I'm back from a well-deserved vacation and I see that the BOD is still very much up to it's old tricks (i.e. pulling threads and links and any discussions...looks like our good old "Elections" thread has been moved back out of the public light again).
GDW, I did want to respond to your one comment...at first, I thought you were talking about me. But then when you said "passive aggressive", I assumed you were talking about SPK (who manipulated the BOD through backhanded dealings). But the, I have to acknowledge you said "unique, gifted, inspirational" and I just realized there's no way your talking about SPK. So NOW that I've written those sentences, now I'll accept the labeling of "passive aggressive"...I felt I've fought for your rights rather overtly aggressively
Insurgent? I suppose Honduras' president is an insurgent too? If so, then I'll gladly wear that moniker as a badge of honor. Someone has to fight for the rights that you acknowledge have been taken from you. You may not like my style, but frankly, most of what you see has only come about after the tireless criticisms posted here and elsewhere. If more people had spoken up sooner, perhaps things wouldn't have come to this...
1. You can view the official list of candidates and their submitted statements here -
http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/view ... 132&t=5332
2. On that list, the following candidates are ones that I do NOT endorse in any capacity. 4. spawner (Andrew Rhyne), 6. Spraklcat (Christine Williams), 7. spk (Stephen Kennedy), 9. acroporas (William Heaton), 10. Clownfish75 (Christian Hofmann). I do not recommend that you vote for these candidates, and would suggest that you rank them at the bottom. In no uncertain terms, I believe the following ranking from bottom up is in order. Last = SPK. Second To Last = Clownfish75. Third to Last = 6 Spracklecat. Fourth to Last = Spawner. Fifth from last = Acroporas. Remember, due to this unusual "condorcet" elections process, it is JUST AS IMPORTANT who you rank at the top as it is who is at the bottom. People in the middle can, in theory, overtake someone who might ordinarily have more counted votes. Thus, in no uncertain terms, what I have done here is rank the bottom in a way that conveys my view of who, among my unacceptable choices, has done the most damage to MOFIB through their actions and choices.
3. On the same list, the following candidates are my top four picks, and the ones I will be voting for. 1. Kmiec123 (Carl Kmiec), 2. "Umm, Fish" (Andrew Berry),3. Thales (Richard Ross), 5. Miles (Miles Lee)
4. On that same list, the following candidates are ones that I also endorse, but hey, I can't vote for all 7! 8. Colby (Colby Podkin), 11. seafarm (Randy Reed), 12. FuEL (Junkai...).
What follows will be MY rankings, top to bottom, with one or two sentences for each choice.
#1. Kmiec123 - Carl Kmiec - Carl, while not the best typist
, has been a strong MOFIB advocate and asset. Carl is a FOUNDING member of MOFIB as well as a moderator. NOTE - if the elected BOD desires to remove all three seated BOD members, Carl Kmiec must be among the 4 voted in, as he is the ONLY resident of Illinois (and by state Law, MOFIB is required to have a director who is resident in this state).
#2. Umm, Fish - Andrew Berry - Andy was actually one of the "next in line" of members that the original BOD was considering to bring up to moderator status; he has been an outspoken and tireless critic, one of the few people who didn't just give up.
#3. Thales - Richard Ross - Here is a charasmatic, intelligent individual who I personally have met on multiple occasions, who is well beyond qualified, being perhaps "the" pioneering Cephalapod breeder in the country if not the world. Again, here is a moderator who has been outright abused by a seated BOD member, but has shown such dedication to the founding principals of MOFIB that he has taken a big risk in continuing to fight to restore MOFIB.
#4. Miles - Miles Lee - Here is Miles, a softspoken MOFIB member who has been the most consistent individual financial contributor to MOFIB since we incorporated and started accepting donations. Here is a typical MOFIB member who I believe the seated BOD could care less about. I believe that if the seated BOD has failed him, he has taken the bold step to get more involved, whereas most people would simply wash their hands and walk away.
#5. Colby - Colby Podkin - Colby has always been someone I can count on for a VERY engaging high level debate on some of the nitty and gritty concepts and what not. Colby is a FOUNDING member of MOFIB as well as a moderator. I believe that a founding member such as Colby can serve to remind any BOD he sits on of the true purpose and founding principals which caused MOFIB to be started in the first place...principals that the seated BOD and administrators have more than lost sight of.
#6. seafarm - Randy Reed - I was fully unaware of Randy's nomination and am thrilled to see him on this list. Randy, and Reed Mariculture, have been STRONG supporters of MOFIB since it's inception (again, here is a person I consider a founding member of MOFIB). Randy (and Reed Mariculture) have been tireless advocates for MOFIB as well as providing financial support, the generousity has been matched by almost no other individual or commercial entity. And at the same time, I believe Randy understands the concept that ALL MOFIB members are commercial, and yet has never used MOFIB in a manner that would be overtly commercial, let alone to misuse this platform. In no uncertain terms, I believe Randy on his individual merits would be a stunning BOD member and one I would never question as having a "conflict of interest"...let's remember that 2 of our seated BOD members run commercial aquarium-related companies, and at least 2 or 3 of the advisors have direct commercial ties as well. Ask me what company has provided more generous and in my opinion, SELFLESS support to breeders on the whole, and it is NOT any of those currently tied to positions of power, but Reed Mariculture. I am proud to say that and if nothing else, I hope these contributions are recognized not only their generousity, but the spirit of the gestures. The ONLY reason Randy is not only my list is that he and I have had no personal discussions about the seated BOD and his own vision of what MOFIB needs to be. I may change my vote, but at the moment, this is where I sit.
#7. FuEl - Junkai...- I think it goes to show that when I know Junkai's last name (or do they flip them over there)...well, I think it just shows that I know Junkai better than most. Junkai has made generous contributions to MOFIB in ways not directly seen by most members...Junkai is a classic example of a member who could have very easily been disenfranchised by the BOD because they don't directly see what he has done for MOFIB. Again, much like Randy, the only reason Junkai is not higher up on my list is that I have not directly discussed the past 3.5 months with him and simply dont' know where he stands.
-- I do not endorse or recommend --
#8. Acroporas - Will Heaton - reasons stated earlier in this thread.
#9. Spawner - Andy Rhyne - reasons stated earlier in this thread.
#10. Spracklecat - Christine Williams - reasons stated earlier in this thread.
#11 - Clownfish75 - Christian Hoffman - I don't even know where to begin besides everything I've already posted...
#12 - SPK - Stephen Kennedy - As someone who I invited to work with me as a partner and who disappeared on the project for almost half a year (and would have probably left even longer were it not for him learning we were moving on without him), I could not fathom the lengths that Stephen Kennedy would go to in an attempt to "retake by force" something he truly invested so little in and showed such utter disregard to, as well as the full disrespect he has shown me and all the other members. The very notion that a personal promise made to him by John Lauth is the reason has caused this entire organizational breakdown should be proof enough as to how truly manipulative and self-motivated Mr. Kennedy is when it comes to MOFIB. Here is someone who abuses what power he currently has, and who has confessed to his actions only to then remove his confessions from the public eye. Here is someone who has accused me of everything that he has actually done to our members, in fact, here is someone who has accused me of destroying MOFIB, when in fact is is his actions that caused it's demise. It is rare for me to say that MOFIB would be better off without someone, but in this particular case, having over 2 years of history to reflect on, SPK should spend more of his time actually trying to breed something rather than trying to rule a community he contributes woefully little towards. I have given Mr. Kennedy many more than his fair share of chances, I have attempted at every turn to put the past behind us, and every time that has proven to be a misstep.
---
And with that, is my ticket. By all means, feel free to make your own choices. For the record, I do not know that all 4 candidates I have selected WILL all vote together to remove any seated BOD members. I have not asked them to make that pledge to me or you either. By all means, if you feel as I do that such action would be required to change the course of MOFIB, by all means do feel free to seek out those individuals who see that simpy being elected and expanding the BOD membership may not be enough.
FWIW,
Matt