Re: 2007 GWA elections go live

**"* M* <c*@ns.sympatico.ca>**

Jeff said: "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."

Consider it done!
Thanks to Donna for raising the issue.

Cheers
Carol

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jeff Ball 
  To: donna@icangarden.com ; Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:46 AM
  Subject: Re: [GWL] 2007 GWA elections go live

  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
  http://www.gardeningtours.com
  See our 2007 Garden Tours - London Chelsea, Tuscany/Coté d'Azur

  -----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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