J_R,
Just how does my recommendations make it harder to be eligable to run for office?
I recommended no more leader requirment, none of the BS reviews to be elligible to be President, and I broadened the scope of personnel eligible and reduce the length a time it would take to be eligible.
from rsaallen13
I would change it to be; if you wish to run for an EC or higher you must have been a sitting club officer(Pres,VP, Sec Treasurer or Safety Officer), a Hall of Fame Member, a Contest Director, a Leader Member, a Life Member, or a National AMA Event Title Holder (excluding Junior Divisions). If you meet one of those criteria you qualify.
Notice that nobody is required to "approve you"
My "how to do the voting" might be allittle more involved but it has a way for the local clubs to be involved and a way to include non-club members in the process (either via caucus or the internet).
Is it perfect, nothing is, but it is more inclusive and easier for those who wish to run to be able to run.
Right now in order to get involved and effect change you need the "okay" of those in power. It is almost like Kerry having to get Bush and his cabinet to approve and qualify him to run for President.
from J_R's post bold added by rsallen13.
“To be eligible to discharge the duties of AMA President, a
nominee must be a Leader member of the AMA and must previously
have served as a member of the Executive Council or as Associate
Vice President or as a Contest Board member for at least one year.
To be eligible to discharge the duties of an elected AMA officer other
than President, a nominee must be a Leader member of the AMA.
To be eligible to discharge the duties of an appointed AMA officer,
including Associate Vice President, Contest Board member, and
Contest Coordinator, an appointee must be a Leader member of the
AMA.”
Now, take into account that the requirement to be a leader member requires 3 years of membership in the AMA and either 3 leader members to sign you off OR any three open members and the rubberstamp approval of your VP. I have never heard of anyone being turned down for leader membership. If you have been a member for three years and want to be a leader member, go to the AMA webpage and download the application, fill it out, have any three AMA open members sign it, write a check and send it to your VP. Shortly, you will be a leader member.
The present system is favored to the insiders and incumbents and severly restricts the ability of willing members to run for higher office. First you must be in for three years then find three current Leader Members or three members and you DVP. The current leader members and the current DVP are what is trying to be changed in some of the districts. So order to run you have to in effect get their approval to make you a leader member. Does any one else see something wrong with this. And lets not even go over what is require to run for President and who decides who is qualified to run for that office.
J_R, Convince us that the current system should not be changed! What are your arguements that the current system does not need to be "tweeked"?