ORIGINAL: FHHuber
I have been thinking about this one... and it SOUNDS great... but is it? (How to say it without creating a problem...
)
Ever see the "We the Willing" poster?
Often (more often than is really good...) the person who gets elected (shanghaied... railroaded...) into a club office was simply the only one willing to take the position. No other qualification really required.
Its not a good thing to have to say... but its the way it works.
Sometimes you get a guy that is VERY good at the job, and doesn't mind doing it for several years. Sometimes you get a "seat warmer" and everyone is hoping like heck that someone else will step up and offer to run in the next club election. (but if no one else runs... the seat warmer might get the post again... and again...)
Sorry... just saying someone has been club pres 2 terms really isn't the best way to qualify people for Leader Member status.
I'm Looking to completely drop the Leader Member Requirement. The idea is to make it less hassle for some one who wished to run to run. If they are not interested they do not need to run (at least at this level). Even making it a two termer is two much in my opinion. If they are involved enough to be a CLUB OFFICER (not just president) then they have shown they are involved enough that if they wish to run they should run.
I mean come on, you need absolutely NO qualification to run for US SENATE, CONGRESS, MAYOR, STATE REP or even the PRESIDENT OF THE US other that your age and enough money to run a sucessful campaign. You can even be convicted of a crime and still get elected. Just look a Marion Barry in Washington DC. Convicted of smoking crack and got re-elected as Mayor after he got out of prison. But if you want to be involved at a National level with AMA organization you almost have to sell your soul have three degrees, three friends that are part of the "good ole boys" network to make you a "leader member" and be involved in 4 different disiplines or you are not qualified.
This is overkill. It is design soley to keep people out and not to broaden the pool of potential canidates.
So we do not want 15 people on the ballot. I agree that 3 to 5 is enough and that can be reduced via the caucus method where by area clubs pick their canidate, that name is submitted and top three with the most supporting clubs go on the final ballot for the district VP. As for the President Position why do they need to have served on the EC? and why limit it to three people. I think 5 or 10 on the ballot for President is not a problem and would not be unmanagable. And if you do not belong to club then come election time you could attend any club meeting in your area show you AMA card and be part of the caucus.
But I really open to any ideas that will accomplish two goals:
#1 Increase the number of candidates to chose from. (espcially for President)
#2 Increase the participation of the membership through the clubs and general elections.
The current situation does not work for the fact that it has not found a way to encourge voting.
How about the use of the internet for voting. AMA # and pin and you can vote over the website. Voting to be done at local club meetings with a sealed box provided by AMA to be returned to the accounting company via Fedex or UPS.
A lot of ways to do it and a lot to think about.