About Business Ethics: Articles by Jeannine Clontz

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

This past July, I joined the local chapter of an organization that touts the support of women in business. Although I'd heard that they were cliquish, another woman business owner had suggested that the leadership had changed in recent years, and that it was a better, more professionally organized group. She encouraged me to give them a try.

Previously, in May, I'd received an e-mail from a networking buddy telling me that this same organization was looking for someone to handle their association management, and she thought of me - aww, somebody was actually listening:. She gave me the contact person's e-mail and I started corresponding with her and asked what the process would be to submit a proposal. She said that there would be a change in officers in the next 30 days, and that I would be contacted by the new board once it was in place.

When attending their June meeting, I was surprised to see that their association management person was male - I mean nothing against their abilities, but this was an organization that was supposed to be supporting women in business…Hmm, should I have seen the writing?

Once I joined, I agreed to volunteer my time to work on one of their committees, hoping that as they got to know me, they would have more confidence in my ability to handle their business and provide a proposal. Boy, was I surprised to find that they were parting company with their old company, and announcing the new organization that would be handling their management.

I asked what the process had been, and questioned why members, such as myself, weren't even allowed to submit a proposal. I was curtly informed that they felt it was best not to solicit proposals from the membership, and oh, by the way, the company they have chosen doesn't have any experience in association management, but it's something they have been thinking of getting into, as identified by the Board member who is friends with them.

Now I'm thinking that you folks can truly imagine my thoughts. And I have no qualms about not being given the opportunity to submit a proposal, because it's pretty clear to me now that I wouldn't want their business anyway. Obviously they didn't realize that they were being unethical, not only to me, but to every member of the organization. If they're truly about helping support women in business, they should have turned to their membership, not only for the members that provided those services, but for members who have contacts with and can give referrals to, qualified service providers in that field.

Out of one side of their mouth they're saying, "We provide organized professional networking opportunities to help you grow your business," while out of the other side they're saying,"Come, join our organization, pay our membership fees, spend your money supporting our organization, volunteer your time, oh, but by the way, there are no opportunities for you to do business with the organization. That's reserved for non-members, or our cliques!"

Are they kidding me? And they wonder why their membership has declined continuously over the past 3 years - and why they have difficulties meeting operating costs.

And they will continue to lose members until they realize that they didn't take the time to think how their decision would impact their organization, and its members. They didn't practice good business ethics when considering all their possibilities, and in the process, have lost my support and I'm sure the support of other members in similar situations. I will most certainly continue my commitment to volunteer, as it would be unethical of me not to, but hard as that decision will be for me to fulfill throughout the coming months, I hold my head up high, hoping that over that period of time, I can encourage them to be more ethical in their business practices. Wish me luck!

Wishing you continued success and the wisdom to consider ethical options.