In my opinion all election results must be made in their entirety. This includes AAW BoD elections. In accordance with John's rule I have requested the BoD to either post the the total ballots cast and received by candidate or their reason to not make the results known. My original email to the executive committee and Tom's answer is posted below. I completely disagree with him.If someone wants to run for any office or position they must have a strong enough personality to withstand a loss without being embarrassed.
As a membership we should all know the results. I received a message today from a very pro BoD member that I will not quote but it did allude to one of the candidates receiving a good majority of votes. Was that a lie, guess, wishful thinking or inside information?
Original Email
From: Stuart Johnson
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 11:56 AM
To: jean@woodturner.org; tom@woodturner.org; cassandra@woodturner.org; warren@woodturner.org
Subject: Election Results
I was informed today the election numbers will not be published. In my opinion any election where the total ballots cast and received by nominees will not be released is at best clouded. I am not saying there was any impropriety in the election or the way it was run but I do feel the totals should be made available to the members. If as a board you decide this is not to be please advise your reason.
Stuart Johnson
#22479
Red Oak, Texas
Tom's Reply
On 11/8/2010 2:43 PM, Tom Wirsing wrote:
>
> Hello Stuart,
>
>
>
> Thank you or your email.
>
>
>
> The ballots for board candidates were sent directly to Harrington Langer, Certified Public Accountant, who counted all ballots and tallied the results. We directed Harington Langer not to release any information regarding the balloting to anyone other than the AAW Interim Executive Director. The Board of Directors directed that the votes be tallied by an independent CPA so that there would be no question of interference in the balloting process.
>
>
>
> There were six candidates for the board. One withdrew during the balloting process. In the final analysis three were elected to the board, and two candidates were defeated. One of the defeated candidates ran last year, and ran again this year. The other defeated candidate ran for the first time this year.
>
>
>
> The AAW wishes to encourage any and all qualified candidates to run for the Board of Directors. Releasing the details of balloting results could be embarrassing to some candidates. We have therefore chosen not to release the details of the balloting. We encourage candidates who were not elected this year to consider running again next year, and releasing the details of the balloting might discourage them from running again. By the same token, if candidates for future boards feel they run the risk of being embarrassed, that could discourage well qualified candidates from running. For these reasons we feel it is better not to release the details of the balloting.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Tom
As a membership we should all know the results. I received a message today from a very pro BoD member that I will not quote but it did allude to one of the candidates receiving a good majority of votes. Was that a lie, guess, wishful thinking or inside information?
Original Email
From: Stuart Johnson
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 11:56 AM
To: jean@woodturner.org; tom@woodturner.org; cassandra@woodturner.org; warren@woodturner.org
Subject: Election Results
I was informed today the election numbers will not be published. In my opinion any election where the total ballots cast and received by nominees will not be released is at best clouded. I am not saying there was any impropriety in the election or the way it was run but I do feel the totals should be made available to the members. If as a board you decide this is not to be please advise your reason.
Stuart Johnson
#22479
Red Oak, Texas
Tom's Reply
On 11/8/2010 2:43 PM, Tom Wirsing wrote:
>
> Hello Stuart,
>
>
>
> Thank you or your email.
>
>
>
> The ballots for board candidates were sent directly to Harrington Langer, Certified Public Accountant, who counted all ballots and tallied the results. We directed Harington Langer not to release any information regarding the balloting to anyone other than the AAW Interim Executive Director. The Board of Directors directed that the votes be tallied by an independent CPA so that there would be no question of interference in the balloting process.
>
>
>
> There were six candidates for the board. One withdrew during the balloting process. In the final analysis three were elected to the board, and two candidates were defeated. One of the defeated candidates ran last year, and ran again this year. The other defeated candidate ran for the first time this year.
>
>
>
> The AAW wishes to encourage any and all qualified candidates to run for the Board of Directors. Releasing the details of balloting results could be embarrassing to some candidates. We have therefore chosen not to release the details of the balloting. We encourage candidates who were not elected this year to consider running again next year, and releasing the details of the balloting might discourage them from running again. By the same token, if candidates for future boards feel they run the risk of being embarrassed, that could discourage well qualified candidates from running. For these reasons we feel it is better not to release the details of the balloting.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Tom