NASS Meet the Officials- Our President 2003

Office of President 2003
Joe Guinan

The following is Joe's election campaign speech from October 2000

With Paul Tegler withdrawing his name from consideration, it looks like I might be the one who "gets" to be the first President of NASS. I'm still hoping someone else will step up and get nominated for the President's position. Is it too late to encourage a write-in campaign for someone else? Seriously, I will take on the responsibility for the first year if no one else wants to step forward and if the membership votes me in.
So let's make sure you know what you are in for....

Joe Guinan
751 N. Day Drive
Fremont, Nebraska 68025

Bachelor of Arts Degree from Buena Vista College (now University) of Storm Lake, Iowa in Social Science (1977). I taught high school and junior high school for 13 years in public and private schools in Nebraska. I am currently a salesman of funeral vehicles and the "Chief Operating Officer" for Fleet Systems, Inc. of Fremont, Nebraska. I am also still teaching, but only Religion Classes for the 5th grade students at our local church.

I am married to Trish, who works for the Nebraska State Education Association (she also was a teacher). Out daughter Alison is 11 years old and loves Daddy's "Lil' Red", a 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500. (She has been told she won't be driving the car when she gets her license!) I have leadership experience form College organizations and two of the local golf leagues that I play for as well as from managing classrooms full of hormonally challenged teenagers ;-)

As far as my "General Goals for NASS", I'd like to see an organization of 100 to 150 active members within a couple of years. I'd like to see several different "Wings" of NASS members in different regions of the continent formed up and hosting some sort of get-together at least once or twice a year and I think the National level should have some sort of Annual Event. I know that not every member will be able to attend every event, as our widespread geographical locations will make this impossible. During the first year, I believe we should work to make sure all of our officers know what needs to be done to make NASS successful.

I would like to see our web site continue to be a good communications tool and a resource for Spitfire owners in need of information. I think we need to concentrate our communications efforts into the "Online" media of the internet. The ease of use and the low expense of this form of communication is undeniable. I would agree, however, that people who do not have online capability should have equal access to at least the "Official" correspondence of the group and so would work with the other officers to ensure that this would be available in the near future.

You should also be made aware of some possible "negatives" with my taking on the office of President. This is a HOBBY for me. I have a family and a full time job. They come first. I don't see NASS as ever becoming some big, polished, professional organization. If that is what you are looking for NASS to become, don't vote for me! I also don't have a lot of patience for people who sit on the sidelines and complain but never "strap on the pads and get in the game". This lack of patience may lead me to speak a little more bluntly than necessary at times. I am the type of person that is ALWAYS open to suggestions and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. However, plain damn cynicism or personal attacks will get me off on a rant almost every time. I promise, if elected, to keep these tendencies under control and to attempt to be diplomatic in all NASS business.

I will not use NASS or any of our communications efforts for any personal purposes, and would ask all members to follow the same guidelines. I don't think NASS should ever be allowed to become some sort of marketing tool for any commercial business effort. If you have been paying attention, you have seen my efforts to inform people about this already. (I might add this was done diplomatically and was responded to very politely.) I'll also promise to make mistakes. I hope they will number fewer than the things that go well. I'm human. NASS is just getting off the ground, and I'm sure there will be some problems. With the help of the other officers and the members, I am sure we can make NASS something to be proud of. I wish good luck to all the other candidates for office. Thanks again everyone!

Joe Guinan
1980 Spitfire 1500
Fremont, Nebraska