To any and all concerned MVPA members and future members

From: JEFF HAIN-MATSON (flmv@flmv.net)
Date: Mon Jun 20 2005 - 08:05:17 PDT


Here is an update on the events over at the G503 list:

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=71

------------------------------------------------------

And below is Jim Gilmore’s response:

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 11:35 am Post subject: Conduct Unbecoming?

Concerned MVPA and Gee members;

I would first like to say I did not ask for this conflict. I did not
start it. I was not the first to post on this site about it. Two
Directors of the MVPA (one the President) posted statements about me on
an open forum before I had a chance to hear from the head of the
Nominating Committee as to why my name was not to be on the ballot in
the next election.

I do not seek to hurt the MVPA. I have tried to settle this with the
head of the Nominating Committee before it spiraled out of control. He
was not concerned and was "comfortable" with the decision of the
Committee.

I am not someone who walks away from a fight when I believe I am in the
right.

The controversy going on right now is about wrong and right. The MVPA
Board through the Nominating Committee is hell bent on getting me off
the Board even if it means hurting the Association. They know that I
will win re-election and this is the only way they can stop me. They
have gone on the G503, on an open forum, open to anyone and slandered my
character and had not given me the courtesy to answer the charges
against me.

They have posted that I am not allowed to run because of "conduct
unbecoming a MVPA Director".

The President of the MVPA has stated on a public forum that I am guilty
of "......inappropriate comments and behavior...." that I have "....
acted in a manner unbecoming a director on more than one occasion...."
and that "..... it was in the best interest of the MVPA to not place his
name on the ballot....."

This is a vague innuendo and it would appear that I had done a very
awful thing.

I spoke to Art Pope by phone twice now and here is what he said the
"conduct unbecoming" is ( I had someone listen in and transcribe so that
I would be correct in my quotes) ........One complaint (which they will
not show me to prove it actually exists) was received. He stated that
said I "..downplayed the upcoming MVPA convention in Duluth..".

In addition, they received one complaint over a year ago from a vendor
that was unhappy with a comment I made about canvas.

This is, according to Art Pope, all they had and then they went out into
the public forum and said that this is conduct unbecoming a Director!

Art Pope also said (in both phone calls I made to him) that I was "
...not the kind of person we want on the Board right now..." . This is
an exact quote and I think sums up the actual reason for not allowing my
name on the ballet.

It's not up to them to decide who will remain on the Board. It's up to
the members to decide this and they have taken the right for the members
to vote away from them.

Should I walk away from this fight? Should we let them do this to the
next member that has to guts to say when they are wrong?

I think not. I think the members will see that it was an attempt by the
Board to control the election and I am sure they come out and fight for
what is right.

The G-503.com is the only forum where members can express their outrage
at the improper actions of many of the MVPA board who seek to take
members rights away and decide for themselves who will run the MVPA.

In the election where I ran and won a seat on the Board I had the
highest vote total of everyone running, even the incumbent Directors
that were up for re-election. More members who were concerned enough to
vote, wanted me to represent them on the Board than anyone else.

Is it right that they cannot vote for me to keep representing them?

Is it right that they have had their right to vote for the person they
want taken away from them?

Is it right that 6 MVPA Directors will decide who the 10,000 members
will be allowed to vote for?

All because of one member and one vendor complained? What about the
9,998 members that did not?

Who's club is this? The MVPA Board's or the 10,000 member's? Who should
decide who runs the MVPA, the current Board of Directors or the members?

Concerned members should make their voice heard and use the power of
their vote to regain control over their club.

Jim Gilmore

Director, MVPA
Member:
Red Ball Military Transport
Ohio Motor Pool
Midwest Military Vehicle Association

--
JEFF HAIN-MATSON
FRONT LINE MILITARY VEHICLES      WEB SITE:  http://www.flmv.net/
WRIGHTSVILLE PA
717-252-4489 VOICE
717-252-4499 FAX
flmv@flmv.net    E-MAIL
MVPA #1833
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