Election Discussions with Brian Minkin - Candidate for relection as RTR President

[catchacab]

Any more nominations for President?  It looks like the current candidates are no longer running.

[Brian Minkin]

This candidate has more to do then respond to questions on this forum.  I am driving a Lightning this weekend and will get back to the forum next week.

[jakp993]

catchacab wrote:

Any more nominations for President? It looks like the current candidates are no longer running.

arrrrrgggghhhh - I've lurked on these threads long enough. I can't take it anymore! These 2 threads started quite constructively. I applaud the concept of a virtual debate and I appreciate the candidates' well thought out responses to the intelligent questions.

However, could it be that Brian and Graham may actually prioritize working for the club and put responding to petty, ridiculous questions on the back burner?

It's no wonder people refrain from running for office when they have to deal with comments like this.

I know from personal experience how much effort the active volunteers of this club expend for the benefit of the full membership. We may not be perfect, but we're actively engaged in the game vs. sitting on the sidelines. Let's respect Brian & Graham for their dedication to RTR. If anyone doesn't like like what they are seeing, volunteer to assist in the operations of the club vs. post inflammatory comments like the above.

Jack

[Wally]

jakp993 wrote:

catchacab wrote:

Any more nominations for President? It looks like the current candidates are no longer running.

arrrrrgggghhhh - I've lurked on these threads long enough. I can't take it anymore! These 2 threads started quite constructively. I applaud the concept of a virtual debate and I appreciate the candidates' well thought out responses to the intelligent questions.

However, could it be that Brian and Graham may actually prioritize working for the club and put responding to petty, ridiculous questions on the back burner?

It's no wonder people refrain from running for office when they have to deal with comments like this.

I know from personal experience how much effort the active volunteers of this club expend for the benefit of the full membership. We may not be perfect, but we're actively engaged in the game vs. sitting on the sidelines. Let's respect Brian & Graham for their dedication to RTR. If anyone doesn't like like what they are seeing, volunteer to assist in the operations of the club vs. post inflammatory comments like the above.

Jack

+1

[catchacab]

In receent years, there has been only a few positons on the E-Board that have been contested.  Due to the large geographic area, and lack of open communication amongst the members of this club (until Brian started this forum).  Past contested elections were more a popularity contest than an election of the best person for the job.  Now with this forum, we all have the oportunity to ask the candidates questions  that we feel are important, and make the current contest an election of the best candidate.

My post was placed there to illicit a response to questions that Wayne and I have asked.  Both Graham and Brian have made improvements to the club in the various positions that they have held.  With the two of them running against each other each one must feel that they could do a vastly better job than the other, or they have serious concerns about the other candidate being president.  We need and deserve to know what and why from both of them. 

If the two of them are not committed to answering questions about leadership, ideas and vision, what can we expect of Graham as president (Brian we know from his history of the past two years, but what additional programs, ideas  and leadership will he provide the club in the coming year that he hasn't in the past).  Both candidates were asked simple questions.  If they can not or refuse to answer the questions, do they deserve to be elected?

This election should not be a popularity contest.  It shoud be about electing the person who can best fullfuill the responsiblities of the the position.  Both candidates have strengths and weaknesses.  It is the responsibility of the candidates to inform us of thier strenghts, vision, and ideas for our club.  It is our responsibilty to inquire and evaluate the candidates.

Many of the positions in our club involve a large time commitment in addition to certain skills.  I personally am thankful to all of those who donate their time and effort to our club.  But, the question is:  Who is the best candidate for president?

[Porshagod]

catchacab wrote:

Obama

or

McCain

And how again does a question like this relate to the running of our club?

[catchacab]

Porshagod wrote:

catchacab wrote:

Obama

or

McCain

And how again does a question like this relate to the running of our club?

By answering the question it shows that the candidate is willing to express his opinion even if his opinion is not shared by all.

A true leader does what he feels is best, not what is popular at the moment.

[Brian Minkin]

 

To continue to address Wayne's questions to the candidates the following was submitted for the October Issue of Der Gasser.

 

Why should members vote for you over other candidates? 

 

With the RTR election rapidly approaching I would like to take this last opportunity to remind the membership that I am running for a third term as RTR President and express to the membership why I believe they should cast their vote for me. I am not going to reiterate what I wrote in last months Der Gasser. I also am not going to address the issues and ideas expressed by my opponent as they are all noteworthy and as they have been in the past will be discussed and voted on by the Exec.  Instead I will try to summarize my experience and list some of the initiatives I intend to undertake next year if elected.

 

Why do you think that you are qualified to be President?

 

I have passionately served on the RTR Executive Board for over 10 years as Autocross Chair, Membership Chair and President. During this time I have learned the wide range of responsibilities the Exec undertakes in their commitment to lead the club. As President I have dealt with numerous issues that adversely affected the club and brought them to positive outcomes. I have recruited members to serve on the Exec and under my guidance and leadership they have done an outstanding job bringing the membership a full schedule of events designed to meet the variety of interests of our membership.   I have continued to build a good relationship with national PCA and other regions.  

 

What do you believe are your major contributions to the club to date?

 

During my Presidency RTR has continued to be financially healthy and has had a balanced budget approved by the Exec. I have continually pushed to get more members involved with club activities be they new or current members and the variety of events organized by the club is testimony to this. I have tried to insure that the club communicates well with its members and have used both printed and cyber tools to accomplish this. By developing our online forum I have provided a means of members sharing their thoughts and common interests in addition to giving the exec board members a way to personally communicate with our membership.

 

What would you hope to achieve as President?

What would you do differently and why?

 

However, as successful as the last two years have been, I do not consider my job to be complete.  We have an initiative to update our bylaws under way.  After this is complete membership surveys and exit surveys are the next program to be implemented so we can better serve our members.  I am advocating creation of Touring and Rally committees so that the huge task of designing and coordinating one of these events does not fall on only one volunteer and we can have more events in different sections of this large region.  I am also advocating the creation of a membership communications coordinator to insure that the same timely information appears on the website, forum, email and Der Gasser so that members can rely on any of these for up to date information.  New members need to feel welcome in the club and I pledge to start an initiative to create a new member contact committee working with the membership chair to welcome new members and answer any questions they may have.

 

I love this club and welcome the opportunity, if elected, to continue to lead it in 2009 with continued growth and member satisfaction. With your support and vote I hope to have the opportunity to lead RTR into a great 2009.

 

Brian Minkin

Current RTR President

 

 

[Wellardmac]

Thanks for following up on this Brian - good luck with the election!