Continued from page 28
An easier way to think of this is that it is the amount needed to ensure that CCR operates under consistent revenue based on the number of memberships that are active. If we need $ 285,000 annually to provide natural resource related services and there are 1,750 certificates, each certificate will pay approximately $ 162. If there were 1,250 certificates, each certificate would pay $ 228.
Can the Board vote“ Yes” if I don’ t vote? No. If you do not submit a proxy( either by mail or electronically), the Board cannot cast a vote on your behalf. Here’ s how it works at CCR: when proxies are sent out, you as a Member have five options:
• FOR – approve a proposal
• AGAINST – not approve a proposal
• ABSTAIN – neither for nor against
• DO NOT submit a proxy – a vote is NOT cast at all. No one, including the proxies, can vote on your behalf
• RETURN the proxy partially or completely blank – this allows the named proxies( the Board President or Vice President) to vote on each proposal not completed on your behalf, following the Board’ s recommendation.
The important distinction is this: a blank proxy must be submitted by the Member in order for the President or Vice President to cast the vote. If no proxy is submitted at all, no one, including the Board, can vote on your behalf.
One note of clarification: blank ballots for directorship candidate elections do not permit the proxies to choose a candidate.
In practice, very few proxies, a maximum of 2 or 3( totaling less than 10 certificates) at any given year, are ever returned blank; the vast majority of Members make their choice directly. CCR records do not show the club ever having to utilize the blank proxies to swing a vote“ FOR” or“ AGAINST” any ballot proposal.
How many times has the Board voted for blank proxy proposals? Not more than nine times in the past eight years, which some folks want you to believe it is significantly more. More people vote on the issues at hand, rather than directorship. Using the archived proxies on the website, the facts are:
• 2024 – 30 unexercised votes for directors, 8 unexercised votes for Bylaws Revisions Proposal( passed by 162 votes, not including unexercised votes), and 3 unexercised votes for the forestry petition( failed by 151 votes, not including the unexercised votes).
• 2023 – 24 unexercised votes for directors, and 0 unexercised votes for Bylaws Revisions Proposal( failed by 99 votes, not including unexercised votes).
• 2022 – 10 unexercised votes for directors, and 4 unexercised votes for Bylaws Revisions Proposal( passed by 299 votes, not including unexercised votes).
• 2021 – 49 unexercised votes for directors, 0 unexercised votes for Capital Funding Proposal( passed by 246 votes, not including unexercised votes).
• 2020 – 8 unexercised votes for directors, and 3 unexercised votes for Gypsy Moth Suppression Proposal( passed by 32 votes, not including unexercised votes).
• 2019 – 21 unexercised votes for directors, and 1 unexercised vote for the Club Liquor License Proposal( passed by 109 votes, not including unexercised votes).
• 2018 – 12 unexercised votes for directors, 6 unexercised votes for the Electronic Delivery of Proxy Ballots Proposal( passed by 231 votes, not including unexercised votes), 9 unexercised votes for the Bylaws Revisions Proposal( passed by 535 votes, not including unexercised votes), 5 unexercised votes for Permits East of the Creek Bylaws Proposal( passed by 366 votes, not including unexercised votes), 4 unexercised votes for Surrendered Certificates Bylaws Proposal( passed by 248 votes, not including unexercised votes), and 1 unexercised vote for the Nominating Committee Requirements Proposal( passed by 241 votes, not including unexercised votes).
• 2017 – 40 unexercised votes for directors, 9 unexercised votes for the Consolidation of Lots Bylaws Revisions( passed by 497 votes, not including unexercised votes), and 2 unexercised votes for the Operating Dues Increase( passed by 3 votes, not including unexercised votes),
As you can see by the numbers, it appears more people vote for an specific proposal rather than the directors. Again, in the previous eight years, there was not once when there were more than nine unfilled selections on proposals other than election for directors.
37 29
Continued on page 30