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RE: Candidate Questionaire?
I did not take your post as disagreeing, but if you do it's ok. That's why we are here.
In about 98% of your post I agree. The only part I disagree with is the ONE VOTE thing. Should we try to persuade a person to vote our way or to vote his conscience. Regardless of which way a vote goes it is valuable. Even if it is contrary to our own opinion it should be cherished as just that, ONE VOTE. Who is to decide if that one vote is arbitrary? Certainly not me. I can only assume(bad word) that each person votes for what he believes in or supports. We can not exclude poeple who don't vote our way, after all that is what our country is founded on, Democracy, and if we exclude any vote then we are reverting back to something other than what we have. I believe that of the 12% to 15% of members who do vote there must be some in there who vote a particular way because they were told to, not because they did any research on the issues. So, how valuable is the ONE VOTE? I say it is priceless. Other than that I think we are on the same page. I've enjoyed this and hope we can continue. JimRoss |
RE: Candidate Questionaire?
J-R;
Thanks for your input on my post. This is how knowledge bases are expanded, by conversations with other people. If I appeared to be "whining on the internet" I simply gotta change my approach to things. Not meant that way. It's just the first of several things I plan to do to get my opinion out. The last thing I want to see also is indiscriminate voting on anything. But, I maintain that any vote cast is not indiscriminate, it is just that, a vote, whether it reflects the actual opinion of the person voting or that of another who has influenced him/her. I think every vote no matter how acquired is valuable and should be regarded with respect. After all, who is deciding which votes are not meaningful? Not I! If 98% of the members voted, or any other percentage, how would we decide which are real and which are indiscriminate? Do you believe that the 12% to 15% who do vote are really informed? I don't any more than if all members voted. But, and I say BUT, I believe we need those votes, regardless of which way the wind blows. You said that we have to give the members a reason and the education to vote intelligently. Ok, I agree with that 100%. This is exactly what I am getting at and want to do. Let's educate them and show them how this organization affects them personally and then see how much of an increase in voter turnout we get. No one is going to get educated on anything unless someone starts the ball rolling. That is what I am attempting to do. I certainly don't have all the answers but I would imagine that there are plenty of people out there smarter than I who can come up with suggestions on how this might be accomplished. I'm all ears, except for my bald head. [Partial reproduction of post by J-R] ORIGINAL: J_R JimRoss Getting out the vote is an entirely different matter. The past three elections have proven that whining on the internet has no actual effect on the number of ballots cast, as shown in the election returns. Those that read forums like must get up from behind the computer and convey the message to the members of clubs. This is something that has not taken place in the last three years, if the election ballot totals are a meaningful reflection of results. The AMA has changed things to make it easier to vote. Even the postage is now paid on the ballots. Campaign statements are on the web site, in Model Aviation, and included with the ballots. Apathy is, indeed, the problem. Personally, the last thing I want to see is indiscriminate voting by members. I would love to see an increase in voter turnout, but, only if the members were educated about who they are voting for. Anything else is just another way to insure the incumbents will be returned to office. It falls to the candidates to get their message out, to educate us to their visions and plans. Spending huge amounts just to get the vote out is not desirable, in my opinion. Bottom line, IMHO, you have to give the members a reason, and the education, to vote intelligently. |
RE: Candidate Questionaire?
ORIGINAL: JimRoss SNIP You said that we have to give the members a reason and the education to vote intelligently. Ok, I agree with that 100%. This is exactly what I am getting at and want to do. Let's educate them and show them how this organization affects them personally and then see how much of an increase in voter turnout we get. SNIP |
RE: Candidate Questionaire?
ORIGINAL: JimRoss If I appeared to be "whining on the internet" I simply gotta change my approach to things. |
RE: Candidate Questionaire?
In reading all the posts on the subject of how to inform the members, I believe that the club newsletter editor needs to be proactive in this regard. I don’t know what percentage of clubs have newsletters, but there is not a more effective local communication media. If you do have a newsletter, contribute your thoughts for publication. If you do not have a newsletter – start one. In my case I have been an editor for over thirteen years, and have consistently brought AMA and internal club election issues to our members. This includes personal observations, recommendations, opposing views, lists of candidates, e-mail addresses, etc. etc. Two important goals in this endeavor is to inform the members and to get them to vote. The later is the more difficult. As I mentioned at our last club meeting - if every member of our club had voted - the 87 vote difference between first and runner-up in the last District V election may have been different. As a Florida club, we should know from the last national election how important every single vote is.
As a leader member, I also feel it’s a personal responsibility to talk up the issues at the monthly meetings as well as on a one-to-one basis with individual members. Lastly, it’s a responsibility to contact our representatives if there is an issue, question, or whatever. For example I recently E-mailed Joyce Hager on a Friday evening, and had a response on Monday morning. |
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