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Membership reports from the AMO National Executive Board meetings
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Moving ahead in Philadelphia 2007 By Capt. Mike F. Finnigan I would like to thank National President Tom Bethel and the National Executive Board of American Maritime Officers for the invitation to attend the National Executive Board Meetings in Philadelphia in June 2007. I attended the meetings as a member-observer for the week along with AMO member Robert Woodman. I can report back to the membership on the amount of hard work and number of union issues that were discussed and reviewed. The National Executive Board and the trustees of the AMO Plans are very focused on the membership and the well being of the union. I was impressed and overwhelmed by the amount of information that was tracked and discussed and reviewed at the meeting. The current administration works very hard looking out for the interests of the membership and the future of the union. During breaks from the discussions and meetings, the members of the Executive Board continued meeting the needs of the membership, answering calls and e-mails and continuing their daily contact with the membership. It was not a week of "hanging out in Philadelphia." It was a week of hard work and review of union issues. Each member of the National Executive Board gave a detailed account of their activities and of ongoing events to date--Great Lakes, inland waters and deep sea. In addition to their reports, many questions from members in the fleet were brought to the attention of the board and discussed. Information on all union Plans and operations was also discussed in detail. I would ask that the membership understand that this administration under Tom Bethel is doing all they can to get the information on union affairs out to the membership so we can review and understand how the union is doing. They are moving forward on many issues that will have a positive impact on the AMO membership and the future of our union. AMO Currents is a great tool and an asset to the membership at sea and at home for current union and Plans information. American Maritime Officer also has an abundant amount of information on what is going on with current union issues. I attended the AMO union meeting in Dania last month and was also well informed on current union issues. I can't stress enough to the membership the importance of attending the union meetings, reading the AMO newspaper cover-to-cover, signing up for AMO Currents with the Editorial Department at webmaster@amo-union.org, and reviewing the AMO and AMO Plans Web sites at www.amo-union.org and www.amoplans.com. Open communication with the new administration By Rob Woodman In the 2006 national elections, I ran for national president on a platform designed to enable greater rank and file participation in union governance through fundamental changes in our National Constitution. Specifically, I proposed that all future national elections be conducted safely, securely and accessibly via telephonic voting, instead of continuing with the cumbersome and vulnerable mail ballot system. I further proposed that all constitutional amendments, and any other union business requiring a "majority vote of the membership," be conducted using modern technology, instead of conducting votes during consecutive membership meetings, a process which makes it virtually impossible for the majority AMO members to participate. Therefore, when I received an invitation in April to attend the AMO National Executive Board meetings the week of June 25, I was of two minds about accepting. Having openly expressed my opposition to the AMO system of governance during the elections, I felt that my attendance might be perceived as being somewhat hypocritical. My decision to accept was further complicated by the conviction of our former leaders for mail ballot fraud, among other crimes and misdemeanors, and by the passage of Resolution 3, which I consider to be odious and on which only a small percentage of the eligible membership was given a realistic opportunity to vote. On second thought, however, it occurred to me that it might be an opportunity for me to get to know the new administration, and to hear about the changes and improvements, if any, that were being planned for our union. And so I went. I was very pleased to receive a gracious welcome from AMO president Tom Bethel, and everyone else with whom I came in contact in those few days. I immediately sensed the absence of offense at my formerly expressed opinions and proposals, and I welcomed the chance to speak freely and honestly with the officers of the new administration. Throughout the various meetings and discussions, there was a palpable atmosphere of relief from the strictures and attitudes of the previous administration, and that made it possible for me to engage in discussions and, at times, arguments, comfortably. I soon sensed that the Bethel administration is one that welcomes a new transparency in its leadership. My conversations left me with the belief that there is definitely hope for a more accessible and democratic voting system, and I was encouraged by the responses I received to my questions, and by the cooperative and friendly manner in which they were answered. This experience was indeed a hopeful one for me, and I am glad that I decided to attend the event as it made me come away from it with hope and optimism. That said, however, I did not receive any information regarding definite plans to move to a more accessible voting system, or any statements about changes that might be made in the AMO constitution. I would really have liked to hear those things, as that kind of change will be necessary to enable the new administration to reach its stated goal of more membership inclusion, and a more democratic approach to union administration. I am hoping that there will soon be some evidence that constitutional changes will, in fact, be made, and that the new freedom of choice that the Bethel administration enjoys will be successfully instituted. I thank the AMO for inviting me, and for their generous and friendly welcome. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members who supported me in the 2006 national election. It was my obligation to you more than anything else that persuaded me to accept this invitation. I want you to know that I am very confident that Tom Bethel is the right man for the job in this time of transition for our union. Do not hesitate to get involved in union affairs or to speak your mind. The e-mail address of each elected official is now published in the American Maritime Officer and is available on the union's Web site. I can testify that each representative now welcomes your ideas and opinions. In a very short time, Tom Bethel has created an atmosphere of free and open communication. It is our obligation as members to respond in kind. Seize the day. |
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