to the association per month?
Cheers,
Cory Ripley
On Nov 19, 2006, at 7:22 PM, Mark Busse MGDC wrote:
Hi Cory,
Great to hear from you, and thank you for your kind wishes of congratulations. Though give me a year or two and let’s see how I do! 
What you have expressed about “the old guard” is a sentiment we’ve heard before and I’m jazzed to be able to pick up the baton and try moving our association forward into the 21st Century. Already some exciting stuff happening as we are planning a new Executive Board and agenda for the coming years.
Experienced designers like you “ranting” about making change in BC’s design community are EXACTLY who we’ll need on the new team. Other than having to actually be a GDC member (I’m sure you’ll fly through the portfolio review process) the process is quite simple really. Come out to a couple of the upcoming Executive meetings and introduce yourself. You can express your interests and skills and what you can offer, and if someone nominates you at the AGM (this Feb 1st), then the general body votes you in. Currently we have the important positions of Communications Chair, Education Chair and Treasurer up for grabs, but I’m sure we can find a spot for you - even if only on a committee.
I have CC’d the outgoing President, Yves Rouselle and our current Membership Chair, Cameron Jantzen who can answer any other questions you may have, like when the next membership portfolio review is being held. Let’s get that started and then sit down together ASAP.
Up for lunch or a coffee to discuss sometime in the near future? I’ve included my IBC vCard for you so you can contact me any time.
Mark
On 20-Nov-06, at 11:47 AM, Cory Ripley wrote:
Hello Yves and Cameron. Congratulations on the success of your roles within the GDC over the course of the last year. Could you please let me know when the next membership portfolio review is being held and what that process entails? I have downloaded a membership form and am applying for Professional Membership. Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Cory Ripley
On Nov 20, 2006, at 12:57 PM, Yves Rouselle wrote:
Hi Cory
I was pleased to get this email and the enthusiasm you’re showing in the email thread I read below. I think I understand your comment about the old guard thing, and I’m sure it is a problem for most associations. I know we’ve put a lot of effort over the past few years to encourage more members to participate in the shaping of this society. It isn’t always as easy as you might think to get the commitment from people to give up some valuable time on an ongoing basis.
I’m not certain of how things were handled in the past, but during my time as president of the chapter we’ve always had an open door policy to our board meetings and encouraged any interested designers (member or not) to join us. With Mark coming on as the next president he’s taken this further and trying to draw out senior members to get more active with their chapter.
Cory I hope I’m not coming off as defensive, but rather trying to explain how things come about. No one owns the association of course, and it becomes whatever members make of it. If our members choose to not engage then you might end up with the same handful of folks who keep giving of their time to make sure something happens, for better or worse. So that is likely how you can end up with the appearance of an old guard. With all that said, it is quite ironic that most volunteers and board members tend to be fairly young members. It gets increasingly difficult to lean on senior members as their time gets absorbed by businesses, family, mortgages etc.
I hope this helps to explain where we’re at, and that I think we’re all in agreement that we would all benefit from greater member participation, keeping the gdc vital and current. Our next gathering is a xmas social Dec.8 at the Waldorf. If you can make it, we could continue this conversation over a mai tai which would be very civilized.
Yves
On 20-Nov-06, at 3:13 PM, Cory Ripley wrote:
Hi Yves,
Thanks for the reply. I realize that there are many challenges with running an association such as the GDC, which is why I have now decided to become more active and, hopefully, convince the same of my peers. Also, by no means did you come across sounding defensive. I truly believe that all members that have donated their personal time should be congratulated on the associations achievements to date. I will be honest though and state that I have always questioned the true value and benefits of GDC membership.
It is with the nomination of Mark that I see an opportunity to ’stir up the pot a bit’ and seek out the involvement of those in the community that fall somewhere between Senior Members and Students. As someone who falls between this group, I hope I may pass along some personal and professional in-site why I have had no interest in supporting, or becoming a member of the GDC up to this point. Also, please know that when I talk about Senior Members, I mean those who have been long-standing members within the GDC.
I look forward in meeting with you all at the xmas social, and especially that Mai Tai.
Best regards,
Cory
On Nov 20, 2006, at 15:44 PM, Yves Rouselle wrote:
Cory
This is a really good thread, and I’ll drag these two guys for one more reply.
I think what you are describing should be the natural evolution or ebb and flow of any association. Every person on the board has a slightly different group of peers to draw from and that is the great part. We all have different strengths and the tricky part is to figure that out and also how to capitalize on them. When I met Mark I knew he was the ice water I wanted to throw in the face of the gdc.
My personal reason for being part of the gdc is simple. This is the profession that I’ve fallen into, I’m passionate about what I do, and wish to be respected by my clients as being a valuable and professional part of their team. I get there partly on my own, and partly by being part of a credible profession. The GDC is the only national body setting the standard publicly for our profession. So if I wish to take a part in guiding that standard, the gdc offers a good vehicle for that. If I ignore it, I have to be willing to be reflected by whatever my design colleagues come up with.
Yves
December 1st, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Intriguing post Cory.
As one of the supposedly “old guard” GDC execs (I was on the local board from 1993-2002 and nationally from 2000-2006) I’d be very interested in knowing what was holding you back from getting involved, either simply as a card-carryimg member, or as a volunteer or board member, especially as there has always been an open door policy with the GDC.
I’m with Yves’ statement which I interpret as sayaing that what you get out of the GDC depends on what you’re willing to put into it. Personally, I figured I was paying for the certification (the MGDC honourific) and everything else was gravy. Meeting and working with other designers, attending events, etc., etc.
I think an even “older guard” guy put it much more eloquently when he said “when you pay your GDC membership dues, you’re paying for the opportunity to get involved”.
December 1st, 2006 at 6:20 pm
I am thrilled to hear about people who are passionate about design wanting to get involved with the GDC.
This idea an “old guard” is a misconception that I was as guilty of as any. The term is divisive and incorrect.
The truth is that there have been a handful of volunteers who have put in many long hours when the rest of us did not take the time to get involved. They did NOT monopolize the GDC — there were many other people involved at the same time. They were willing to take on the visible roles like president and communications that take time and commitment. They were not a clique or anything like that. They may have become friends after spending many hours together working on events (one of the many benefits of volunteering) or dragged in some friends to help out when the need arose.
The people you think of as ‘old guard’ are simply people who have made an effort to show up at events even when their terms were up. By having some people continue over the years really keeps the organization moving forward rather than redoing everything every few years. As well, we need people like Mark who have enthusiasm, see the need for change and move forward.
In two years we can add Mark’s name to the list of ‘old guard’.
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Very well articulated Riley!
Was it that obvious that I’m strongly offended by the whole notion of “old guard”!?!?!
December 11th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
Just to clarify, Splatt is the “nom du plume” for Matt Warburton. A crash on Slickrock, Moab in 1991 is the source of the nickname. Back when steerhorns were the latest in technology. True “old school”!!!
January 17th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
“Old guard” is such a put down. Get involved and get the chip off your shoulder, or do something else.