Reassigning your AOPA proxy

I assume that email address is a typo? Should that be member
 
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Jim_R said:
Other than that being a symbolic gesture, what would it accomplish?
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Not much. There's really no way to accomplish much of anything directly while the board holds thirty or forty thousand proxies, and all board nominees have to be approved by the existing board. The objective is to become enough of a PITA to board members that they either decide this unpaid position isn't worth the hassle, or they make some substantive changes.
 
What about going after the foundation also? This is separate; and provides a lot of money to the main organization.

Tim
 
I never looked into it. But there is a separate AOPA Foundation which I donated too, likely many others. The foundation handles the AOPA endowments and does general fund raising plus handles all lifetime memberships to AOPA.
I never looked into how it is setup, but I know they cover a lot of members annual dues to AOPA. Hence my question, if anyone knows.

Tim
 
Half Fast said:
Not much. There's really no way to accomplish much of anything directly while the board holds thirty or forty thousand proxies, and all board nominees have to be approved by the existing board. The objective is to become enough of a PITA to board members that they either decide this unpaid position isn't worth the hassle, or they make some substantive changes.
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Since Board members are not paid, and until now pretty much unknown, what is the benefit to being a Board member?
 
Half Fast said:
Not much. There's really no way to accomplish much of anything directly while the board holds thirty or forty thousand proxies, and all board nominees have to be approved by the existing board. The objective is to become enough of a PITA to board members that they either decide this unpaid position isn't worth the hassle, or they make some substantive changes.
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What would happen if every member of AOPA revoked their proxy from the board AND more than half of them assigned their proxy to Pleasance? Wouldn't that give him majority voting rights? I think the board would be seriously compromised in that event. I think that would be a good thing.
 
William Pete Hodges said:
What would happen if every member of AOPA revoked their proxy from the board AND more than half of them assigned their proxy to Pleasance? Wouldn't that give him majority voting rights? I think the board would be seriously compromised in that event. I think that would be a good thing.
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Perhaps, but the numbers are impossible.
 
I just reassigned my proxy from the AOPA Board of directors to Warren Pleasance, former president of AOPA.
I hope that is enough to get it done.

If nothing else Warren Pleasance knows how to vote best to represent my Aviation interests.
 
Half Fast said:
Perhaps, but the numbers are impossible.
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A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. If the AOPA BOARD sees a significant change in their proxy status, they will have to get off their high horse and start listening to us. This is the easiest way to proceed. Time to start a grass roots revolution.
 
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William Pete Hodges said:
I just reassigned my proxy from the AOPA Board of directors to Warren Pleasance, former president of AOPA.
I hope that is enough to get it done.

If nothing else Warren Pleasance knows how to vote best to represent my Aviation interests.
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I hope you said Darren Pleasance when you reassigned your proxy since that's his name and not Warren. Otherwise you may have assigned your proxy to Phantom Board member:D
 
planenut777 said:
I hope you said Darren Pleasance when you reassigned your proxy since that's his name and not Warren. Otherwise you may have assigned your proxy to Phantom Board member:D
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Understood. I did say Darren in my email. Sorry for the confusion
 
Perhaps a little off topic, but does it bother anyone else that the AOPA staff is taking extravagant trips (vacations) all over the world at our expense? Just recently, Africa, Europe, Alaska.
 
RockyMtnFlyer said:
Perhaps a little off topic, but does it bother anyone else that the AOPA staff is taking extravagant trips (vacations) all over the world at our expense? Just recently, Africa, Europe, Alaska.
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1) Alaska has the highest proportion of pilots, by far, in the U.S. and the most critical aviation infrastructure. It would be malpractice if they weren’t there.
2) much of AOPA leadership does double duty as IAOPA leadership. Accordingly, they’re representing global GA interests to ICAO, so that’s likely why they’re traveling to Europe and Africa.
 
tspear said:
I never looked into it. But there is a separate AOPA Foundation which I donated too, likely many others. The foundation handles the AOPA endowments and does general fund raising plus handles all lifetime memberships to AOPA.
I never looked into how it is setup, but I know they cover a lot of members annual dues to AOPA. Hence my question, if anyone knows.

Tim
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What is known as the Air Safety Institute is the only productive function of AOPA in my view. It is also a tax deductible donation
 
RockyMtnFlyer said:
Perhaps a little off topic, but does it bother anyone else that the AOPA staff is taking extravagant trips (vacations) all over the world at our expense? Just recently, Africa, Europe, Alaska.
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I quit AOPA when the AOPA jet could routinely be located in some vacation destination on holiday weekends. Guess that wasn’t good enough.
 
RockyMtnFlyer said:
Perhaps a little off topic, but does it bother anyone else that the AOPA staff is taking extravagant trips (vacations) all over the world at our expense? Just recently, Africa, Europe, Alaska.
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Sounds like some Wayne LaPierre stuff right there. I'm waiting to see their tailor bills next.
 
There are actually 2 legal entities involved here: (1) Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) & (2) The AOPA Foundation Inc.

Check out both their IRS 990 forms (scroll down to View Financial Documents) - https://www.aopa.org/about/governance

The board of AOPA also serve as members or trustees of the Foundation, and in many cases their terms and roles are tied together. They both are like any well greased money making "non-profit" - a once noble cause is turned against it's own members and controlled by a select group.
 
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RockyMtnFlyer said:
Perhaps a little off topic, but does it bother anyone else that the AOPA staff is taking extravagant trips (vacations) all over the world at our expense? Just recently, Africa, Europe, Alaska.
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Not at all. The travel that leads to stories is a known benefit of this sort of journalism. I also think Dave Hirschman is the luckiest dude in the world for all the cool $h!t he gets to fly.

If you can show me where the board gets this benefit, I could have a different opinion.

On a personal note, I absolutely recall really strong feelings of jealousy reading stories in the magazine about other people's airplanes and even the sweepstakes winners. I'd like to say it made me work harder, but I'm not sure. I do recall those feelings, though.
 
A see a few changed their proxy votes here. Anyone have a form letter I can copy to do the same? And any objection to posting it on other forums? Such as BeechTalk (I am on there also).
I think it could help send a message to AOPA if enough of us do it.

Tim
 
tspear said:
A see a few changed their proxy votes here. Anyone have a form letter I can copy to do the same? And any objection to posting it on other forums? Such as BeechTalk (I am on there also).
I think it could help send a message to AOPA if enough of us do it.

Tim
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You don’t need a form. See post #1. To whom are you giving your proxy?
 
Tim, here is the email I got from AOPA.


Thank you for reaching out to us. If you do not renew your proxy, you would be able to vote in person or assign your proxy to a person of your choosing. There is not a way to vote via ballot or mail in form. Currently your proxy is valid through March 27, 2026. If you do not renew it, and would rather someone else be your proxy, please follow the below instructions.

Reply to this email/email [email protected] and CC [email protected] with the below details.

Member Name
Member ID
Member Email address (Must be the email on file with AOPA)

In the email body, it must state clearly state that you are revoking or not renewing your proxy and will be designating [individuals name] as your proxy.
 
Here is a copy of the email I wrote:

>>>>>>>
My name is
Member number is
Email address is

I want to revoke my voting proxy from the AOPA BOARD of directors and reassign my voting rights to Darren Pleasance, former president of AOPA.

Please confirm this request has been executed.

Signed
>>>>>>>>>

I don't know if it is correct or not, but that is what I sent.
 
jhausch said:
There is not a way to vote via ballot or mail in form.
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Isn't that a total BS system... They harass you about assigning a proxy non-stop if you don't assign someone now I see why!
 
Is there anyone who is definitely going to the meeting who would be a good person to assign a proxy vote? I am not available that week and I would like a good representative.
 
Just sending an email as the method they are using to track proxy assignment seems highly unusual and suspicious. Giving you an email addrsss that appears to have a typo seems even more suspicious. For an organization that claims to be hundreds of thousands strong it seems like a process intentionally setup to fail or be untraceable after the fact. I would suggest asking for a copy of the bylaws that cover proxy voting.
 
The bylaws outline this exact process. Follow the correct email address for proxy reassignment to still keep your voice. This is the challenge. Revoking your proxy removes your voice as only those at the meeting can vote. For those of us that can’t go to the meeting, we need to have a proxy in whom we have confidence correctly on our behalf. I ask again-is anyone going to the annual meeting that shares our view?
 
IPS-Legacy said:
I ask again-is anyone going to the annual meeting that shares our view?
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Given that the board controls something like 30,000+ proxies, it won't matter much. The only REAL answer is online or mail-in ballots. I've spoken with board members and they don't support it. So despite the proposed bylaw changes, the AOPA will remain in the control of an entrenched, and largely disinterested, board of trustees, with members having no say in the organization.

"The Voice of General Aviation?!" HAH!
 
Obviously you have not read the bylaw changes. The board is proposing things that members actually want to see. Go read them. They have heard the frustrations of members. The changes aren’t perfect, but they are a really good start to reform how trustees are chosen.
 
IPS-Legacy said:
Obviously you have not read the bylaw changes. The board is proposing things that members actually want to see. Go read them. They have heard the frustrations of members. The changes aren’t perfect, but they are a really good start to reform how trustees are chosen.
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I’ve read them. I’ve sent comments to the board and I’ve discussed them with board members face-to-face. The changes still require board nominees to be approved by a board committee, and the changes do not address making it practical for members to vote.

Without mail-in or online voting, the proposed changes are window dressing. The board remains in complete control and the membership has no practical means to change the board.
 
I would really like them to address the possibility of electronic voting similar to stockholder votes for major companies. That is a big change that has to happen in a more planned fashion. There isn’t enough time to raise a resolution that could be passed this time around. It would be best to work on this for the next meeting. Let’s take what we can get as the board seems to be feeling the pressure now.

It sounds like you have done some homework. The process is long to get meaningful changes, but this seems like a start. Are you going to the meeting or have you issued a proxy?
 
IPS-Legacy said:
I would really like them to address the possibility of electronic voting similar to stockholder votes for major companies. That is a big change that has to happen in a more planned fashion. There isn’t enough time to raise a resolution that could be passed this time around. It would be best to work on this for the next meeting. Let’s take what we can get as the board seems to be feeling the pressure now.

It sounds like you have done some homework. The process is long to get meaningful changes, but this seems like a start. Are you going to the meeting or have you issued a proxy?
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I agree it can’t be done in time for this meeting, but the board will not commit to implement online voting in the future.

Here’s a summary (paraphrased) of my conversation with Luke Wippler, the new chairman:

Me: Luke, during your presentation you mentioned that GA needs a strong AOPA.
Luke: Yes, very important.
Me: I agree, and to make AOPA strong I think we need a membership that feels a sense of ownership in the organization.
Luke: Absolutely. I agree 100%.
Me: Well, if we want that sense of ownership, the members must have a practical way of voting, either online or by mail. You can't possibly accommodate 200,000 members at an in-person meeting.
Luke: That's something we can consider. We've had some discussions about it.
Me: Can you make a committment to making it happen?
Luke: <mentions of legal and financial difficulties and risks without specifics, then...> Are you aware of any large organizations that do this?
Me: The NRA. Also, many major corporations are doing online voting using ProxyVote.com. There may be some legal hurdles and challenges, but it's certainly not impossible.
Luke: Well, we can look at it, but it won't happen anytime soon.
Me: Given that it won't be without difficulties, can you at least make a committment to work on those issues and set a goal to enable a practical form of membership voting.
Luke: We'll look into it.
Me: But no committment?
Luke: All I can say is that we'll look into it.

Luke then expressed some concerns about eligibility for voting, and issues that may arise from people joining just to vote. I suggested that voting membership could be limited to those who had been members for at least three years, just like the proposed bylaws change regarding eligibility for the Board. Again, Luke responded with non-committal statements.

I also spoke with board member Charles Lynch. Quote from Mr. Lynch: "Well, it's not completely off the table." Way to step up, brother.

I have sent multiple emails to the rest of the board, including outgoing chair Jim Hauslein. Zero responses.

I have emailed Jill Baker links to online voting services but have not received a reply.

The AOPA leadership is unwilling to be held accountable to the members.
 
Half Fast said:
I’ve read them. I’ve sent comments to the board and I’ve discussed them with board members face-to-face. The changes still require board nominees to be approved by a board committee, and the changes do not address making it practical for members to vote.

Without mail-in or online voting, the proposed changes are window dressing. The board remains in complete control and the membership has no practical means to change the board.
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What problem would online voting solve that having proxies doesn't?
 
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