| Outrageous
Voting Policy Still in Effect?? Must be Abolished! By NM Leland Fuerstman The priorities of the administrators of the NCCA continue to be skewed. In the absence of grooming a candidate to follow in the current president's footsteps or even recommending a legitimate slate of officers for the members to consider, they have decided to perpetuate the preposterous policy of allowing members to vote by "proxy??" (Such a policy only exists within corporations whereby specially appointed agents are allowed to represent groups of individuals at stockholder meetings. In that case, each share of stock equals one proxy). Apparently, the person who initially created this debacle for the NCCA confused the word "proxy" with the proper term "absentee ballot!" Whereby a member would be allowed to vote by mail or (E-mail in the future) for a specific candidate(s); not give that right to someone else to elect a person of whom he may not approve? I was recently reminded by a concerned member that 2 years ago, in order to ensure absolute control over the NCCA, an unnamed person went weaving through the crowd with his clipboard seeking signatures of members who did not plan to attend the annual meeting? Signing their name arbitrarily gave this person the power to control whomever he personally wished to win the election?! His zealous action intimidated potential candidates and surely prevented them from tossing their hat(s) into the ring. Is this what the democratic process is all about? Will that scenario be allowed to repeat itself this year? Now, considering the fact that there is no slate of candidates for the upcoming election, the idea of voting by "absentee ballot" or "proxy" is moot! In my opinion, if the business of the NCCA is not important enough for someone to attend the official annual meeting in person, then he should relinquish his right to vote. But, in this case, there is no one to vote for, anyway!! In order to preserve the democratic process and for the good of the entire North Carolina Chess Association, I strongly recommend that the policy of allowing members to "vote by proxy" be immediately abolished. And since the current president rarely, if ever, communicated any mandate to the members ahead of time, he could do something positive and simply announce that the NCCA will no longer allow this practice. On the other hand, if they choose to continue the policy, just exactly for whom are they accumulating these proxies? The election takes place in 26 days?! However, the more profound problem is the fact that very few members ever attend the annual meeting, anyway? (16 last year?) Among the many reasons is the most obvious complaint that after finishing their 7:30pm, 3rd round game at 12:30am (yes, 5 hours...) and retreating to hotel rooms to celebrate their victory or brood over their loss with their partying chess buddies, they are not exactly primed to wake up one hour earlier on Sunday morning in order to attend a meeting that is probably rigged anyway? So, other than the "rigged" part, how do we correct that? Simple! Since it IS the "North Carolina" Open, just prior to the round on Sunday morning, announce to everyone not to start their clocks. Then, the officers will step to the front of the room and conduct the "annual business meeting!" (using the guidelines of parliamentary procedure!) The executive members and various chairmen of committees (if there are any) will be prepared to recite their brief reports. Then, old business, new business and elections. This way, a significant number of members will have the opportunity to participate in the meeting! Furthermore, those who do not wish to participate may leave the room until the round officially begins. (This was the system that I used as President in 1985! The meeting lasted all of 20 minutes. An overwhelming positive response which culminated in a loud round of applause smothered the moans of a few unhappy protesters). The business of the NCCA IS important and a certain amount of "quality time" must be dedicated to it. NM Leland Fuerstman Candidate for NCCA President |