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Life Members
Quote from Guest on August 18, 2005, 7:22 amI received a phone call yesterday concerning a comment that Bob Anderson made in a letter to the editor in the July/August Sidecarist. He said “"Well, I am history and only have a membership because some kind soul didn't let my membership expire, so I still get the magazine......"
I have been checking and have come up with the following information and would like to share it with everyone.
Current life members
#2 Hal Kendall
#7 Lynn Anderson
#13 Al Johnson
#5439 Dave Hough
#3985 Bob AndersonAl Roach wrote: “John Kennedy, as president, named Bob as a life member. It was done early in his term. You, as president, may do this also. Once only. This policy goes back before my joining in 1982. You also may not do this if you so choose. Bob put in a lot of time for many years as editor, and I would agree that he is deserving of this honor. Davis Hough was also given this honor for his contributions after just a couple of years of paying dues. Bob paid his way for many years. You will note that the number of life members is very small. I hope you agree that this item has not been abused.”
This appears to be an unwritten “policy” and I was not aware of it. Since the provision for Honorary Life Members is in our Constitution but the method of bestowing this honor is not, I think a constitutional amendment should be written to either legitimize the process or adopt other guidelines for becoming a Life Member. I am posting this so anyone who wants to comment can give The Members of the Board their comments.
I received a phone call yesterday concerning a comment that Bob Anderson made in a letter to the editor in the July/August Sidecarist. He said “"Well, I am history and only have a membership because some kind soul didn't let my membership expire, so I still get the magazine......"
I have been checking and have come up with the following information and would like to share it with everyone.
Current life members
#2 Hal Kendall
#7 Lynn Anderson
#13 Al Johnson
#5439 Dave Hough
#3985 Bob Anderson
Al Roach wrote: “John Kennedy, as president, named Bob as a life member. It was done early in his term. You, as president, may do this also. Once only. This policy goes back before my joining in 1982. You also may not do this if you so choose. Bob put in a lot of time for many years as editor, and I would agree that he is deserving of this honor. Davis Hough was also given this honor for his contributions after just a couple of years of paying dues. Bob paid his way for many years. You will note that the number of life members is very small. I hope you agree that this item has not been abused.”
This appears to be an unwritten “policy” and I was not aware of it. Since the provision for Honorary Life Members is in our Constitution but the method of bestowing this honor is not, I think a constitutional amendment should be written to either legitimize the process or adopt other guidelines for becoming a Life Member. I am posting this so anyone who wants to comment can give The Members of the Board their comments.
Quote from pierobassi on August 18, 2005, 9:55 am1. I think a Life Membership should be granted by the Board of Directors, by a … “special committee” responsible for bestowing this honorary membership, or we should follow the guidelines of other motorcycle associations in regard to this matter. Allowing the USCA President to nominate a Life Time Member (Has it been done secretly up till now??) it would not be, in my opinion, a democratic decision; It would be like a perpetuation of … Godfather traditions.
2. We should adopt very serious guidelines for becoming a Life Member.
3. If Bob Anderson was granted this honorary membership for being, for several years, a very well paid editor of the “Sidecarist”, I immediately propose we grant Life Membership to Steve Woodward who is doing a way better job than Anderson as editor of the Sidecarist, and for his excellent efforts is paid … NOTHING.
Piero Bassi
1. I think a Life Membership should be granted by the Board of Directors, by a … “special committee” responsible for bestowing this honorary membership, or we should follow the guidelines of other motorcycle associations in regard to this matter. Allowing the USCA President to nominate a Life Time Member (Has it been done secretly up till now??) it would not be, in my opinion, a democratic decision; It would be like a perpetuation of … Godfather traditions.
2. We should adopt very serious guidelines for becoming a Life Member.
3. If Bob Anderson was granted this honorary membership for being, for several years, a very well paid editor of the “Sidecarist”, I immediately propose we grant Life Membership to Steve Woodward who is doing a way better job than Anderson as editor of the Sidecarist, and for his excellent efforts is paid … NOTHING.
Piero Bassi
Quote from claude #3563 on August 20, 2005, 5:51 amWhatever method is to be used for appointing liftime memberships should be depicted in the constitution. Otherwise chaos is inevitable. To me a board vote would make the most sense. Otherwise one person (President?) simply has more authority in this area than what would be in the best interests of the general membership. Remember the board is elected (SHOULD BE ELECTED!) to represent the members.
Whatever method is to be used for appointing liftime memberships should be depicted in the constitution. Otherwise chaos is inevitable. To me a board vote would make the most sense. Otherwise one person (President?) simply has more authority in this area than what would be in the best interests of the general membership. Remember the board is elected (SHOULD BE ELECTED!) to represent the members.