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President’s Message
By Bill Kreysler
Is the Nominating Process to Serve on ACMA’s Board of Directors
Fair?
Andy, our intrepid magazine editor, reminded me once again it’s time
for my column and said, “keep those controversial topics coming.”
Just trying to tell it like it is Andy. I don’t know how controversial
these articles have been, but I do appreciate the feedback I get and thank those
who take the time to drop me an email. I even managed to recruit a couple members
who volunteered to join committees and help out with some important projects.
That’s what it’s all about folks. You either ride the boat and hope
it goes where you want or grab an oar and make sure it gets there. On the way
I guarantee you will discover you are getting more out of the association if
you get involved and help make things happen.
Let’s see, controversy? Ok, how about the nominating committee. I caught
hell two months ago from some members unhappy with how the nominating committee
works. Fair enough, we would like it to work better too. Your nominating committee
works hard to find candidates with little or no help from the membership. We
try and find new names and fresh ideas to bring onto ACMA’s Board of Directors
and committees. We try to avoid bringing back too quickly the same great folks
who have stepped up to the plate in the past. Most of our committees have had
an “unwritten” goal of not re-nominating someone for at least two
years after their term is up.
Our by-laws require a certain ratio of supplier/distributors and manufacturers
serve on the board. This time around we need three manufacturer representatives
and four from the supplier/distributor category. Suppliers and distributors
are usually easier to find. Finding manufacturers willing to make the commitment
is more difficult. It’s expensive and time consuming. ACMA doesn’t
pay a dime towards expenses. All your board members get is one free dinner at
each board meeting. There are three meetings per year: one at the convention;
one in D.C.; and one where the president decides.
So now that you know how lucrative being a board member is, how about nominating
someone? The nominating committee is headed up by our immediate past president,
Richard Morrison this year.
Nominees are submitted to Richard’s committee by filling out a form available
on the website. There is no guarantee this will result in a nomination by the
committee and no particular group or division is “entitled” to a
position on the board. There has been some confusion about that lately. Some
divisions felt they were entitled to put a representative on the board, which
isn’t how it works. Nevertheless, the nominating committee tries hard
to have good representation from all of ACMA’s membership and encourages
divisions to make recommendations to the nominating committee. The form is called
the ACMA 2007 Board of Directors Nomination Form. All nominations are kept in
the strictest confidence. If you have trouble finding a form, email me or contact
the head office, and we’ll fax or mail you one.
So, thanks to those of you who do offer to help and thanks to those of you
willing to serve more than once. And if you don’t think we are doing the
job you would like then by all means let us know. But please understand that
this is no easy task and we seriously consider each and every nomination sent
to us by the membership. Problem is, we typically get very few unsolicited nominations
and with a board of 21 and a term of three years, that always results in too
few candidates. We try not to “recycle” BOD members but sometimes
have little choice.
I encourage you to fill out this form and let us know you want to help or know
someone you think would. There’s a lot to do to help our industry grow
and if we don’t do it I assure you it won’t happen.
Bill Kreysler, CCT, ACMA President
William Kreysler and Associates
707.552.3500; bill@kreysler.com
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