E-mail ballots & or Online Ballots

Well.....anything is possible.

The downside to those, is you would not be ably to do anonymously. And you would lose quite a bit of control over who casts a ballot.

Remember not everyone on this forum is a South chapter member and we do not have a list of everyones valid email address.

The question I would ask is it too hard for the members to check a few boxes on a piece of paper, then put it in an envelope, then put a stamp on the envelope and drop it in a mail box? If it is then we should look at other means.

If we wanted to make it simple we could just have the members show up at a meeting and vote right there, save on the work of mailing the ballots.

Jimmy,

I agree with you that mailing it would be better. I was just seeing if there was a way to save the club some money.

I know that you lose anonymity by emailing it in. But there could be a procedure to help with that.

You post the ballot as a pdf.  Allow the members to send it as an attachment.  This would then be printed out by whoever is responsible for receiving the email votes. This would mean that only one person would see who is sending the email.
They would be able to verify that it is being sent by a registered club member.

Jimmy,

I agree with you that mailing it would be better. I was just seeing if there was a way to save the club some money.

I know that you lose anonymity by emailing it in. But there could be a procedure to help with that.

You post the ballot as a pdf.  Allow the members to send it as an attachment.  This would then be printed out by whoever is responsible for receiving the email votes. This would mean that only one person would see who is sending the email.
They would be able to verify that it is being sent by a registered club member.

I think you are on to something Wags...I like the pdf and print and email.  The ballot officer can check it off from the official 2009 member list.....

Jimmy,

I agree with you that mailing it would be better. I was just seeing if there was a way to save the club some money.

I know that you lose anonymity by emailing it in. But there could be a procedure to help with that.

You post the ballot as a pdf.  Allow the members to send it as an attachment.  This would then be printed out by whoever is responsible for receiving the email votes. This would mean that only one person would see who is sending the email.
They would be able to verify that it is being sent by a registered club member.

It's only around $100.00 or so for the mailing, so money is not much of a concern.

I understand the idea of a pdf emailed back to one person, you still lose that anonymity to that person and some are more......shall we say trustworthy than others. For example looks like Chuck, Pete and Carl are going to run for President, I can only vote for one of them, so if it gets out who I voted for then the other two are not so happy with me.

Also, do we reject a ballot that does not come from an email that is on file for that person. The one thing you cannot have is someone stuffing the Email ballot box. It is very easy to spoof an email address, just look at the spam that you get.

If you say do both, then that is certainly redundant. They way it has worked in the past, is someone would accept the ballots in the mail, bring the "unopened" ballots to the meeting. One person opens the mail, hands the ballot to another person who reads the ballot to the tally person. Then the results are announced at the meeting.  

Maybe some day though..............

What about having a ballot box at the Glen Helen National. You could give everyone a ballot and coupon when you check in, and before you put your ballot into the box you hand someone your coupon. This is where we should get the most participation.

Many at the GH National are members of other chapters and it is only 4 weeks away and that is a busy weekend without adding the ballot thing on the table.

So mailing in the ballot is too much for the members to do?...................perplexing.

It was only a thought, I was hoping for a bit better turn out than last year. I think to get the most vote's you should have a ballot box at the races, and the people that want to vote via mail or email that is fine too. The goal to me would be to get as many votes as possible.

The bad thing with mail is people put it aside and forget about it. There is an old saying out of sight out of mind.

Yep, I wish we had a 80% return rate on the ballots, but we do not.

Maybe someone on here can explain to us why, when the ballot is mailed to your house, that you do not return the ballot.

All in this club are over 30, most are over 40, they should be responsible enough to return their ballots without someone holding their hand.......................I would think.  ::)

Hey I got it..........points for everyone who mails back the ballot! What about that?

yeah thats the ticket POINTS.....:P

Hey I'm OK with anyone not voting for me, the reason I decided to run, # 1 the amount of support and encouragement to do so that I've received #2 I really believe that we can promote the club better and I intend to do so! #3 I was going to last year and Yukon posted about "new members" shouldn't run for office... Then this year his post to my response to Shaun after I re read it, I agree Shut up or Put up. So I'm not the type to shut up. And who ever you vote for just vote, like Jimmy said it's not hard . And if things get rough and the postage rate is the deal breaker ::) send it in and hit me up at the track I've got you covered.
Chucky

My two cents...although perhaps not the most modern of approaches, the mail-in ballot still probably works best...as stated, it allows for the anonymity, as well as the "validity" of the ballot (in the past, we did things to validate the ballot versus someone making copies and voting more than once).  And for someone who really won't be affected by the outcome (I'm not sure how many, if any, events I'll be making next year), the less than $.50 to cast my vote for the good of the club is more than worth the expense and effort on my part.  I think if you keep this thread going, talk it up at the races, as well as other communication vehicles (email, Facebook, Twitter, face to face, telephone, etc), you'll be successful in reaching more than will probably vote...but let's hope they all do and next year holds the record...80 percent of the 200+ members would be wonderful!

Chucky -- I'm not sure where you're coming from...I don't believe I ever posted or told any new members not to run...I may have stated I think a combination of both new and previous board members is best or sometimes for higher level positions, those running should have been a member because they'd have some insight on how things actually work (what they think works well and what doesn't), but I don't think I ever stated new members should not be allowed to run.  If I did, it certainly wasn't my intention.  As far as my comment about it's easier to say what the club needs from the sidelines vs. actually trying to lead it, that comment was not meant for anyone in particular...it was more my viewpoint that if you or anyone is really convinced that something needs to be done, it's best if that individual leads that effort...those with the passion, guts, commitment, etc., are the best ones to see something suggested and implemented.  Since this is a"volunteer/uncompensated" board, it's a lot to ask of them to do their normal duties plus champion a change.  Again, that comment was not directed at you...it was a general comment.  Beware, I now feel challenged to get you, Shaun, and me to have a repeat YJ experience like we did at Comp Edge so Rick Wade could slam us at the banquet -- JUST KIDDING!

Mike

I have a dream of my own...some things to consider for next year's board  on: September 07, 2008, 11:01:09 AM  

As the 2008 board turns its immediate attention on the upcoming picnic, national, and 2008 season banquet, I'd ask that you consider asking yourself the following (but not limited to) questions as the club decides on who to elect to the board and what changes to implement and what policy to keep in tact.

Board Members
1)  Is the potential board member someone who is new to the club, has been around for a few years, or is a longtime member?
2)  Is the potential board member someone who participates at races once in a great while, occasionally, the majority of races, at nationals, etc?
3)  Will the potential board member make decisions for his/her own benefit or is he/she looking at the affect on the majority of members and the other chapters?  Are the decisions based on fact, gut feel, or emotion?
4)  If the potential board member is a returning member, has he/she been active at the events helping regulate practice, the actual races, trophy presentations, announcing, assisting downed riders, been available to the membersship, involved in multiple aspects of the club, other?
5)  Other potential questions?

This may be a lot to ask, especially since this is a "voluntary" board with work, family, and personal obligations and challenges, but I'm a believer that the only "dumb" question is the one that is not asked.

YJ

I should say that I interpreted it to imply relatively new members might not be best suited for  running for office, and I agree that there's more to it than saying "hey I'm gonna run for office". But see a year later and your encouraging me  🙂 I didn't think your remarks were directed at Me I just think it's a fair statement to say get off the couch stand up for what you believe in. Thank you  😉
Chucky

I wouldn't call someone who has been in the club over a year new.

To shed a different light on the subject, John Lombardo & Jeff Hamblin, though both have been in the club for quite a while they are/were 1st time board members this year.

Ask them if their prospective of the club and how it is ran is different now. Theirs is the same as almost all 1st time board members.