Posted:
January 27, 2016
The official position of Great Lakes Vice President has been restored to the National Executive Board of American Maritime Officers.
The position was reinstated January 4 through a resolution to amend the AMO National Constitution to reflect the change in administrative structure. The resolution was approved by the AMO National Executive Board and by majority vote among seagoing AMO members participating in the regularly scheduled monthly membership meeting at AMO headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla.
The votes by the National Executive Board and by the seagoing AMO members complied with Article XXV of the AMO National Constitution. Article XXV specifies procedures for revising the union's governing document.
The resolution amended Article VI Section 4(a) of the AMO National Constitution by adding "National Vice President, Great Lakes" to the roster of National Executive Board members, effective immediately. The resolution and amendment reversed a September 2011 amendment that eliminated the Great Lakes position from the board as of December 31, 2014.
Under authority provided in Article VIII Section 5 of the AMO National Constitution, AMO National President Paul Doell appointed John Clemons to serve as National Vice President, Great Lakes. Clemons had been elected to the post in union-wide secret ballot voting in 2010.
The position of National Vice President, Great Lakes, will be on the ballot in AMO elections, Doell said.
"By adopting this resolution on the first full day of union business in the New Year, the AMO National Executive Board and a representative bloc of seagoing AMO members voted to uphold democratic principle in our union," Doell said. "Engineers, mates and stewards sailing the Great Lakes as dues-paying AMO members are no longer without equal representation on the board."
The January 4 resolution did not restore Toledo as a Constitutional port holding official monthly AMO membership meetings.
"Designating Toledo as a Constitutional port again is an impractical option for our union at this point," Doell said. "The logistical complications resulting in recent years from demographic shifts, harmful economic and competitive influences on the state and size of the U.S. Great Lakes bulk fleet, a corresponding reduction in the fleet's engineer, mate and steward complements, and the necessary sale of AMO properties in Toledo were all factors behind this difficult decision.
"This administration will work to find effective, efficient ways to bring AMO membership meetings to Great Lakes ports," Doell added. "We will focus as well on ways to increase participation by Great Lakes AMO members in important rank and file committee work that is required from time to time under the AMO National Constitution. We welcome AMO members' comments and suggestions."
Great Lakes vice presidency restored to AMO National Executive Board
The official position of Great Lakes Vice President has been restored to the National Executive Board of American Maritime Officers.
The position was reinstated January 4 through a resolution to amend the AMO National Constitution to reflect the change in administrative structure. The resolution was approved by the AMO National Executive Board and by majority vote among seagoing AMO members participating in the regularly scheduled monthly membership meeting at AMO headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla.
The votes by the National Executive Board and by the seagoing AMO members complied with Article XXV of the AMO National Constitution. Article XXV specifies procedures for revising the union's governing document.
The resolution amended Article VI Section 4(a) of the AMO National Constitution by adding "National Vice President, Great Lakes" to the roster of National Executive Board members, effective immediately. The resolution and amendment reversed a September 2011 amendment that eliminated the Great Lakes position from the board as of December 31, 2014.
Under authority provided in Article VIII Section 5 of the AMO National Constitution, AMO National President Paul Doell appointed John Clemons to serve as National Vice President, Great Lakes. Clemons had been elected to the post in union-wide secret ballot voting in 2010.
The position of National Vice President, Great Lakes, will be on the ballot in AMO elections, Doell said.
"By adopting this resolution on the first full day of union business in the New Year, the AMO National Executive Board and a representative bloc of seagoing AMO members voted to uphold democratic principle in our union," Doell said. "Engineers, mates and stewards sailing the Great Lakes as dues-paying AMO members are no longer without equal representation on the board."
The January 4 resolution did not restore Toledo as a Constitutional port holding official monthly AMO membership meetings.
"Designating Toledo as a Constitutional port again is an impractical option for our union at this point," Doell said. "The logistical complications resulting in recent years from demographic shifts, harmful economic and competitive influences on the state and size of the U.S. Great Lakes bulk fleet, a corresponding reduction in the fleet's engineer, mate and steward complements, and the necessary sale of AMO properties in Toledo were all factors behind this difficult decision.
"This administration will work to find effective, efficient ways to bring AMO membership meetings to Great Lakes ports," Doell added. "We will focus as well on ways to increase participation by Great Lakes AMO members in important rank and file committee work that is required from time to time under the AMO National Constitution. We welcome AMO members' comments and suggestions."