ABATE details
Its been such a crazy week. Which isn't surprising given the craziness of the weekend before it.
So the ABATE details... The election was pretty much a formality. Not because I am so super great, but because the 51 year old man I was running against decided to act like a teenage girl. I swear I do not understand people who pull this kind of shit. He was the president for this current year and has "quit" the position at least 3 times during the year. Naturally, he always came back when someone "begged" him not to quit. He announced at the October meeting that he didn't plan to run for president in 2008. No one was surprised and was part of what prompted me to go ahead and run.
Then the November meeting rolls around... before the meeting he asks me if we are "going to butt heads". I say of course not, not entirely getting where he was going with it, but meaning it. So we get into elections and surprise, he accepts a nomination. But no worries. An election is good for the group. Having two candidates for the position is great. I wish him luck and proceed as normal. (Well normal for me. lol...) I have a million things to do in November and don't give it much thought. When I get back from Vegas, I hear the first of the rumors. Ed's trying to have me disqualified from the election because I don't own a motorcycle. Lovely. I point the person to the Constitution and blow it off. (There is one qualification for president, be a card carrying up to date member in good standing of ABATE. TO be a member? Motorcyclist or motorcycle enthusiast.)
I get a couple of emails while I am at the RG that pretty much let me know he is still pushing the not qualified angle but that he is also telling people that a female president would turn the group into a Tea Club. What the Hell? I run for President and suddenly become a girly - girl? I handled the situation by quoting the constitution to those who come to me about the rumors and basically ignoring the childishness. Up until the board meeting, I was pretty amused by the whole deal... and then at the board meeting that we use to plan out the agenda for the general meeting, it became clear how wrapped up in it he was. He pouted the entire meeting. Would not speak directly to me, unless I asked him a question in the group itself. He would not lead the meeting, like he was supposed to, leaving it to me to do. As the meeting is breaking up, he pulls one of the board members aside and to "show him his new truck" and again tried to convince him that I couldn't run, blah blah blah...
So the president leaves... without saying goodbye to any of the people there, just leaves. The member he was talking to comes back in and tells us what he was saying. I just shook my head and showed the the actual freakin constitution. I told them that while I wanted to win, that I thought I would make a good President and had been essentially running it for the last 2 years, I wasn't going to play games. His point was weak to begin with since I do have my motorcycle endorsement on my license and have access to a motorcycle... but I refuse to play his game. Its pretty clear from the tone of the conversation that the Pres has sealed his own fate at this point.
And then his father dies on Friday. The man has been very sick for a long time, so we knew it was going to happen. B.E. is understandably upset and tied up with family duties. He can't make it to the meeting because the funeral will be held in Mississippi. All understandable... but its clear in the constitution that you must be present at the December meeting to be on the ballot. My election by acclamation should have been automatic. I didn't want to win that way, but as an officer on the board, its my job to follow the rules of the club, right? Well my former step mother who is a long time member and a royal pain in the butt, stands up at we begin the election process and makes a plea to hold the election till Ed can be there. Well, everyone is sitting on their hands not wanting to say anything... Other than M. who tells her she's full of it, that we have to hold elections in December or the newly elected Vice President will automatically become President. So her boyfriend makes a unclear speech about how we are doing a disservice to a man who has just lost his (step) father and how he's been a member for years and blah blah blah.
During all this, I've been pretty quiet. Trying to see how the group was taking it. When R. relinquished the floor, I offer them a option. If someone will stand B.E.'s proxy, we can hold the vote as if he is here. But, I won't do it unless the group is behind the choice, since its clearly against the written rules. I was willing to make an exception due to the circumstances, but not without a clear majority support. The group agrees after I have to make them raise their hands elementary kids. R. offers to stand as B.E.'s proxy. The vote is cast and while the vote for secretary is takes place, StepMother asks me to have the debate planned by myself. Mind you they have already placed their votes, so nothing is going to change... But sure, I answer her questions and use it as an opportunity to discuss some of the changes I want to see made.
We take a break while the votes are tallied and then are called back to order. In what I find out later to be a landslide, I win the election. What a mess! The rest of the meeting was very positive. They learned quickly not to sit their silently, because I will volunteer them if they won't volunteer themselves. And if no one is offering opinions when needed, I will call on them by name. Quite a wakeup call for them. But there was a new energy in the group and by the end people were talking and having opinions. Imagine that?!
So that is how I became President of ABATE 20. Snort... Don't you just love the fact that motorcycle groups, pta organizations, books circles and the playground all end up being so much alike? bah.
I am happy to be president, don't get me wrong. But I was really hoping it wouldn't be through a situation like this. Oh well... guess it doesn't matter how, just what I do with it.
Anyone want tea? lol...
So the ABATE details... The election was pretty much a formality. Not because I am so super great, but because the 51 year old man I was running against decided to act like a teenage girl. I swear I do not understand people who pull this kind of shit. He was the president for this current year and has "quit" the position at least 3 times during the year. Naturally, he always came back when someone "begged" him not to quit. He announced at the October meeting that he didn't plan to run for president in 2008. No one was surprised and was part of what prompted me to go ahead and run.
Then the November meeting rolls around... before the meeting he asks me if we are "going to butt heads". I say of course not, not entirely getting where he was going with it, but meaning it. So we get into elections and surprise, he accepts a nomination. But no worries. An election is good for the group. Having two candidates for the position is great. I wish him luck and proceed as normal. (Well normal for me. lol...) I have a million things to do in November and don't give it much thought. When I get back from Vegas, I hear the first of the rumors. Ed's trying to have me disqualified from the election because I don't own a motorcycle. Lovely. I point the person to the Constitution and blow it off. (There is one qualification for president, be a card carrying up to date member in good standing of ABATE. TO be a member? Motorcyclist or motorcycle enthusiast.)
I get a couple of emails while I am at the RG that pretty much let me know he is still pushing the not qualified angle but that he is also telling people that a female president would turn the group into a Tea Club. What the Hell? I run for President and suddenly become a girly - girl? I handled the situation by quoting the constitution to those who come to me about the rumors and basically ignoring the childishness. Up until the board meeting, I was pretty amused by the whole deal... and then at the board meeting that we use to plan out the agenda for the general meeting, it became clear how wrapped up in it he was. He pouted the entire meeting. Would not speak directly to me, unless I asked him a question in the group itself. He would not lead the meeting, like he was supposed to, leaving it to me to do. As the meeting is breaking up, he pulls one of the board members aside and to "show him his new truck" and again tried to convince him that I couldn't run, blah blah blah...
So the president leaves... without saying goodbye to any of the people there, just leaves. The member he was talking to comes back in and tells us what he was saying. I just shook my head and showed the the actual freakin constitution. I told them that while I wanted to win, that I thought I would make a good President and had been essentially running it for the last 2 years, I wasn't going to play games. His point was weak to begin with since I do have my motorcycle endorsement on my license and have access to a motorcycle... but I refuse to play his game. Its pretty clear from the tone of the conversation that the Pres has sealed his own fate at this point.
And then his father dies on Friday. The man has been very sick for a long time, so we knew it was going to happen. B.E. is understandably upset and tied up with family duties. He can't make it to the meeting because the funeral will be held in Mississippi. All understandable... but its clear in the constitution that you must be present at the December meeting to be on the ballot. My election by acclamation should have been automatic. I didn't want to win that way, but as an officer on the board, its my job to follow the rules of the club, right? Well my former step mother who is a long time member and a royal pain in the butt, stands up at we begin the election process and makes a plea to hold the election till Ed can be there. Well, everyone is sitting on their hands not wanting to say anything... Other than M. who tells her she's full of it, that we have to hold elections in December or the newly elected Vice President will automatically become President. So her boyfriend makes a unclear speech about how we are doing a disservice to a man who has just lost his (step) father and how he's been a member for years and blah blah blah.
During all this, I've been pretty quiet. Trying to see how the group was taking it. When R. relinquished the floor, I offer them a option. If someone will stand B.E.'s proxy, we can hold the vote as if he is here. But, I won't do it unless the group is behind the choice, since its clearly against the written rules. I was willing to make an exception due to the circumstances, but not without a clear majority support. The group agrees after I have to make them raise their hands elementary kids. R. offers to stand as B.E.'s proxy. The vote is cast and while the vote for secretary is takes place, StepMother asks me to have the debate planned by myself. Mind you they have already placed their votes, so nothing is going to change... But sure, I answer her questions and use it as an opportunity to discuss some of the changes I want to see made.
We take a break while the votes are tallied and then are called back to order. In what I find out later to be a landslide, I win the election. What a mess! The rest of the meeting was very positive. They learned quickly not to sit their silently, because I will volunteer them if they won't volunteer themselves. And if no one is offering opinions when needed, I will call on them by name. Quite a wakeup call for them. But there was a new energy in the group and by the end people were talking and having opinions. Imagine that?!
So that is how I became President of ABATE 20. Snort... Don't you just love the fact that motorcycle groups, pta organizations, books circles and the playground all end up being so much alike? bah.
I am happy to be president, don't get me wrong. But I was really hoping it wouldn't be through a situation like this. Oh well... guess it doesn't matter how, just what I do with it.
Anyone want tea? lol...