Lets look at Fred's assertion and see if it is correct.

The AMA membership rate it running right around 150,000 to 170,000. In most other organizations the mid level folks represent at least 10% of the average membership. That would tend to indicate that the AMA SHOULD have around 15,000 Leader Members. The last time I checked the number was just over 3,000, or about 20% of what it SHOULD be. Worse, the majority of those folks are old guys who are leaving the hobby (one way or another).

IF the claim "The LM qual system just ain't broke." was on target, we should be having a significant growth of that class of membership since there are clearly at least 50,000 AMA members who qualify under the current requirements. Not only do we not see the growth in that class of membership, but we are seeing it decline and the rate WILL increase. That seems to mean the 'system' IS broken and we do need to fix it.

IF you want to correct the electoral process problems, we MUST fix the Leader Member problems OR throw all Leader Memberships away and just open the election up to anyone who wants to run whenever they make that decision.

In my opinion, THIS is THE place to start making small changes for the better. We NEED a class of involved modelers who have proven they are willing to invest in the modeling community. Club officers do that. I am not comfortable electing an individual to the AMA EC who has never contributed to the modeling community, are you?

Fred, no matter what your personal problems with your club and its president, I challenge you to PROVE that ANY club officer is NOT contributing to the modeling community. In the past I have employed and highly paid folks who were not as motivated as club officers are while the sit there playing target for all the other idiots in the club. Go have a couple of cups of coffee and reconsider you positon as it does not really appear to be productive. Not a slash and burn but a simple observation rather than a stupid remark.