Hey Bill,
In 2004 the nominating committee was Kenny Grimm, Ken Guile, and Duane Starr. I am guessing you got your dates confused. You didn't get on the committee until 2005.  Perhaps you did find a nominee at Moline, I can't say yea or nea on that. I can give you the results presented the members at the Baraboo membership meeting, I was there, but you must have been out of view, as I never saw you. The results were, Me and Bill Meeker for VP, that was the only contest. Marc Sletten P&amp;P director. incumbent, unopposed, Larry Coltrin Treasurer, unopposed, Activity Director, left vacant. I can anlayze this for you, Bill Meeker and I were going to run anyhow, there was no finding candidates to fill this involved. Marc Sletten was going to run in his current position, no work involved there, to this point there is just writing down the names. I doubt it took too much persuasion to get Larry to run, but I'll give the benefit of a doubt here. There were at least 4 slots that should have been filled by the nominating committee left open when nominations closed. This left 2 positions to be installed by acclamation, and 1 position that had to be filled by provisions to fill a vacancy. You can speak all you want about sitting at home, paying dues and reading your magazine, this doesn't change the facts of the matter. The facts are, all nominating committee members should be present until such time as all slots are filled, the most efficient location would be where there are members participating in events, if a member won't attend an event, there is little chance that member would attend meetings either. So, sitting at home reading just don't wash. I can remember an exception to this though, that was when Dave Preuhs was on the committee, he would get out and twist arms until he had a full slate at the Winter Get Together, knowing that he might need to farm when the Summer Show would occur. But, he got the job done, which is the main thing.
I am guessing that you feel it is an easy thing for me to make all the events, you are not correct on this assumption. I am not retired, I work nearly every day, this requires that I schedule time off to coincide with these events. There has been times when cashflow has not been in my favor also. But, I assume duties, so, I must discharge these duties as well as I know how to do. This requires my attendance. In the past 3 years I haven't made The American Legion National Convention, simple because this event was on the same date as the HPOCA Summer Show, I have been required to have another member go in my place, no big deal, we are structured for this. But, they do pay all my expenses when I can go. I would have really liked to have been able to go to Hawaii year before last, to take a fellow legionaire who is a Pearl Harbor survivor to have him give his hands on tour, and tell his story. But, I had a duty to discharge, that comes first.
Have a great day!!!
Andy