First off: No bashing of candidates by members or other hopefuls. Hopefully the current presidency will stop this kind of behavior and certainly not participate in it in future elections to come.

 

Second: Perhaps a shorter election process, but with suggestion one in effect this might not matter.

 

Third: An election committe made up of volunteers who are NOT running for presidency to collect and count votes.

 

Fourth: A better way to deal with absentee ballots. The ballot box suggested was a great idea.

 

Fifth.. This is the one I had a huge issue with:

 

 

We apparently do not have rules on who can vote or why unless they pay a membership fee. I feel that out of state members should not be eligible to vote unless there is a circumstance like deployment overseas, etc. I'm really upset that this election turned into an internet popularity contest and not a vote of a club. I see no reason why people from other clubs and other states should be allowed to join and vote for a friend. If this were the case than like i mentioned previously elections can be nothing more than an internet wide popularity contest. I could of had all 100 plus of my sorority sisters join the club for the measily 26.00 and vote for me, but that didn't even cross my mind because that would be wrong and not in the best interest in the club. I would like to see this seriously discussed to hopefully define an exceptable voting area. I'm sure you guys don't go join the idaho club and vote for their presidency members.

 

Thank you,

Crystal

 

Also this is in no way bashing adam, but I do feel that some of our rules need to be modified. I am glad adam is president as the club is in good hands. I am just upset at how the election process is handled

 

Wendy

 

Wendy: memberships are prorated through November. Then the next year's dues are charged.  Essentially, if you buy a membership in Nov or Dec, you pay the full price for the coming year and get a month free.  You could buy a prorated membership in Oct in order to vote "on-the-cheap", but not in Nov or Dec.

 

Not sure I would support not accepting out of state memberships.  I have a hard time turning down money - regardless of the homestate of the contributor.  We do have some people from out of state that buy a membership because they use our MB, not because they attend our meetings.  Since the MB is such a large part (maybe the largest part) of our club, the physical distance between our members may continue to increase. 

 

Wendy

I think it is more important to find a way to keep it more civilized next year instead of restricting who votes. For example, maybe having to pass a breathalizer test before posting should be implemented. 

If you want to vote, be at the meeting.  I think that would solve a lot of the frustration.

 

Adam

ps- as Silcox said- absentee votes, out of state votes, friends, none of that mattered in this election but it could someday.... lets just avoid it

 

IMO .. Bad Idea .. there are people like me out there that pay the dues to support the club but cant make it to most of the meetings do to a disability ...

This topic will be printed and read at the next pres meeting. 

 

Adam

 

Thanks again for suggestions everyone (except Jon).  Now please go back to helping other hobbyists.

 

Adam

 

Great idea Larry.  But I think 6 months would be an OK amount of time.  Some people jump in and get very involved in the club quickly.  If we said 6 months that is still a reasonable amount of time, plus it wouldn't make those people feel like their opinion didn't matter even though they put a lot into the club.  What do you think?

 

Deb  http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824MSUS">  

 

Matt

 

I recommend the presidency consider amending the by-laws to include additional prerequisites in the eligibility requirements  specific to president or vice president

 

1) must be a continous paid member of the WMAS for at least the 2  years prior to running (current by-laws = 6 months)   

2) must serve a minimum one term as part of the WMAS council or have served as the president of another, similar sized and budgeted organization - must not be the year prior to running  (current = no experience required)

 

Adam

If you are a member for 2009 you have a better idea who to vote for in 2010 than someone who heard of the club a week before the december meeting and decides to pay his dues in full for 2010.

 

You have a point. If that had happened to me I would have been unhappy! It does come across as a money thing in that case, doesn't it?

 

 

The club (and all clubs for that matter) have huge turnover. Just look at the TotM awarded at the Dec meeting as an example.  People enter the hobby and are very excited about all things reef - including the club. But, often after just a short time (less than a year sometimes) the excitement has worn off and they are selling their tanks and exiting the hobby.  I wouldn't want to exclude people moving into the area, but I would want to make sure that a person running for president or vice pres was dedicated to the club and not just in the honeymoon phase of the hobby.

 

 

Agreed. But there is a chance that a good and supportive council may not be voted or available.

 

With the club's growth it will get harder and harder to be voted onto the council in order to fill the prerequisite, making only a small pool of people eligible to even run. I think this could severely limit the club, don't you? 

 

I am of the opinion that as the club grows, there should be more and more eligible candidates - the pool should grow not shrink. I don't think the prerequisite would make it harder to be voted into the council - just make sure that the pres and vice positions are being filled by dedicated / experienced club members.

 

I believe Shane means President and Vice President need to be members for two years, not necessarily the council.  I agree with Shane,  I think that somebody running for President should be a member for 2 years prior to running.  That way they would know how the club runs, would know a lot of the club members (which would help in knowing what is best for everyone) and would also show commitment to the club.  Statistics show people come and go in this hobby everyday.  How would we know that someone that had only been in the club for 6 months was even going to stay in the hobby?  Two years gives more credibility imo.

 

Deb

 

 

 

Deb

Great reccomendation

 

1 full year in the presidency of wmas then you should be eligible to be president. 

 

If you 'include similar sized or budgeted organization' you would have someone asking for proof.  In this election we had someone ask for proof of business license (that doesn't really concern the club)

 

Keep it short and direct.  Keep all the fluff out so there isn't any grey area.

 

 

After the previous two elections (2006 & 2007) there were reccomendations to change this process...it is not new or suprising.  Even a presidency member vented their frustration about it always being an issue.  This (the third year of this reccomendation) it was brought up before the election, which created this huge stir.

John

 

 

Thanks again

 

It is disheartening that some still call it in question even though they were in direct contact with counting, over-site and running of the ballot process. Thankfully it hasn't come on our own board in the furry that it is being discussed on others. In the same breath it is very frustrating to see it being discussed on one of the other boards to the point that it has gotten vile. Those that are spreading/discussing these things are also concerning since it is some of those that were involved with the election process here on our own board.

 

I'm hoping that we can come up with a "new" process that will at least please most everybody. I don't feel that we can make everyone happy but I think we can come pretty close.

 

Another thought about how to handle elections comes to mind. Have you ever seen the Costner movie titled 'The Postman' ? Maybe we should adopt the clan laws:

 

Law one. You will obey orders without question.
Law two: Punishment shall be swift.
Law three: Mercy is for the weak.
Four: Terror will defeat reason.
Five: Your allegiance is to the clan.
Six: Justice can be dictated.
Seven: Any clansman may challenge for leadership of the clan.
Law eight: There is only one penalty. Death.

 

Then - if you want to be president, you enact law # 7. No voting, no fuss.  Candidates cage fight in front of all members - winner take all.