Re: GWA electronic ballot

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

Your situation is exactly why we started the regional meetings in the  
80's.  The idea however was for the regional meetings to move around  
so people in the boonies would have a shot at least one meeting a  
year.  Region II has three or four meetings a year, but then they  
don't live in Detroit.

When Jeff Lowenfels and I ran for the board we were vociferous about  
our plantform - more parties!!!

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 8, 2007, at 2:01 PM, Cottage Garden wrote:

I don't think you are "supposed" to be voting outside your own  
region. The instructions with the email introducing the electronic  
ballot clearly say you will be voting directors in your own region  
only, plus the national directors.

   I think the electronic ballot is a good thing. Brings GWA into the  
21st century.

   I wish the candidates or those willing to serve should campaign a  
bit more than they seem to do. I am not comfortable voting for or  
against folks I have never met and have never heard from and have no  
idea what their goals for the organization might be. (I might be  
familiar with some of their published work, but in most cases that is  
about it.) If I have no informed opinion, then I don't vote.

   Maybe I should reach out to the candidates and ask them, but gee  
whiz couldn't they at least all send around a group email with a few  
statements in it?

   Sure maybe in the good ole days everyone knew everyone but that is  
not true now. The group has expanded to welcome people beyond just  
individual garden writers. So we have an even wider range of  
different "agendas" and 'interests" and "needs" than ever before.

   The regions are huge -- for example as a new resident to  
California I have only been able to attend one meeting in two years.  
To make that happen, I drove six hours each way and introduced myself  
to two local "officials" who were understandably too busy running the  
meeting to talk. Do I have a feel for their aims for the organization  
based on that? Not really.

   Maybe I am alone in feeling disconnected. Maybe I need to step up  
and make more effort. Maybe I am expecting too much. Or, maybe GWA  
doesn't offer me that much in return? Maybe I am just grumpy today.  
Dunno.

Barbara Martin
   FLOWER GARDENS
http://flowergardens.suite101.com/
Member, Garden Writers Association

---------------------------------
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!
Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at  
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For GWL website and Wiki, go to
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