[9792] in APO-L
Chapter's Opinion on Nationals Voting
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (THE SUN IS A MASS OF INCANDESCENT )
Sun Oct 16 16:52:38 1994
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 1994 16:53:15 -0500
Reply-To: THE SUN IS A MASS OF INCANDESCENT GAS <STU_MLOGILVI%JMUVAX.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: THE SUN IS A MASS OF INCANDESCENT GAS <STU_MLOGILVI%JMUVAX.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L%PURCCVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
It is a difficult thing to get the opinion of EVERYONE in your chapter
on what, 60 different proposals?, 80?.
What we did two years ago was to compile ALL of the proposals into a
2-3 page survey. You can easily make most of the motions about one
line long by paraphrasing. Then you give all of the brothers the
survey and have them fill it out. Finally, you compile the
information (the LONG trip up to Boston proved to be a very convenient
time for compiling). Of course, on some of the more controversial
topics, we had long discussions during the "open forum" part of our
meetings.
I believe that the other question asked how much to stand by the
decision of your chapter...
Well, in electing you as their voting delegate, they have given you
the authority to make decisions for your chapter. It is senseless
for your chapter to say "you will go and vote THIS way on motion X."
To do this would be saying that the discussion between all of the
chapters on the convention floor is pointless. To do this would
be the National Fraternity acting as hundreds of individuals, when
the purpose of the Convention is for the National Fraternity to
act as a collective whole. Besides that, most of the motions come
out of the Reference Committees looking COMPLETELY different than
the way they went in. As a hypothetical example: Motion X says
that we raise National Dues from $8 to $20. Your chapter says
"that's WAY too much money!", votes on it and decides that you will
vote NO on that motion. At the convention, it comes out of
committee as a motion that raises National Dues from $8 to $10.
NOW what do you do? Are you bound by your chapter vote to vote
no, or are you going to make a judgement call (with your co-voter)
on whether or not your chapter would like this motion or not
(of course, first openly listening to the discussion offered at
the Convention)?
I guess it seems to me that you should get a really good feel for what your
chapter believes to be best for THE NATIONAL FRATERNITY, NOT JUST THE BEST FOR
YOUR CHAPTER. Then, using that knowledge, your own judgement, the judgement of
your co-voter, and the discussion on the convention floor, come to a decision
as to how you think your chapter would want to vote.
:)
Ogey **** **** **********
** ** ** *
Sergeant at Arms ** ** **
Chi Gamma Chapter *** **
James Madison University ** ** **
Harrisonburg, VA ** ** **
stu_mlogilvi@vax1.acs.jmu.edu **** **** ****
