1M1V - One Member One Vote -- Session 2, Rev 2

[RoadKingMoe]

I obviously have almost no experience in WBCCI, especially compared to Leo and Paul. In fairness, what I've done for WBCCI amounts to nothing. But I have a great sense this year is the best opportunity the members will ever have to take back the club. The crowd at the top, obviously a minority out of touch with the membership, have put the spotlight on themselves and their special interests with the name change and MoHo amendments.

The many comments from delegates that they'd have voted for alternatives to the nominating committee's slate if they'd had the okay from their members were telling. Had the members only known there were going to be alternatives from the floor, a few votes could've gone the other way.

I think the reality probably is there isn't enough new blood, retired and able to take on the responsibilities of the entire slate. But it doesn't take an entire new slate to begin change--just enough to send a wake-up call to the others. We don't want them to go away and stop contributing, we just want them to get rid of the Leona Helmsley mentality.

The other reality is the incumbents control the lines of communications to the members. My sense is that working through the system won't get the message of opportunity for change to down to the members, many if not most of whom have never heard of this forum, and some of whom don't even use email. Something bolder, and possibly not inexpensive, probably has to be used.

If a mailing list of all the members isn't available in electronic form, that can be made from a paper directory. Scanning and OCR isn't perfect, but with dozens or even hundreds of volunteer editors correcting its mistakes, an accurate, usable electronic database could be compiled. Heck, pages from the directory could be zoomed on an enlarging copier and the results cut into mailing labels. The expense would be postage, and require donations.

In my heart, I believe the members would accept a one-time, plain language, no nonsense change to the Constitution that would make mounting special interest assaults on it a more rigorous task. There may be enough to get it approved by a change-friendly Unit in a change-friendly Region, but it may take the pressure from a ground swell below to make that Region change-friendly. But the message HAS to get to the members so they know it's coming and make sure their Units, Delegates, and Regions support it at every opportunity.

I believe change from the top down will take a long time--possibly longer than WBCCI has left at the current rate of members leaving. I believe it has to come from the bottom up, not an easy task either, but one that might not see the same opportunity again.

Maybe that's way too radical. Maybe I don't know enough to know it's not realistic. But it's the way I feel.

[mistral blue]

Originally Posted by RoadKingMoe

The other reality is the incumbents control the lines of communications to the members. My sense is that working through the system won't get the message of opportunity for change to down to the members, many if not most of whom have never heard of this forum, and some of whom don't even use email. Something bolder, and possibly not inexpensive, probably has to be used.

But the message HAS to get to the members so they know it's coming and make sure their Units, Delegates, and Regions support it at every opportunity.

Once again, I couldn't agree more with your analysis RoadKingMoe. Moreover, I think our leadership's monopoly over the lines of communication is our biggest obstacle. Let's face it, The Blue Beret kicks the forum's butt when it comes to getting the IBT's very controlled, one-sided message out to the membership. Their propaganda is just about all most members ever read about; that is if they care to read the BB at all. Our biggest and most important challenge, therefore, is to get another message into the hands of members.

[startrekker2001]

65gt said he wanted me to get involved again, so here I am. I have reviewed the amendment and again, I am not happy with the efforts on behalf of the MAL's. They joined knowing that they would not have a vote. If they are interested in helping to run the organization and having a voice, then they should join a unit. Everyone wins then. The unit gets much needed dues and new blood that will energize the unit, and the member wins by being a part of the unit activities and being in a situation where he/she will make new friends and have a hand in making a difference at the local level.

With that said, here is my review of the proposed amendment:

ARTICLE VI

QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS

Sec. 3 Member at Large An applicant for membership at large, upon written application to International Headquarters and the payment of International dues and a surcharge, as set by the International Board of Trustees, shall be a Member-at-Large of the International Club. A Member at Large shall possess all the rights and privileges of the club, except the right to vote or hold office in an Intra Club, a Unit, a Region or in the International Club. Ownership of a recreational vehicle as defined in this article and the payment of annual International dues and the surcharge is prerequisite to retaining membership as a Member at Large.
(6/29/02)


Question. How are the MAL’s supposed to be represented at the delegate meeting. They have no delegate to represent them. By default, MAL’s have CHOSEN not to involve themselves in the operation of a unit or the international organization. Should they choose to join a unit, then they will assume the privileges of unit membership. Therefore I see no reason to change this Sec. 3.

ARTICLE XII

DELEGATES MEETINGS

Sec. 3 The members of each chartered Unit may vote and otherwise participate in the annual Delegates Meeting
through a Dele gate, or Alternate Delegate. The voting strength of each Unit shall be determined each year prior to the Delegates Meeting by the number of International dues paying members of that Unit recorded at Headquarters by June 1. The Delegate and Alternate shall present to the presiding officer, or an appointed representative, a certificate or letter certifying they have been duly selected and authorized to represent that chartered unit and stating the number of International dues paying members in their Unit.
(7/5/96)

I do not agree that the number of dues paying member should be struck from this section. If a vote by hands is close or if any delegate asks for a poll of the units, the weight of the membership must be known and attested to for that vote. There must be an option for the will of the membership to be known.

Sec. 4 Each Unit shall be represented at the Delegates Meeting by one WBCCI Member Delegate, or an Alternate. A Delegate or Alternate Delegate may only represent one chartered unit at a Delegates Meeting. , provided that the Delegate and Alternate have paid their International dues through the Unit they represent.(6/30/93)

Sec. 4 The original verbiage states one delegate or alternate with dues paid through the unit they represent. If they paid their dues, they belong to the WBCCI. It is a little absurd to be concerned that one delegate would represent two or more unit. This change is unnecessary.

I suggest:
Sec. 4 Each Unit shall be represented at the Delegates Meeting by one Delegate, or an Alternate. provided that the Delegate and Alternate have paid their International dues through the Unit they represent If a Unit is to be absent from the Delegates meeting, the unit may choose a dues paying non-Delegate member from another Unit to act as their Delegate and vote their proxy. The absent unit must supply the proxy with their voting instructions and credentials as required by the constitution. The absent unit must notify the international committee prior to the Delegates meeting of their proxy choice not less than sixty (60) days prior to the delegates meeting.

Sec. 5 At the Delegates Meeting all voting, except voting on procedural matters, shall be conducted by a show of hands. A call for a division of the house is in order when requested by a delegate during close votes. This will result in a counting of the show of hands votes, both for and against. roll call of the Units with each Delegate casting the number of votes to which that unit is entitled; unless such vote is to be unanimous in which case a roll-call may be dispensed with. WBCCI Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Delegates and should a candidate fail to obtain a majority upon the completion of the first roll-call vote , a
second roll-call vote will be conducted and the Delegates will choose between the two candidates who received the highest and the second highest number of votes on the first voteroll-call. If there be only one candidate for an office, a roll-call may be dispensed with by unanimous consent of the Delegates.

Sec. 5.

All hand votes are counted either by an obvious majority or by a count if it is close. A call for the division of the house should be a roll call vote weighted by membership. We cannot completely disregard the weight of membership in these matters.

Why drop the unanimous consent clause? It is a real time saver.

This is where a weighted vote MUST be accomplished. I would change the paragraph to:

I suggest:
“.Sec. 5 At the Delegates Meeting all voting, except voting on procedural matters, shall be conducted by a show of hands. A call for a division of the house is in order when requested by a delegate during close votes. This will result in a roll call of the Units with each Delegate casting the number of votes to which that unit is entitled; unless such vote is to be unanimous in which case a roll-call may be dispensed with. WBCCI Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Delegates present and should a candidate fail to obtain a majority upon the completion of the first roll-call vote , a secondroll-call vote will be conducted and the Delegates will choose between the two candidates who received the highest and the second highest number of votes on the first vote roll-call. If there be only one candidate for an office, a vote roll-call may be dispensed with by unanimous consent of the Delegates.

ARTICLE XV

BYLAWS AND POLICY

Sec. 1 Bylaws and Policies not inconsistent with this Constitution embodying additional provisions for the government of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Inc., may be adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast by the membership on a particular issue, or by the Board of Trustees.

Sec. 1 a simple majority of the votes cast by the membership on a particular issue, or by
While this sounds innocent enough, this means that in order for the board to conduct business they may have to wait for the Blue Beret to be published and members respond with their vote before the board can get on with business. Who determines which provisions get member approval and which get only board approval. This is unworkable in my view.

ARTICLE XVI

AMENDMENTS

Sec. 2 Amendments to this Constitution may also be adopted by a two-thirds vote majority of the votes cast by the membership on a particular issue. represented by Delegates present and voting at the annual Delegates Meeting voting in accordance with Article XII of the Constitution. Such proposed amendment(s) may be submitted in writing by any chartered unit, by the Board of Trustees and by the International President. Any such amendment(s) submitted by a Unit shall bear a certification by the Unit President that it has been
approved by a majority vote conducted in accordance with the Unit's Constitution and Bylaws. The proposed amendment(s) shall also bear a certification by the President of the Region of which the originating unit is a part, that the amendment has also been approved by a majority of the members of the Region Board of such region. Such proposed amendment(s) shall arrive at Headquarters by March 1. Headquarters shall distribute copies to the Presidents of all chartered Units by April 1 (90 days prior to the Delegates Meeting) to which such proposed amendment(s) are to be presented, in order to give the units ample time to vote and instruct their Delegates. At the Delegates Meeting these proposed amendments may be debated and further amended by the Delegates. A two thirds vote of the Delegates will send the original or amended version of that proposed amendment back to the membership for final ratification or rejection.
(6/30/93)


Sec. 2
majority of the votes cast by the membership on a particular issue. represented by Delegates present and voting at the annual Delegates Meeting voting in accordance with Article XII of the Constitution

There is no mention on how the membership is to vote. I assume that we are looking to put ballots in the Blue Beret. We must consider the lead time the BB editors need to get the ballots into an issue that will allow time for the members to vote and mail the ballot to the whoever is going to do the counting and verification of the eligibility of the voter for each vote. This is a non-trivial matter and could easily be a show-stopper. It will slow the process considerably and make an already cumbersome system, unwieldy.

Since I don’t believe that MAL’s should have voting privileges, voting through the units is sufficient. MAL’s would be voting on issues that may well have a bearing on unit operations which they have made a deliberate decision to opt out of.

Therefore, I feel that there need be no change to this paragraph.

In Conclusion, the only changes that I feel are realistic are:

Article XII, Sec. 4 to allow a unit that can’t get anyone to go to the Delegates meeting can send a proxy via another unit’s member.

Article XII, Sec. 5 to allow a show of hands for all questions before the Delegates with the option for a roll call vote if requested. This should speed up the process.

The remainder of the changes are predicated on giving MAL’s the vote. Since they made a decision not to participate in the running of the organization, those are changes are moot. We may well eliminate the MAL membership category and force all members to join a Unit. That is where the real flavor of the organization is tasted. The MAL’s are missing out on a lot by not joining a unit and the unit’s are missing out on their participation.