A plea from the Pres

From IPMS:

If you have yet to visit the IPMS website and view the recently posted E-Board minutes (April, 2011) you will find two significant items of business mentioned. The first item is the list of candidates for E-Board. The nomination process for the upcoming E-Board election has come to an end and there are some new faces on the list. The downside to this list is that only one office has more than a single candidate. IPMS is led and staffed by volunteers and my hope is that there would be more interest among the membership in taking on one of these very important roles. The upside is that the individuals whose names appear are all proven  leaders in their local chapter or at a national level, and thusly, bring significant experience to bear. The only seat which has multiple candidates is the Director of Local Chapters position. Both candidates have experience as Regional Coordinators and both are, to put it plainly, nice guys.

The second item is the mention of Amendment 2011-01 by Ron Bell. You may have visited the forum and read some of the posts regarding this very important amendment. This change is greatly needed and I ask you to vote in favor of the amendment. Please consider that it was written by Ron Bell, who is the 2nd VP (in charge of all things regarding the National Convention at the national level) and is the single most knowledgeable person on the planet when it comes to National Conventions and how the Society should approach this annual event. The amendment will update the Constitution to reflect the changes that have  taken place over the last 45+ years. The amendment will also provide a flexible, dynamic, and realistic platform which will make the Convention process easier for the host chapter and for the Society as a whole.

A ballot will be included in the upcoming Journal and the plan is to have all six E-Board seats as well as the Amendment question on the same ballot. You will also be able to cast your vote online through the IPMS website. The online site will be active at or about the same date as the Journal with the ballot begins showing up in your mailboxes.

The most significant point is that, whether you favor or oppose the amendment, you vote. Not voting accomplishes absolutely nothing. No good comes from this abysmal level of non-participation. When you view the ballot you will see a Yes/No/Abstain option. Please mark one of those three options. It Is Important!

Dick Montgomery
Int.Plastic Modelers Society-President