DEMA Member Participation in DEMA Board Listening Sessions

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The Chairman

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From http://www.dema.org/associations/1017/files/DEMABoardListeningSessionProcedures-DS09.pdf

DEMA Member Participation in DEMA Board Listening Sessions
The DEMA Board is very interested in receiving input from DEMA Members. During
2009 DEMA has conducted several Retail Member Forums, and a Manufacturer’s
Forum. We encourage your attendance at DEMA Show Board Listening Session and at
all DEMA Member meetings!
So that all interested DEMA members may have an opportunity to provide input in the
limited time available, please follow the below procedures:
DEMA Member Participation
A. All petitions, written and oral communication and other forms of address to the Board
should be in respectful language. We encourage you to put your comments, questions
and suggestions in writing.
B. DEMA Member Comments:
1. The DEMA Board wants to hear from as many individuals or groups as
possible during the limited time available. Individuals or groups wishing to
speak at the Board Listening Session may do so when they are recognized by
the presiding officer. Groups wishing to make a presentation are encouraged
to submit a written request to DEMA’s Executive Director prior to the
beginning of the Listening Session.
2. The purpose of these Listening Sessions is to allow DEMA members to
present any DEMA business-related matter, which, in their opinion, deserves
the attention of the Board. However, the Listening Session does not serve as a
forum for debate with the Board.
3. Please direct all remarks directly to the Board and not to DEMA staff or the
audience.
4. DEMA Member comments are opened by the presiding officer of the DEMA
Board. Speakers will be called upon in the order that each has submitted a
card.
5. For the record, each speaker should clearly state his or her name, city, state
and country, and DEMA member number. Only one designated DEMA
member may speak for the DEMA member company.
6. In order to facilitate as many members as possible, there shall be a time limit
for each individual speaker of five (5) minutes.
7. A representative of a group may have up to seven (7) minutes to make a
presentation. The representative shall identify the group at the beginning of
his or her presentation. A group may have no more than one spokesperson.
8. Any issue raised by DEMA Members which the Board wishes to consider
may be put on an agenda for a future Board Meeting or Listening Session.
9. Board members shall not discuss issues raised by DEMA Members except by
consent of the presiding officer at the conclusion of the Board Listening
Session.
10. The above rules notwithstanding, DEMA members may present written
comments to the Board or to individual Board members at any time during the
meeting. Such written comments shall be submitted through the Executive
Director.
C. Other than as stipulated above, no person shall address the Board orally during the
Listening Session, except by recognition of the presiding officer of the Board. Such
recognition must be by consent of a majority of Board members at the Session.
D. A speaker’s time can only be extended when agreed to by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
the Board members present.
E. To facilitate as many speakers as possible within the limited available time, no
speaker’s time may be yielded to another speaker for the purpose of extending the
length of a presentation.
F. Any person who desires to submit written statements for forwarding to the Board
prior to a Listening Session should do so by submitting 11 printed copies to the
Executive Director by 12:00 noon (meeting location time zone) five (5) days prior to
the scheduled Listening Session date. Alternatively, comments may be sent to the
Executive Director via email. Such emailed comments will not be presented in
printed format to the Board but will be provided to Board members via email. Please
forward such comments prior to the Board Listening Session using the following
email address: tingram@dema.org.
Prohibited Conduct
A. Persons recognized to speak with the Board will not be allowed to:
1. Market or solicit business from the Board or DEMA;
2. Use profanity, or vulgar language or gestures;
3. Use language which insults or demeans any person or which, when directed at
a DEMA Board member or employee is not related to his or her official
duties. However, DEMA members may comment on the performance,
conduct, and qualifications of Board members;
4. Make non-germane or frivolous statements;
5. Interrupt other speakers or engage in behavior that disrupts the Listening
Session including but not limited to applause, cheers, jeers, etc.;
6. Engage in behavior that intimidates others;
7. Address the Board on issues that do not concern the services, policies or
affairs of DEMA
B. The presiding officer is empowered to preserve order and decorum at Board Listening
Sessions. He or she may order the expulsion of any person, other than members of the
Board, for violation of these rules, disruptive behavior, or any words or action which
incites violence or disorder, subject to appeal to the Board. Any person so expelled
shall not be readmitted for the remainder of the meeting from which expelled. Any
person who has been so expelled and who at a later meeting again engages in
behavior justifying expulsion may also be barred from attendance at future Board
Listening Sessions for a specified and reasonable period of time not to exceed six
months, or upon a still subsequent expulsion a period not to exceed one year either by
the presiding officer, subject to appeal to the Board, or by motion passed by the
Board.
C. To be respectful of the time of all DEMA Members, the presiding officer will close
the session at the end of the designated time. While the Board is compelled to cease
taking formal commentary after that time, Board members, may direct questions to
Members, to a speaker, or to a staff member for clarification prior to taking any vote,
if a vote is in order.
D. Members are reminded that submitting comments or suggestions in writing is
encouraged at any time prior to, during or after the Board Listening Session.
E. DEMA is committed to adhering to the antitrust laws, and all activities, including the
Board Listening Session, are conducted in strict conformance with federal and state
antitrust laws. Topics to be avoided include: price or output fixing; allocation of
customers or territory; boycotts or refusals to deal; and improper exchange of
confidential business information.
 
wow, warm and fuzzy feelings all around.

Look, this is lame as heck, they posted this on the web site Tuesday (or late Monday, anyhow recently), 5 days prior notice required. If it is 5 business days then the comments had to be in yesterday (Tuesday) by noon.

THEY DON'T WANT COMMENTS, there is no other conclusion to draw.
 
I am kind of amazed at the complexity of this. What do you think?
 
My immediate reaction was ... Why all the rules? Really ... I don't understand why they have to spell out so many rules to follow to address questions to the DEMA board. Wouldn't an open and honest exchange of thoughts and ideas, and even frustrations, with a few basic ground rules (no profanity, respect for others, etc ... all the stuff we learned in grade school) be the best path forward to encourage engagement?
 
I could always loan them some moderators for the day! :D

I'm sure you could loan them some mods for however long they want them....you're just that nice of a guy:rofl3:
 
Well Chris,

They have rejected my offers to help at every juncture. Sometimes nicely, and sometimes not so nicely. It appears that they want to see a hidden agenda that just isn't there! I doubt that they would take me seriously, after all: they think that the internet is a passing fad. :D
 
Well Chris,

They have rejected my offers to help at every juncture. Sometimes nicely, and sometimes not so nicely. It appears that they want to see a hidden agenda that just isn't there! I doubt that they would take me seriously, after all: they think that the internet is a passing fad. :D

that would be the dive industries MARKETING association you're talking about? Hmmm, how's that working out for them

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4815496-post39.html
 
I had a few ideas for DEMA but it is easier to deal with a lawsuit than to be heard by them!! I think this rules for participating is just the best example of DEMA's real problem... they are not listening...

Maybe they need to make a board just like this and have an open discussion. It could be open to the public but posting reserved only for DEMA members; that way they will add some more value to being a DEMA member. Receiving long emails every once in a while is not a fair value for the DEMA membership for the average LDS.......
 
From http://www.dema.org/associations/1017/files/DEMABoardListeningSessionProcedures-DS09.pdf

DEMA Member Participation in DEMA Board Listening Sessions
The DEMA Board is very interested in receiving input from DEMA Members. During
2009 DEMA has conducted several Retail Member Forums, and a Manufacturer’s
Forum. We encourage your attendance at DEMA Show Board Listening Session and at
all DEMA Member meetings!
So that all interested DEMA members may have an opportunity to provide input in the
limited time available, please follow the below procedures:
DEMA Member Participation
A. All petitions, written and oral communication and other forms of address to the Board
should be in respectful language.
We encourage you to put your comments, questions
and suggestions in writing.
B. DEMA Member Comments:
1. The DEMA Board wants to hear from as many individuals or groups as
possible during the limited time available. Individuals or groups wishing to
speak at the Board Listening Session may do so when they are recognized by
the presiding officer. Groups wishing to make a presentation are encouraged
to submit a written request to DEMA’s Executive Director prior to the
beginning of the Listening Session.
2. The purpose of these Listening Sessions is to allow DEMA members to
present any DEMA business-related matter, which, in their opinion, deserves
the attention of the Board. However, the Listening Session does not serve as a
forum for debate with the Board.
3. Please direct all remarks directly to the Board and not to DEMA staff or the
audience.
4. DEMA Member comments are opened by the presiding officer of the DEMA
Board. Speakers will be called upon in the order that each has submitted a
card.
5. For the record, each speaker should clearly state his or her name, city, state
and country, and DEMA member number. Only one designated DEMA
member may speak for the DEMA member company.
6. In order to facilitate as many members as possible, there shall be a time limit
for each individual speaker of five (5) minutes.
7. A representative of a group may have up to seven (7) minutes to make a
presentation. The representative shall identify the group at the beginning of
his or her presentation. A group may have no more than one spokesperson.
8. Any issue raised by DEMA Members which the Board wishes to consider
may be put on an agenda for a future Board Meeting or Listening Session.
9. Board members shall not discuss issues raised by DEMA Members except by
consent of the presiding officer at the conclusion of the Board Listening
Session.
10. The above rules notwithstanding, DEMA members may present written
comments to the Board or to individual Board members at any time during the
meeting. Such written comments shall be submitted through the Executive
Director.
C. Other than as stipulated above, no person shall address the Board orally during the
Listening Session, except by recognition of the presiding officer of the Board. Such
recognition must be by consent of a majority of Board members at the Session.
D. A speaker’s time can only be extended when agreed to by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
the Board members present.
E. To facilitate as many speakers as possible within the limited available time, no
speaker’s time may be yielded to another speaker for the purpose of extending the
length of a presentation.
F. Any person who desires to submit written statements for forwarding to the Board
prior to a Listening Session should do so by submitting 11 printed copies to the
Executive Director by 12:00 noon (meeting location time zone) five (5) days prior to
the scheduled Listening Session date. Alternatively, comments may be sent to the
Executive Director via email. Such emailed comments will not be presented in
printed format to the Board but will be provided to Board members via email. Please
forward such comments prior to the Board Listening Session using the following
email address: tingram@dema.org.
Prohibited Conduct
A. Persons recognized to speak with the Board will not be allowed to:
1. Market or solicit business from the Board or DEMA;
2. Use profanity, or vulgar language or gestures;
3. Use language which insults or demeans any person or which, when directed at
a DEMA Board member or employee is not related to his or her official
duties. However, DEMA members may comment on the performance,
conduct, and qualifications of Board members;

4. Make non-germane or frivolous statements;
5. Interrupt other speakers or engage in behavior that disrupts the Listening
Session including but not limited to applause, cheers, jeers, etc.;

6. Engage in behavior that intimidates others;
7. Address the Board on issues that do not concern the services, policies or
affairs of DEMA
B. The presiding officer is empowered to preserve order and decorum at Board Listening
Sessions. He or she may order the expulsion of any person, other than members of the
Board, for violation of these rules, disruptive behavior, or any words or action which
incites violence or disorder, subject to appeal to the Board. Any person so expelled
shall not be readmitted for the remainder of the meeting from which expelled. Any
person who has been so expelled and who at a later meeting again engages in
behavior justifying expulsion may also be barred from attendance at future Board
Listening Sessions for a specified and reasonable period of time not to exceed six
months, or upon a still subsequent expulsion a period not to exceed one year either by
the presiding officer, subject to appeal to the Board, or by motion passed by the
Board.

C. To be respectful of the time of all DEMA Members, the presiding officer will close
the session at the end of the designated time. While the Board is compelled to cease
taking formal commentary after that time, Board members, may direct questions to
Members, to a speaker, or to a staff member for clarification prior to taking any vote,
if a vote is in order.
D. Members are reminded that submitting comments or suggestions in writing is
encouraged at any time prior to, during or after the Board Listening Session.
E. DEMA is committed to adhering to the antitrust laws, and all activities, including the
Board Listening Session, are conducted in strict conformance with federal and state
antitrust laws. Topics to be avoided include: price or output fixing; allocation of
customers or territory; boycotts or refusals to deal; and improper exchange of
confidential business information.


Seems like they expect some mighty unhappy people, I can't imagine why. :wink:

Tobin
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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