What the ???????

[sunnydave]

I only get to 1 meet a year, Eustis has always been a good time but will somebody please tell me what the ???? is going on. the meet again this year as usual was good then the stuff hit the fan just like last year when it came to the judging there was all kinds of rumors. last year they fired the guy who had been chief judge(the person who convinced me to join) and now the new guy quits. there is a post under judging
"New Judging reference handbook" that started to explain some handbook and now has stuff about money being wasted that they claimed we don't have. somebody please explain this to me

[redfred84]

HI Dave,
Since I was present at both last year's Eustis meet, and this year's, (BOD meetings that is), perhaps I can shed some light on this.
2 years ago, a new, up-dated Judging Committee was formed, or "re-organized", and a lot of ground was covered under our judging criteria; not all to everyone's liking, but passing never-the-less. Prior to this, the then acting Chief Judge moved that his assistant be reimbursed for travel to the meets. For awhile the club footed both the CJ, and the Assistant CJ to meets, even if they were both there at the same time. With the raise of fuel then, and the loss of half our assets to the Foundation, the BOD found itself looking for ways to cut costs. This was at Eustis in early 2010.
Many things got chopped financially. We opted to quit paying for ex-presidents travel (yes, we actually paid for this before!), and the compensation for Judging travel got steamlined to only one representative; the CJ, or the Assistant CJ, or a National Deputy Judge. Kevin Valentine was the CJ at the time (and the one who got me into judging, and pretty much on the BOD) quit then. The Assistant CJ quit a short while later when he wasn't made the new CJ by then Prez Rocky. None of this was any fun, nor was it pretty.
Enter Steve Dawdy, who was asked by then Prez Rocky to take over as CJ. Steve did this exquisitly, and really whipped the judging program into shape. It is a pleasure working with Steve (He's still the CJ for another couple of weeks), and I feel that the judging has really excelled, and become much more uniform from all his work with the Judging Committee. However, Steve brought in a proposal for more reimbursement & 4 hotel nights per meet (2 nights are all that is granted at any one meet, be it for Judging, or BOD meetings). His proposal bent to his driving expenses to most all the meets also (where sometimes flights are cheaper).
Feeling that the Judging could be covered by the Assistant CJ, or a local National Deputy at some of the meets, especially the out-laying ones, (like they have been in the past) the BOD opted to keep the finances the way they were; just as when Steve took on the job. Steve's proposal for more time on the road, and hotel days at the meet was not passed. Sadly, Steve is stepping down from the Judging as a result.
Having worked with Steve intemately over this last year has really been a pleasure, and a great step for the Club. Steve is a real hand's on kinda guy, who sticks around, and makes sure that every little detail is done his way. His wife Sandy is a huge asset also. My own feelings.......just me, feel that Steve still wanted to stay hands on on each and every detail, at each and every meet. He wasn't ready to hand it back to the Assistant CJ, or any of his National Deputies just yet.
However, Steve has done a great job setting the guidelines for the judging, and most of us on the Judging Committee, and us National Deputies have been doing this for more years than Steve has. Some of us have run our local meet's Judging for years without a hitch. Through Steve's guidelines and all the Committee's work, I feel that it will be even easier to run the meets now actually. I still wish Steve was working with us though. But we have National Deputies, and the Assistant CJ located around the world, who can serve the Meets more locally.

It's never good to see anyone quit, but I hope Steve stays in the picture, and continues to help out in the future.

I hope this kinda clears things up.

All the best, RF.
AMCA #05
AMCA BOD
AMCA Judging Committee

[kval]

Enough is enough

for the last year and a half, I have remained silent.
but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
It has been stated here on the forum, that I quit as Chief Judge. The last post by Red Fred repeated this lie.
Here is how it happened, on Thursday evening at Eustis 2010. a Judging Committee meeting was held. it was to go over something that had already been voted on, mainly because some of the committee members did not like the results. They tried to get the vote reversed. NO VOTE was taken that night. this had my ulcer kicking in with a vengance.
The next night at the board meeting, what was being reported was not exactly acurate. Again my ulcer reared its ugly head. after some heated debate, I excused myself from the meeting.
Then after midnight in the hotel hallway,, I tried to talk to Rocky. He did not want to hear anything, but just yelled at me finally stating "YOUR DONE". he then invited me outside,
to kick SometHIng ouT of me.

I respectfully declined his invitation
and the very next day I was replaced, so I DID NOT QUIT

Also it is reported that all this is about money. What most members do not know, is that since 1993 I had been hauling the trophies to about 8 meets a year. with NO REIMBURSEMENT AT ALL!
then in 2000 I was given the federal mileage allowance. I did not receive the 2 days hotel allowance, because I drove my motorhome with trailer attached loaded with trophies, vests and paperwork and did not put in for the camping fee. I had to arrive on Thursday, so the host chapter could have the supplies by 8:00AM friday when the meet opened. I was usually the last to leave on Sunday after the awards were handed out and I reloaded my trailer. All this was while I held down a full time job.
WHY DO THIS?? you ask
Because I love old motorcycles, this club and the MANY friends I have made.

[Chris Haynes]

Thank you Kevin for clearing up any misconceptions.

[45OZ]

Thank YOU Kevin, for this & ALL you have done in the past FOR FREE !!!! Seems the dedication, to the club is not as strong in the Newly Resigned Chief Judge.

[redfred84]

Thanks for all your contributions and efforts Kevin. I remember when the tranny on your motorhome died in D'port from hauling all the stuff. I first met you in that motorhome, many years ago, in Florida, via Todd Bertrang of all people! If I remember correctly, there was a party-like atmosphere!
Bracing for the Japanese Cloud here on the Left Coast, RF.

[billpedalino]

As stated above, Thank you for your contributions Kevin.

[45OZ]

If the chief judge position is open I nominate Kevin

[MeanGene]

If the chief judge position is open I nominate Kevin

I second that

[Chris Haynes]

It is too bad thet the Chief and Asst. Chief aren't elected positions. I think all of our officers and BOD members should be chosen by the rank and file.

[MeanGene]

It is too bad thet the Chief and Asst. Chief aren't elected positions. I think all of our officers and BOD members should be chosen by the rank and file.

I totally agree- any member-based organization should have its officers elected by its members- how did it ever get this way? I don't know of any other member-based org where the board elects or appoints itself??? Helps keep the holier than thou and kangaroo court stuff in check- it's called accountability

[billpedalino]

I second Chris' motion..

[bikerdds]

Chris, Gene, you hit the nail on the head. There is no accountability outside the board. They elect one another, and can kick one another off. While there has been more chapter presidents of late on the board, it still isn't direct election from the membership.
The club was set up this way from the beginning. The average member just cares about the magazine and being able to go to a few meets. It isn't until crap like last years judging fiasco and the foundation deal prior to that that there is a groundswell from members complaining, and it still isn't loud enough yet. Regardless of one's position on the foundation deal and the arguments for it have been put in print, things like that are hard to swallow when membership isn't directly involved and finds out after the fact. Just the way it happened will always stick in the craw of a lot of members and not the necessity. Until there is some direct representation of at least two board members or more, you will continue to feel the way you do, and justifiably so. Also, for every person who comments on this list there are ten who just lurk. Less than ten percent of the club even looks at the Forum. Everyone needs to show their voice before there is a hope for a positive change. Believe me, Big Brother is watching.

[Edd]

I wonder if the survey taken will show what really is the problems with our club or is that going to be a "white wash".
My thoughts now and have been for years this club needs:
Totally open elections for all BOD members. Other clubs larger than ours do it every year.
Totally open treasurers report showing every cost and where it went and to who.
Other wise operate like every other good club or volunteer organization does.

[exeric]

You make some good points bikerdds; most notably that a huge majority of the membership is only concerned with the magazine, and the sponsorship of yearly meets. There have been mistakes and mis-judgements in the past but that's to be expected in any organization. I don't know where Richard Spagnolli came from but we should all be glad he stepped up to the plate. I don't know anyone in this club that has the time, money, administrative skills, and dedication to become the head of this crazy club. In all of these forum debates, I have never heard anyone bring up the name of someone they thought should be the AMCA president, or anyone that thought THEY should be president. I keep hearing that the BOD is the enemy. . . A bunch of good ole' boys out to screw us. If that's the case, why doesn't someone come on this forum and say they want to be president of the AMCA and spell out their plan to fix what they think is wrong. . . . . Don't hold your breath for that.

I hear many people compare the AMCA to a car club, or airplane club; and of course, those clubs always run smooth as silk. The AMCA has changed a lot since I first joined in the mid-70's. In those days it was a small, gear-head oriented club of no-nonsense WW2 vets. The meets were small and informal. Also, the focus was much narrower and didn't include the plethora of motorcycles we have now. The tasks of the AMCA today are much greater and challenging than ever before because the membership has demanded it. The delicate volunteer fabric that is the AMCA is getting tugged and pulled to the point of ripping and I don't think the organization can take a steady diet of that. I personally think there is a very real possibility the AMCA could burn out if too many factors come into play. A few things have already happpened that have caused financial problems that have weakened the club. If we were to loose the volunteer spirit that is the backbone of this club. . . . We're screwed. That could happen if volunteers think their efforts are for an ungratefull membership.

A lot of members have left this forum in protest. They have weakened a club they profess to love. I say, support the AMCA now, or spend the rest of your life being the only guy on your own little island that likes old motorcycles.