ORIGINAL: bdavison
STL,
It has nothing to do with recruiting new members.
Sure it does.
No organization allows non-members to vote, why should we listen to persons who have no vested interest in the organization.
True and there are plenty of organizations that don't allow their members to vote either, I belong to some of them.
The US doesnt allow non-citizens to vote, Corporations dont allow their competitors into the boardrooms.
True, but their voices are heard. Their rallies are listened too. If the gov't and the people didn't listen to illegal and legal immigrants, they wouldn't be here. They might not be able to vote, but their voice is loud and clear and people listen.
The simple fact is people who have never once got off their butts to support the organization should have ZERO say when it comes time for us to choose our leadership of OUR organization. Non-members dont have anything invested in the failure or successfulness of the AMA. Its easy to pick a side when you have nothing to lose.
If this was true the AMA would be mailing out policy voting mechanisms only to members, they don't, they use survey monkey and anyone can voice their opinion. Also if the AMA believed they should only listen to members, they wouldn't be in here constantly listening to what is said right here on this board and they frequent quite often. Whether they have "say" doesn't matter, because they are still heard and decuisions are made based on them. Case in fact ... the PPP, most AMA'ers that were asked their opinions were against the program, the numbers were posted publically. Problem is that "most AMA members" only makes up a small fraction of those that play with flying model toys and could eventually be members. You know and I know their voice is heard, why shouldn't it ... there is a reason they are not here and it's not a guess.