I have mixed feelings about the “Are you on the List?” report in the UCO Reporter, which lists the associations that had no representation at the past month’s Delegate Assembly Meeting. Part of me thinks it’s an intrusion into each association’s own business and an uncalled for shaming of them; and part of me thinks it’s a good idea to hopefully get more participation.
My main complaint about the report, though, is that it is just plain wrong too much of the time. The January 2010 UCO Reporter says that Sheffield N had no representation at the December 4 meeting. Well, I’m sorry, I was there, and registered and got my packet of papers before going into the meeting. This is the second time Sheffield N has been marked down as not having attended when we did. But it is the third time in the past year the “Are You on the List?” report has been wrong about us. There was one Delegate Assembly Meeting that we missed, but we weren’t shown as having missed it!
I suppose we should be glad for the time we came up “respectable” when we weren’t, in that it undid some of the damage of the other two wrong calls; but what it really does is make me wonder: If the report is this wrong about our one association, how wrong has it been overall? If we’re going to have such a report—and there are differences of opinion on this—then let’s for goodness’ sake have them be accurate!
While I am at it, there is another point about this I would like to make. No delegate, not no representation, is what the report should say. I’m sure the report comes from the delegate sign-ins. Just because no delegate from an association has signed in and attended does not mean the association didn’t have representation on the part of others. Two or three others could well have attended. They could have heard everything that was said; they could have spoken up and asked questions; they could have done everything except vote.
You are absolutely right that there is association representation in the audience, other than delegates.
ReplyDeleteBut are you aware that when a delegate is unable to attend a meeting that someone else is (or should be) listed as an alternate to act in the absentee's place?
Attendance is used from the list to count the votes for a quorum and if no one signs in for an association, it could mean the difference between obtaining a quorum or not.
Unless procedures have changed over the years, the building associations should advise UCO who their alternates are so that they are authorized to sign in when a regular delegate is absent and will be accepted as such.
Ruth, the KNOWN alternate is listed on the sign in form.
ReplyDeleteLanny, are you saying that three wrongs make a right?!
I attend every delegate meeting
ReplyDeletebut our Association shows a
No Show. I am the Secretary of
our Association but our President
never informed UCO that I am the
secretary.
Nutmegger,
ReplyDeleteBeing the Secretary does not an alternate Delegate make. There are forms at the UCO Office which are cataloged in four black binders which list the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all officers of the Association, the Delegate(s), and alternate Delegate(s). Unfortunately, these forms are not always up to date, nor are the sign-in sheets. A letter from the President with the Association seal, assigning you as the alternate, or one of the alternates, will do the trick.
The only issue of concern which may arise, is that an alternate may sign in before the President actually arrives. This can be handled in two ways. The alternate will communicate, or know in advance, that the President will not be attending. Should such communication not be effectuated, and/or the alternate arrives prior to the President (or the lawful Delegate), the sign-in committee may be asked to make an announcement prior to the beginning of the meeting, “Would “John Doe” from “XYZ” Association please come to the sign-in area. The lawful representative of your Association has arrived and is waiting for the voting card”. Or, a policy may be established that an alternate may be irrevocably assigned the voting right for the association at 9:25 AM (5 minutes prior to the start of the meeting) unless they state for certain (to the sign-in personnel)that the authorized Delegate will not be attending.
Permit me to quote from the UCO Bylaws for the purpose of clarity.
ARTICLE V
B. Each President may designate, in writing, an alternate from within his association to replace himself and any additional Delegate(s) originally designated by the President.
C. The Board of Administration of an association will submit to UCO, in writing, a list of its officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer), Delegates(s), and Alternate Delegate(s) immediately following the election at the Association’s Annual Meeting. UCO will recognize the President of such Association as its lawful Delegate until notified, in writing, by the Association of a change in presidency or that a different or additional lawful Delegate(s) or Alternate(s) has been chosen by the Association.
If it’s any consolation to you Lanny you are in dignified company.
ReplyDeleteI note, with extreme interest that Mike Edmondson from the State Attorney’s Office – was not ‘on the list’ in the report of this months Delegate Assembly and I know he was there!
In fact he stood up and made a brief announcement, which also appears to have gone unreported.