National event chaos?

[Adger Smith]

Since NHRA is broke and their solution affects the Sportsman racer it may be time to look into getting our voting rights back. It is pretty apparent the NHRA Board of Directors, that we gave our voting rights to, are not taking care of business in a manner that keeps Sportsman racing healthy. SRAC needs to represent us on the NHRA Board of Directors with our vote instead of just being around to provide our lip service.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

Since NHRA is broke and their solution affects the Sportsman racer it may be time to look into getting our voting rights back. It is pretty apparent the NHRA Board of Directors, that we gave our voting rights to, are not taking care of business in a manner that keeps Sportsman racing healthy. SRAC needs to represent us on the NHRA Board of Directors with our vote instead of just being around to provide our lip service.

I'm sure in favor of having MY vote back!
At the very least, our SRAC members should each have a vote on the board!

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I'm sure in favor of having MY vote back!
At the very least, our SRAC members should each have a vote on the board!

Absolutely! Jim


.

[Billy Nees]

Has anything in NHRA,s business structure (other than the attitude) changed to where it would make it not possible for us to want and get our membership voting right returned? Many of today's members weren't even born when it was "signed" away. This must be looked into!

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Has anything in NHRA,s business structure (other than the attitude) changed to where it would make it not possible for us to want and get our membership voting right returned? Many of today's members weren't even born when it was "signed" away. This must be looked into!

Billy,
My guess is that since the membership voted to cede control to the board of directors, the board of directors would have to vote to cede control back to the rank and file membership. Not likely to happen. NHRA is obviously being operated far outside the spirit of the original charter, if not the letter. I suspect that once control was ceded to the board, the charter was modified to make it nearly impossible, if not completely impossible to revert back to the way it was. It would probably require a long, difficult, and expensive legal battle, if it is even possible. Perhaps the best option is probably the IRS investigation into violations of the not for profit charter that Bruce told us about. Alas, that went silent a while back.

NHRA operates under a 501(c)6 non profit charter requiring it to act specifically and directly in the best interests of the rank and file membership. As such, it would probably be necessary for a group of members to retain counsel and prove that they have standing, and then that they have grounds to claim that NHRA has acted in conflict with the best interests of the rank and file membership, and then provide evidence to support that position. It will be neither cheap nor easy, nor is there any certainty in getting the desired result.

[Billy Nees]

Alan, I wouldn't doubt what you have said for a minute but I think that this should, somehow be pursued a bit more.
Julie Jordan, are you still around? Can you comment?

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Alan, I wouldn't doubt what you have said for a minute but I think that this should, somehow be pursued a bit more.
Julie Jordan, are you still around? Can you comment?

Billy, I agree, it should be pursued. The question would be organization and finance.

[Julie Jordan]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Alan, I wouldn't doubt what you have said for a minute but I think that this should, somehow be pursued a bit more.
Julie Jordan, are you still around? Can you comment?

I'm still around, but I'm a CPA, not an attorney. I'm not an expert on what it would take to get the members voting rights back.

I'm not convinced that would be a good thing, I think the membership base is quite vast and varied, it's not just sportsman racers. First of all, would it be legal that only active racer members vote? I suspect not because once you limit membership to a certain body of people you risk losing the 501(c)(6) status as it's not for the good of the general membership. If all members voted then anyone who had a membership card would be eligible, whether they be sportsman, pros, fans, industry reps, etc. With that many people eligible to vote how would there ever be a consensus? Look how divisive our presidential election was, you think racers and fans could agree on an issue? Just like now, someone will not be happy.

NHRA is far from broke. If you look at prior returns, they had a lot of debt when Compton took over from Wally Parks. Under Compton's regime, the finances of NHRA improved dramatically. They are sitting on a lot of cash, own real estate. From on outsider's perspective it appears that the TV packages have been more costly and problematic than anticipated. But, I don't think we are looking at the demise of NHRA. They have held on, through a tough economic cycle, many sporting and racing organizations haven't.

I think a fight to change the membership structure would be (1) costly and (2) most likely unsuccessful. NHRA has many facets of the organization besides just sportsman racing. There are the Pros, ET series, member tracks, youth programs. One year with a loss from operations doesn't prove to a judge or jury that the board isn't doing their job correctly. In my opinion, this would be a losing venture for anyone who tried to pursue this.

I get that we love our sport, but it's not all about us. An organization of this size is never going to please all of its members.

My 2 cents.