"HMGS-E Elections" Topic

So yesterday I got my electronic ballot for the elections for the BOD of the HMGS. I encourage all members to read about the candidates and vote!

Maybe some of them will drop by and let me know why I should vote for them.

I'm getting a little tired of throwing the old rascals out and voting new ones in.
Whoever you are, you're going fine. Just give me my conventions and leave it at that. If I can afford to go and they're still there in driving distance for those with gimpy knees, I'm good.

Maybe some of them will drop by and let me know why I should vote for them.

And who are you?

The CVs are in the email.

Voted and sent in…

I was impressed with the ease of use of the system. Clear and understandable for an old fogy.

I agree that the system was easy. I liked the ease of reading their positions and then able to vote for the ones who share my concerns.

once again…what is the process to engage these candidates? Where? How? What platform should they be given to do so?

Honestly, as I read the CVs, I thought of one's goals…he should be running for CD [not an electable position] because everything was about details of convention offerings.

It is my understanding that CDs are given broad latitude to make decisions.

So, what would they do that isn't being done? or done better?

Be nice to pose such questions to the candidates.

Be nice to pose such questions to the candidates.

Then you'll have to hunt down their email addresses and ask them. That's not practical for most of us so the CV's will have to do.

Then you'll have to hunt down their email addresses and ask them.

And if we have to do that I say it sounds like people who don't want to get elected.

So what do you suggest?

So what do you suggest?

I would guess a place to pose questions to each candidate on the HMGS website and maybe (hopefully) get a response.

Still, I already voted based on what there was to go on. Thats a step in the right direction, its the first time I was able to vote and do so with some understanding of what the person wanted to do.

"I would guess a place to pose questions to each candidate on the HMGS website and maybe (hopefully) get a response."

Absolutely correct. You can ask questions on the HMGS Member Forums. I agree that if the candidates are serious, they should be monitoring the website. In fact, one candidate specifically said in his bio to reach out to him on the website with any questions.

Hope this helps.

Be nice to pose such questions to the candidates…..

Yes it is and that is a good suggestion. As an HMGS member, I have to admit I do not go onto the forums. Brian 98 stated the rest. Any concerned candidate should be following this.

TSD101 and rmcaras,
I am running for the HMGS-E board and I do actively monitor the HMGS website.

If you want to ask me a question, you could message me – John Hollier – directly on that site (not on TMP), but ….

I think we need a "Member Discussion – 2018 Election : Ask the Candidates" on the Members Forum – just like the one that rmcaras posted to last year (hopefully this year there will be some meaningful discussions!).

I've asked the "powers that be" whether I can just start a new discussion topic, or if they need to so something so that all the candidates get notifications from the discussion.

John Hollier

Have any of the current Candidates discussed disbanding the volunteer informant network across the WWW being used by the current BOD to exact retribution on individuals and/or groups who make negative comments about what HMGS is doing or not doing on behalf of the Membership?

OK Paul (Paul Crouch/vagamer63), I'll bite.

First, are you asking this question because you haven't read the candidate's bios?
If not, is that because you are not a current member of HMGS East?

To address your insinuation; for any current candidate to discuss something they would need to be aware of it.
So, perhaps you would like to describe:
- this "volunteer informant network"
- what retribution is being exacted
- on whom this retribution is being exercised, and
- for what "negative comments"

Please include proof of your accusations, so that this candidate (and hopefully others) can address your concerns.

Respectfully

John Hollier

John,

vagamer63 announced that he was not attending anymore HMGS conventions. His question should be considered in that context.

If you want to ask me a question, you could message me – John Hollier – directly on that site (not on TMP), but ….

I think we need a "Member Discussion – 2018 Election : Ask the Candidates" on the Members Forum

John, thank you for the response and your willingness to entertain questions. I don't know exactly how to do that on the HMGS website. That is the problem. Its so damn spanking new and I think unknown by most members. You can see that buy the question LAST election and the total lack of views, much less response.

So it begs the larger question, how can HMGS effectively use the site to promote and enable member engagement and not just for elections] with the candidates.

It is true that I may have specific questions for each candidate [probably instigated by the specifics in the CVs] but I would also probably have general questions that I'd like all candidates consider.

I hope this doesn't sound callous, but for me, how one got into this hobby 20-30-40 years ago is unimportant. At least relative to their interest in taking on a leadership position of the Society.

I am more interested in:
A. Their talent stack and professional experiences they feel is relevant to being effective

B. their vision/goals, their platform if you will, what they want to accomplish if they get elected.
Are they "keep the hand on the rudder, steady as we go" all the way to "I want total disruption of the status quo and rebuild/reform the Society".

All those are things I would like to understand. But not all of this is evident, at least to me, from the CVs.

The candidates, I think are pretty good in describing their professional experiences and credentials. But here, we are somewhat confounded by the fact that candidates are not running for specific positions, where those responsibilities match up with the skill sets. So we elect 3 strong financial skilled candidates…but there is only one Treasurer position. SO would that person getting the Communication position be effective, or even happy with that assignment?

Lots of questions. But let's at least see if we can get the HMGS infrastructure established AND promoted/communicated to the membership to enable engagement.

So that made me check out the HMGS website and sign in. Oops, my membership is almost in arrears and I rejoined! Didn't get to the forum till later.

Richard,
"Its so damn spanking new and I think unknown by most members."
I would agree.

"those are things I would like to understand. But not all of this is evident, at least to me, from the CVs"
It's hard to get everything into 500 words (the current bio limit), so we either need to allow longer bios (not my first choice), or areas where candidates can post additional information, preferably with links from their shortish bios.

I saw you asked Heather the question about a communication location – I'd messaged her about the same thing.

While we're waiting for a response, try this – if you have a election related question for the candidates, just go to the "HMGS: Members" group and post something in the "Group Feed" (i.e., the first thing thta comes up when you go into the group). That's easier than digging down into the "Forums" and the "Member Discussions" and creating a new discussion.

Continuing to improve communications between the board and the membership is one of the "planks" in my candidacy…
[WARNING: blatant plug for self!!]
so vote for me so I can work on making this type of thing better.

John "Lord" Hollier

Bowman,
"vagamer63 announced that he was not attending anymore HMGS conventions"

Thanks for the context.

John Hollier

So I voted. The whole process was easy and quick. Thanks for setting this up.

Just a bump to remind the membership to do their part in making the HMGS better and vote.

John,

On the advice of Counsel I can not comment on our particular situation due to pending action.

I understand ours is not a singular experience.

I can only recommend you address any questions to one or all the current members of the BOD for more specifics.

@VAGamer63 – did you run out of your medication again?

Vote! Please vote! I am not running, but others are.

Have any of the current Candidates discussed disbanding the volunteer informant network across the WWW being used by the current BOD to exact retribution on individuals and/or groups who make negative comments about what HMGS is doing or not doing on behalf of the Membership?

Originally I wasn't going to comment on this – but I have to say something. There is no group looking to "exact retribution" on anyone else. Historicon was moved back to PA because it's the place where the convention had the highest number of attendees. Fredericksburg didn't work. It failed to attract attendees. End of story.

Seriously vagamer63 – step back from the keyboard. Nobody is out to get you. There are people that want to be friendly to you but you're making it very difficult. I gotta ask why you're doing this to yourself??

If you want to come to Historicon in PA – c'mon down (or up – depending where you're coming from). I'll be the first to buy you a nice cup of coffee (I generally don't drink or I'd buy you a beer) and we can talk about minis, painting techniques, games we like or just the fact that I'm an overweight diabetic.

You can private message me and we can set up some time to get breakfast, lunch or dinner and have a great time eating and making new friends.

Vote! Please vote! I am not running, but others are.

Already did! The day I got my electronic ballot I filled it out and sent that sucker in!

Thank you all who voted…. I have no dog in the race so to speak, but I want us to get the best folks available to do the job… we all do!

Dan