doug ronan removed as director from copa

[AirFrame]

Corollary: Any executive or board member can bring up any proposal at the AGM as well.

[crazy_aviator]

I would propose that they limit the presidents salary to no more than $120,000.00 otherwise, kick his overpaid ass out of there !!!

[Taiser]

I would propose that they limit the presidents salary to no more than $120,000.00 otherwise, kick his overpaid ass out of there !!!

Agreed! The current salary is INSANE!!! 100k tops is what that job should pay + expenses.

[jjbaker]

But... but... but... some will say: "Professional leadership demands professional salary!"

I am sure Mr. President has a contract (if the association is lucky, the current BOD knows whats involved with a discharge) and getting him removed from office involuntarily would come at some tremendous expense.

[PilotDAR]

and getting him removed from office involuntarily would come at some tremendous expense

Ah... Isn't the procedure just to return his most recent membership payment, declare him ineligible, and send him on his way?

[jjbaker]

and getting him removed from office involuntarily would come at some tremendous expense

Ah... Isn't the procedure just to return his most recent membership payment, declare him ineligible, and send him on his way?

Wouldn't that be neat?

Last time I checked though, that worked with volunteer directors, but not contractually protected superstar employees.

Gross misconduct or offenses worthy of discharge are not easy to prove and even if such things are proven, the board may still decide to retroactively approve all actions (literally a blank check) and endorse whatever the President/ Executive/ Employee did or does.

If such is the case, you're looking at a hostile/ wrongful discharge lawsuit that will put the screws to the association. I'm pretty sure COPA's president would eventually resign for "personal reasons" and at own terms, likely leaving into retirement or the next old boys club setting that will provide a golden parachute.

Most executives who get complimented out the door in such ways don't exactly fall into poverty or end up with a largely tarnished reputation. They simply disappear and continue on their merry way while those who stay in the field (in any role) may find struggle and may never really have their reputation restored.

[AirFrame]

I went looking for the Proxy today to check the wording:

I, THE UNDERSIGNED
________________________________
(print name)
being a member in good standing of the Canadian Owners & Pilots Association, hereby appoint,
___________________________________
(print name)
or failing him/her, the president of COPA, as proxy for the undersigned, to attend, act and vote for and on behalf of the
undersigned, at the Annual General Meeting, held on June 21, 2014, of the members of the association and any adjournment
thereof, and to vote and otherwise act thereat for and on behalf of the undersigned in respect of all matters that may properly
come before the meeting, in the same manner as the undersigned could do if personally present thereat, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and confirming and agreeing to ratify and confirm all that such proxy may lawfully do by virtue hereof.

Note the "or failing him/her" clause. This means that if the person you designate cannot vote for some reason, the president may vote on your behalf instead. See previous discussion regarding security at the AGM, and why they might want that. Maybe a mass membership rescinding for anyone showing up who had a significant number of proxies? Security escorts the person out, and the President now has another stack of proxies to vote with. If dirty pool is on the table, be ready for it.

Also note that the proxy directs that it be submitted to COPA by June 13th. If you want to name a proxy, it has to be registered with COPA HQ via the addresses on the proxy. Sending it or giving it only to your designee is not adequate, although ensuring they have a copy would be a good idea.

One nice thing about this proxy, is that it is only for the AGM. If they were thinking, they would have made it a generic proxy that continued until you rescinded it or changed your designee.

I cannot attend this year, but I would gladly give my proxy to someone who (a) is 100% sure (as they can be) that they will attend, and (b) thinks this sh1t has gone on long enough.

Note that I don't believe that any of this sabre-rattling will accomplish anything other than making it clear that a significant percentage of members aren't pleased. I predict that the dissenters at this meeting will be outnumbered by supporters of the board by a factor of 10.

Oh, and here's the original proxy, for reference: http://copanational.org/files/2014_Noti ... _Final.pdf

[CpnCrunch]

I just got my COPA renewal notice recently, so I fired off an email to COPA, Kevin and my local director saying that I probably won't renew due to the way they removed Doug.

The only reply I got was from my local director. It appears he voted with the board to get rid of Doug. He also seems to have a blind spot about the bylaws...he just said that there's a lot of misinformation going round on social media, and that there are two sides to the story. I pointed out that I had gotten the info directly from COPA's website, and that it was the method of removing Doug that I had a problem with, as it goes against the bylaws. He hasn't responded.

Anyway, just be aware that the directors act on behalf of the members, and they are subordinate to the members. Basically the members allow the directors and executives to handle the day-to-day running and decision making of the organisation. As soon as the directors go against the wishes of the members, it's time to get rid of them.

In fact it is incredibly easy for the members to get rid of all the directors. It's simply a matter of making the proposal at a meeting, and getting the votes. It is the members who ultimately have control of the organisation, not the directors or the executive.

The real-world problem, of course, is whether or not the members really care about what's going on or whether they just blindly follow the board.

[AirFrame]

*All* of the directors will tell you that they voted with the board. They have been directed to, and gag-ordered not to talk about it when asked. Our regional director stood up at our chapter meeting this month and told us that the board got a legal opinion that the removal didn't violate any laws, that it had to be done due to the timeliness of the issue, and that there were director's confidentiality concerns that had to be protected.

It stinks to high heaven. However, I still renewed. COPA is needed, even if management needs changing. I support COPA, not what the current board did in relation to Doug Ronan.

[CpnCrunch]

*All* of the directors will tell you that they voted with the board. They have been directed to, and gag-ordered not to talk about it when asked. Our regional director stood up at our chapter meeting this month and told us that the board got a legal opinion that the removal didn't violate any laws, that it had to be done due to the timeliness of the issue, and that there were director's confidentiality concerns that had to be protected.

It stinks to high heaven. However, I still renewed. COPA is needed, even if management needs changing. I support COPA, not what the current board did in relation to Doug Ronan.

Yes, it was the same director that I talked to.

The issue, as I have pointed out, is that the directors are subservient to the members, so if we aren't happy about the Doug Ronan issue then they have to give us all of the information. It's not as if we are random members of the public trying to get information out of them. The directors serve us, not the other way round. If they are hiding things from us then there is a problem.

I don't particularly want to spend the money going to the AGM just to make my point, so my only option is to email the directors and refuse to renew my membership unless things change.

It particularly hits home for me because something similar is happening at my local flying club. It makes me wonder whether pilots can actually be involved in running any large organisation without resorting to in-fighting and bullying.

[spafloats]

I have spoken with one COPA Director and he did not vote with the Board, and I`m told that two others did not vote with the Board either. I have also spoken with another lawyer who is also a COPA member and he is of the opinion that what the Board did to Doug was not legal.

I will be attending the COPA AGM and suspect that it could be quite entertaining! Just remember that the President serves at the pleasure of the Board, the Board is democratically elected to represent the members and a Director was removed by the non-renewal of hiss membership, thus making him ineligible to be a Director. A non-unanimous vote by the Board removed a duly elected Director, member and head of a COPA Flight.In addition the Board seat has been left vacant for a year.

A dysfunctional state of affairs at COPA, IMHO!!

Spafloats

[AirFrame]

spafloats, if you'd like it I could give you my proxy for the AGM. You'll need to send me your name and COPA number (I suggest in a private message).

[CpnCrunch]

spafloats, if you'd like it I could give you my proxy for the AGM. You'll need to send me your name and COPA number (I suggest in a private message).

Me too.

[spafloats]

I look forward to voting any proxy submitted to me at the AGM. Please PM me for my contact details.

Spafloats

[dstechnical]

DO NOT GIVE YOUR PROXY TO A DIRECTOR. THEY ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY MUST VOTE ALL PROXIES IN FAVOUR. THIS THING JUST KEEPS ON GETTING MORE RIDICULOUS. HOW IS THAT FOR THE DIRECTORS REPRESENTING THE MEMBERS!

[dstechnical]

spafloats you are correct not all board members voted in favour of removing doug ronan at the last AGM. NOW I understand that they plan to remove two more members at this AGM. With the new rules they only need nine votes to remove a board member or a member. It should be interesting at the AGM. they have hired several off duty OPP for security. They feel that the members might actually become vocal with this hijacking of their organization. This organization has become the presidents private club. some of the board feel he is irreplaceable. With a compensation package of around $250k(this figure came from the board) and a virtually unaudited expense account and great perks. (see all expense paid trip to china) I am sure you would be swamped with resumes
The board is fearful of a flood of southern ontario members swamping the meeting and defeating the ammendment. Lets hope so.
I wish i could be a the AGM to see the fireworks

[CpnCrunch]

I'd recommend giving your proxy to spafloats.

[Colonel Sanders]

You can't change COPA, or TC for that matter.

But you do have a choice: stop giving money
to COPA. Stop pouring fuel on the fire.

My father (a 60 year member with a funny
low-digit number), myself and my son did
not renew our COPA memberships this year.

Vote with your wallet. It's the only one that
counts.

[CpnCrunch]

You can't change COPA, or TC for that matter.

You're right about TC, but you can very easily change COPA. Just fire all the directors (or at least the ones that voted to illegally get rid of Doug). You instantly have a completely new organisation with new management and new directors. A lot of people seem to forget that the members have 100% of the power in these organisations. Directors are subservient to the members and they serve at our pleasure. It seems that the directors of COPA may have forgotten this.

[DougRonan]

We had a big party/barbecue here this past Saturday with over 150 people. “Fiery” Phil Englishman (newly re-elected COPA Director for this area) sent me an email asking if he could stop by and bring some proxies to get signed for the AGM. I replied “absolutely - bring as many as you like – if nothing else we can use them to light the barbecue!” He arrived mid afternoon at the height of the crowd. I was somewhat surprised to see that he was actually collecting proxies to vote AGAINST the pending by-law change at the upcoming AGM in Peterborough later this month. At least somebody on the COPA Board gets it!!

I filled him in on the fact that out of the 150 plus people in attendance – most of them – avid pilots, aircraft owners (quite a few multiple aircraft owners!), AME’s, airline pilots, and even a couple of Transport Canada Inspectors - he would have a hard time finding too many people with a valid COPA membership. I don’t think he got any proxies signed – unfortunately - that is a really good example of the sad state of COPA in the public forum!