CitySnake
Enthusiast
The Root of The Problem (NY/CT)
In my 4th year as a member of the Viper Community, I was nominated for President of my region. I accepted, mainly because cars have always been a personal passion, but also because I saw a serious and disturbing imbalance between the members in my immediate area (call it Metropolitan NYC) and the regional leadership. I assumed that after 4 years, the region’s appointed president (there was no election at that time) would willingly step down. I mean, it makes perfect sense to me that anyone would grow weary of the thankless effort after 2 years (the National VCA directive) as a region officer…let alone after 4 years. Needless to say I could not have been more mistaken.
So here we are. After 2 sets of ballots (half of the first set was somehow never received), 2 election deadlines, 2 months of election protocol negotiations between the candidates, the former National president and staff at Headquarters and a 2 counts of the final ballots, I was elected president of my region by three votes. Did I just say that I was elected? Well, not quite…you see the former region president was upset with the results and lobbied the former national president to re-open the election. Why, because some members ballots were not received. Will ANYONE please explain to me how a member can mail in a vote and then intelligently conclude that his/her vote was not counted?
THIS is a perfect example of why my VCA region (and apparently some others) is coming apart at the seams. The members speak and their voices are stifled. What makes it even worse, is that it is ALL HIDDEN from the members; the same members that ARE the club. At present, I am disgusted by the entire proceeding and am enraged at the complete lack of respect that some former VCA officers have for club members.
So, here’s my short list of concerns that make up the “Root of the Problem”:
-Region presidents should not offer director positions to members as a means of soliciting votes.
-Regional presidents should not be permitted to change regional by-laws to EXCLUDE future elections.
-Regional presidents should not be permitted to withhold regional income and expense accounting information.
-Regional presidents should not be permitted to pay for director dinners with regional club funds.
-Regional presidents should not financially encumber the club to expensive dinner events and then pay for shortfalls out of club funds.
-Regional presidents should not schedule executive meetings only once a year and keep them closed to all members other than those he appointed as directors.
-Regional presidents should make EVERY effort NOT to push their own agenda with regard to events, restaurants, Dodge dealers, merchandise, etc.
-Regional presidents should not have an entire wardrobe emblazoned with the word ‘President” on each and every article (OK, this item is more indicative of a “misaligned” level of importance attributible to a mere car enthusiast club position…but it is still qualifies a problem “root”)
-Regional presidents should not act covertly…they work FOR club members! NOT in spite of club members!
I am convinced that this is an excellent beginning. I have no doubt that there are several other “roots” that can be added. Nonetheless, VCA members should remain vigilant to be on the lookout for any of the above.
I want to emphasize that most regions are not plagued with “Napoleonic” officers. In fact, the newly elected National Officers seem to be a wonderful breath of fresh air. There are also many selfless club officers that make major efforts to insure that member’s voices are heard and answered. Sadly, the NY/CT region is not one of those enlightened regions. I can only hope that sanity will prevail and we can move forward, rather than slink back into the shadowy back alleys of covert self importance and self interest. Our members are intelligent, successful and fun loving...they are acutely aware of the deception. They deserve MUCH better!
In my 4th year as a member of the Viper Community, I was nominated for President of my region. I accepted, mainly because cars have always been a personal passion, but also because I saw a serious and disturbing imbalance between the members in my immediate area (call it Metropolitan NYC) and the regional leadership. I assumed that after 4 years, the region’s appointed president (there was no election at that time) would willingly step down. I mean, it makes perfect sense to me that anyone would grow weary of the thankless effort after 2 years (the National VCA directive) as a region officer…let alone after 4 years. Needless to say I could not have been more mistaken.
So here we are. After 2 sets of ballots (half of the first set was somehow never received), 2 election deadlines, 2 months of election protocol negotiations between the candidates, the former National president and staff at Headquarters and a 2 counts of the final ballots, I was elected president of my region by three votes. Did I just say that I was elected? Well, not quite…you see the former region president was upset with the results and lobbied the former national president to re-open the election. Why, because some members ballots were not received. Will ANYONE please explain to me how a member can mail in a vote and then intelligently conclude that his/her vote was not counted?
THIS is a perfect example of why my VCA region (and apparently some others) is coming apart at the seams. The members speak and their voices are stifled. What makes it even worse, is that it is ALL HIDDEN from the members; the same members that ARE the club. At present, I am disgusted by the entire proceeding and am enraged at the complete lack of respect that some former VCA officers have for club members.
So, here’s my short list of concerns that make up the “Root of the Problem”:
-Region presidents should not offer director positions to members as a means of soliciting votes.
-Regional presidents should not be permitted to change regional by-laws to EXCLUDE future elections.
-Regional presidents should not be permitted to withhold regional income and expense accounting information.
-Regional presidents should not be permitted to pay for director dinners with regional club funds.
-Regional presidents should not financially encumber the club to expensive dinner events and then pay for shortfalls out of club funds.
-Regional presidents should not schedule executive meetings only once a year and keep them closed to all members other than those he appointed as directors.
-Regional presidents should make EVERY effort NOT to push their own agenda with regard to events, restaurants, Dodge dealers, merchandise, etc.
-Regional presidents should not have an entire wardrobe emblazoned with the word ‘President” on each and every article (OK, this item is more indicative of a “misaligned” level of importance attributible to a mere car enthusiast club position…but it is still qualifies a problem “root”)
-Regional presidents should not act covertly…they work FOR club members! NOT in spite of club members!
I am convinced that this is an excellent beginning. I have no doubt that there are several other “roots” that can be added. Nonetheless, VCA members should remain vigilant to be on the lookout for any of the above.
I want to emphasize that most regions are not plagued with “Napoleonic” officers. In fact, the newly elected National Officers seem to be a wonderful breath of fresh air. There are also many selfless club officers that make major efforts to insure that member’s voices are heard and answered. Sadly, the NY/CT region is not one of those enlightened regions. I can only hope that sanity will prevail and we can move forward, rather than slink back into the shadowy back alleys of covert self importance and self interest. Our members are intelligent, successful and fun loving...they are acutely aware of the deception. They deserve MUCH better!