CHAPTER ELEVEN
1975: E.C. at Work.
Board members and proxies present for all or at least part of the Nov. 6-7 E.C. Meeting in Chicago were: President Charlie Disney (CD), Executive Vice-President J. Rufford Harrison (JRH), Recording Secretary Lou Bochenski (LB), Corresponding Secretary Gus Kennedy’s proxy: Jean Kennedy (JK), Treasurer Jack Carr’s proxy: Neal Fox (NF), Vice Presidents Malcolm R. Anderson (MRA), Tim Boggan (TB), Dick Miles (DM), and Sol Schiff (SS). Others present on occasion: Richard Feuerstein, Robert Henry, Steve Isaacson, D-J Lee, George Otto, John Read, Sue Sargent, Coach Schleff, Andrew Tobin, and Graham Steenhoven, who, after the Chinese gave him a 16 mm. film of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy,” said, “From April, 1971 to April, 1975 I have given 118 talks using that film, and will continue to do so.”
Most of the first 55 items covered in Mal Anderson’s Minutes (TTT, Mar.-Apr., 1976, 17-18; 14) had to do with Bylaw changes, many by Anderson himself, who was Chair of the Rules Committee. Perhaps it was the Meeting’s agenda he had seen that made Boggan a wee bit down—note his poem I’ve included here.
In the upcoming USTTA election, President Disney would not seek to retain his Presidency, nor would Jack Carr seek the office. But Jack, in an “Open Letter to the Incoming President” (TTT, Mar.-Apr., 1976, 21), offered suggestions on a dozen topics—some 65 sentences on what the USTTA President should, or should not do. His aim, he said, was to make the next President’s life easier.
Most important to Carr is the preservation of order, of sticking to the rules, according to the “requirements of the USTTA Handbook” (the 1965 Summer E.C. Meeting had centered on Jack’s revisions of the USTTA Constitution and Bylaws). Most of his suggestions in his President’s article are reminders of the obvious, not always held to. He thinks responsible E.C. officials and committee chairs are important, funding U.S. Teams important, establishment of major tournaments important, TV important, E.C. Meeting agendas important. He thinks “the present E.C. nominations and campaign statements should be controlled [by whom?]. Executive Committee members should be chosen [by whom?] for what they can contribute to the USTTA.”* Beware, he warns, of persons who want to make private deals or who are otherwise “self-serving persons.” Here’s Carr’s advice on Topics, which might have put former President Boggan, now into his sixth season as Editor, into another poetic mood:
“Topics. You [the incoming USTTA President] should endeavor to upgrade Topics [actually, it would seem, find a new Editor]. Get rid of junk articles and long useless writings which say little or nothing put in just to fill up space. [Huh?} Caustic, vitriolic and juvenile articles, pictures and poems have no place in our national (and world) publication. Working officials should not attack other working officials, particularly with untruths and half-truths. Avoid profanity. Have more compliments, less criticism, mainly unwarranted. Topics deadlines should be made known. You should make it known that the editor’s views are not necessarily those of the USTTA or the Executive Committee. If a person or organization does something for table tennis or the USTTA, he should be properly thanked. Tournament write-ups should say something more than just a reflection of the results. Each issue should have a coaching article and a rules write-up.”
Jack ends his article by advising, “Your biggest job [Mr. President] is to see that others work and think.” And, considering these directives, Carr’s own appointed, self-appointed, biggest job is…? Personally, I’ve felt as President or Editor I work responsibly well without prodding, but Jack’s lines certainly do make me and perhaps others think…about Jack.
Here now is a summary of that Nov. 6-7, 1975 Chicago E.C. Meeting.
Standing Rule. It was agreed that only USTTA members will be listed in the Ratings published in Topics. Ratings Chair NF pointed out “the difficulty in accurately removing non-members names from the list.” JRH Proposal: “That the results of organized club matches may be used in determining the players’ ratings.” Passed unanimously. Like the Treasurer, CD wants to examine a monthly Report from NF who estimates $8,000 income and $5,782 expenses for next year. Bochenski thinks the USTTA spends too much money on Ratings. He says the Northwest hasn’t much use for Fox’s ratings because their own “are completely up to date and are very accurate since they take into consideration league ratings and inter-city team matches as well as tournaments.”
Carl Lehroff , also from the Northwest, says the USTTA Rating System is inaccurate (TTT, Nov.-Dec., 1975, 22). Inaccuracies may occur due to human error in the “process of amassing, processing, and distributing the data involved; or because of “deliberate or unconscious falsification.” Unfortunately, says Lehroff, we have “no way of testing empirically the accuracy of the system.” We don’t have the very important trial and error approach. “When something is invented, an airplane, say, it is first designed, then built, and then tested. In the vast majority of cases the first trial is unsuccessful (the plane crashes), and it’s back to the drawing board….A fatal flaw in the rating system is that it cannot crash.” [But didn’t Fox make modifications to Howard’s initial efforts? Hasn’t he made adjustments since he first started?]
Lehroff points out that “inaccuracies will be added in from time to time as a) unknown players move into the area, b) new players take up the game or discover organized table tennis, c) players improve suddenly or without playing in tournaments, d) players’ ability level declines relative to others. The theory is that all the above inaccuracies will work out in competition” But this isn’t the case: ratings are repeatedly distorted, both for wins and losses. Moreover, ratings are given “a specious air of importance and legitimacy,” and those who administer the ratings are given “a great deal of power from which there is no appeal.”
I think I need indicate that, as of this writing, more than 30 years later, the ITTF and the USATT rating systems—though repeatedly tested with criticism and changes, plane problems if not crashes—have continually been in use as a practical way of judging players’ strengths.
CD has abandoned the idea of a 6-12 team National League. He liked Danny Seemiller’s idea of a Pro Tour—thought maybe action could be started with Minneapolis/Chicago, with Philadelphia/New York/Boston, promoting piggy-back tournaments. Good for local players, good for local sponsors. If promoters could make money, players’ prize money would increase. CD’s “proposal for the USTTA to match funds, up to $500, for prizes in a U.S. Closed in Minneapolis was deleted. No one would move it.” He hopes Mort Zakarin’s Pro circuit will be successful. Disney had proved with his Minnesota Classic that he could fund-raise for a tournament. Surely others could do that too—get hotels, restaurants, soft-drink companies, airlines, etc. to help sponsor tournaments. Rich Kelly, Jr. suggests that we sell one of the major networks a package of five tournaments—one of Mort Zakarin’s Pro Tour tournaments (the one with the largest purse); the U.S. Open; Kelly’s proposed 2000 and Over tournament ($100 entry fee—with foreign world-class players’ entries accepted; prizes to come out of the entry fees); the U.S. Team Tryouts; and the 1979 World Championships. Anyone want to get to work on that?...Meanwhile, Las Vegas’s Caesars Palace wants to make a bid to hold the U.S. Closed in December, 1976.
CD moved that “we pay Jean Kennedy $100” for her excellent secretarial work for the Association. Passed 5-1 (JRH)-0.
An E.C. member (unnamed) made a Proposal “that one representative from each state be allowed to attend each E.C. Meeting.” This was dropped because, as it is, any USTTA member from anywhere can attend these Meetings.
Bylaw Change (proposed by MRA): “Before the draw is made, the players in the event will be listed with their city, state or home club recorded next to their name. After the seeded and placed players are recorded in the draw, those players in the largest group (same club [perhaps]) will be drawn first, and separated as far as possible. For instance, if between 9 and 16 players are from the same club, they will be drawn into separate 8th’s. The next largest group will then be drawn in the same manner, etc.” Passed unanimously.
Bylaw Change (proposed by MRA): For Ranking purposes: the World Championships will be considered a 3-star tournament; U.S. World Team Trials a 2-star; and all other Team Trials a 1-star. Passed unanimously.
Bylaw Change (proposed by MRA): “The value of any prize in any open will not exceed the maximum value set by the ITTF for prizes in an open tournament.” Passed unanimously. New players can buy a playing permit ($1 adult; $.50 junior for closed tournaments; double that for 1 or 2-star tournaments). Permits are good for, first, one tournament, then another—but no more. Further, permits are good only for closed no-star, and open one or two-star tournaments, and then only for Senior, Junior, or Class events (providing none of them offer prize money). As of July 1st, 1975, Esquires and Seniors to be eligible must be over the age competition cut-off within the month of competition. (For example, if a player turns 40 on Jan. 21st, he could play in the Senior’s in a Jan. 3-4 tournament.) New Eligibility Rule for Senior Women—you can now play in the event if you’re 30 (no longer have to wait until you’re 40).
Bylaw Change (proposed by MRA): “The USTTA may enter into contracts with individuals or corporations only at an E.C. meeting and only after the proposed contract has been reviewed and commented on by a lawyer, preferably the USTTA Legal Advisor.” [This probably reverberates to Boggan having apparently been too private with the Houston U.S. Open contract.] Passed 5-1 (LB) -0.
Bylaw Change (proposed by MRA): “…A draw should not be changed after being posted or revealed, except as follows”:
“…No alterations may be made in the draw of any event after play has started in that event. A qualifying competition and the knockout competition may be regarded as separate events.
…No player or pair may be deleted from the draw without his or their permission, except for scratching or disqualification by the Referee or Tournament Chairman or Committee for reasons within their jurisdiction. No player or doubles team may be moved from one place in a posted draw to another except with their permission.
…If, in circumstances such as the withdrawal of a large proportion of the players, an event becomes so unbalanced that rearrangement is necessary, the event should, if practicable, be completely re-drawn according to the original procedure. Exceptionally, where the imbalance is due to the absence of several seeded players or pairs from the same section of the draw and a complete re-draw is impractical, the remaining seeded players or pairs may be renumbered in ranking order and re-drawn to the extent possible among the seeded places, leaving the remainder of the draw unchanged. Passed 5-0-1 (DM).”
George Otto’s PR man, Andrew Tobin, said his services would cost the Association “$1,000 per month plus expenses.” Otto himself presented a proposal to the E.C. that “includes an analysis of how we presently are operating, analysis of our Constitution and Bylaws, analysis of the structure and function of the E.C., etc.” Otto would “do this preliminary program for four months for a fee of $500 per month and expenses, not to exceed $200 per month.” “Fox objected that this proposal wasn’t mentioned in the agenda, so he can’t vote on it, as it isn’t mentioned in his proxy note.” CD apologized for having overlooked the proposal in making the agenda. Harrison moved we accept Otto’s proposal. Passed 6-0-2 (DM, JK).
Otto, according to Disney’s “From The President” column (TTT, Nov.-Dec., 1975, 11), wants to be the Executive Secretary of the USTTA, and is now the Executive Secretary of the Table Tennis Manufacturers Association (the six charter members of which are “Crown Recreation, Sportcraft, Indian Industries, Harvard Table Tennis, Martin-Kilpatrick, and Detroit Wood Products).” Charlie, who with other E.C. members will visit the National Sporting Goods Association Show here in Chicago, calls Otto “a very fine professional,” and says, “we couldn’t have a better man.” Disney also wants USTTA members to urge appropriate stores in their areas to sell higher-priced, quality USTTA approved equipment. And he asks the manufacturers and media to institute some feedback—that is, mention “For further information on Table Tennis tournaments, clubs, or rules—contact the United States Table Tennis Association, Box 815, Orange, Conn. 06477.”
JRH proposal: “That USTTA Certified Coaches receive 20% finders’ fees for all new members they sign up....Passed by general consent.” Coaching Chair Jeff Smart wants to spend the rest of his budgeted Coaching funds to “bring together THREE of our country’s top player/coaches [all their expenses paid] to run a clinic designed to teach coaches the latest and most advanced techniques.” He’s picked Monty Merchant, D-J Lee, and Alex Tam—with alternates Jeff Smart and Dan Seemiller. (Why not Wuvanich, whose coaching articles we see in Topics?) The clinic is to be held at Merchant’s Mobile, Alabama club Mar. 30-Apr. 3—that’s the week after the $2000 tournament in Baton Rouge. The three coaches will not be paid, but are asked to contribute their services “for the benefit of the coaching program in this country.” The first ten certified coaches who apply will receive $100 “to help defray their expenses.” Other certified coaches may attend the clinic free. Uncertified coaches may attend for a fee of $50 that will go back into the Coaching fund.
Bylaw Change (proposed by NF): “…If an affiliate has more that two 1 or 2-star tournaments during the season, the sanction fees will be as follows: 3rd tournament--$37.50; 4th--$33.35; 5th through 12th--$25.” Passed 4-1 (MRA)-1 (LB). D-J Lee complained that the “Ohio TTA kept sanctioning developmental tournaments one week before his tournaments.” NF said he “would not allow this for the next two tournaments.”
Standing Rule. “Mailing labels for use in tournaments in contiguous states will be sold to affiliated clubs at cost. Labels for all other uses will be sold for $.03 each. Passed 3 (LB, CD, JRH)-2 (SS, JK)-2 (MRA, DM).
Bylaw Change (proposed by DM):
“…A Bylaw change can be proposed and voted on through the mail. The Proposer of a change by a mail vote will state the reasons for his proposal; after not less than 30 days the E.C. shall vote on the proposal by mail. The change will pass if at least 2/3 of the entire E.C. members …[agree to pass it]….[If] they want this proposal discussed at the next E.C. meeting…[it] will be put on the agenda…as a previously proposed Bylaw change.’ The President shall appoint a special committee to establish the procedure for conducting a mail vote, including the count thereof….Passed 5-0-2 (MRA, CD).”
Bylaw Change (proposed by MRA): “…Provide a site, including chairs and desks or tables, for the USTTA Rules Committee Chairman or his representative to give the USTTA National Umpires exam….Passed 6-1 (DM)-0. Rules Committee has spent to date $668.88 on badges for umpires. Currently there are “202 Qualified Umpires, 9 Regional U’s, 1 National U, 1 International U with three candidates for I.U. waiting to hear if they passed. Miles asked if we would be able to provide 200 umpires for the 1979 World’s; MRA answered probably not….”
Bylaw Change (MRA). Change Affiliation fee from $10 to $15 a year. Passed 5-0-1 (LB). Bylaw Change (MRA): Make that $35 (not $45) for three years. Passed 4-0-2 (CD, TB). Bylaw Change: Eliminate Affiliate memberships. Passed: 4-0-2 (SS, MRA).
JRH moved: “That the Corresponding Secretary will write [Peter] Stephens one more time, and if we don’t receive the records within one month the matter will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.” Passed unanimously. [Peter was to audit the USTTA books and so received certain financial records which, when it was decided he wasn’t going to do the audit, he hasn’t returned.]
Jack Carr, USTTA Equipment Committee Chair, says that Rufford Harrison, “the extremely capable and intelligent ITTF Equipment Chair,” is working diligently to correct deficiencies in table regulations. One doesn’t have to read between the lines, though, to get the idea that Rufford had better work harder at problem solving, for according to Jack, problem identifier extraordinaire, there’s much to be done:
“The ITTF Laws of Table Tennis do not define precisely the following: Tolerances for width, height, length, horizontal flatness, or degree of warping allowed. There are no definitions for rigidity, durability, sturdiness, appearance, coefficient of friction, hardness, roughness, reinforcement or types of undercarriage, or resilience. The table may be made of any material and there is no minimum thickness, and there is no tolerance for the thickness or width of the white lines on the table top. The type table finish is not specified and there is no requirement that the paint not adhere to the ball. The Laws do not specify that the table accept any ITTF-approved net assembly. The gloss has been stated but the degree of darkness has not been specified.”
We’re to understand that Jack is thinking here of the membership. So he asks them to “please make your own examination [when buying a table] and play on it to assure that it meets with your personal needs and desires.”
When Warren Rasmussen was no longer Library and Film Committee Chair, Boggan, the E.C. member responsible for that Chair, after some initial reluctance suggested Bill Hodge for the position. Largely because in reply to Tim’s reservations, Bill sent him a long Aug. 22, 1975 letter, parts of which I reproduce here (the more so because I’m always trying to give backgrounds of prominent USTTA members):
“…You call me a transient, a sojourner….[But] I’ve lived in [just] two cities in [the last]17 years, and have been steadily employed almost all those 17 years. The apt. I am in right now has been my home for three years now. Transient?...
…You say the Film Chairman should be a person who’s rooted somewhere, who has a strong sense of the past, a historical perspective. Perhaps I’m not rooted strong enough. But I do have a strong sense of the past. In fact, for years now, I have had my own Library. Approximately 80 pounds of papers, magazines, Topics, correspondence, etc. I also have much of Dick Evans’s old papers, including USTTA newsletters going back to Nov., 1934, and Topics back to Nov., 1962.
[Tim worries that Bill won’t be careful enough with the films. But, talk about being careful, Bill says,] “…DOES THE USTTA HAVE 40 YEARS WORTH OF FILMS NOW?...I’ll bet the USTTA has been RAPED….From what I’ve gathered, everybody and anybody has USTTA films all over this country….[Bill says if he’s Chair he’ll damn well get them back. Actually, I don’t think the USTTA ever had many films or copies of films, but regarding those never returned, how might Bill get them back? With help from Rasmussen? Is he available?]
[As for Bill being a dependable worker, he says]:
“…Most of my jobs in the past 15 years have been in the Transportation industry. I have specialized in going to problem-plagued companies. Putting in new methods and procedures, organizing and systemizing and solving their problems, then moving on to a similar company….My last job in Ohio was with Columbus Retail Merchants Delivery. I was a key executive. Retail is the largest Pool Distributor in Ohio, delivering over 1 million pounds of freight per day for about 900 manufacturers. Our terminal was about 800,000 cubic feet, and had 92 doors for loading freight, the largest in Ohio. We could even unload 6 railroad cars inside at one time. Get an idea of how big it was. Tim…I was in charge of all claims, processing approximately $5,000,000 in claims per year. I approved all claims. Additionally…I was the Security Chief. I set up the entire security system, hired Pinkerton guards, worked with the FBI and local police by putting undercover men on the dock, and in fact helped prosecute three men we caught through this undercover operation. I was the only contact between the company and Pinkerton. Also, I was in complete charge of OS&D and Tracing, with nine employees in that Department. When I left that company I forfeited a stock option of 500 shares of stock, valued at approximately $35 per share…and I could have exercised my option at a buy of $12, leaving me with a profit of $23 per share x 500 shares, or about $12,000. I say I could, but I didn’t. Crazy? Maybe so, but I did it for a principle….I could have cashed in, then quit, but to me that would have been phony or deceitful. Anyway, having a strong sense of what is Right, I simply quit. The rest of the story is personal. The Company wronged me, so I left. But the point is…I had a hell of a lot of responsibility.
Here in Vegas I was Food and Beverage Manager at Caesars Palace on graveyard for eight months, having responsibility over 300 food and beverage employees, overall supervision over four bars, four restaurants and the main show room. Responsibility? I have also worked for the Thunderbird, Desert Inn, and Sands Hotels in Purchasing, Warehouse, and Receiving Departments, being in charge of, and responsible for, millions of dollars worth of merchandise. I need go no further when listing my work record qualifications. No past employer during the past 20 years will say anything bad about my work. I am proud of it. While I may act wild at TT, my work is another thing.
…I have spent one hell of a lot of my time devoted to TT, without pay. Nothing. In two weeks I start teaching here at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, two evenings a week at $29 per hour. Additionally, our Club, which I am President of, is also moving into the University. And finally, one day a week I am teaching kids at a new recreation center….
Where’s my letterhead and envelopes? What do I do for postage? Who makes the film copies?...” [CD ordered TB to send the films to Hodge.]
There’s much talk about the composition of U.S. Teams. Selection Committee Chair John Read presented his report. For small events the latest Ratings will be used “with emphasis on young dedicated players.” Same thing for U.S. and Canadian Opens, but “if possible have a second ‘youth’ team. Passed by general consent.” However, for U.S. World’s Team there were various Motions and Amendments. TB moved “that we allow the Selection Committee to name one player directly to the team without playing in the Trials by a 2/3 majority vote. Passed 3 (JRH, TB, SS)-2 (MRA, LB)-0. Motion to reconsider: Passed 6-0. Motion: “That 1 man and 1 woman with an outstanding record can be named to the World’s team before the Trials if both the Selection Committee and the E.C. vote to do this with a 2/3 majority.” Passed 4-3 (MRA, LB. CD)-0. The 1977 U.S. World Team will consist of 5 men, 4 women. Passed. Miles moved that that the top junior finishing in the top 7 at the Trials be put on the U.S. Team. Motion failed: 1 (DM)-4(LB, MRA, SS, TB). MRA moved that the top junior finishing in the top 10 at the Trials be put on the U.S. Team. Motion passed: 3-2 (DM, TB)-1 (JRH). Fox is again irritated that this Selection Committee discussion wasn’t on the agenda, doubly irritated because he himself is on the Selection Committee and hadn’t seen Read’s report. So again he couldn’t vote on the Motions.
JRH moved: “That we recommend to the ITTF a change in their rules on team relegation at the World’s. At present, a team that misses a World’s can request to be placed in the first or second category if it is strong enough, in which case the bottom team in that category which was just promoted, is relegated to the lower group. Harrison proposed that in such a case the higher category be increased in size, and at the end of team play three teams be relegated instead of two. Passed by general consent.”
In his “From The President” column, Disney says he’s looking for a U.S. World Team Captain and Coach “with the burning desire of a Vince Lombardi.” Somebody who’s “willing to push our players hard enough before going to the World’s in training camps and organize them—get them together, do fund raising for them, give them enough desire and discipline to form a strong unit.”
Christmas Coaching Camps will be held by D-J Lee; Wuvanich, Chan and Sears; and the Seemiller brothers.
LB moved: “That the USTTA will provide half fare for two juniors [selected by the Coaching Committee] to go to Japan for the Tamasu clinic. They will be expected to be in good condition when they go there, and to report on their trip in Topics and to disseminate the information they gain to other players. Passed 6-0.”
“Windsor Olson’s National Table Tennis League is running a ‘World Professional Table Tennis Championship’ in Haiti that’s not been sanctioned by the ITTF (Haiti isn’t an ITTF affiliate). So U.S. players can’t play in it. Agreed by general consent.”
Miles’s proposed contract for running the next five U.S. Opens was discussed. In his President’s column, Disney said he thought this 5-year contract would add “a lot of professionalism to our Nationals and create a more experienced team effort year after year.”
“Robert Henry spoke for Oklahoma City—they want another U.S. Open, perhaps in 1977. They want to work with one person, not Miles. Their Chamber of Commerce doesn’t want to make a profit”; any profit would go back to the USTTA. CD said that “Bob Griffin, the President of the Manufacturer’s Association, is totally opposed to Miles’s contract.” NF stated that “George Buben, Tournament Chairman for many U.S. Opens, and Fuarnado Roberts, President of the Players’ Association, are totally opposed to this contract.” CD “doesn’t want the USTTA liable for any debts; the USTTA should get more money and shouldn’t give up all TV rights.” Miles said he wouldn’t vote on the contract, and that, if he got it, he’d resign from the E.C. It was decided later that it would be impractical to include with the upcoming E.C. election ballots pros and cons, and an actual membership poll, as to whether Miles should get this contract.
“DM requested that ‘the room situation’ in Houston be minuted.” MRA refused to minute it, so Miles moved that JRH take the minutes. Passed 5-2 (MRA, CD)-0. Miles had asked repeatedly since August for E.C. members who owed $1400 to the USTTA Treasury for Houston room bills to pay up. By our consent, Dick said, Houston had deducted this money from the USTTA sanction fee. Anderson, who resumed taking the minutes, said he’d refused to minute ‘the room situation’ “because of its total stupidity. Per the Bylaws, the E.C. members do not pay hotel bills at the U.S. Open, the sponsor does. The fact that Miles traded away our rooms without our knowledge does not obligate us to pay. If anyone owes this money to the USTTA, it is Miles.” CD “directs Miles to assume responsibility for paying the umpires’ fees owed the membership from the 1975 U.S. Open, which Miles guaranteed the President when he said he would protect the interest of the USTTA.”
One Houston Open participant, Paul Jackson, said that at the tournament it “it was almost impossible to determine who was playing who, when or where.” Also, he thought that when the umpire returns the score sheet, ball, and pencil to the control desk, he should be paid immediately. And, as there were quite a few matches not umpired, who do those dollars, forcefully collected, go to?
DM said: “In his opinion, the most important item on the agenda, the election procedures, was put off for discussion until the late hour of 10:45 p.m. Saturday.” CD said that was “to keep the discussion of them from disrupting the orderly flow of this meeting.” DM asked the President to poll the E.C. concerning changing the election procedures.” Poll results: “CD and JRH: considering changes now would be premature, we should wait for George Otto’s report. NF stated Carr would prefer to wait for Otto’s report. SS thinks elections should be by state. LB abstained.” TB “ likes the preferential ballot.” DM says “the membership itself should decide how to elect its officers. The possible election procedures should be outlined in Topics ASAP with an accompanying check-off box for the membership to let us know which system they prefer. Miles, for what it’s worth, recommends the preferential ballot.”
DM said, “That since 3/9 of the present E.C. were not elected to their present positions by the membership, including the President, a Bylaw change be considered that would establish that all vacancies on the E.C. would automatically be filled by the candidate for that office who, in the previous election, received the next highest number of votes.” DM asked for a poll of the E.C. “to see who would support this Bylaw change in a mail vote.” Results: “CD—no: the E.C. can fill vacancies with people who are more capable than the next most popular candidate. JRH—no. MRA—no. DM—yes. TB—yes. SS—no. JK—no. LB—no.”
The Meeting ended after slightly more discussion but no further voting on anything, and after more proposed Bylaw Changes by MRA (to be taken up later).
SELECTED NOTES.
*Carr’s suggestions here that only certain selected candidates be allowed to run for E.C. office echo Chair Fred Danner’s “Nominating Committee” Report on the 1975 Election. That Report, unsigned, which I now can’t find a copy of, drew, what I do have a copy of, a furious critique from me, especially since I myself was maligned in it. Now, from a perspective of over 30 years, I find it hard to believe that Fred himself, who ran for office in that Election, wrote all that appeared there.
Later, for the 1976 Election, Carl Danner would send out a form in which he asked Executive Vice-President Rufford Harrison, who was running for office, “to check,” as Rufford said, “which candidates I felt worthy of nomination.” I don’t know who received these forms, don’t know if I as an E.C. member got such a form, I’ve no record of it, but I do have a copy of Rufford’s response and obviously his input mattered—even a response like, “I cannot in all honesty vote against anyone who is opposing me,” but were it fitting I comment on a fellow candidate, I would not vote for Brenner [whom he’s running against.]. Rufford goes on to give his opinion of candidates. He wants to know who’s on this Nominating Committee, wants to know why certain candidates are acceptable, others not—why, for example, Schiff is acceptable to the Committee but Miles isn’t.
Obviously there’s not enough transparency in all this.