Posted: 7/12/2008 11:51:39 AM EDT
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I have read the new post by W-G about the problems we are dealing with regarding the slate of candidates. It was actually with reservations that I allowed my name on the original vote. I was honored to be chosen by several hundred AR15.com members, along with Bama. W-G and I had several IM conversations about opening up the slate to include several more candidates. We were not in agreement, but he proceeded to post that "the committee has decided to add ALL the remaining candidates to our effort". I was forced to publicly reply, even though I did not want to discuss and argue in public. I felt that we should actually be in agreement before posting about it. My only concern was that there was a vote. The results were not in question. Some folks decided to change the slate of candidates without another vote. I felt (and still do) that such an action was unethical. I was disappointed to see that some felt that I was responsible for dragging out this dirty laundry into public. That was not what I wanted. I was not the one that took it out of IMs. I still believe this course of action is a mistake. However, just to make sure that no one mistakenly thinks that I believe this is about "me", I am withdrawing my name from the slate of candidates. I apologise to those that voted for me and hope that you will understand. Good luck to those in the running. |
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OP, based on conversations i've had with you in the past, i belive you would be the best person to represent us in the NRA. I voted for your nomination because of this. obviously, you are under no obligation to continue, however i feel it would be a disservice to the members of this forum if you were to withdraw. |
Once the new information was in hand, the concept of adding names was presented to every committee member. Everybody thought it was a good idea. Including you. You were the only one who wanted another vote. The only one. I still have your IMs. 'Bama asked me if we should have another vote, but never stipulated he wanted one.
You most certainly took it public and in the process tried to assassinate my character. The guys who volunteered to do all the work on the part of this effort didn't share your opinion on another vote. Because of that, you attempted to smear me personally. |
I take you two guys as honorable, well intentioned men. But dear God. Please try and work this out offline rather than doing it on here. Put the goals that led you to seek (or accept) a nomination to run ahead off all this and come back with this settled. This divisiveness serves no one and certainly not the cause. Please work it out offline and come back and post a joint post about what you've decide to do. |
Agreed. Please reconsider. |
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O_P, I understand your reservations, and I respect your desire to be above-board with all your / our decisions in regards to our decision to put members on the BoD. I agree with your sentiment that backroom deals and mid-stream swaps are generally a bad idea. in this situation it seems that presenting more than two does not cost us votes and actually gives us a chance to increase our membership on the BoD. I only volunteered on a "Stand-By" basis in case one of you primary candidates withdrew or couldn't serve. I am also a little dismayed if the pool is truly expanded to 5 (or potentially more) as it will be a serious impact on my time and family life. However I understand the idea that the more black rifle owners we have on the Board, the better off we are. You and Bama are clearly the favorites from the AR15.Com populace to represent us with the NRA. For you to withdraw will disappoint lots of members both here and within the NRA in general. members who aren't even aware of you and yet who you will represent. Please reconsider your withdrawal, we NEED people like you to represent us within the NRA. The board process itself is going to be very political and will suffer fights and distractions like this all the time. Please view this as one small negotiation in the long fight to restore our rights. Thanks Old Painless, I respect both you and Wobblin Gobblin, and while there is some disagreement on how we get there for now, we are all working for the same goal, and we need every person we can get to achieve our goals. matt CrashBurnRepeat |
Way to go ARFCOM! This is a freaking disgrace.  Bama and OP, I'm sorry to see you guys withdraw. Perhaps there will be a resolution down the line that would allow you to reconsider. By no means should you feel the need to represent ARFCOM, but 'black rifle' owners as a whole. Maybe there's a way for you guys to continue without putting up with the ARFCOM BS. ETA: Somebody needs to fix this problem and do so quickly. This is a public forum and this doesn't bode well for ARFCOM, the largest online firearms community in the world. It makes ARFCOM look like a bunch of immature, disorganized misfits. When 2 of the most respectable people on here want nothing to do with this process anymore, it really says a lot. |
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As I understand from voting this past year, the NRA BOD vote is conducted by a ballot that lists many names. We pick from among the names and leave the names we do not want to elect, blank. Would more names possibly give us a better chance? This entire mess looks to be a bunch of ego, mixed with a couple of hurt feelers and add a BIT more ego. This really looked promising.... Instead, we end up with guys like Joaquin Jackson, who wins because he's a big shot, Texas Ranger, despite spitting on all of us. If this was all it took to be pressed into quitting, it sounds like the quitters were never very serious in the first place. Better now than later, I guess. |
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We are trudging on. The train is back on track. What is life without a little spice and fireworks? As to your ballot question: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=156&t=729873 Article VIII Section 2 (e) At least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting of Members, the Secretary shall mail a printed ballot to each member entitled to vote as provided in Article III, Section 6(e)(1), directed to his last address on record with Secretary; provided, however, that to receive said ballot a properly completed full paid application for lifetime membership must have been received by the Secretary on or before the fiftieth (50th) day prior to the Annual Meeting of Members, or an annual member must have five or more years of consecutive membership, as shown in the Association's membership records, on the fiftieth (50th) day prior to the date of the Annual Meeting at which the election of directors is announced. The ballot shall list thereon as candidates the names, city, and state of principal residence of all nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee, as well as the name, city and state of principal residence of those nominated by the petition process pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof. The order of the names on the ballot shall be rotated as determined by the Committee on Elections. The ballot shall provide blank spaces for "write-in" candidates equal in number to the vacancies to be filled. A return envelope with means for authentication, including a place for signature and address of the member, shall be enclosed with each ballot. The final date on or before which the ballot must be received by the Association in order for it to be counted shall be shown clearly on the face of the ballot. |