So I’ve written about the American Solar Energy Society a bit in some recent posts. I’ve got ASES on the mind because for the last five years I have grown increasingly unclear about what role ASES plays supporting the solar industry. The more deeply involved I got with ASES, the more doubts I continued to have.
My latest interaction with ASES about the Solar 2011 Conference did not help my opinion improve. I hid this post for a while because it looked like my forum might happen after I had originally posted about rejecting my proposal. To start, the conference organizer had accidentally automatically sent out rejection letters to everyone who submitted proposals. I posted minutes later to followers via social media about my disappointment and received a bit of sympathy. Then, a few minutes after that, I received an email retracting the original rejection, claiming that many had gone out in error and that I should “stay turned” about the actual decision on proposals. I posted again much to the confusion of followers.
A week went by an I received another email, this time from another individual working with organizing the conference stating that this message was the final determination on my proposal: another rejection. At this point, I emailed the forum participants informing them about the decision and turned to deciding how and if I would be involved with the conference this year.
Another week goes by and I receive a phone call from the individual who had sent the final determination letter letting me know that the final rejection was again an error and that they indeed had accepted my proposal. At this point, I was completely skeptical. I was also unclear about what benefits ASES would be extending to participants. I was also amazed that a conference with a 40 year track record was fumbling the ball completely. I concluded the phone call explaining that it was unclear if I would be able to reconvene my panelists after already talking with each of them about the final rejection determination.
With measured skepticism, I reached back out to the panelists and, one by one, they all declined to jump back on board. I can’t say I blame them. Unfortunately, my reputation was also on the line as I was jockeying with the very busy time and schedules of executives. Having to put a spin on the confusion that I was experiencing was not my idea of professionalism.
In the end, I decided to pull my proposal. I had no panelists anymore and I was already in too far for unbillable time. As any busy small business owner can tell you, there’s a clear point where you have to cut your losses on something. I was already past it.
I wish ASES luck straightening out the conference but this year I am bowing out.
Full disclosure: I am a lapsed ASES member and former board member and co-founder of an ASES chapter.