So goathead, let me get this straight. You think we would be likely to achieve more if we employ a bunch of professionals who would form a "board of directors"? Any idea of the costs you'd find acceptable to achieve this with respect to increased subscriptions?
Professional advice sounds brilliant in theory but there are 2 factors which weigh heavily against any possible tangible benefit from the added expense:
1. We're not a "closed shop" and, therefore, will never have 100% membership.
2. As a direct result of 1 above, there will only ever be a limited amount of risk that individual members will be prepared to take, regardless of the "professionalism" of the advice or instruction.
What we need is not increased cost but increased membership. As someone else has pointed out, if you don't like the way the Association is going at the moment you should put your name forward in the upcoming GC elections.
Any union is only as strong as its membership, both in numbers and attitude.
STP