election season for NYRR

[Ralph Yozzo]

Did anyone notice that it's election season for NYRR?

They seem to have increased the size of the board with hand-picked candidates.

Has anyone ever tried to get on the ballot?  It's not even easy to find out how to do that.  After months and months of requests and finally mentioning the "Bureau of Charities" laws requiring open disclosure, the NYRR lawyer sent me tiny excerpts of the bylaws.  Of course, the nomination committee seems to be controlled by the officers.

Here's an open letter to NYRR that people should consider and add to and sign, since it's your organization:

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Dear New York Road Runners,

As members of the New York Road Runners non profit organization, we have the following requests:

1. The bylaws of the club should be available to the members or posted in a public place.
2. There should be at least 10 general membership meetings a year.  That would be in addition to the current number of general membership meetings held per year, which is zero.  The club council meetings are not general membership meetings.  And even the club council meetings are almost never held anymore.
   
3. There should be a transparent nomination and election process in order that the members (who are the real owners) have representation on the board.
4. There should be referendums for all important issues.
5. The tax returns and contracts and expenditures of the non profit organization should be easily accessible to the members.
6. All agenda items should be formed democratically through a open inconclusive process that promotes participation of all members regardless of race, color, creed, ethnic origin, gender, or any other issue designed to divide the members.
7. Elections where the agenda items and persons on the ballot are already decided is a very weak form of democracy. The membership must be involved in the process of picking the candidates.
8. The Officers and the Board of Directors should be "in effect" a rubber stamp on the wishes of the general membership.
9. [please add your requests here]
   

Signed,
The Members of the New York Road Runners

[please add your name here]
Ralph Yozzo
[or please add your name here]