[Bob Kuczewski]

In the past, USHPA has sent out updated Candidate Email Statements that went out at the end of September - just before the October "election issue" of the Magazine would arrive. This gave USHPA voters the updated positions of the candidates at the start of voting. This timely update is particularly important because the original Candidate Statements (printed in the magazine) are due at USHPA in early August to meet the long lead time of the magazine publication process. So the email statements have always contained the latest information to voters at the time when the voting began (October 1st).

But this year, Mark Forbes has delayed these email statements to the members. Why? And why, during the first year of electronic voting, would these electronic statements be sent out more than 3 weeks later than they had in the past? Does USHPA want its members to vote in the dark?

The following email messages (starting in early September) document my efforts to get Mark Forbes (and USHPA) to send out timely voting information to the members in 2012. At this time, that information STILL has not been sent. These are abbreviated versions of the original messages so they're easier to read. I've included the full versions further below for complete documentation.

Here's the condensed version of my requests and of Mark Forbes dragging his feet:

Mark Forbes (copy to Rich, Dan, and others),

In the 2008 election, USHPA provided 2 mass-emailings to the members with additional Candidate Statements. They were sent out on September 29th, 2008 and December 10th, 2008.

What are the deadline dates for any election emailings in 2012?

Thanks in advance,
Bob Kuczewski - Region 3 Director Candidate

Mark Forbes (cc Rich, Dan, and others),

Let me ask again ... Will there be any election emailings in 2012 as there were in 2008, and what are the deadline dates?

Bob Kuczewski

Impatient, aren't you? I just saw your previous message yesterday, but I was tied up at work and didn't get around to answering.

Yeah, we'll have a couple of emails, in October and December. I'll send out a note with instructions.

MGF

Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

The purpose of sending out election emailings is presumably to inform the members so they can make a better decision BEFORE they vote. That's why they were sent out in September in past years so members could get that additional information BEFORE they got their magazine and BEFORE they got their ballot.

But for some reason, this year, you're lagging in sending out the "pre-election" emailing. Even more concerning, this year is the first year that we're using electronic balloting which can lead voters to respond immediately when they get the electronic emailings (rather than waiting to fill out and mail in a ballot). So it is more important now than ever that USHPA members get timely information regarding the positions of the Candidates. And yet this year you are far tardier than in the past.

Of course, you already know that. I just wanted to let you know that I know that you know. I also wanted to make yet another request for a timely election emailing from USHPA.

Sincerely,
Bob Kuczewski
Regional Director Candidate - USHPA Region 3

I'll follow up with Mark and Martin. Please understand; this is up to them to sort out. I'm not going to interfere with how they run the election so long as the playing field is level. Every candidate has provided a candidate statement and they've been published. If they decide to do more; it's up to them.
  :
Thanks,

Rich

Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

Today is October 10th and you haven't even solicited the candidates for updated statements to appear in an email message to the voters.

I am again asking you for the schedule of when you plan to solicit and send these messages.

Bob Kuczewski

You'll be getting a notice shortly.
MGF

Hi folks,
  :
To encourage members to vote before they forget where their password went, we'll send out an email message next week to the members in each region. If you'd like to include an election season message to the members in your region, write one up and send it to me by Monday. That gives you the weekend to get inspired, but keep it to 500 words or less, please. I leave for New York on Tuesday night, so I'll be compiling the regional messages on Monday after work.
  :
Mark G. Forbes
USHPA elections committee chairman
elections@ushpa.aero

Hello Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

I've attached a PDF file with my Candidate Email Statement. By my count, it contains 492 words. I've also included it as text below (between the equals signs) for your convenience. Please adhere to the PDF formatting as much as possible. Most importantly, please do not place line breaks or other spacing in either the URL or the email address so people can click on them directly if their email client allows.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski

Mark Forbes (cc others),

Have the October Election emailings gone out yet?

I have not gotten one myself, so please forward me a copy if they've already been sent.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski

No..ran out of time before the BOD meeting. Working on it tonight after meetings, and they'll go out once the crew gets back to the office.

MGF

Note that today is Saturday the 20th of October 2012. It's not clear whether the USHPA staff will be back in the office Monday (October 22nd), but that seems the earliest that these updated Candidate Statements will go out. Why, during the first year of electronic voting, should these email statements be delayed by over 3 weeks MORE than they had been in the past? It seems that USHPA wants our members to vote without knowing the candidates' positions!!

Here's the full email history of those messages for anyone who wants to read the full messages with dates, times, and public recipients:

From: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
To: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
Cc: Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>, Dan D <rebardan@gmail.com>
Subject: Email Deadlines?
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:58:21 -0700

Mark Forbes (copy to Rich, Dan, and others),

In the 2008 election, USHPA provided 2 mass-emailings to the members with additional Candidate Statements. They were sent out on September 29th, 2008 and December 10th, 2008.

What are the deadline dates for any election emailings in 2012?

Thanks in advance,
Bob Kuczewski - Region 3 Director Candidate

From: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
To: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
Cc: Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>, Dan D <rebardan@gmail.com>
Bcc: Jeff Mosher <programs@ushpa.aero>, Terry Rank <office@ushpa.aero>
Subject: Re: Email Deadlines?
Date: 09/14/2012 09:20:43 AM
Mark Forbes (cc Rich, Dan, and others),

Let me ask again ... Will there be any election emailings in 2012 as there were in 2008, and what are the deadline dates?

Bob Kuczewski

From: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
To: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
Cc: 03-Dan DeWeese <rebardan@gmail.com>, Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Email Deadlines?
Date: 09/14/2012 08:45:25 PM

Impatient, aren't you? I just saw your previous message yesterday, but I was tied up at work and didn't get around to answering.

Yeah, we'll have a couple of emails, in October and December. I'll send out a note with instructions.

MGF

From: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
To: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
Cc: Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>, Dan D <rebardan@gmail.com>
Subject: Request for Timely Election Information
Date: 10/07/2012 08:22:27 AM
Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

The purpose of sending out election emailings is presumably to inform the members so they can make a better decision BEFORE they vote. That's why they were sent out in September in past years so members could get that additional information BEFORE they got their magazine and BEFORE they got their ballot.

But for some reason, this year, you're lagging in sending out the "pre-election" emailing. Even more concerning, this year is the first year that we're using electronic balloting which can lead voters to respond immediately when they get the electronic emailings (rather than waiting to fill out and mail in a ballot). So it is more important now than ever that USHPA members get timely information regarding the positions of the Candidates. And yet this year you are far tardier than in the past.

Of course, you already know that. I just wanted to let you know that I know that you know. I also wanted to make yet another request for a timely election emailing from USHPA.

Sincerely,
Bob Kuczewski
Regional Director Candidate - USHPA Region 3

From: Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>
To: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
Cc: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>, Martin Palmaz <martin@ushpa.aero>
Subject: Re: Request for Timely Election Information
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2012 10:32:37 -0700

I'll follow up with Mark and Martin. Please understand; this is up to them to sort out. I'm not going to interfere with how they run the election so long as the playing field is level. Every candidate has provided a candidate statement and they've been published. If they decide to do more; it's up to them.

BTW, for the Fall Meeting, I've asked Bill Bolosky and he's agreed to record dissenting votes (for motions that pass) and ayes (for motions that fail) in board minutes. He thinks we can do this without holding up the meetings too much. This will be done using a show-of-hands vote. We won't do roll call votes unless there is some particular reason to do so because it takes a ton of time. We are on the same page in terms of supporting transparency and I think this will give members an opportunity to see how their director voted w/o holding up the meetings too much. The next president can decide how they want to do it; this is how I will do it, so long as we have a secretary willing to do the work.

Thanks,

Rich

From: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
To: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
Cc: Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>, Martin Palmaz <martin@ushpa.aero>, bolosky <bolosky@microsoft.com>
Subject: Re: Request for Timely Election Information
Date: 10/10/2012 10:02:34 AM

Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

Today is October 10th and you haven't even solicited the candidates for updated statements to appear in an email message to the voters.

I am again asking you for the schedule of when you plan to solicit and send these messages.

Bob Kuczewski

From: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
To: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Request for Timely Election Information
Date: 10/10/2012 10:13:35 AM

You'll be getting a notice shortly.
MGF

From: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
To: Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>, Jugdeep Aggarwal <scpjka@gmail.com>, Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>, 03-Dan DeWeese <rebardan@gmail.com>, Ryan Voight <airthug84@gmail.com>, 07-Paul Olson <paul@scootertow.net>, Mike Holmes <Mikesgnflyn@verizon.net>, Felipe Amunategui <felipe.amunategui@yahoo.com>, Steve Kroop <steve@flytec.com>, Paul Voight <flyhigh@frontiernet.net>
Cc: Martin Palmaz - USHPA <martin@ushpa.aero>, Jeff Mosher <programs@ushpa.aero>
Subject: October election email blast
Date: 10/11/2012 12:16:01 AM

Hi folks,

The election is underway and so far things seem to be going pretty well. We've had a few members try to vote using their USHPA website password, a couple who noticed a slow response after voting (but it was successful) and a couple more who mis-read "1" as "L" and so on. All were resolved successfully. Overall it looks like e-voting is a lot easier to administer and improves participation a bit. Apart from the questions, no complaints from anyone, and several compliments on the new method.

Turnout so far has been typical....about 5% of the total membership has responded as of yesterday. To encourage members to vote before they forget where their password went, we'll send out an email message next week to the members in each region. If you'd like to include an election season message to the members in your region, write one up and send it to me by Monday. That gives you the weekend to get inspired, but keep it to 500 words or less, please. I leave for New York on Tuesday night, so I'll be compiling the regional messages on Monday after work.

I'll be adding a header encouraging members to participate in the election, but it would be great if you'd say a few words about what you do for USHPA, issues you see coming up, things you'd like your local members to think about or whatever else you'd like to express. This is your chance to get your thoughts out to the folks who elect you.

Thanks for participating!

Mark G. Forbes
USHPA elections committee chairman
elections@ushpa.aero

From: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
To: 1-Mark Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>, elections <elections@ushpa.aero>
Cc: Martin Palmaz - USHPA <martin@ushpa.aero>, Jeff Mosher <programs@ushpa.aero>
Subject: Re: October election email blast
Date: 10/14/2012 11:23:47 PM
Hello Mark Forbes (cc/bcc others),

I've attached a PDF file with my Candidate Email Statement. By my count, it contains 492 words. I've also included it as text below (between the equals signs) for your convenience. Please adhere to the PDF formatting as much as possible. Most importantly, please do not place line breaks or other spacing in either the URL or the email address so people can click on them directly if their email client allows.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski
Regional Director Candidate - USHPA Region 3

From: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
To: mark@mgforbes.com
Cc: Martin Palmaz - USHPA <martin@ushpa.aero>, Jeff Mosher <programs@ushpa.aero>, Rich Hass <richhass@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: October election email blast
Date: 10/19/2012 10:08:05 AM
Mark Forbes (cc others),

Have the October Election emailings gone out yet?

I have not gotten one myself, so please forward me a copy if they've already been sent.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski

From: Mark G. Forbes <mark@mgforbes.com>
Reply-to: mark@mgforbes.com
To: Bob Kuczewski <bobkuczewski@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: October election email blast
Date: 10/19/2012 02:51:20 PM

No..ran out of time before the BOD meeting. Working on it tonight after meetings, and they'll go out once the crew gets back to the office.

MGF