Re: 2007 GWA elections go live

**J* B* <j*@usol.com>**

Interesting discussion.  I was a board member when the regional  
director vs. national director was invented.  My memory is as noted  
already - national directors affect all of us so we should all have a  
vote.  I think what is different now then during that time (mid-80's)  
is that most of the active members personally knew almost everyone  
who was running for national director.  We knew enough to make a  
distinction and to vote for our bias.  Now it appears we are so  
large, most of us don't know the rest of us.  Another difference is  
that back in the prehistoric 80's we were small enough to have  
committee chairpersons make their own reports at national meetings.   
Members got to know who the active folks were that volunteered for  
those nasty jobs as committee chairperson, giving them more info  
against which to make a voting decision.  My sense now is that if we  
can all vote for the national candidates, the only votes outside the  
region are likely to be negative rather than positive.  I suggest a  
national board member on this list take the issue to the by-laws  
committee; at least it deserves a new look see.

Jeff Ball
jeffball@usol.com
810-724-8581
Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com

On Aug 6, 2007, at 5:51 PM, Donna Dawson wrote:

I can understand the fact that the nationals have influence at board  
level,
but I cannot understand how we can presume to know who would do the  
best job
in another region especially at that level, and just looking at what  
their
bio says and reading about them in the membership book is not enough
information, in my humble opinion to base a vote on.

Imagine if we could vote for senators, congressman, mp's etc from other
geographic areas.  How could I presume to know what is best in  
another area
that I know so little about...Three years is a long time in the life  
of a
region and the national vote should be based on past performance as a
regional director if you ask me..

Donna Dawson, Master Gardener

Director Region 7 Garden Writers Association
Affiliate Member Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors
Member North American Travel Journalists Association
Member Royal Horticultural Society
http://www.ICanGarden.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Carol  
Matthews
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 3:41 PM
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
Subject: Re: [GWL] 2007 GWA elections go live

     Good question Donna. I can only surmise it is because National  
Directors
have an influence over the whole membership at the board of directors  
level,
while Regional Directors affect one specific region.
     Does anybody else have any suggestions?
     As a member I have voted for National Directors in other regions.
Usually I compare their information, look them up in the directory and
choose based on that.
     I really like the idea of electronic voting, I'm sure it will  
result in
a higher participation from members, at least I hope so.
Carol Matthews
Truro, NS
Region VII National Director

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