SPAR General Membership Meeting with Q&A Session.

[zoo]

Please have a list of the folks who are unable to attend, but wanted to, available for SPAR to follow up with (with contact info). Or have them contact SPAR through the email sparoffice@sparcouncil.org, so the org can follow up with them.

I believe the biggest issue right now is "majority". As I've referenced before in earlier posts on the SPAR Revolt thread, the only way majority will be known is to take a tally, which hasn't been done.

As I asked in the very first meeting at 3 Layers, if the Strider/Sheclown/JBM group gets a chance for representation, and discovers their opinions are not the majority (candidates don't get elected, or once elected, are out-voted on the board), will the group be satisfied? All answered "Yes", but I suspect it will just lead to more nonsense about conspiracy. Or maybe more insults toward supportive SPAR members or those on the board who are just a bunch of mindless, manipulated fools.

A loud and persistent voice does not a majority make.

[strider]

Please have a list of the folks who are unable to attend, but wanted to, available for SPAR to follow up with (with contact info). Or have them contact SPAR through the email sparoffice@sparcouncil.org, so the org can follow up with them.

I believe the biggest issue right now is "majority". As I've referenced before in earlier posts on the SPAR Revolt thread, the only way majority will be known is to take a tally, which hasn't been done.

As I asked in the very first meeting at 3 Layers, if the Strider/Sheclown/JBM group gets a chance for representation, and discovers their opinions are not the majority (candidates don't get elected, or once elected, are out-voted on the board), will the group be satisfied? All answered "Yes", but I suspect it will just lead to more nonsense about conspiracy. Or maybe more insults toward supportive SPAR members or those on the board who are just a bunch of mindless, manipulated fools.

A loud and persistent voice does not a majority make.

Let's define representation and how to achieve it for the purpose of this discussion.  We believe it is: 1)The stepping down of any "board members" that, according to the by-laws, are no longer legally on the board. 2)Elections held now for replacing those board members and 3)Changes made so that the organization can and does represent the community as a whole.  What is your definition? 

Let me correct this statement: "(candidates don't get elected, or once elected, are out-voted on the board), will the group be satisfied?" That has never been the main issue here.  It is the lack of elections, the executive boards failure to follow the by-laws that is being discussed.  In fact, this statement more closely follows Louise DeSpain's view of things as she told me in a phone conversation that that was one reason they wanted more appointments - they had a nieghborhood woman who does marketing on the ballot and she didn't get elected so someone she/ they wanted and needed on the board didn't get elected.

I will state here that if SPAR Council members that are not legally on the board step down, if the rest of the board hold elections properly now, then I believe that the membership and the community will have been given it's voice and regardless of the outcome of the properly held elections, I will stop complaining about these issues.  Does not mean there will not be another issue down the road.   

[32206livedraps]

So it would appear that you believe people should never me concerned when an organization with a voting membership, without notice, appoints someone that is not eligible to be an officer and then eliminates the option of it's members to vote?

[downtownparks]

From what I have read, it would seem that the general cynicism is whats being commented on, not what rights members should or should not have.

[fsu813]

Hello...

I'm kinda new to SPAR and don't exactly know how this meeting will be different from the general meetings that i have attended.

Can somebody fill me in?

How many people are expected to be there? What will be the format? Is it at the SPAR office?

Thanks a lot!!!!!!

[strider]

Hello...

I'm kinda new to SPAR and don't exactly know how this meeting will be different from the general meetings that i have attended.

Can somebody fill me in?

How many people are expected to be there? What will be the format? Is it at the SPAR office?

Thanks a lot!!!!!!

In the resent past, most SPAR Council general meetings have been a show and tell session more than anything else.  Some say that is the way the "membership" wanted it.  I can't say one way or the other except to comment that if something important is going on in the community, the organization owes it to it's membership and the community is says it represents to discuss that issue at a general meeting.  This meeting tonight is directly in response to some of the membership and board members requesting a meeting to discuss a few important issues.

Those immediate issues are the lack of elections, the appointments of new board members and the fact that the current board doesn't seem to want to follow it's own by-laws.  Now that this meeting is going to include Dr. Gaffney, our city councilman, and other people from the city, we are not exactly sure what this meeting is really going to be about.  I wouldn't think an organization would want city people in a meeting to discuss internal problems, but we shall see.

As to the format, all questions had to be submitted before hand so that normally means no new questions from the floor.  If that's true, it will be a Q & A session in name only.  We have also been told question can be taken from the floor, so, again, we will have to wait and see.

Yes, the meeting is at the SPAR Council office on Main Street - parking will not be easy - and is at 7:00 PM.  How many will be there? Hopefully a lot, but who knows? 

Hope to see all of you there tonight.  Express your concerns one way or the other.  You do not have to be a member to come to this meeting and have an opinion.  SPAR Council says it represents the entire community so if you live here, work here or own something here, you deserve to have a voice and you need to come out and use it.   I do not know if the only “advertising” this meeting has had is here on the web or via E-mail….hopefully it was sent out to the community and at the very least, the membership,  if they are going to use this meeting to judge if the majority wants them to conduct themselves in the manor they have been.

[FinnegansWake]

How about this?
Everyone come to the meeting prepared to listen.
Both sides that is.
Open minds.

I know I have two questions I'd like to get clarification on.

Phil

[uptowngirl]

So Phil.. Did they get answered?

I wanted to go, but I was out of town, but have heard from others I didn't really miss anything?

[jbm32206]

Not everything was really addressed...and questions pertaining to what the issues were, regarding the board and lack of election...Mouton said that there will be an election, that they'll start taking nominations (for vetting via the governance committee) and I believe that nominations may start being taken as of Monday at the next meeting...wasn't real sure about that...

The only question I was able to get in and answered, will the open positions be posted...he said yes. As of yet, I've not seen them posted anywhere....and when asked about current positions and term expirations, we were more or less told to discuss that with him directly...of which I was left with the feeling of being cut off and dismissed.

[FinnegansWake]

So Phil.. Did they get answered?

I wanted to go, but I was out of town, but have heard from others I didn't really miss anything?

Sorry UTG, I saw the other posts first and got smarmy with you in my responses. 

Some of the questions were answered. The ones not answered were provided with a handout. I thought the meeting was a good FIRST step. It was not perfect, but at least the SPR peeps got to talk a little. And there was beer at Shanty Town later, so that's always good...

Personally I am looking forward to Monday night and hearing which positions (skills matrix) are open for election.

Phil

[sheclown]

So Phil.. Did they get answered?

I wanted to go, but I was out of town, but have heard from others I didn't really miss anything?

Sorry UTG, I saw the other posts first and got smarmy with you in my responses. 

Some of the questions were answered. The ones not answered were provided with a handout. I thought the meeting was a good FIRST step. It was not perfect, but at least the SPR peeps got to talk a little. And there was beer at Shanty Town later, so that's always good...


Personally I am looking forward to Monday night and hearing which positions (skills matrix) are open for election.

Phil

And some of us had cake at 3 Layers afterward!

1.) They had the meeting, which is good.
2.) Neighbors showed up, which is good.
3.) Fellowship afterward, which is good.

Like the lean man says, it's a good FIRST step.

[uptowngirl]

Well that sounds MUCH better than some of the feedback I was getting earlier form other parties that aren;t on this forum!!!!

[sheclown]

Monday's board meeting is important. 

[downtownparks]

So just to clarify, after the meeting, Strider slipped out to Shanty to hobnob with those of us who enjoy yeast and barley infused libations, while SheClown siddled on over for sugar and caffeine with a different crowd...

You may have hit a carotid artery of truth, but your politicking like mad. This is why so many are questioning motives and circling wagons.

[sheclown]

sigh