Greetings.

Jim Follis here, and I approve of this message!

I am running for the office of Secretary of the and wanted to take this opportunity to ask for your vote of support. While this is not the first time that I have sought this position, it remains that it is a position that I feel I can most benefit the Club and the duties of which I can fulfill and have available time and energy to initiate and head-up additional Club improvement projects.

It is my desire to be a member of the Club’s Board of Directors (by being an Officer of the Club) so that I can have a greater and direct impact on the direction and function of the Club. This is not to say that the Club is currently in a wrong place, only that I believe a better course can be steered, and I would like to be a part of that stewardship.

I believe that my on-going participation in Club efforts and activities is a reflection of how my involvement with Club leadership will be. I am not silent, I am not a Yes-man and I am an ideas person. I am cordial, polite and welcoming. I enjoy sharing the knowledge and understanding that I have learned from Club members before me with new collectors and even seasoned collectors.

I believe in communication! While I’ve said it in the past (and received some negative commentary for it) I think that weekly (or at least bi-weekly) up-dates of ongoing activities should be posted to the Club’s website. While I cannot and do not speak for others, that is a commitment from me, as the Club’s Secretary, if elected, that I plan to achieve.

Those communications will be offered with the intent of providing a two-way discussion in a fair and friendly manner. Moreover, I believe that Club information should be ‘pushed’ out to the Membership and not ‘pulled’. Once upon a time we had an On-Line Communications Director (OLCD). I sat in that position for 5 years.

During that time I received countless comments and questions from the so called rank and file of the Membership about any number of Club-related topics and passed the questions to the applicable Board or Committee/Director representative, or presented the answer myself as outlined by the contacted individual. By and large, this was viewed as an asset by the membership at-large and I believe it would be a valuable asset today.

In my belief that communication is a cornerstone of our longevity, I would support a restoration of that appointed position.

This is just one of many things that I think about that would be of benefit to the Club. While not necessarily the most important, it is but one element of what I want to bring to the Club’s leadership table.

But I cannot get there without your support, your vote!

So I therefore, respectfully ask for the favor of your consideration when you receive your Election Ballot in the upcoming issue of the Club’s magazine. Every VOTE counts and I need yours!

Thank you,

Jim Follis
LM 3872-53
OTY Awards Chairman
Planning Committee Member