Croneyism & Back-Room Dealing

What are your thoughts on the apparent croneyism and back-room dealing of the AMC?

Croneyism is the practice of favoring one's close friends, especially in political appointments. In my observation, appointments at the national level are based on skills needed for a position and usually there is quite a bit of gathering suggestions and considering many people before making appointments. Case in point is my own appointment in 2004. Prior to that, I had had interaction only with the Membership Officer (who presented at an LDW while I was a LocSec), the Communications Officer (while I was an editor), and only one or two decidedly un-warm brief interactions with the Chair. And yet somehow, my name floated up to her desk when she was looking for someone with proven editor/webmaster/leadership abilities. I was totally surprised when she called me; until then, I'd been under the impression that I was one of the rabble-rousing outsiders she disliked.

What probably gives you the impression of rampant cronyism is that A) The actively-involved members tend to know each other because they're all... well...actively involved and B) People who work together for a common purpose tend to make extra effort to get along with each other— or at least to give that impression in public.

As for back-room dealing, absolutely there is nothing like there is in Congress as far as "I'll vote on your motion if you'll vote on mine." There are, however, efforts made before and during a meeting to craft motions that the majority approves of. In my mind, this is exactly what a Board of Directors should do—work together to develop policies everyone can support. But deal-making? Nope.