I was under the impression that only members, not family or guests, could vote. If your family member has a membership in their name (past the age of 18), then they are a full voting member.

If I am under the wrong impression, please ignore this.

My guess would be member and spouse/signifigant other would have votes, any dependents under 18 would not.  If over 18 probably have to have their own membership..............atleast that appears the way it is in our chapter.

just talked to Ginger and she said should be 18.

 

Is that 18 to vote, or 18 to have to have your own membership..........a dependent voting on chapter officers at the age of 6-14 or so is kind of out there in my thought process.

Lets look at this fairly and ask GPAA to define it? Family members have rights but what about those that contribute below the age of 18? A lot of families have kids that are working and despite our US laws for voting rights might we consider those that are contributing to the organization? Lets think about all the young people that built this country with their parents and spending their days in the mines at ages much lower then 18?



I am not the only person that has worked since the age of eight doing manual labor, nor lied about my age to get my first real job, I was paying taxes before I was legal to work.



I should also say I have no skin in the job so it does not effect me, but I can see that rights should be extended if not currently available to the younger members of our organization that are contributing.



If this is not clear it should be voted upon by the GPAA Officers and made clear. I would also ask GPAA to publish this Bylaw so all members can read it fairly.

Can we decide what Contributing is outside of membership fees, I don't know, but I have known many a 17year old soldier that joined the Military?

How many people do we have as active members under the age of 18 that have bought a membership?

This is not a argument to be taken lightly, and this is one we need to take up to avoid litigation.

I am not against our younger members having a vote, as long as they can understand the ramifications and chapter dynamics of that vote.  Maybe  from 15 to 18 as a vote with the member family, and once they hit 18 their own membership, unless still in school?

I agree that a lot of peple had jobs and worked their tails off either for pay or not as kids  I fell into both camps there..  In a lot of cases nowadays that is sadly missing and the work ethic is going away, but that is a discussion for anonther place.

Posted By ARTHUR WAUGH on 06 Nov 2015 06:03 AM

I am not against our younger members having a vote, as long as they can understand the ramifications and chapter dynamics of that vote.  Maybe  from 15 to 18 as a vote with the member family, and once they hit 18 their own membership, unless still in school?

I agree that a lot of peple had jobs and worked their tails off either for pay or not as kids  I fell into both camps there..  In a lot of cases nowadays that is sadly missing and the work ethic is going away, but that is a discussion for anonther place.

Well said, sir.