I found it a great pleasure to cast my vote for Jeff Nash the same day the magazine arrived – it’s time to run our organization according to the wishes of the membership majority instead of a select few.

Art Astle
Tulsa, Oklahoma



I let my AMA membership lapse for about 5 years for a few reasons; I was an impoverished graduate student, and I moved a few times a year, I got divorced, and I could no longer afford to race. I felt guilty about that because I ride a motorcycle every day, and I know that the AMA does good things. I felt much less guilty when I found out about the Edmondson debacle. In fact, I was glad I had let my membership lapse, and was not considering joining again until I heard about the “Take Back The AMA” platform.

I joined the AMA on 16 October 2001, according to their records; as a first year Geology professor here at Cal Poly, I am pretty busy and it is hard to keep track of those kinds of events. Today I called to inquire about the December issue and my ballot, and also to request a ballot for my wife. She rides as well and has her own motorcycle, and is an associate member who does not receive the magazine.

When I signed us up via telephone, I was told I would have to request a ballot for her. I called today, and was told that members who signed up after September 2001 could not vote this year! The person I spoke with on the phone got this information from a “supervisor”.

I don’t how I can verify this “law”, or its origin, but I think that cut off date is remarkable close to when the “take back the AMA” platform came out. If that law is in fact “in the books”, well I guess I blew it. If it is not, then some unethical people are trying to keep people like me from voting.

For the record, if the “take back the AMA platform” loses, I will not renew my membership, despite Jerry Wood’s excellent editorial. I paid my hard-earned $40.00, and I am very angry that I cannot vote.

Thanks,
Tony
—
Antonio F. Garcia
Cal Poly State University
Physics Department
San Luis Obispo, California