Notes From C66 Recall Meeting
 

Maybe 100-200 people in attendance.

Both sides had people coordinating proxies.

The venue was perfect. For a murder. Expensive, yet strangely loud. No microphone or speakers. The back half of the room couldn’t hear. Registration was behind even those unfortunate souls, so registering meant you were out for 30+ minutes. Everyone registered, of course. I was only in line about 30 minutes before the meeting start time, so no opening remarks for me.

I think the people that were actually in line about 45 minutes before the meeting were close enough to hear AND had the opportunity to attend the entire meeting. Everyone else was SOL.

A few guys got to make heartfelt statements on both sides.

I eventually got close enough to hear Marino speak. Two guys actually conducted themselves with dignity, and showed leadership: Hazleton and Marino. Hazleton tried to mediate between the Chairman and Marino, and tried to help turn the zoo into an orderly process. The Chairman tried several ways to get to a vote in a hurry, and begged for a resolution to close debate. He got one, but it couldn’t get 2/3 majority, so we wasted debate time debating closing the debate. Yes: really.

There was a counter-resolution by a former F/O rep to essentially nullify the initial resolution, and say Marino is a swell guy.

Neither resolution helped advancing matters. There was some embarrassing master-debating on Robert’s rules of order, which was futile and mildly sickening. This was a shame, because the only thing that was done right about the process and venue was the food. It was very tasty.

A few more guys got to make heartfelt statements, which were exciting enough for the rows that could hear. If the back of the room wanted to be involved, they should have been first in line, so screw them. So, the thing just sort of petered out, as we focused on hors-d'oeuvres.

I saw two guys from the CPO, and they said nothing as far as I could tell beyond “hello” and “how are you?”. They didn’t look any more or less embarrassed by the whole process than the rest of us.

I think the vote came out:
150-124 in favor of holding an electronic recall vote and
-$3,000 to $4,000 against C66 funds to create a perfect replica of a Chinese courthouse, their justice system, and respect for due process. On the other hand, they had some very tasty spring rolls, with that sweet-and-sour red sauce. De-li-cious!

Did you witness Tibs and some other guy with a printer assigning previously unassigned proxies to individuals who showed up ready to vote in favor of the resolution?

Here's an idea RMMD. Let's vote electronically, to vote electronically, for recall? That way, I don't have to listen to you and the other Dbags argue over an outdated system of voting that doesn't allow all that pay dues and are in good standing to participate in the process. What say you? Not willing to let everyone have a say in their union?

SinkL8 might just as well be describing a school board meeting or Congressional session. Show me a tidy democracy...and I'll show you North Korea.

He has really come unglued since NA15 bit the big one. The mask has been torn off his "neutral" demeanor. He is angry about and dismissive of the majority's wishes; he is a Mullis-faction Moak man through and through. .

Red herring.

So in other words using perfectly legit means to ensure voters didn't get disenfranchised. Let's face it, the way it stands now the system is designed to make participation a total hassle, like C44 holding the vote on the Friday before Labor Day.The only reason you're upset is they didn't vote the way you wanted.

Our system guarantees only half at most will ever attend a meeting. The other half is working unless on FPL.

I didn't go look at the proxies, but if someone wanted to offer their vote spontaneously, that's up to them. You have to give him points for being organized. Where they ran into trouble was trying to stop the debate and force a vote, and that's when the motion and counter-motion started. It wasn't very impressive, for the people that were close enough to hear.

The Chairman would have been a lot smarter trying to solicit speakers, and letting this thing end itself, than by trying to get to a vote fast, fast, fast. As bad as a meeting was, it would have turned into a riot if the Vice-Chair hadn't shown helped him worked through it.

You're absolutely right. I was using China as an image, but North Korea is more fitting.

As far as the rest of your post, I've been an observer an a critic for over fifteen years. When the issue of the day was Moak overstaying his welcome, I wrote about that. When the issue of the day was poor communications by the pre-merger DAL side, I wrote about that. When the biggest threat to the Delta pilots became an MEC that under-delivers because it's mired in political struggles, I focused on that. When the issue of the day becomes shoddy executions, I write about that. Whatever is the biggest impedence to our success, I'll focus on it.

As far as the TA, it was the first time I took a position on an issue as a volunteer, and I disclosed both the start, and end of my volunteering. I disclosed how I voted, and why. I couldn't pay one mortgage payment with my lifetime FPL earnings. I have more friends among Moakies than non-Moakies, and while they will remain friends, I have no interest in them costing my family money, so the best governance, and best outcomes, are what I care about. I have no position riding on the outcome of votes, no favors begging for reimbursement. I'm just a guy who watches, votes, and writes. So I sleep with a clear conscience, and I write with a clear conscience, about the issues I see.

When you start discussing issues, let me know, and I'll stop ignoring you.

I heard over two dozen voters who were registered in person or by proxy never voted - meaning they had to leave before they could vote. They asked who was undecided and some of the P2P guys who are adamant supporters of the incumbent raised their hands. One of the more comical moments. No one walked into the meeting undecided. 20 + disenfranchised voters was the only outcome of the refusals to allow the vote and the attempt to amend the resolution.