Consolidation Voting Rights
Gary G. Bedard
Description
Collection
Title:
Consolidation Voting Rights
Creator:
Gary G. Bedard
Date:
2/3/1999
Text:
In the course of reviewing the various opinions that have been posted
regarding the consolidation discussion, one point has been overlooked,
and that is the composition of eligible voters.
Apparently, only the 45 to 55% of ABC practitioners who are members of
the Academy and/or AOPA have the right to vote. Since the ABC is not a
membership organization, there thus exists an almost equal number of
practitioners who will not have a say in the impeding vote for
consolidation.
It would be easy to say, shame on them for not being participatory in
the Academy, but the non-AAOP and non-AOPA practitioners will have to
live with the decision we take on the matter.
Obviously, those non-AAOP practitioners have made a value based
decision not to be a member. It is also not a crime to not be a business
owner and AOPA member. Cutting this group out from the vote may only
serve to alienate them further, and who can predict their future
decisions to support the final national office format.
I would hope that the consolidation review process could take the
opportunity to entice this group into the discussion, with perhaps, the
offer of a voting influence. It could only serve to make the national
body of our profession stronger.
Sincerely,
Gary G. Bedard, CO, FAAOP
regarding the consolidation discussion, one point has been overlooked,
and that is the composition of eligible voters.
Apparently, only the 45 to 55% of ABC practitioners who are members of
the Academy and/or AOPA have the right to vote. Since the ABC is not a
membership organization, there thus exists an almost equal number of
practitioners who will not have a say in the impeding vote for
consolidation.
It would be easy to say, shame on them for not being participatory in
the Academy, but the non-AAOP and non-AOPA practitioners will have to
live with the decision we take on the matter.
Obviously, those non-AAOP practitioners have made a value based
decision not to be a member. It is also not a crime to not be a business
owner and AOPA member. Cutting this group out from the vote may only
serve to alienate them further, and who can predict their future
decisions to support the final national office format.
I would hope that the consolidation review process could take the
opportunity to entice this group into the discussion, with perhaps, the
offer of a voting influence. It could only serve to make the national
body of our profession stronger.
Sincerely,
Gary G. Bedard, CO, FAAOP
Citation
Gary G. Bedard, “Consolidation Voting Rights,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/211231.
