Six Point Four

by David Hoierman

What is "Six Point Four"?

If you live in California it might be the magnitude of the next earthquake.

If you live in Texas it might be the number of seconds a bull rider was able to stay on top.

But 6.4 is much more than just a quirky number, it is the difference maker.

If you look at the Napha Bylaws (http://www.napha.net/NAPHA%20By%20Laws%20-%20Final427RW-%20Small.pdf) and go to Article 6.4 you will learn about "At Large Directors". You may ask "What are At Large Directors and how do they differ from Elected Directors?" which is a valid question. In a nutshell "At Large Directors" is sort of a Napha oligarchy. There are four of them, they are not elected by membership and they control the whole kit and caboodle by having majority vote on the board. They choose amongst themselves (Nominations for At Large Directors shall be made jointly by the four At Large Directors) who will be the next "At Large Director"...end of story.

Napha will try to convince you they have a democratic process with Governing Council representation but the whole thing is totally null and void because At Large Directors are immune to this democratic process. It is like a "Good Ole Boy" system that can be self perpetuated forever. They can do anything they want with Napha and have the ability to fly it according to their own agenda.

Why have two types of directors? Canada only has one type (elected) and the USPHA only has one type (elected) and the old AAOBPPH only had one type (elected)...hmmmm. I tend to think it is all about control and agenda. One could hypothesis that Napha is controlled by a small group of _______ who will try to use monopoly control to promote their agenda with the membership footing the bill.

Some indoctrinated believers will state that "these are people with good intentions" but the real problem with that is, that when you isolate power in the hands of few it always goes astray. Democracy is not perfect but it works if performed properly and the process is not tampered with. Democracy allows for change when change is needed and insures against bad leadership. With Article 6.4 and At Large Directors, leadership will always be from a certain group without accountability.

If Napha membership was to amend the bylaws (practically impossible) and strike 6.4 and related articles from the books, do you think the At Large Directors could run and be elected on their own merits?