Re: [MV] MVPA write-in vote correction

From: Tim Clark (glengar@bellatlantic.net)
Date: Wed Jan 26 2000 - 22:11:48 PST


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Mike Towers wrote:
>
> *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
> Just one more reason to keep your money in your pocket, boys.
>
> The MVPA people can run their club any way they want to, and power to 'em.
> Ours is to either join or not.
>
> For those of you who approve and feel that this is a fair and equitable way
> to do things, by all means, send 'em another check.
>
> As for me, I won't be joining any time soon.
>
> Mike Towers
> M35A2C
> lots of old guns and lots of old jeeps
> down in Texas just west of the Alamo
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: jim gilmore <jgilmore@oeonline.com>
> To: Military Vehicles List <mil-veh@uller.skylee.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 1:29 PM
> Subject: [MV] MVPA write-in vote correction
>
> > *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
> >
> >
> > Last week I replied to several members questions regarding the status
> > of write-in votes in the recent MVPA elections. After my posting, I
> > received a phone call from the MVPA president correcting my statement.
> > According to him, it was neither the MVPA president nor the MVPA board
> that
> > made the decision that the write-in votes were not to be counted. He
> > stated that since the MVPA bylaws do not specifically ALLOW write-in votes
> > they were then invalid and no decision was needed. I countered that since
> > the bylaws do not specifically PROHIBIT write-in votes that they should be
> > valid. A lengthy (and lively) discussion ensued and in the end we agreed
> to
> > disagree on the subject. After his call, I sent a letter to my friend
> and
> > MVPA board member Garrick Smith to get his input on the subject.
> >
> > >Garrick Smith wrote back:
> > > Quote: The decision not to count the votes was not taken unilaterally
> > by Lee. The Board concurred that write-in ballots would not be valid or
> > counted. I do not agree that the By-laws do not specifically prohibit
> > write-in votes. According to the By-laws, only qualified nominees
> approved
> > by the Board can run for election. So if a name was written in and that
> > name was not approved by the Board, then it was an invalid vote that was
> > not to be counted. Remember on the ballots that had write-in votes, only
> > the write-in name was not counted. If other names were marked on the
> > ballot they were counted.
> > >End quote.
> >
> > So, I stand corrected. It seems to be a case of "Catch 22". Even
> > if a Candidate has all the qualifications required to run for the board,
> > he/she must be "approved" by the current board to be put on the ballet. A
> > qualified Candidate who is not "approved" by the board (they don't have to
> > give a reason) can run on a write in campaign, however the write in votes
> > will only be counted if they are for an "approved" Candidate.
> > Of course if you were "approved", you would be on the ballot in the
> > first place.............
> >
> > The sitting board has complete control over the decision of who the
> > members will be "allowed" to vote for and the prospect of a "reform" slate
> > of Candidates is an impossibility under the current bylaws.
> >
> > Perhaps some changes in the bylaws might be in order here to insure a
> > fair and equitable nonination process and give the members the decision of
> > who shall, and shall not, sit on the board..........
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Jim Gilmore MVPA # 5843
> >
> > Member Ist Michigan AOD Chapter MVPA
> > Great Lakes Chapter MVPA
> > Ohio Motor Pool Chapter MVPA
> > Red Ball Chapter MVPA
> > Ontario Military Vehicle Association
> > Midwest Military Vehicle Assocation
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 2656 Wiethoff, Inkster, Mi. 48141
> > 313-561-8826 voice 313-730-1652 fax
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
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>
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Please see my response to Jim's note.

As I and others have said, we need to not only stay members but get more
members who agree that there needs to be more openness and opportunity
for "new blood" on the Board.

The only other way would be to try to start up a whole new organization
which is not only expensive & time-consuming but would then fragment a
not-large pool of potential members into competing organizations. We
would then probably have a "war" between the two groups which would
distract us from our main goals of promoting and protecting the hobby.
Get out there and recruit new members who will vote with us!
When you look at how many members actually vote, it wouldn't take a
whole lot of us to effect serious changes--300 or 400 votes can control
the whole process.....



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