Re: Weekly bludgeoning: Voting issues

["Mary McCaw" <marymccaw@mediaone.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Karen Randall <krandall@world.std.com>
To: <aga-mcm@thekrib.com>
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2000 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: Weekly bludgeoning: Voting issues


> At 09:36 AM 5/21/2000 -0700, Erik wrote:
>
> We're still very much in discussion on the issue of whether the entire
membership elects the SC or not.  Bob McCaw notes that many/most nonprofits
don't let their members vote, while others have noted that several
nonprofits that we're familiar with (ACA, AKA, etc) do actually give their
members voting rights.
>
> I have voiced my concerns, but I don't feel strongly one way or the other.
It looks like the majority of the group favors open elections, and that is
fine with me.

I don't feel strongly about the issue either, but I still have some doubts.
It bothers me that we don't know whether or not it would be possible in
Massachusetts for the SC to vote out a destructive member.  It may be,
according to Bob, that it is so difficult to get rid of a board member that
you are stuck with who you have.  I would like to know if people still favor
a membership structure under these circumstances.
>
> >I'm confused as to what to do next.  If we think we're done with
discussion on these two issues, then the SC should probably move that they
vote on them. Or do we not need to vote on it because this is just going to
be the language that is used for the bylaws, which we would vote on as
> >a whole?
>
> I think this issue should be resolved before being written into the
bylaws. There's no reason that this one issue should hold up passing the
whole bylaws.

You lost me on this one.  Choosing a membership or nonmembership structure
is a fundamental issue which really needs to be decided before the by-laws
are passed.

Let's just call for a straw vote at this point.  Was I the only one with
reservations? (I know I was not in the past)  If so, it's time to move
forward if there are others with reservations, we should probably call  for
a formal vote of the SC.

I have already expressed my reservations.  It makes more sense to me to wait
until Bob gets back so he could advise us on the above mentioned point so we
would at least know what we are getting ourselves into.
>
... I think we need to discuss whether the auction at the conference will be
donation or split.  I favor a split, because I think people deserve
something for their nice plants, and I think in the long run people will
bring more, nicer plants.  I think Neil feels the same way.  At NEC, we give
a 60/40 split for pre-registered lots to make it easier for the organizers,
and 50/50 for lots registered at the event.  Any other thoughts?

When Charlene and I originally talked about having people bring plants as
donations, my recollection was that this was for two reasons:  to raise
future seed money for the next convention and for the purpose of keeping
things simple and as labor free as possible.  As chair of the silent
auction, I would like to say that if  we do decide to do a split, I would
like someone to volunteer to do the bookkeeping.  I'm going to need the
help.  Providing we have a bookkeeper, I could go either way.

> Mike wrote that he'd be willing to help with bylaws.  I move that the SC
revive the bylaw committee and accect Mike's offer!<

I don't think this is really necesary for two reasons.  As Eric I believe
has pointed out, Bob Casin has already done some work on the by-laws which
we can make use of.  Secondly, lawyers nowadays use standard forms and then
plug in information pertaining to the particular client.  Bob will probably
use a standard form for a membership corporation if this is what people want
and customize it to suit our needs.

Mary


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