Prime position—1st come, 1st listed
In order they're received
At an AGM, I complained about prime ballot positioning on the proxy
forms to the property manager. His response? he wrote in the names in
the order that the candidates submitted their names.
Since the incumbents are the first to tell him that they are seeking
another term, of course their names will always be listed first.
A slick answer to a dirty trick.
First come, first served. If you don't think about it too hard, this may sound fair.
However, who are the first candidates to know when the letter informing the owners will be mailed out? The incumbents, right?
So they inform the manager, verbally or in writing, that they intend to
run for re-election so as easy as pie, the president is listed in first
prime location and the other director or directors in prime positions 2
& 3.
Any additional candidates, that e-mail or write in their nominations are listed below the incumbents.
When I first saw this on a proxy form, I thought that it was a trick
that was dreamed up by just one ACMO affiliated management
company. Later, I discovered that other companies use this trick to
give the incumbents an edge.
What can a candidate do?
Well, by the time you figure out that you got ripped off, it is too late isn't it?
But there is always next year's proxies.
During the New Business part of the current AGM, while the secretary is taking
the minutes, announce that you are nominating yourself to be a candidate at the next AGM.
Therefore, you must be placed first on the ballot.
Then your sidekick stands up and announces her candidacy. Then you two
will hold the first two prime candidate positions on next year's proxy
forms.
Be sure to e-mail a written confirmation of your intentions to run to
the management office, that same evening, as soon as the two of you get
home.
top contents
chapter
previous
next