Your help is needed -today- for a Mars Society deadline (well, maybe Friday or so),
see: http://chapters.marssociety.org/council/sc/SC-Nomination-form.txt

After all the private complaints about it - the democratic process in the Mars
Society may be canceled due to lack of interest....

" What if we held an election and nobody came ? "

That is quite possible - The first election by members in the history of the
Mars Society is scheduled soon, with no more elections scheduled for 2 years.
Yet, due to lack of interest by members in running for, and nominating candidates;
it is quite likely that there will be exactly the number of candidates as there
are positions to be filled. All those candidates were selected by the very small
board, which itself was not elected.

If you would like for the members to have a choice, read the candidate statements
at http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/ (full addresses are below).
Then print some nomination forms listed below, nominate someone, and mail it today
or as soon as possible, it should be received by Dec. 31, 2001.
(if you have already mailed it, thanks. a private reply would be helpful for counting.)

[Personal note - - - although I am a candidate, would you please nominate someone,
[whether or not it is me. While I was the Executive Director (1999) and trying to
[help chapters get organized (1998), I heard many private complaints from members
[about their lack of input into the leadership boards. Some of those people became
[less active or dropped out completely, because they felt it was not 'their' society.
[Well folks; the BoD allowed an election for Steering Committee, but put nominations
[off until 2001 - that is now.
[ If you have complaints, or desire for input, don't drop out -
[ - instead, nominate someone, today.

> the Steering Committee sets "...the policy, campaigns, and projects of the Mars Society".

> Statements from some candidates are available at:
> http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/
> http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/statement-mackenzie.htm
> http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/statement-fisher.htm
> http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/statement-hettmer.htm
> http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/statement-ribbens.htm
> (Guy Murphy & Mark Klosowski are also running, but I don't have statements from them)
>
> Then, print the nomination form for all 6 petition candidates, at:
> http://chapters.marssociety.org/council/sc/SC-Nomination-form.txt
> or, for individual candidates:
http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/nom-form-mackenzie.txt
http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/nom-form-fisher.txt
http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/nom-form-hettmer.txt
http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/nom-form-murphy.txt
http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/nom-form-ribbens.txt
http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/nom-form-klosowski.txt
> Sign separately for each person you wish to nominate.
>
> Please send via postal mail today, (supposed to be received by December 31, 2001)
> Sorry, e-mail will not be accepted. Mail to:
> The Mars Society
> P.O. Box 273
> Indian Hills, CO 80454

[Incidentally, my intentions: if elected, are to improve communications, improve
[your access to the steering committee, help chapters and smaller task forces, etc.
[more info at http://chapters.MarsSociety.org/council/sc/statement-mackenzie.htm ]

Details, for those interested in nomination numbers
- by November, the 3 most active candidates had collected about 28 to 35 nominations,
mostly at conferences and chapter meetings. I expected lively discussions and
numerous nominations as the deadline approached in December, but only about 5 to 10
firm nominations came in, with about 10 others saying they "would mail it in".
So, my best estimate is that each candidates has no more than 40 to 50 nominations.
That is just shy of the 50 are required, but 60 are desirable in case some
nominations are disqualified.

Please mail it immediately.

on behalf of all the candidates, thank you in advance,
-Bruce Mackenzie