Michael Kraus of Gamers Conclave in Mandeville, Louisiana saw our coverage of the GAMA Retailer Division (see 'Vernazzarro Resigns from GRD Chairmanship') and is calling the events a 'coup':
To all that participated in the coup:
I read the recent article and I am really upset by the action taken by so few to protect so many. When someone is elected by the rules set up by a government, or organization then this should only be overturned by evidence of fraud.
fraud:
1 a : DECEIT, TRICKERY; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : TRICK
2 a : a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : IMPOSTOR; also : one who defrauds : CHEAT b : one that is not what it seems or is represented to be
There is no evidence of fraud. As far as taking credit for things he did or didn't do, I wasn't there and I have a feeling that there were people there looking for any reason to 'get Vern'. These same people run away and use the 'I followed all the rules' defense, and 'I was never out to get anyone' and 'I just want the best for the retailers' and so on. I would have more respect for the board if they would have said 'we don't like Vern and want to elect someone we like'. Not very democratic, but a least honest.
So you don't like how the election turned out. You're so concerned about the relationship between retail and manufacturers. All this is a bunch of crap. This was nothing more than a bloodless coup. Why have elections at all? Just have the board appoint who they want to be the retail voice of GAMA. Sure, I saw how there is a new rule about runoffs and that is great, but really, if the GRD found it too hard to work with Vern, then they could have all resigned and a new board could be elected.
I'll never understand how a few people think that they know more then everyone else. I don't know Vern that well and have never worked with him on any projects, but the few men who didn't like how Vern worked with the manufacturers before should have worked harder to make sure that they had thier own candidate, not after-the-fact yelling that Vern is some sort of evil bastard. Sure, no one called him that, but in the two and a half page justification of this coup, that is exactly what is implied, ether intentional or not.
To briefly summarize, when someone is legally elected and then there are a few people who think the he is a bad choice the governing body should hold up the election. For whatever reason, this governing body did not accept the elected person, but instead appointed the leader of the group that opposed the elected person. UNBELIEVABLE! I will keep this newsletter to show as an example of how a few people, thinking they know what is good for all of us, can turn an election into a coup. I just pray that we can do a better job in Iraq teaching what is right and democratic than what has taken place here. All the members should be forced off the board and new elections should take place. This might take a few dollars but at least it would be the right thing to do. None of this current board should be allowed to run either now or in the future, and a public apology should be sent to Vern.