Email has requested my comments on the ballot motions for the Bylaws. These are the ones that all members can cast a vote.
Bylaw-M1: This is to split the State of Florida out of Region 3 into a new Region 7. The number of members in many classes is very high in Florida and show they can stand above other Regions alone.
There is a long history here. In the last election two motions were made for this and it was rejected by the Board of Directors who must approve ballot matters of reapportionment. One was by a Florida member and one by Mr. Davis, Model Yachting Managing Editor. Neither saw the light of day.
This time the motion was reintroduced to the Board by the Region 3 Director, Jack Wubbe, and was accepted by a large vote. My recommendation is to vote Yes for the Bylaw change. Mr. Davis, in his column in the latest magazine, presents another view of the reapportionment and asked that you reject the Board's approval and vote No. This proposal is not filed and not been heard before the Board. While it may have merit this coming year it must be filed and approved by the Board to be on the 2011 ballot. It is my feeling to get the matter into operation and not delay yet another year for this proper representation change. Once there it can be reviewed as thought needed.
Bylaw-M2: This is a matter of the Class Owner Association (COA) administrative head for these class managements. There are four of them in the AMYA and they have a different way of selecting their leadership and the duration than does the AMYA. The AMYA wishes to have that management position filled by a Class Secretary, as an AMYA officer, and place the position under the same election process and duration as the AMYA. There is little information for this need. All the COA's are against it. Follow your heart with whatever you know.
Bylaw-M3: This is to add a Grandfather clause to the Bylaws for all classes to perpetually make legal all boats that have been approved by the Class in its history. We have a similar clause in the EC12 Rules and Specifications. It is good things to have should a rogue administration descend upon a Class with its own purposes. I recommend a Yes vote.
You did not ask but David Brawner for President. Above all my friends, it is important to the Class and the health of the AMYA that you vote. Traditionally, less than one third of the Class votes in the annual election. Please help yourself and us in this needed input.
