Thank you for posting this information here Tony.
You know I respect your commitment and passion for Minis as well as the personal time you and all the volunteers give to our organizations.
I do agree that on occasion at the National Meetings (both A & R), I've had my original thoughts swayed by the arguments presented as details I hadn't considered came to light. That is no different than hearing about something to vote on at the state or national level, but once reading all the literature, I've often changed my mind. Some things just seem very black and white, while others do have many shades of gray to consider!. That though does not mean that only those that can attend convention should vote! To me it's very 'superior' attitude (not you Tony but the idea) that only those at the convention have the ability to make informed decisions. With today's technology where meetings could be live online and transcripts available within minutes if not hours - people could be informed!
As to the belief that only a small percentage would take the time to vote anyway, that is about the same as the few hundred of people that attend the conventions - it's not like thousands of concerned people are at the convention, it's generally, what, a few hundred people?
I do have to say though at least with AMHA at the convention I do get to vote! I was a bit surprised at the AMHR convention and how that was all handled! Well I won't go there.
That said, no I haven't served on any committees nor tried to make any bylaw or rule changes. For one I didn't really understand the whole committee process at the Convention, but that is another long thread! Yes, I would like to see voting changes, but have never considered changing the bylaws, I would support a well thought out and well written change though! Fortunately I have the ability to attend the meetings if I feel strongly enough to about an issue to go and vote.
I do feel though that with today's modern technology that online voting could be in place in the next few years. There can be Forums like this for discussion/debate of things up for a vote, etc. - it can be member only. The B.S. about security and who would actually be voting - please! We all have member numbers, there is wonderful security programs out there and counting even a few thousand votes could be done manually if need be. Perhaps AMHA would consider setting up a test site to see how many people would try voting and how closing it mimics the vote at the Convention? I do take the surveys Alison sends out too.
As for my regional directors - I do contact my directors when needed, but to date do not get regular updates from them! I do think it is EVERY Director's responsibility as the representative for their area to have communications be a two way street! If the lines of communication are open and I ever actually heard from my Directors regarding AMHA (or AMHR) business I would be surprised.
Which I must give a big PLUG for Dave Miller and Sheryl Petersen for the NWMHC for keeping their members informed and asking the hard questions when needed!!!
It is important for ALL of us whether AMHA or AMHR to know what is going on with OUR organization and be informed to make educated decisions. It is hard to make attending conventions a priority and I don't always. I have never regretted attending one, but it is a commitment of personal time and money to go. I do hope more people will make the effort to go. The people that plan these work very hard on these and they are educational and important if you're serious about owning/breeding/showing minis!
