It often takes a tragedy to remind us that the other members of our association are not just officials, but human beings as well. When a member suffers a personal loss, the association can be a much-appreciated source of support and sympathy for the grieving member. In the same way, members appreciate it when their peers recognize joyful events or accomplishments in their lives. Learn how to handle those situations.
Someone in the association (it doesn’t have to be an officer) should be designated to be responsible for what is often referred to as the “Sunshine Committee.”
Funds for items such as greeting cards, flowers or honorariums can be part of the association’s annual budget. Seeking donations in every instance is cumbersome or, when it is the offseason and the group is not meeting, impossible.
Step 1 — Determine What Circumstances Qualify
There are certain events — death of a family member, serious illness or personal injury to an association member, birth of a child — that are naturals for involvement of the Sunshine Committee. The board can determine its own criteria or poll the membership to see what other circumstances should be “automatics.” Others may have to be weighed on a case-by-case basis.
Step 2 — Decide the Form the Recognition Will Take
The association may decide that greeting cards are the best way to express support or congratulations in all cases. If a member’s home is destroyed by fire or natural disaster, the group may create and solicit donations for a fund through a local bank. A clothing drive may also help assist a member whose belongings were lost or destroyed. Consistency is the key: If, in identical circumstances, one member receives a card but another receives flowers, hard feelings are sure to ensue.
Step 3 — Respect the Member’s Privacy and Wishes
The first step in the sharing process should be to contact the member. It may be appropriate for the Sunshine chair to ask an official who is a good friend of the member to make the initial contact. If the member makes a special request (e.g. no flowers for a funeral, no visitation from non-family members, etc.), those wishes must be respected. If the association chooses to make a donation but the member does not identify a specific charity, the money can be sent to a group for which the member has a special interest. For instance, if the member has lost a relative to cancer, the donation can be toward cancer research.
Step 4 — Inform the Membership
The Sunshine chair should let the rest of the association know the acknowledgment was taken care of and the form it took. Add any special requests that may apply. That can be done through a mass email with a simple, straightforward message: “The Sunshine Committee of the Big Town Basketball Officials Association has sent flowers and a card of condolence to member Emily Jones, whose father died this week. Please keep Emily and her family in your thoughts, but respect her wishes for privacy at this time.”
Step 5 — Follow Up
Depending on the reasons for his or her absence, a member who returns to meetings may appreciate a public “welcome back.” It can be a way to help the member feel comfortable and “normal” again. Something as simple as, “I see Bill Franklin is back with us after his stay in the hospital. Welcome back, Bill. We missed you,” is all it takes.
Loading ...
