Andy Easton's reference to the AOS practice of having an alternate replace a member of its Nominating Committee during that part of a session during which a member is being considered for an elected post, or whenever there is any other possible perceived self-interest, by no means removes the strong possibility of such a perception. For example, remarks by the conflicted member that prejudice some other members against a proposed nominee may open the way for the nomination of that committee member even though he or she later leaves the room. It is critically important that there be no possible perception of conflict of interest whenever a nominating committee makes an unexpected and highly divisive nomination. Yet that is precisely what happened at the meeting of the AOS Nominating Committee. In that environment, another of its nominations that might otherwise have created no criticism also was taken. With all the public press and widespread attention that has been given to perceived conflicts of interest in the business and financial world, and especially given the need by the AOS to have all of its members rally around the organization during this period of financial need for its very survival, the Committee showed an appalling lack of sensitivity and awareness of the likely adverse consequences of its behavior. It may or may not have been in the best interests of the organization to advance Howard Bronstein, but a decision not to advance him, despite the traditional order of succession, should not have been accompanied by nominations that create such obvious suspicions of skullduggery and other base motives. For that reason, the slate proposed by the Nominating Committee should be rejected and a new slate selected that will not be inherently subject to charges of the sort that are splitting the AOS apart at a time when it can ill afford it. David Grove. [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
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