Hi Folks,
Well, I have decided to not run for NC. (I can hear the cheers!! out
there -- she has finally come to her senses!).
I have had some discussion with a few friends who are a bit more
knowledgeable than I am regarding recent events and I have become
"enlightened", so to speak.
I have re-read the bylaws, carefully and for content. I have to say that
after careful review, my gut instinct was right. I don't like them.
It is not that I do not like rules or guidelines and I certainly support the
creation and implementation of such for the governing of a non-non-profit
like the USGW.
What I don't like is the way in which our governing authority, the Advisory
Board, has been given all the power. I know that we have always had an
advisory board but I didn't think they had so much power and authority.
Now, having a governing board is not necessarily a bad thing -- if that is
how you want the organization to be run. However, I do not recall any
election to give the AVB this much power. I remember voting on the bylaws
in their entirety: yea or nay.
If you read the bylaws as currently written the National Coordinator is
nothing more than a figure head. They serve as public good will and for
only one year. The AVB controls the website, the domains, can vote to
remove SC's and ASC's, and can vote to make changes in emergency situations.
They serve for two years.
Hmmmph.
Now, I know that this will cause a flurry of email - those who think that
there is nothing wrong with the bylaws. They are ok. Just how did the AVB
get so much power??
Beth Wills sent out email asking if we needed a NC. In my opinion, should
the bylaws remain intact, the answer would be NO. Why? To have someone be
the good will officer?? The AVB does 90% of everything and the NC controls
the mail lists :o) Gee, that sounds like alot of fun!
The recent turnover in NC's shows the movement away from a single director
to a board directed organization. I doubt that I would be able to do
anything to change the setup -- the board would out vote me and that would
be it.
So I am content to work on my website and forget the idea of making changes.
Hopefully, folks will wake up and decide that (1) they either like things
this way or (2) they don't and will write ballot issues to make a change.
I apologize for my hasty decision -- I was "idealistic" and thought that we
still were a democracy - where the little guy could make changes for the
better.
Carol Hepburn
chepburn(a)inficad.com
Scottsdale, AZ USA