Was asked by an acquaintance last year - What's ONE Thing In Life That You've Learnt..? - to which I responded:
'That no two people see all things the same way all of the time - everyone has their own unique perception of life, events and circumstance that may or may not align with mine from time to time. Actually - most of the time.. ;-) Don't fret or sweat it!'
And clearly, my recent direct approaches to the LRA are seen very differently by both parties.
Certainly, I am of the opinion that the current crop of volunteers on the LRA have done pretty well at restoring basic administration management hygiene factors as written in my previous post: 'To be sure, we should all be GRATEFUL and THANKFUL for those volunteers who give of their free time to do what they deem best as already stated in previous posts - Lonehill: Grateful Thanks & A Simple Christmas Wish & Lonehill: Give Credit Where Credit Is Due'.
So, let's be clear, as a resident stakeholder I am 100% encouraging of them sweating the small stuff and recovering from the debacle that they took over some two-odd years ago.
Nevertheless, I remain of the opinion stated in my last post: 'What we have currently is so far short of where we should have been at this point... and CAN be!'
And, as many will know in Lonehill, I am not one to just talk and criticise. I walk my talk. I say what I will DO... and DO what I say..!
As a proven active resident stakeholder, I once again took the initiative in January 2008 to approach the LRA with proposals to back up my comments.
In essence, my proposals centred around the BIG PICTURE scenarios that I have consistently advocated for our Lonehill Community Initiative on this forum.
This extract from my LRA communications perhaps best capturing the essence of my proposals:
'As just one stakeholder, I have a range of MASSIVE ACTION projects ranging from raising an extra R100 000 p.m. to R500 000 p.m. for the LRA coffers, to MASS PARTICIPATION projects to bring the community together, to INTERNATIONAL recognition projects to have the eyes of the world on us. I certainly don't need to prove my bona-fides as a make-it-happen individual who walks-his-talk and delivers in this community.'
'All it needs is the commitment, encouragement and support of an LRA executive that is driven by the VISION we all set for ourselves at the launch of this initiative.'
'Does anyone know of a community of our size who can do something with an extra couple of hundred thousand rand each month for their coffers?'
Since my last post, and in seemingly final response from the LRA to my proposals, I have received a 'Final Warning concerning Distribution of Defamatory Materials' from the 'Legal Advisor To The LRA' threatening '..to make Application to the High Court of South Africa (Witwatersrand Local Division) for an Order restraining you from such unlawful conduct'.
Hmmm... a really interesting way to signal the end of any further discussions/negotiations.. ;-)
Now, I would have done it a little differently and returned the initial compliment of the proposer, who made all the running in inviting the LRA Chairman to a cup of Mugg & Bean coffee to gauge the LRA's willingness to entertain such proposals (which willingness was assured), and would have returned the favour with a return invite over a cup of coffee to say why the LRA is unwilling to take such discussion any further.
For me, the measure of a man is in how he deals with openness, honesty, integrity, transparency and trust... all too rare attributes to find.
That's how I like to deal. With brutal honesty.
I always look to enter into negotiations with eternal optimisim in the counter-party's intentions to go for a WIN-WIN until they demonstrate otherwise.
And, if they indicate otherwise, I run a mile from striking a WIN-LOSE deal. They just never work.
Aaaah well... no point my sweating it any further, there's just no point negotiating with people who show their intent to litigate... their actions speak much louder than their words.
I just wonder how this threatening LRA action motivates others as committed as myself to 'stand up and be counted' as requested by the LRA Chair recently.
Don't know why, but the LRA's communication/listening style with this consumer reminds me of this funny two-minute Web video about the consumer who wants a divorce from the advertiser... is there any similarity for our LRA to learn from?
History seems to show that the only way that committed people can do really big things in this community for the ultimate benefit of ALL residents is to take the type of independent actions that launched the Lonehill Security Action Group back in 2000 (against the express wishes of the then LRA - I wasn't very popular with them for exposing their lack of comparative action by bringing the community together as massively as we did then) and to do it outside of the LRA until common sense reigns as happened then.
Maybe those so inclined will just have to find a way to do something similar again.. ;-)
Interestingly, back then, I didn't just have to contend with threats of defamation law suits from some of the locals... but also with death threats..!
So maybe we're maturing as a community... ;-)
Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790
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