Stock chairman for 2010?

[Big Don]

Figured we could start a new thread to keep Edward happy. He hurt my feelings calling us jerks

[mike ross]

Ok John Runne states that Scott Reed is ready for 2 more years. Maybe Scott can expand on this some. Here is what I think. I would have liked to seen more appointed commissioners the last 2 years. There are quite a few very qualified individuals out there that could help make sounder decisions for the Stock category. In Stock, the commissioners majority vote controls what happens with rules for the upcoming years. ( more commisioners would help the odds when items get voted on) Example: commisioners are determined buy regions member #s so the west coast is at a disadvantage when it comes to commisioners. This is where the VP could even the odds some by appointing quality commisioners from lower member # regions. Unlike Mod were the racers have a say via a vote to pass or reject new rules. I have seen first hand where issues at the National Meeting get pushed through with the system we are using. Leaving drivers with no say and having them feel like the commission was weighted against certain ideas. (for example the Mercury 15 ASX motor not being able to race A this upcoming year) I have a new driver that spent the money to buy a new Mercury thinking his kid could run AX and then when gaining more experience he would move up and race A. Well that idea went down the tubes at this years National Meeting . Anyway I was just wondering if anyone else was thinking like I was. In the past 2 years I haven't seen a huge positive movement. The sidewinder is still way behind schedule. It has shown more promise in the hands of the finest drivers and crew chiefs. But I see it in the hands of the not so knowledgeable looking way off the pace. It is suppose to be a engine anyone can buy and be in the hunt at least. It is still very limited in availability 6 or 7 years later. Lets here some feedback. I am mad at Eddie to for calling us jerks!!! I thought hijacking threads was legal on Hydroracer Mikey!!!

[chicagopaul]

Geez!

I know going to the Nationals meeting is expensive. But when I have an "agenda" that is important to the sport (not necessarily to my advantage either) I spend the money and get my butt to the meeting. I make sure ahead of time that I have "lobbied" my commissioners and request floor time. I make a brief presentation and sit down.

This has worked very well for me. I do not take on challenges that do not have a chance. I only focus on things that I believe I can get done.

Now I realize that not everyone can spend the money. So the next best bet is to find as many folks as possible that share your view on a subject and get them ALL to WRITE their commissioners.

Post on HydroRacer or any other forum is not a valid way to communicate your views to the commissioners. It is a great way to brain storm and "tune" your ideas into something presentable.

I also suggest that you limit your focus to 1, 2 maybe 3 items at the very most. Generally, someone else will spearhead other items that are of interest to you as well.

Try it. I think you will find that it works.

Chicago Paul

[26V]

Stock Chairman

Mike, I liked the fact that Scott did not Load the commission with Appointees. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
I feel it gives a better representation of the Stock outboard membership.
Elect your Commissioners and let them know what you think needs to be changed. Help them out! Write out your changes with page# rule# and how that rule should read. It also helps if you have someone at the National meeting to express your reasons for the proposed change.
So write up your proposal to reinstate the Merk into the A class, get it to your commissioner(s), and lobby the commission to approve the proposal! Or better yet be a Commissioner and present it yourself.

[Hutch06]

List of Commissioners

I know it is very hard to find a complete list of each Region's commissioners. It is not published in Propellor and could not find the information on the APBA website. Fortunately, I know my Region 6 commissioners, but not everyone may know their specific regions' officials (especially those new to racing or recently interested in the politics of SO).

I agree with Chicago Paul, write your commissioners with your opinions, problems, etc.! Hydroracer is a good place to discuss ideas, but just pure discussion on an online forum isn't solely going to get anything changed.

[chicagopaul]

The Commissioners list was on the Stock Outboard Web page, but they are not there now.

I'll check it out.

CP

[D_Allen_III]

Reference Book

Also found in the 2009 Reference book which can be found online under the "Resources: Downloads and Forms" tab on the APBA website. Directory is the red link you should click on.

Or click here (page 8): http://apba-racing.com/Forms/2009/009REF2.pdf

[Hutch06]

Thanks Donny, that's a great reference tool to know (and bookmark). Thank you for finding it and posting the link.

[reed28n]

Chairman

I have volunteered to Chair the Stock Outboard Commission and welcome the challenge if the elected Commissioners vote me in.

2009 we had one appointed commissioner. Bob Trolian.

You may not have agreed with every decision made by the commission but I hope you will agree that we made every effort to be as transparent as possible. The agenda was built by request from members, it was published on the Stock Outboard web site two weeks prior to the meeting to give everyone a chance to lobby and debate. Everyone was recognized and was asked to speak at our meeting.

Administratively we have worked hard to get the rules printed in the rule book from the last several years of meetings and the technical manual is being over hauled.

We have worked hard to do the right thing and there will always be criticism, but I refuse to stack the commission. I want the members to be represented by their vote. I personally may not agree with the result of every vote but I am comfortable supporting the way the commission arrived at their decisions and I support the process.

Scott Reed
3rd generation Boatracer since I was 9. I just want to keep it around.

[Fast Jack]

Merc A motor

Mike ----the board was in a tie on the question of allowing the motor to run in A ... the final decision( that affects many of us who have purchased the Merc 15 )( APBA advertises it as a legal A motor ) came down to the Chairmans vote. To me this is not the Voice of the membership. Perhaps the SO system needs to be changed to allow all interested members a direct vote. As Region 1 Mod comish. I could not attend all the SO meetings but will lobby to have this rule removed at the next meeting. Shawn Cavanaugh Region 1.

[adamallen]

Merc 15. Is it competive in ASH?

Were there any Merc 15's that ran ASH at the Grass Lake Nationals? If there were any, none were competitive to take any notice. For that matter is it winning in ASH at any local races. That tells me more of the story than what happened in the Stock Commission meeting this past January.

AA

[mike ross]

It seems a little funny that our chairman broke the tie in favor of removing the mercury from running in the A class. It would seem to me that he would vote in favor of keeping it in. That would be in the interest of the membership. Try to keep folks who dished out the money for a new Mercury for there kids to run, to have an alternative to move up to A after gaining some more experience without having to buy another motor. This is were having some more appointed commissioners might have helped. I wonder if the drivers in AX would have had a vote as to remove or keep how the vote would have gone. If I was betting man I'm sure it would not have been removed. Thanks for the link Donny to see who was on the commission. It has no contact info so the membership has to probably call APBA to get a number to voice there opinion. Maybe Scott could get that info to APBA to post. This would make it easier for the membership to get there voice heard seeing you have to lobby all of them if you want to sway a vote to go a certain way. I'm not sure what we would have to do to get it set up like MOD where the drivers have a vote as to what gets approved or not. I personally like that format. I can see both sides and that way makes it harder for changes to take place at times. Keep the feed back coming the National Meeting is just around the corner. Mikey

[Matt Dagostino]

Valerie D'Agostino.....................

Were there any Merc 15's that ran ASH at the Grass Lake Nationals? If there were any, none were competitive to take any notice. For that matter is it winning in ASH at any local races. That tells me more of the story than what happened in the Stock Commission meeting this past January.

AA

Valerie has won several 'local' ASH events over the past two years and generally is 'very' competitive when we elect to run our Merc's in ASH back East.

This thread is starting down a very slick road!! BEWARE

[Big Don]

While the merc in a lot of cases is not competitive with the OMC’s it was a horrible decision to remove the engine as a legal A engine. We have run our Mercury’s against the OMC’s on a local level and have been very competitive. Does that mean we would run one at the Nationals? No …we would run our OMC.

All we did with that decision was to take drivers off the race course where they could get more time in their boats. It was hurting nothing by having them in there

[STEVE FRENCH]

Geez!

I know going to the Nationals meeting is expensive. But when I have an "agenda" that is important to the sport (not necessarily to my advantage either) I spend the money and get my butt to the meeting. I make sure ahead of time that I have "lobbied" my commissioners and request floor time. I make a brief presentation and sit down.

This has worked very well for me. I do not take on challenges that do not have a chance. I only focus on things that I believe I can get done.

Now I realize that not everyone can spend the money. So the next best bet is to find as many folks as possible that share your view on a subject and get them ALL to WRITE their commissioners.

Post on HydroRacer or any other forum is not a valid way to communicate your views to the commissioners. It is a great way to brain storm and "tune" your ideas into something presentable.

I also suggest that you limit your focus to 1, 2 maybe 3 items at the very most. Generally, someone else will spearhead other items that are of interest to you as well.

Try it. I think you will find that it works.

Chicago Paul

Chicago Paul,
Very well written and points well taken.

One point I suggested last year during the MOD ballot rants (mine) was to have a web cam set up at the business part of the meet'ns. Then we all could attend.
We have cams on the boats during competition,.....in the "Cash-Cab"......reallity show situations, etc...... how difficult would it be to set up and stream to "hydroracer" where members could sit in?

I understand the minutes are avail within a few days and we can get updated by posts here within hours but it seems if we could just sit in..............?

What goes on outside of the business end, diner, bar-stool races, etc, is like being at a race and should stay monitered as always...... by participation.

Thoughts?

Anyone want to start a MODIFIED Meet'n thread and git going on issues (IF there is any?).........now?

100N Steve French...... AOF TECH VP candidate 2010-2011. https://hydroracer.net/forums/showthread.php?t=17097