Ken Sletten wrote < fleeting recollections about uninformed democracy being
a dangerous thing come to mind...   >

When Interex announced the proposed change and asked us to vote, I
registered my vote NO by phone, but sent them a little RANT below.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Peters
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 5:25 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Amendment of Bylaws
>
> The proposed amendment would create a self replicating board, accountable
> to no-one.  Since the 4 appointed members would have the balance of power,
> they could appoint themselves to a minimum of two consecutive terms and
> control all executive decisions, without interference from the membership
> representatives.
>
> If we are going to do away with the democratic process due to lack of
> interest on the part of the members, then have the balls to say so and do
> it without apology.  This happens in organisations with apathetic users.
>
> Don't insult our intelligence by trying to hide what is being done, i.e.
> the dissolution of a democratic system, by couching it in democratic
> hoopla.  We are apathetic,  not stupid.
>
As a past executive on the Toronto User Group RUG, I agree that with only
11% voting, it is extremely hard to sustain a User Group, even if finances
are ok.  We could lose this group to apathy if we are not careful.

                                          Tony Peters
       _/_/_/_/_/           _/_/_/_/_/    Project Manager - New Technology
      _/            _/     _/      _/     S&C Electric Canada Ltd
     _/            _/     _/              90 Belfield Rd
    _/_/_/_/_/  _/_/_/   _/               Toronto ON  M9W 1G4
           _/    _/     _/                Ph  416 249-9171
          _/    _/     _/      _/         Fax 416 249-3193
 _/_/_/_/_/           _/_/_/_/_/          Email   [log in to unmask]


My words are from my thoughts and no-one else, because they have no idea
what I think.  Good thing too.