doug ronan removed as director from copa

[AirFrame]

WKRP anyone?

"The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Oh, the humanity!"

One of the all-time best episodes of a sitcom ever.

[bmc]

After 20,000+ posts on this website over
10 years, it boggles the mind that people
would not know who I am, where I am,
and what I do.

If need be, I can post an extensive array
of photos as documentary evidence of the
above

CS...it's time to come clean. The video is not what you do best. Getting under people's skin is your skill set.

[jjbaker]

Email sent to Patrick Gilligan at COPA,
expressing my appreciation at being
told by him to "SHUT THE F__K UP".

Was there any response from PG to the incompetent and indignantly annoying peasant members and mean spirited non member snipers? I've been holding my breath ever since you posted that, Colonel, but I am getting green and red and blue spots in the face and lack of oxygen is leaving its nasty mark. Should I stop holding my breath?

[PilotDAR]

: Lets not ask or talk about COPA, it causes some people anxiety and anger and miffs off the Kings...

Well... it miffs the kings of the tiny COPA kingdom perhaps. But the sky is a much larger kingdom, and that's where I live and play...

[Colonel Sanders]

Was there any response from PG to the incompetent and indignantly annoying peasant members and mean spirited non member snipers?

Reply from PG (summary):

"I have no idea what you are talking about"

[jjbaker]

Was there any response from PG to the incompetent and indignantly annoying peasant members and mean spirited non member snipers?

Reply from PG (summary):

"I have no idea what you are talking about"

Ahh. The standard aviation association "this [insert discussion/ member/ forum/ issue] does not exist" response.

[ruddersup?]

I joined COPA way back, I mean way back. I didn't know what it was about but I was a new pilot and I wanted that sticker on my car that said "look at me I'm a PILOT". Generations later I'm not sure if I've received anymore benefit than the sticker gave me. Perhaps that's still a typical member's profile, if so then no wonder change is so difficult. The Directors can lead these members like sheep.
I'm still a member and have a folder full of stickers if anyone is short. Benefit = classifieds

[Colonel Sanders]

I wanted that sticker on my car that said "look at me I'm a PILOT"

I'm seriously considering having bumper
stickers printed for my instructor candidates:

WE EAT THIS SH1T WITH A SPOON

Might as well wear an Omega watch.

[dstechnical]

phil

I would think you would be glad to see that this site is making the doug ronan fiasco public, because copa and the directors have chosen not to. Several directors voted against the removal of Mr Ronan but they have chosen to toe the party line out of fear that they may also be removed. Non have published a letter in the newsletter. I have talked to members in our flight and non of them new about this issue. these directors could have used their access to members emails to inform the members of this situation.
Phil since you are a current director and a canadiate for relection, perhaps you could tell us how you voted. Perhaps you could make this an election issue so the members in southern ontario might know which of the candidates is willing to protect the copa constitution from the president. We should all demand from the director candidates where they stand on this issue.

[fleet16b]

phil

I would think you would be glad to see that this site is making the doug ronan fiasco public, because copa and the directors have chosen not to. Several directors voted against the removal of Mr Ronan but they have chosen to toe the party line out of fear that they may also be removed. Non have published a letter in the newsletter. I have talked to members in our flight and non of them new about this issue. these directors could have used their access to members emails to inform the members of this situation.
Phil since you are a current director and a canadiate for relection, perhaps you could tell us how you voted. Perhaps you could make this an election issue so the members in southern ontario might know which of the candidates is willing to protect the copa constitution from the president..

Hmmmm seems that someone has been muzzled

We should all demand from the director candidates where they stand on this issue.

This should be a mass action at the AGM .
The Executive cannot legally throw its members out for asking questions and they can't justify not answering to the membership that they work for.
Its going to be an interesting AGM

[CFR]

It's long past time that AGM's should be webcast live.

[fleet16b]

Here is a copy of the proposed ammendment that will be put forth at the AGM
This basically gives the Board full power to pick and choose who can retain their position on the Board without having to go to the membership. In other words the membership may vote a candidate in but the Board does not have to lsiten to its members and can remove the elected candidate at their will .
I for one do not feel that we should be giving our Board that kind of power.
It leaves the membership virtually powerless

COPA General Operating Bylaw Amendment
The COPA Board of Directors found that section 5.07 of the bylaws was inadequate to
address circumstances that would require the Directors to take action and also did not tiein
other sections dealing with disclosure of interest and confidentiality. The Board has
agreed on the following amendment. The amendment must be ratified by COPA
members at an Annual General Meeting.

Original:5.07 Ceasing to Hold Office
A Director ceases to hold office when the Director dies, resigns, is removed from office
by the Members in accordance with section 5.09, or no longer fulfils all of the
qualifications to be a Director set out in section 5.03, as determined in the sole discretion
of the Board. Where a person is no longer a Director, then such person shall be deemed to
have also automatically resigned as an Officer and/or a committee member, as applicable,
provided that the Board may in its discretion subsequently re-appoint such individual as
an Officer or committee member if the Board deems it appropriate in the circumstances.

Amended version:5.07 Ceasing to Hold Office
A Director ceases to hold office when the Director:
a) dies
b) resigns
c) is removed from office by the Members in accordance with section 5.09
d) no longer fulfills all of the qualifications to be a Director set out in section 5.03
e) is absent from three consecutive Board meetings without reasonable cause
f) is found to be in non-compliance with Disclosure of Interest as set out in section
5.12; or
g) is found to be in non-compliance with Confidentiality as set out in section 5.13.
For 5.07 d) through g) inclusive, it is at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors by a
two-thirds majority vote to determine whether or not a Board member should be
removed. Where a person is no longer a Director, then such person shall be deemed to
have also automatically resigned as an Officer and/or a committee member, as applicable,
provided that the Board may in its discretion subsequently re-appoint such individual as
an Officer or committee member if the Board deems it appropriate in the circumstances

[jjbaker]

Don't know what you guys expected. Perfectly well planned and executed hijack of an entire association.
Fun fact: After this AGM is over, none of this is reversible. There is no way out of it.

A few declare themselves King of Everything and if the peasants dare to speak up, SHTF. Note how the provision to throw someone off the board for discussing "secret society matters" with the peasants is not an automatic membership cancellation. If this was my freak-show, I would have made sure to have a bylaw provision that automatically removes the offending disenfranchised member from Planet COPA by use of nuclear fission. What a sad joke these clowns have produced. No wonder the National Clowning Association is hurting for members!

I figured the commenter above was going to be muzzled instantly. I'd not be surprised if there had already been repercussions as the boards utmost concern is to avoid showing face until this is all in dry bags. Remember, the more members know - the more members will ask questions. Keeping things like this the size of a brush-fire is paramount to everything! Any sort of opinion statement will be considered a direct affront against the Kings, punishable by eternal silencing and feeding the offender to the lions.

[MrWings]

I wish guys would have renewed just to attend the meeting and fight against the injustice they perceive. Last meeting I was at, people seemed scared to speak up about anything. If you want to raise shat, you need at least one shatdisturber in attendance.

[jjbaker]

Just read the board meeting minutes of another association and they managed to squeeze a "special membership meeting" right inside the board meeting. Process: Interrupt board meeting which is not public/ accessible to peasants - open special membership meeting - count 0 members present - pull out proxies - count and ratify some idiotic proposal as presented. Then close special membership meeting and proceed as if nothing ever happened. Business as usual. It takes deaf and mute members to let this happen and deaf and mute members are plentiful.

People have to be scared to speak up about anything, from what I hear bringing up the Doug Ronan topic at any gathering can cause severe anxiety and anger issues and threats of litigation. I don't think I have ever seen an association hire security to make sure certain topics remain muzzled. As a member trying to make a difference or petition for change you might as well hold up a "Who wants to see a SMURF" picket in front of the King. Burn that money and its better invested because at least you'll get some temporary heat from it.

[photofly]

Notice has to be given to the membership of a special meeting of members as dictated in the bylaws. If nobody turns up, that's indicative.

It's irrelevant what other business is going on before or after the special meeting of members.

[fleet16b]

It's long past time that AGM's should be webcast live.

Thi is an excellent idea

[New_PIC]

It's long past time that AGM's should be webcast live.

Thi is an excellent idea

A webcast could be taken a big step further with online voting too, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[fleet16b]

It's long past time that AGM's should be webcast live.

Thi is an excellent idea

A webcast could be taken a big step further with online voting too, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Online voting for members exists , voted yesterday,
Live feed AGMs makes sense and would benifit all.

[dstechnical]

do not hand over your proxies to any directors. the president is obtaining all the proxies they can get to force the new resolutions through at the AGM. I urge all S.O members to vote for candidates who will not vote for this resolution. Also the AGM is being held in southern ont, this year so it it much more accessible to the majority of members. ( i guess putska is wishing he could change that to some far flung place) We need to flood this meetings with members to prevent Putska from hijacking our association.

[CFR]

Online voting for members exists , voted yesterday,
Live feed AGMs makes sense and would benifit all.

Where do you go to vote? I checked the website and couldn't find it.

OK I found it, but the vote is only for directors NOT for the bylaw amendment. Where I live there is currently no vote for a director so I do not get redirected to a vote page.

[jjbaker]

What is the status of the proxy situation? How many proxy collections are going?

As of March 31, 2014, elections are open to accept your vote and the response so far is as follows:

Quebec: 81 out of 2600 eligible voters have voted. 3.11%!
Southern Ontario: 297 out of 5000 eligible voters have voted. 5.91%!

Is it just me or does it seem as if the rank and file membership of COPA is kept rather unaware of what exactly is transpiring?

[kamikaze]

Although I'm informed about mr. Ronan's situation, I have NO idea who these candidates are, and I prefer not to vote than vote blindly. It's not like a provincial or federal election where I'll actually here from the candidates via the news or the mail or a phone call ... in this case, I have no clue, and will never know them ...

I may go to the AGM if only for kicks, since I'm not too far from Peterborough and never have had the privilege of visiting their airport ...

[jjbaker]

Probably good to know for members who are not sending the proxy form in (you may fill in the name of a designee you wish to vote on your behalf and that can be any current member in good standing) automatically enables "whoever usually votes on your behalf" to vote on your behalf.

With most non profit hijacks the situation is a little more involved than just not voting. Not voting and not sending the proxy in often helps the enemy. Only members PRESENT may vote unless they have designated someone to represent them and speak on their behalf via Proxy. IOW's, any member wishing to represent other members during this meeting, should now come out and solicit proxies. Don't forget that the ship is listing and the fight is rigged by default, as the largest part of the membership is intentionally kept unaware, hence they happily send their proxies or do what most association members do: NOTHING AT ALL.

Not exercising your right to vote and giving this privilege to the board of directors is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. For example: Those who think it is smart to nominate Mr. Ronan and or have him vote/ speak on your behalf may be unaware that non members and members considered "not in good standing" do not have a voice nor a legal right to even be present during membership meetings.

[CpnCrunch]

Probably good to know for members who are not sending the proxy form in (you may fill in the name of a designee you wish to vote on your behalf and that can be any current member in good standing) automatically enables "whoever usually votes on your behalf" to vote on your behalf.

I'm pretty sure that is NOT the case. There is no mention on the proxy form about "whoever usually votes on your behalf", and I'm not aware of that being normal procedure at AGMs. As far as I am aware, they simply collect the votes of the people attending the AGM plus the people who have given written proxies. The members who don't bother turning up or giving their proxy are simply not counted.