The MVPA and Your Vote
Fellow g503.com Community Members,
It is not often that we feel an urgent need to bring to your attention a current discussion topic on the g503 forums. Some of you are aware and active in this discussion. Others have interests on specific message forums and do not “read the mail” so to speak on other forums that they think do not pertain to them, some infrequently visit the g503.com message forums and have no idea of important issues that arise from time to time.
We want to bring to your attention an important, time sensitive topic on a New Forum MVPA Discussions. This forum evolved as a result of ongoing dialogue concerning the MVPA’s Convention in Duluth MN this August. The Convention topic took a path, which led to the current heated discussion, which concerns past and present actions by the MVPA’s Board of Directors and Nominating Committee; the spark that ignited the flame has been a long smoldering issue that Associate (Business) Members and many General Members have had with certain MVPA rules and policies. Due to the recent news that the Nominating Committee is working to prevent a well-known, popular Current Board Member from seeking re-election, this has evolved into a fully engulfed discussion; often very heated, never dull.
Many issues have been brought up concerning seemingly questionable past and current actions of the Board. MVPA Bylaws and Policies as well as the Missouri Statutes that govern actions of Not for Profit Organizations are being openly discussed and compared to the current realities of the MVPA. Options are being offered and discussed dealing with members rights in election matters towards a beneficial and positive change of direction.
As it’s apparent that these types of issues can arise due to general membership complacency and membership apathy at election time, we strongly urge you to become involved in this discussion and familiarize yourself with the issues. Past election totals support our contention of voter apathy; in an organization of 10,000 or so members, the ballot return rate is less than 1000 or 10%. This rate of member participation in the direct voice in the management of an organization that you own, is in a truly sad state of affairs.
If you are a current MVPA member and are outraged by the affairs of the organization, please get involved and exercise your rights of speaking your opinion by participating in the ongoing discussions and the current poll on the MVPA Discussion Forums. As the election ballots will be attached to the next issue of “Supply Line we urge you to not procrastinate. Do Not Reduce your right to vote by simply adding the magazine and Ballot to the reading rack. In the near future, once the Slate of approved candidates has been published, g503.com will host candidate qualification for your review and consensus, we as a group can then push these candidates that most closely match our own ideals. Do not let your membership lapse over these issues; this organization belongs to YOU, the members. Vote your voice. Let your voice be heard! It is urgent that you immediately mark your ballot and promptly return it to the MVPA.
If you are not an MVPA member and you believe that it should be returned to the members, we strongly urge you to immediately join the MVPA and take part in the upcoming election. When you join, let the friendly staff know that “g503.com urged me to join”.
If you agree that these important issues need to be aired publicly, get involved at your local level by bringing these things to light at your next local club meeting or thru a telephone and/or email campaign to your friends and associates.
The time to act is now! Let us join together and conquer complacency. Our collective voice must be heard. We can send a strong message to our Elected Board! Let’s take back OUR MVPA!
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=47803
G503.com Staff