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I just received my Mustang Times and was looking over the Bios for the up coming elections. One question I would like to ask these candidates is their position on the 50th Anniversary Shows and Changes in the rules that require membership to be in a judged class. If they are on this forum that is and I hope they are...
These 2 very important subjects will determine who i vote for and actually continue to see which way the MCA is heading in 2013...
Dave J
I just completed my MCA ballot.
I ONLY VOTED FOR NEW CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD, with the exception of Jane Crowden, who is a relative of Ron Bramlett and because of that connection, does not get my vote. I also added a note to my ballot why I only voted for these 7 people.
The new candidates that received my vote this year are Hugh Barber, Don Blackstock, Patsy Brown, Harry Campbell, Horrace Collums, Mark Cordery and Warren Martin.
We have no way of knowing who is a favor or against the two show idea because no candidate addressed that issue. Do you think that was by design?
I don't expect that this act, in itself, will change anything, but hopefully, if enough members do it, we will send the message that we do not approve of the BOD actions concerning the 50th.
I note that the ballots go to a central processing address and not directly to the MCA, so I have some question that they will indeed see my protest. but one must try.
Thanks for that info Doug, I didnt know that about the new candidates or the whereabouts of the cards received...
I just hope they really see whats the cards that come in...
As a "new" candidate for the board, I don't know if it's considered proper to use the MCA forums for BOD election related activities. Also, you only have 300 words for your Mustang Times bio/statement, so it's hard to say everything that one might want to say. That said, if you PM me or email me at hugh@vintageprep.com, I'll be happy to answer any questions that any member has regarding my position on anything MCA.
Hugh Barber
Secretary/Webmaster
National Capital Region Mustang Club
How much input do you think the elected directors will have on deciding the 50th show? If they all voted against it, it will still happen because of the plans and contracts that are under way. I respect the point you are trying to make, but you method is flawed. The board can lose some very dedicated and talented people this way.
My main point is that the membership was not consulted on 2 very important issues, at least they are important to me. No one finds out about things until after they are voted on.
The 50th Shows:
The MCA decided to do this without one ounce of input form the membership, If they are not representing me with my dues, then I have every right to not vote for them. It would be very different if it was discussed and then a census but thats not what happened.
I see your point, if they already put pen to paper and its a done deal then so beit, but thats not the direction I believe the club should be going. Get in touch with the membership, the entire membership and not just a circle of friends on the BOD. It would have been nice to have at least a little input into one of the biggest events in the history of the MCA and if that is the way they intend on representing me, Great Just Great... How do they know without asking the questions.
If the BOD's feel that being voted in gives them the power to vote and change rules and events inside closed doors and then the membership is notified, to me thats a terrible way to run things. So I will vote and if that means a change hear and there then ok.
The MCA has an awesome monthly magazine and it would be very easy to put agendas and topics of discussions of upcoming meetings in the Times. There are many members that cannot be a Board member but they have good ideas and concerns and should have a voice... Thats Heard....
In the hopes of putting some of these unhappy feelings to bed, I will do something that is not typical of me; I will respond to this thread. Not because of the negative feelings shown towards me. I fully understand that we can't make everybody happy with the 50th. I will respond because it is unfair for so many people to be blamed for something they have had absolutely nothing to do with. I'm talking about the current MCA National Board of Directors who had absolutely nothing to do with the decision to hold two 50th Celebrations instead of just one. There was no BOD vote on whether to hold one or two shows, where to hold them or when to hold them. Period. So, if you hold any of the current National Directors responsible and withhold your vote for them based on this one subject, you have done them an injustice.
It has never been, to the best of my knowledge, voted on by the BOD as to when or where any Mustang or MCA Anniversary Show or shows are going to be held. The best way I can describe the process is that the person chairing the show, and a few other people who dedicate their time and energy to a show committee, look at the available information and work to come to a consencises. (I was a part of the committee for the 45th under Steve McCarley in 2008 and decided that I wanted to work on the 50th.) Discussions take place, everything possible is looked at and considered and after several months, a decision is made within the 50th committee, not by the BOD. Yes, some of these 50th committee members are BOD members, but the BOD as a whole does not, and did not, have a vote. There was no list of places to consider and vote on for the show location. In fact, there are very few things concerning the anniversary shows that the BOD, as a whole, is involved in. Anniversary show decisions are made mostly by committees comprised of Mustang enthusiasts, representives of Mustang related businesses, MCA members, MCA Regional Clubs and their members and some, but not all, MCA BOD members. The process is not run by the BOD which several uninformed people keep bringing up and trying to hold responsible.
I want everyone who reads this to know that the decision to hold two Mustang 50th Birthday Celebrations was not made lightly. Most of us, including me, would have loved to have seen one show as opposed to the two. But after talking to hundreds of enthusiasts, Mustang related businesses and Mustang clubs and their members for almost an entire year, it became all too apparent that a show of this importance could not be held in just one location. Businesses that wanted to be involved, many of them small, could not travel from one coast to the other to be a part of the 50th. The same can be said for thousands of Mustang enthusiasts and Mustang clubs world wide. What every one of these people and organizations said that they wanted was for the most people, businesses, clubs and organizations to be able to come celebrate the 50th as possible. Not one of them said that they wanted the 50th to be the biggest celebration possible, even if they could not attend. They were perfectly willing to "share" the 50th as long as they had a place to come and celebrate with other enthusiasts. So, in the interest of making the 50th accessable to thousands of more Mustang enthusiasts, businesses and clubs, the few of us who had to make that decision, did.
For those of you who must continue to voice negative feelings and make negative comments about the 50th, I will take all of the heat you can dish out for that decision. It's all my fault. Blame me. I was the head of those few people. But understand. You are not doing anything constructive for the MCA or the 50th. To not vote for BOD members who had nothing to do with the decision is just simply not right. It's especially not right to hold it against my mother in law, Jane Crowden, simply because she is my relative. She's not even a BOD member.
If you really have the best interest of the MCA and the Mustang 50th at heart, stop riding a dead horse and do what you can to help your friends, family and other club members get as much enjoyment out of the upcoming celebrations as possible. All of you are welcome to put Pony Drives together to go to Mustang, Oklahoma the weekend before and then on to either Las Vegas or Charlotte. It's your choice. We, the 50th committee, will help in any way we can to make it a success. Remember, we're all Mustang enthusiasts first and for that reason we should all work together.
Lastly, if you don't beleive that the MCA is being run the right way, please come and run for the BOD yourself next year. June is the month that you'll need to make that decision. Early in July is the deadline to get your Biography into Mary Jean.
Ron Bramlett
Executive Director
Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration
Only 3 posts Ron and you said quoted " I will do something that is not typical of me; I will respond to this thread." Why aren't there more BOD's on this forum?
Seriously, this could be a great way to communicate with the membership quickly.
I appreciate the time that you spent responding to this thread and the time and money you spend on being on the board. I truly mean that, it takes alot of time to commit to clubs especially on a national level.
"But after talking to hundreds of enthusiasts, Mustang related businesses and Mustang clubs and their members for almost an entire year,"
Ok then why not put a feeler out in the Times or post something up on the forum and ask for membership input???
Tell the membership whats going on in stead of keeping them in the dark. You might be surprised, at what you might find hidden amongst the many members.
I'm writing this a we just returned home from the Route 66 Car Show in Flagstaff, FANTASTIC SHOW! 450+ Cars and trucks, 80ish of them Stangs, thats a great ratio!
I only found 2 MCA Members one was me.......
Its kind of sad...
Excellent response Ron! Let's put this issue to rest and get on with the 50th planning.
Deleted, no point.. Nuff said..