A Sign of Things to Come?

[Mac1]

I am thinking that Paul Waddell's nomination for the WBCCI's 3rd VP from the floor could have been a shot across the bow for the club. His nominee (Peter ?) was defeated but there were delegates who said they would like more timely notice in order to support a candidate who may be more qualified. I can see units looking for those qualified candidates who could lead the club where many would like it to go - and conceivably quicker than putting candidates in the traditional long line of ascension. It could happen very quickly if the leaders don't listen.

What do you think? Who are your candidates and how would interested parties get the ball rolling?

Possible?

Mac

[moosetags]

In the current "control system", the leadership controls who will be their successors. The system is designed that way. That's the way that they want it. How many organizations are there that have a large block of members (MALs) that have absolutely no voice? This club fears members who could vote without the contols at the regional and unit level.

Change will only come with one member/one vote within our club. Anything less is meaningless lip service.

[Mac1]

I agree, but think that even under the present system if members belonged to units that would split their vote (as some did with the nomination from the floor) then outstanding candidates have a good chance to be elected from outside the "System". I think that it would be important to give it a try, who knows it just may threaten the machine enough that they may just listen or be earmarked to have an outside candidate give that nominee a run for their money.

Hope you guys have recovered from your travels, where to next?

Mac

[wkerfoot]

What came out of the election was that many delegates received specific instructions from their members to vote one way and they were duty bound to comply. If you listened to Leo Garvey when he asked to have his name removed from nomination, is is clear that there will be information sent to each unit prior to next year's business meeting which will enable the units to consider other nominees. This is an important step to changing the course of WBCCI.

Hopefully the IBT will allow this information in the Blue Beret. I would like to see position statements by each officer as to their vision and how they would address the challenges of declining membership.

I was amazed at the confusion in how to handle three nominees for the two positions on the nominating committee. To my simple mind it is just allowing cumulative voting, weighted for the number of members in each unit. This is the way some corporations handle multiple nominees for open board of directors seats.

Also, and this is not directed at anyone in particular, what are you doing to help this club other than complaining?

Bill

[skyvalley]

Originally Posted by moosetags

In the current "control system", the leadership controls who will be their successors. The system is designed that way. That's the way that they want it. How many organizations are there that have a large block of members (MALs) that have absolutely no voice? This club fears members who could vote without the contols at the regional and unit level.

Change will only come with one member/one vote within our club. Anything less is meaningless lip service.

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Moosetags,

You said it all!!

One member one vote is the only way this organization will ever become anything in the twentyfirst century.

Members At Large are ignored--except for their excessive fees.

MAL should be the first step in joining-they should be full partners, it is the only way to build up numbers.

Change now and save the club! There are a few thousand folks out there that I bet would Join.

My 2 cents...

John

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by skyvalley

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Moosetags,

You said it all!!

One member one vote is the only way this organization will ever become anything in the twentyfirst century.

Members At Large are ignored--except for their excessive fees.

MAL should be the first step in joining-they should be full partners, it is the only way to build up numbers.

Change now and save the club! There are a few thousand folks out there that I bet would Join.

My 2 cents...

John

I respectively disagree, there are units which allow voting by email and in person and already have 1M1V in practice if not in their bylaws. It is truly unfortunate that this has to be legislated, as it is common courtesy to our friends, our members. MALs have the option to join either WDCU or 4CU and pay only $1 instead of $15, they can keep their MAL badge if they wish and the general public will not know they belong to a unit.

I truly doubt that someone is waiting to join until they have a vote, I would guess that voting on issues is the farthest thing in a potential members mind when it comes to deciding whether or not to join.

Bill

[Ed Emerick]

Hey all,
In the WI Unit we had the ability to vote on the MOHO issue by mail. If you wanted a voice you had it and did not have to attend the rally. I can see this continuing in the future for other items of importance. So to those of you that are MAL, come join us, I will say that our dues are not as cheap as the DC Unit but we have a great time with the money!
Ed

[65GT]

The biggest problem with the current system is giving units a choice. I hope that there is a full slate of alternative candidates for '08 in Bozeman. I know there will be at least THREE.

I3VP
INC
Undetermined

There are a lot of like minds on this one - it would be great to have an I3VP, IRS, IT, (2) INC. That's the goal anyway -- to find individuals willing to run for those positions that have the drive, the energy, and have the commitment level. I ran for the position I could most aptly serve -- INC. Most of that job requires phone work and internet work.

I could make myself available at the Mid-Winter IBT meeting and will certainly go to Bozeman. As a single member of a three person team I know I am not only qualified, but capable in steering the club through the selection of a slate of experienced officers in the direction that this club needs to go.

If the INC ignored the obvious -- continued to select MoHo members for international positions when it is obvious the balance is completely out of whack -- I'd have no problem reporting this directly to the membership.

The solution then is to take control of the nominating committee from the floor in the following year. I believe that if members don't see this happening in the appointed slate in April of '08 they will be more than willing to elect two alternate committee members to make that happen.

In leu of the INC, the IRS and IT postions are still more manageable even though the IT probably needs a bit more time.

Regardless -- if the IBT doesn't recognize that there will be alternative candidates for those five positions next year and allow alternates to be listed in the Blue Beret with mail ballots before Bozeman, then five roll call votes (at 50 minutes each) will become necessary.

If that happens then it will be clear that the IBT did not take the appropriate actions to relieve the delegates of that in-person responsibility.

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[maxandgeorgia]

". . .I truly doubt that someone is waiting to join until they have a vote, I would guess that voting on issues is the farthest thing in a potential members mind when it comes to deciding whether or not to join." (quote from above post)
It surely made a difference to us and to some other like-minded MAL's this season who moved from MAL status to a unit membership (for us, WDCU) in order to have a voice in this summer's big issue. And along with that voting privilege, comes membership in an active unit that, though distanced from us, may tempt us to travel to their rallies. Isn't that what an Airstream is all about? So, maybe with important issues at stake, some others will join in order to help this club with their vote and subsequent participation.

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by maxandgeorgia

". . .I truly doubt that someone is waiting to join until they have a vote, I would guess that voting on issues is the farthest thing in a potential members mind when it comes to deciding whether or not to join." (quote from above post)
It surely made a difference to us and to some other like-minded MAL's this season who moved from MAL status to a unit membership (for us, WDCU) in order to have a voice in this summer's big issue. And along with that voting privilege, comes membership in an active unit that, though distanced from us, may tempt us to travel to their rallies. Isn't that what an Airstream is all about? So, maybe with important issues at stake, some others will join in order to help this club with their vote and subsequent participation.

Maxandgeorgia,

I felt that skyvalley meant that if MALs had the right to vote then WBCCI would have more members, as the absence of that right stopped them from becoming WBCCI members. I, in no way, feel that MALs should not have the right to vote. It is unfortunate that there are so many members who do not have the right to vote.

Bill

[BDandTTs]

We purchased our first Airstream in October, 2006 and recently joined the WDCU primarily because of their 1M1V policy even though we are located in Vermont and are much closer to another popular and active unit, NEU. 1Member1Vote should become a backbone principle of WBCCI. Even though we are new members, I would appreciate answers to the following questions.

Is there a formal proposal to establish 1M1V across all units of WBCCI? If not, what would the procedure be?

Are local units actively pursuing establishment of 1M1V within their own unit? How could we help them?

Voting procedures also need to be standardized and accessible within WBCCI. Is there an organized movement to advocate web-based or mail-in voting, not as an option but as a requirement to local units?

We know that many of you are working for these and other worthy goals and we appreciate your efforts.

[65GT]

Here's a link to what Metro NY has done to implement 1M1V. The bylaws section has not been completed but the constitutional amendment has passed unanimously.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/390934-post113.html
You'll find many unit leaders will not be in favor of 1M1V even though our adaptation only applies to Unit and International Constitutional changes. In many units leaders (believe they) know best. They're not about to open up what are now controlled votes to those that may not agree with them. Especially those members that sit at home and don't show up at every rally or don't pull their weight.

As for Internet voting -- we will now allow it -- also phone voting -- whatever works for the member. WDCU doesn't want to deal with US Mail ($1 annual dues) but I don't believe that your typical local unit will ever exclude voting by US Mail. There are many members that are either Internet challenged or Internet absent...

By the way -- the number of WDCU members in New England is growing. About a dozen at my last count. You can probably expect to see a WDCU rally in New England in '08, '09 the latest.

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[BDandTTs]

Thanks for the MetroNY report on 1M1V amendment and bylaw changes. Way to go! It's great to live in a region where we have a number of active, progressive WBCCI units to choose from.

Wish we could have made it to your 75th Anniversary celebration. It was an awesome site!

[65GT]

You haven't missed the 75th yet! Hang in there another 25 years and we'll do it! Hey -- I'll probably have the '53 on the road by then -- maybe even polished out!

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