Many of you are aware that I have been critical of DEMA for quite some time.
Today I want to present to you something that is happening NOW that may help some people to understand EXACTLY what we are dealing with.
The other day, I learned that Ty Sawyer has moved on from his position at Sport Diver (wish him well), what really caught my attention is that Ty was a DEMA BOD member and we hadn't heard a peep from DEMA on the issue.
I posted this thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/scuba-industry-news/357687-dema-bod-ty-sawyer.html) Here on Scubaboard. My position is pretty clear.
Today I had forwarded to me a press release from DEMA that was send late last night (which is strange, as a DEMA member I should be getting emails from them). The press release is as follows
Well....certainly LEGAL under the DEMA bylaws. Let's examine some details
Ty left the DEMA BOD effective Oct 13th. I assume he gave the board some notice...but even if he didn't the facts will speak for themselves.
You can read the DEMA bylaws and easily see that spirit of the allowance for an existing Director to fill a seat is for continuity and so the association doesn't have to hold a special election for every circumstance where a Director may leave.
The decision to extend Neal Watson's term is however COMPLETELY BOGUS, UNETHICAL and SLIMY
Ty was gone the 13th of October, DEMA is ALREADY RUNNING A ELECTION!!!!!!!! In fact writes in were still open until the 15th of October! (From DEMA 10/5: Deadline for Write-In Nominations is Friday, October 15, 2010)
If DEMA has bothered to announce that Ty was leaving the MOMENT they were made aware of his departure they could have notified the association members and announced that there were TWO vacancies in the media category and encouraged you to write in a second choice. Instead the choose the backroom over open elections and sunshine, they effectively hide that Ty is gone until after the write in period is over and extend a current director for a FULL two years!
The last paragraph of the DEMA press release is complete misdirection as the write in deadline has already passed!
The bottom line, they were presented with an opportunity, one choice was simple and ethical with the best interests of the industry they proport to represent.. communication with the members and opening up the board to new blood. The other choice was to sit on Ty departure, follow the letter versus the spirit of the bylaws and keep the membership in the dark. They chose the later:depressed:
Was it a coincidence that only a couple days after it was posted publicly here on Scubaboard that DEMA finally "came clean" and told the membership that Ty left and they are extending Neal's term?
This whole thing stinks to high heaven, I know it, they know and it now you all know it.
That is the parasitic and underhanded nature of the ETHICALLY and MORALLY BANKRUPT DEMA that is supposed to look out for the dive industries best interests. Is this REALLY why we fund them?
Today I want to present to you something that is happening NOW that may help some people to understand EXACTLY what we are dealing with.
The other day, I learned that Ty Sawyer has moved on from his position at Sport Diver (wish him well), what really caught my attention is that Ty was a DEMA BOD member and we hadn't heard a peep from DEMA on the issue.
I posted this thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/scuba-industry-news/357687-dema-bod-ty-sawyer.html) Here on Scubaboard. My position is pretty clear.
Today I had forwarded to me a press release from DEMA that was send late last night (which is strange, as a DEMA member I should be getting emails from them). The press release is as follows
Attention: DEMA Members
Date: November 1, 2010
Re: RECENT CHANGES TO THE DEMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DEMA is announcing today that Ty Sawyer's seat on the DEMA Board of Directors was vacated effective October 13. Ty's expertise has been beneficial to the DEMA Membership while serving on the Board over the last five years, and his assistance was vital in the recent updating of the Be A Diver website. Ty's 2010 contributions have included serving on the Nominations Committee and as Chair of the Media Committee.
When a DEMA Board seat is vacant, DEMA's Bylaws allow for the remaining Director in the same stakeholder group to assume the seat with the longer of the two terms, provided the Director is eligible to continue service under established seven-year term limits. DEMA extends congratulations and thanks to Neal Watson, who has agreed to continue his Board service in the A-3 category until the close of the 2012 DEMA Board elections, rather than to conclude his Board service at the end of this year.
Although the DEMA Board of Directors may fill a vacancy by appointing a DEMA Member voting delegate within the appropriate stakeholder category to the vacant Board seat, the DEMA Board has determined that instead, DEMA Members should vote to fill the vacancy in the upcoming election, beginning December 15, 2010. The final slate of candidates for the Board elections will be announced at the end of November and will include nominated and write-in candidates from the five DEMA stakeholder groups.
Well....certainly LEGAL under the DEMA bylaws. Let's examine some details
Ty left the DEMA BOD effective Oct 13th. I assume he gave the board some notice...but even if he didn't the facts will speak for themselves.
You can read the DEMA bylaws and easily see that spirit of the allowance for an existing Director to fill a seat is for continuity and so the association doesn't have to hold a special election for every circumstance where a Director may leave.
The decision to extend Neal Watson's term is however COMPLETELY BOGUS, UNETHICAL and SLIMY
Ty was gone the 13th of October, DEMA is ALREADY RUNNING A ELECTION!!!!!!!! In fact writes in were still open until the 15th of October! (From DEMA 10/5: Deadline for Write-In Nominations is Friday, October 15, 2010)
If DEMA has bothered to announce that Ty was leaving the MOMENT they were made aware of his departure they could have notified the association members and announced that there were TWO vacancies in the media category and encouraged you to write in a second choice. Instead the choose the backroom over open elections and sunshine, they effectively hide that Ty is gone until after the write in period is over and extend a current director for a FULL two years!
The last paragraph of the DEMA press release is complete misdirection as the write in deadline has already passed!
The bottom line, they were presented with an opportunity, one choice was simple and ethical with the best interests of the industry they proport to represent.. communication with the members and opening up the board to new blood. The other choice was to sit on Ty departure, follow the letter versus the spirit of the bylaws and keep the membership in the dark. They chose the later:depressed:
Was it a coincidence that only a couple days after it was posted publicly here on Scubaboard that DEMA finally "came clean" and told the membership that Ty left and they are extending Neal's term?
This whole thing stinks to high heaven, I know it, they know and it now you all know it.
That is the parasitic and underhanded nature of the ETHICALLY and MORALLY BANKRUPT DEMA that is supposed to look out for the dive industries best interests. Is this REALLY why we fund them?
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