Thank you for your thoughtful and kind reply=2E I am glad we are getting a more=20=
open discussion on this issue=2E =20=
I guess my greatest concern, and that which lead to my first note, is that, in=20=
my experience, a substantial amount of power in the CAS is concentrated in the=20=
hands of non-elected vice presidents who serve 3-year terms=2E The Executive=20=
Council (president, president-elect, and the vice presidents) seem much more=20=
involved in policy implementation (and very often framing of policy) and=20=
day-to-day CAS operations than is the elected board=2E =20=
After reading your comments, I see no difficulty extending your proposed=20=
election procedures for the president to vice presidents=2E Your comments=20=
regarding qualified presidential candidates can be extended to vice presidents=20=
and address some of Howard's appropriate concerns regarding experience=2E =20=
As you propose for president, the nominating committee can review the=20=
qualifications of all candidates who come forward for vice president and,=20=
should none respond, seek qualified individuals who may be interested in=20=
serving=2E A fear, though, would be that the nominating committee could still=20=
act as an anointing committee if it screened out all strong potential=20=
candidates, other than its own first choice=2E We will need to be able to trust=20=
they will not=2E
As to the "what is broke" question that invariably arises, what is "broke" is=20=
that we do not give our members a voice in how they are governed on a=20=
day-to-day basis=2E We cannot help but get a stronger leadership, more in touch=20=
with the membership with fully open elections than we have with the current=20=
system=2E If at the end of the day the system is stronger and better, why not=20=
fix it?
Supporters of monarchies, aristocracies, and other oligarchies often justify=20=
their opposition to democracy by saying the a few "learned" ones know better=20=
what is good for the "people" than do the people themselves=2E They have often=20=
fought democracy by saying their system is not "broken" and gives the "best"=20=
for the people=2E Do we want to say the same thing for our society? I for one=20=
do not=2E
Either with the small expansion (to the vice presidents) or without, I think=20=
your idea has merit and should be discussed further=2E I hope the discussion=20=
will continue and that we can get the views of all our actuarial brethren=2E
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