poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050 
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Feb 25, 2024 14:46:17 GMT -5
I got the current Rifleman this week, and in an unusual move, actually looked at the ballot for the Board of Directors. I have been disturbed by the mess that the governance of NRA has become. The admissions that were made under oath in the New York trial were upsetting, at the least. I find it hard to vote for anyone who has been on the Board, or put forth by the Nominating Committee, and have resolved not to unless otherwise persuaded. LaPierre did outstanding work for many years, but my opinion is that there was no spark or creativity in the organizatioin over the last decade or so, corruption aside. Since the revelations in depositions started coming in, I have been maintaining my membership, in part to maintain voting eligibility and in part to keep my instructor certifications. I have not abandoned NRA, because I think we need both it and SAF (SAF has been doing an outstanding job on the litigation front) as effective entities. Unfortunately, NRA set up a structure that had little accountability, and nothing like effective checks and balances in the organization. While we’re not sure about how things will ultimately work out in the New York case it looks to me like we need to think about reforming the NRA’s governance. One step is to elect members of the BOD who are not a part of the old boy network. In looking around, I found this from one of the outside candidates. The link follows, and is not necessarily an endorsement. www.ammoland.com/2024/02/nra-board-elections-support-the-four-for-reform-candidates/Please give this some thought. I’d like to hear your thoughts. Best of all, the ballots aren’t due until April. I’m going to continue to follow up on other candidates. Sorry to rant. I think part of my reaction is regret at not acting before. Thanks. |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Feb 25, 2024 15:31:25 GMT -5
Pooh, thank you for your "rant" I consider it to be parallel to my own thoughts or concerns. I am now heavily invested in California Rifle and Pistol Association and other California oriented groups as well as life NRA. My one concern with CRPA is Chuck Michel only in that he was NRA. He is doing a good job here so for now it is a non issue. As a voting member of NRA I am and will be watching your comments and will try to make intelligent comments as well, please let's keep this important thread going.
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SnapShot
Member
Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Feb 26, 2024 13:11:15 GMT -5
I have had concerns as you note here for the past 10+ years and even came close to resigning my membership (Life, Benefactor) at one point. Among many of my concerns was Mr. "Ego" LaPierre.
The ability to elect someone to the board without the Nominating Committee recommendation is non-existent. Believe me, I have been involved with a few attempts.
The main thing that has kept me hanging on is the work of the ILA. I believe the beginning of the end was when Mr. "Ego" got Chris Cox knocked out of office.
It is difficult to recruit new members with all that is going on.
I am also a Life Member of the California Rifle & Pistol association and I worked to support them for many years before I finally gave up on the whole State and moved to Arizona.
I am a Life Member of the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association and have some concerns here too; based on their lax approach on political issues. Our current Governor is down right dangerous.
Seems Arizona is starting to look like Colorado and New Mexico; both have gone from Red States to VERY PURPLE (read as blue).
I'm glad I'm getting old . . . not sure I want to be around for the last political chapter.
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mule
Member
Retired. Sales
Posts: 96
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Post by mule on Mar 11, 2024 10:20:51 GMT -5
Annual member for over 40 years. Bailed out when nra wouldn't defend bump stocks. Appears I made another poor decision. Too late to get back voting rights. I wonder if the suit I paid for still fits?
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Mar 20, 2024 15:20:42 GMT -5
As a follow up to the rant, I have just finished marking the ballot as indicated. In looking around, it was the least bad of the options available now. It's really time to start the process of nominating insurgent candidates for the next go around. The governance structure was designed to avoid an external takeover-as a happy by-product, it also protects from an uprising of the peasants.
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Mar 25, 2024 19:01:53 GMT -5
I'm a voting member, but I know zero about the current organization or politics. Was shocked to hear about the legal problems, and the resignation. Wouldn't have a clue who to trust, except maybe you guys.  So are you running? Kidding.....maybe. |
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on May 8, 2024 11:01:46 GMT -5
NRA has published the results of the BOD election, and it appears that four of the "outside" candidates made the cut. Pretty good under the circumstances. This really is a time to start the process for the next election. It's about the only way NRA is going to get cleaned up.
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SnapShot
Member
Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on May 10, 2024 19:58:55 GMT -5
I supported a candidate last year (Tim Johnston) a prior BOD member who was flushed out a few years prior by the good-ol-boys. He was trying to get back in because of the BS that was going. We managed to get the signatures but they said he didn’t make the cut ? ? ? Never got any good answers to questions as to why. He knew a lot of the others who had been pushed out. It was an all-time low for a number of us. I wrote a number of letters to Wayne (ego) LaPierre but never got any answers. The beginning of the end was when they forced Chris Cox out as leader of NRA-ILA. The story on the street was ANYONE who questioned Wayne and his cronies were not allowed to stay around. I have been a Life Member since 1969 and annual member before that. Currently at Patriot Benefactor Level, I have given A LOT of Money to the NRA, I hope we can recover from this mess. Personally, I feel that Wayne owes me a few thousand dollars.  . . . okay . . . I'll get off my soap box . . . sorry  |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on May 10, 2024 23:56:42 GMT -5
As another Benefactor I can only echo Larry's and Pooh's comments. i had been an annual member from the early '60s and quit when they went all in for the MSR (AR platform). I watched the politicians grab every inch they could I re-upped to my current level and now wish I had supported another group with the same enthusiasm I put into NRA, hopefully it will turn around.
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So are you running? Kidding.....maybe.
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
