Mini election

VOTING has already begun at Maryknoll's polling place in this off-off year election. Of local interest is Rob Astorino (R) running for Westchester County Executive against incumbant Andy Spano (D).

How will the voters at Maryknoll (roughly 600 registered!) vote, given conflicting currents? They over-whelmingly voted for Obama last year (103 to 21) and are heavily Democratic, but Astorino is the nephew of our own Fr. Bob Astorino (Hong Kong). In addition, he and Spano effectively dilute the Italian voting block. (My father always advised me to vote for the candidate with a vowel at the end of his/her name.)

If I could only figure out what part of Italy Spano's ancestors came from, my right hand won't whither when I vote for Republican Astorino.

Sent from my iPhone

Petition successful!

THE PETITION TO SUPPRESS the U.S. Region, suspend the voting, name a Council member superior and appoint Wayne as Administrator has succeeded—in getting everyone upset and talking. Hey, at least they're talking about things other than sports and colonoscopies (see post for Sept. 8 "Omnia Maryknoll in duo partes divisa est.")

I have no idea what the results were, as only a few guys cc-ed me. But I know of at least six who signed and sent it in and another six who vehemently opposed all or part of the petition. Everyone agreed on the unseemly haste of the vote. Some want it suspended, others to proceed.

John Kaserow sent a lengthy rebuttal to the petition (but I still disagreed with him!) which I shall post later today. He belongs to the group that doesn't think next month's retreat the appropriate venue for the regional discussion this situation demands. He argues it will only subvert (my word) the retreat atmosphere. He's right. However, whether we allot time for this discussion at the retreat or not, unless the balloting produces a clear winner this round (and I still don't think it will), it WILL be a topic of discussion and on everyone's mind.

That being said, I know Br. Jim Zullo (the retreat director) well. If he is given a heads-up on what is bubbling beneath the surface, it will dovetail perfectly with his retreat structured around the Emmaus experience.

And so, the pot having been stirred, my work for now is done.

REMINDER: MARYKNOLL CENTER HAS NO ELECTRICITY FROM 8:30 to 4 P.M. TODAY AND NO LANDLINE PHONE SERVICE. (ST. TERESA'S AND OTHER BUILDINGS NOT EFFFECTED.)

Petition to Suppress U.S. Region

AN E-PETITION asking the General Council to suppress the U.S. region was emailed to members of the region late this morning.

It respectfully called upon Society leadership to immediately suspend voting for a new regional and to appoint a member of the General Council to act as superior for the men in the U.S.

It further asks that Br. Wayne Fitzpatrick—by virtue of the overwhelming vote he received from the members—be appointed Administrator for the men in the U.S., and given all responsibilities and decision-making powers to assist in our ministerial and departmental activities.

I was at the 1984 Chapter that created the U.S. Region specifically to give adequate Chapter representation to the growing number of Maryknollers living and working in the U.S. The unwieldy nature of this beast became apparent to both Fathers Ray Hill and later Bill Mullan.

This petition in no way abrogates nor compromises representation of the U.S. members at future Chapters. It asks that the Administrator attend ex officio and that delegates be elected in proportion to our membership and Maryknoll's laws.

It also calls for election of three assistants to help the Administrator in his dealing with U.S. membership.

If the recipient of the email agrees with the petition, he is asked to forward, sign and send it to the superior general.

The intent is to give the General Council a sense of the mind of the U.S. membership on how best to proceed following Br. Wayne's vetoed election.