Squelch Democracy Before It Happens
Not allowed to contact other delegates, members don't know who their delegates even are until seven months after elections, extra delegates added at last minute, debate suppressed, voting suppressed. We got it all!
Delegates request that the council office provide them with a complete list of delegate contact information so that all the delegates can be included. The office refuses, citing “privacy regulations”. Delegates request that the office follow up with each of the unlisted delegates to find a way to facilitate communication. This is also refused.
Many of the delegates elected in February and March have not yet been assigned to specific areas, so even their constituents are unable to contact them because they do not know who their delegates are.
Special meeting and GSNEO Annual meeting
Board Chair Dan Bragg says each speaker will be allowed ONE minute at the microphone. Delegate Roberta Riordan raises a point of order, and reads from Robert's Rules that ten minutes is accepted practice. The point is left unclear and Corey Ringle tries to hurry through her presentation to get the major points in under a minute.
Each time there is debate, Dan Bragg announces a one minute limit and Roberta Riordan raises a point of order to correct him.
How to really impair the democratic process: don't let the delegates vote!
Voting for “at large “ board members- there are 8 vacancies on the board. But the board chair says the assembly can only vote on 5. Three vacancies must remain vacant. The board development committee chair, Katerina Papas, says that that the bylaws allow her committee to determine the number of board members. Delegate Barbara Parkinson reads from the bylaws that there must be between 15 and 20 board members. There is nothing about the BDC setting limits within that.
The BDC has proposed a slate which will bring the board to 17, which leaves 3 additional vacancies.
There is a standoff between Barbara Parkinson & Katarina Papas, each reiterating their points. The GSNEO lawyer intervenes in favor of a limited election.
The assembly must vote for only five candidates instead of the eight they are entitled to. 5 candidates must be elected on a single round where EACH has a majority of votes. It takes several rounds of voting which stretches into additional hours - and several people need to leave. In the end, the composition of the board and BDC are selected by the few able to remain.
- April - June 2011
Delegates request that the council office provide them with a complete list of delegate contact information so that all the delegates can be included. The office refuses, citing “privacy regulations”. Delegates request that the office follow up with each of the unlisted delegates to find a way to facilitate communication. This is also refused.
Many of the delegates elected in February and March have not yet been assigned to specific areas, so even their constituents are unable to contact them because they do not know who their delegates are.
- October 21 , 2011
- Oct 25-28
- October 28
- Oct 29, 2011
Special meeting and GSNEO Annual meeting
Board Chair Dan Bragg says each speaker will be allowed ONE minute at the microphone. Delegate Roberta Riordan raises a point of order, and reads from Robert's Rules that ten minutes is accepted practice. The point is left unclear and Corey Ringle tries to hurry through her presentation to get the major points in under a minute.
Each time there is debate, Dan Bragg announces a one minute limit and Roberta Riordan raises a point of order to correct him.
How to really impair the democratic process: don't let the delegates vote!
Voting for “at large “ board members- there are 8 vacancies on the board. But the board chair says the assembly can only vote on 5. Three vacancies must remain vacant. The board development committee chair, Katerina Papas, says that that the bylaws allow her committee to determine the number of board members. Delegate Barbara Parkinson reads from the bylaws that there must be between 15 and 20 board members. There is nothing about the BDC setting limits within that.
The BDC has proposed a slate which will bring the board to 17, which leaves 3 additional vacancies.
There is a standoff between Barbara Parkinson & Katarina Papas, each reiterating their points. The GSNEO lawyer intervenes in favor of a limited election.
The assembly must vote for only five candidates instead of the eight they are entitled to. 5 candidates must be elected on a single round where EACH has a majority of votes. It takes several rounds of voting which stretches into additional hours - and several people need to leave. In the end, the composition of the board and BDC are selected by the few able to remain.
