Change

[James G.]

Re: Change

I will protect and promote the interests of the Organization. While serving on the Board, as an employee or as a leader I will not put any other automobile organizations schedule ahead of the NCRS."
*(emphasis added)

Perhaps I am mistaken, however the above referenced rule appears to relate to scheduling conflicts, or am I missing something?

Is there another document or statement which is in the bylaws referencing conflicts other than the above?

[Mark E.]

Re: Change

I think it might be helpful to explain what actually went on yesterday. As has been the practice, the NCRS Board held a general session meeting at the Florida Regional yesterday. Since this was the Board's first meeting of 2022, the first order of business was elections and appointments of Board officers, managers, employees. That part of the meeting was run by the Board Secretary, Larry Colvin. Larry requested nominations for NCRS President. To my surprise, John Ballard nominated Shannon Urton. Larry asked if there were other nominations and Mark Tulley nominated me. No other nominations were offered. Larry then asked each Director for their vote on Shannon. Shannon's nomination was supported by John Ballard, Rick Coker, Pat Kropac, Ralph Ridge, and Shannon herself. My nomination was supported by Mark Tulley, Harry Ledgerwood, Bob Johansen, and myself. There are nine voting members on the Board and Shannon had five of them so that was that. This was a carefully planned and executed coup, there is no other word for it, I had no idea it was coming.
Mike

This stinks. What concerns me is how Mike was treated. It's highly unusual for an officer of a Not for Profit to be unceremoniously and unexpectedly removed unless there is some sort of wrongdoing. No acknowledgement of his contributions, no opportunity to thank him for his service.

Maybe the election and succession process needs to be changed... A common practice is to create a President-Elect position. This avoids sudden change in leadership, and provides the new president some time to be mentored and trained to lead the organization. This also offers the club the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the outgoing president, perhaps at the National event.

Instead, we have an outgoing President not treated with respect by our club, and an incoming President suddenly, and without mentoring or training, stepping into a critical role. This does not reflect a healthy culture.

[Terry M.]

Re: Change

I am thoroughly enthused to read this "technical" discussion. With that critique made, please allow me to offer some clarification.

Background: I have been a National Team Leader and employee of NCRS (Restorer Editor). I know most/all of you know that.
I have judged at Bloomington Gold for longer than I have been a member of NCRS. I retired from BG this past year. Last June was my last judging for them. I retired because I feel i can no longer do a fair job of judging for physical reasons. I was a BG judge while I was an employee of NCRS, and I may have been what at that time BG called a Senior Judge while I was an employee; I would have to research timelines that I no longer remember in order to state that for certain. I have judged for the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals (MCACN) since before I was an NCRS judge, and that includes two predecessor events under different names. That is my bona fides just so you know my experience -- not boasting, just what it is. I want you to know I am not observing from the sidelines. I have been in the trenches as this "hobby" has evolved.

Stick with me, I am sorry this is so long, but I want to be fair, so you all have relevant information -- and excuse me, but I am Irish. The end is in sight.

Bloomington Gold Senior Judge was the equivalent of NCRS Team Leader. Recently (within the past 7 or 8 years) Bloomington Gold re-named the Senior Judge position to Division Director. The job duties are still the equivalent of NCRS' Team Leader. The Division Director choses the judges, manages the judging paperwork and communicates with car owners just as an NCRS Team Leader does. The BG Division Director has nothing to do with managing the event or setting policy. In fact, NCRS Team Leaders have more to do with the judging policies of NCRS (through the Team Leaders meetings) than Division Directors have to do with Bloomington Gold judging policies. Full disclosure: there are BG Division Directors meetings. I have not been party to those, but when they were Senior Judges' meetings, they were nothing like NCRS Team Leader meetings, but they still had nothing to do with managing the event or the organization.

Bottom line: the titles (director) can be mixed up between the two organizations, but there is no similarity in duties or responsibilities at all.

If your judgement is going to be based on the amount of pay, consider that the BG Director receives less pay on an annual basis than an NCRS Team Leader does if that Team Leader attends more than three events. And while on an accounting basis the Team Leader receives reimbursement for expenses and the BG Director does get a 1099 each year, the dollar amounts are about the same. Neither Division Directors nor Judges were paid by Bloomington Gold in 2020, and each received $75 in 2021. You ask yurself why people would take the time and effort for so little reimbursement? Think back to the days of NCRS before there were judging points. We used get a t-shirt for our travel and time spent judging. Those of us who did that used to joke that it was remarkable what we would do for a t-shirt.

And as to the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals: there is no equivalent position to Division Director or Team Leader. All judges at that event are given $40 as a reimbursement against expenses, and that doesn't even cover parking for two days of the event.

Now I will offer my opinion: NCRS directors are management and set policy. Bloomington Gold directors manage judges and set no policy. Neither do MCACN judges set policy or manage judges. I believe in this case there is no similarity to the previous NCRS Board conflict of interest actions. Having said that I offer no opinion on the previous actions in this regard.

Now I will go out on a limb and saw it out behind me: It is my belief that a lot and maybe all of this brew ha ha is because our new president is female. This used to be an all-male hobby. It used to be a lot of other things too. It is no longer any of those things. Put on your big boy pants and put blinders on as to who is running the ship. The president of NCRS, by him or herself is limited in the actions that they can take based upon the NCRS by-laws. Those by-laws have not changed today as far as I know. Decide if you like the direction the ship is going before you decide.

Now shot me if you will. I am prepared for that.

[Terry M.]

Re: Change

I think it might be helpful to explain what actually went on yesterday. As has been the practice, the NCRS Board held a general session meeting at the Florida Regional yesterday. Since this was the Board's first meeting of 2022, the first order of business was elections and appointments of Board officers, managers, employees. That part of the meeting was run by the Board Secretary, Larry Colvin. Larry requested nominations for NCRS President. To my surprise, John Ballard nominated Shannon Urton. Larry asked if there were other nominations and Mark Tulley nominated me. No other nominations were offered. Larry then asked each Director for their vote on Shannon. Shannon's nomination was supported by John Ballard, Rick Coker, Pat Kropac, Ralph Ridge, and Shannon herself. My nomination was supported by Mark Tulley, Harry Ledgerwood, Bob Johansen, and myself. There are nine voting members on the Board and Shannon had five of them so that was that. This was a carefully planned and executed coup, there is no other word for it, I had no idea it was coming.
Mike

Mike:
I was told that when each nomination was made the person nominated was asked if they would serve. Please tell us if that is true, and if so, what was your response?

[Mark D.]

Re: Change

I don't mind shooting you but, ammo is expensive.

[Terry M.]

Re: Change

I don't mind shooting you but, ammo is expensive.

You have to decide on the relative value of me (and my opinions) and the ammo (or is it the ammo and I). More than once today I have told people "You know what opinions are like" but I was talking about judging then. I'm going to yhe bar!

[Michael J.]

Re: Change

Terry opines: "It is my belief that a lot and maybe all of this brew ha ha is because our new president is female." I do fervently hope your belief is incorrect on that point.

[Terry M.]

Re: Change

Terry opines: "It is my belief that a lot and maybe all of this brew ha ha is because our new president is female." I do fervently hope your belief is incorrect on that point.

Me too, Mike. Maybe it is just because I am an old codger and I see things through that perspective. On the other hand, 50 years of being around cars and car owners and a number of car clubs (more than I mentioned above) and for 15 years of a call center like function has led me to be a keen observer of human nature -- even if I do say so myself.

I think there are some other dynamics involved that contribute, not the least of which are some people stirring the pot, and NOT necessarily anyone who has posted on this thread so far. And that is more than I originally intended to say. You have to be here. Reading body language and seeing who is huddling with who (or is it whom). It is enjoyable for me to observe, but in another way disgusting. I have never been more disgusted with people who I thoughts were friends. There I said it.

I felt it was time to lay it all on the line. Be glad you are not here to hear my words in person. I filtered that post and laughed when I pushed the "Post Quick Reply" button. There was nothing quick about that post.

[Mark D.]

Re: Change

I'm going to the bar!

Enjoy...thnx for stating your opinion. Thnx to everyone for stating their opinions. Long live NCRS!

[Gary C.]

Re: Change

Terry,

Appreciate your thoughts and position.

I believe the members, including myself, wishes Shannon Urton the best as the new President of our NCRS family.

With that being said; "it's not what happened, it's how it happened".

Ye ole axiom of "treat others like you would like to be treated" didn't happen IMHO.

Gary
....

[Roy S.]

Re: Change

Bravo Gary, well said.

[Gary J.]

Re: Change

My question is Why the change? What is going on to warrant the change? How about an honest answer to an honest question?

[Don H.]

Re: Change

"With that being said; "it's not what happened, it's how it happened"."

I could not have expressed my feelings better than that Gary, thank you. Don H.

[Thomas N.]

Re: Change

Maybe there needs to be a change to the bylaws to allow these positions to be a popular vote from the entire demographics. It seems kind of weird that you can vote for yourself, and there is only 9 votes available. Maybe this worked when the club was starting out and small, but maybe its time to change this. History has a way of repeating itself, and it seems like this has happened on several occasions. Most of the time for the better, but probably not the most transparent way of doing things.

[Wes S.]

Re: Change

Bravo that's the way it should be done