Thus, even highly opinionated people become conservative and conflict-avoiding. The crafting of the annual conference can be characterized in a similar way. The goal of conference chairs often is simply one of survival. The incentive to alienate anyone is low indeed. It is not my intent to make a Rodney King-like appeal.
Curmudgeons place little value in touchy-feely overtures.
Disagreement and displeasure are facts of life. However, I would like for us to be more circumspect about our attributions. The continual reconfiguration of the governing bodies and the annual turnover of the conferences chairs assures that the individuals involved rarely progress beyond the initial stages of the learning curve. This situation lends itself to avoidable mistakes and less than solomonic decisions but also leaves little opportunity for conspiracy. The need to move forward has never been greater.