From the "you must be kidding me department".
SECTION 6. MEMBER RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
F. US Airways pilots are solemnly charged with the responsibility to, at all times and in all decisions, consider the consequences of their actions upon the lives and careers of their fellow union pilots and our profession. Pilots failing to adhere to this paragraph are subject to a fine, suspension and/or being placed in bad standing as USAPA members, on an individual basis, to be determined by the Board of Pilot Representatives.
OK, we have known that provision has been in place for awhile. It seemed, at the time, that the BPR was being somewhat draconian is attempting to stifle free speech or free thought and that the BPR was the sole decider of who or what constituted a violation of it's constitution's potential restriction on their pilot's US Constitutional right of free speech. While it has appeared to me to be draconian, it was never, to my knowledge, actually enforced. You know, sort of an ambiguous "gotcha" for anyone they may conveniently decide to punish down the road.
Of course, that portion of the USAPA constitution may be in conflict with the following.
This Association, founded on the principles of democracy and accountability, aspires to provide through this Constitution and Bylaws (C&BLs,) equally to each member, the benefits and controls of a truly participative organization, which ensures freedom of speech while promoting integrity, honor and trust. The Association will be attentive and respectful of each member's opinions and concerns and will always encourage full voluntary participation.
Democracy and accountability are fine. There are lawful and appropriate limits to free speech and a balance must be kept between the two. But problems arise when we see "the benefits and controls of a truly participative organization" and the association being "attentive and respectful of each member's opinions and concerns and will always encourage full voluntary participation."
The problem occurs when the constitution is of an organization that has already been found to have committed a breach in the duty of fair representation and it's seeming myopic leadership seems to be pulling the strings of control closer and thereby inhibiting the benefits of membership in USAPA.
WHEREAS the USAPA BPR has a desire to streamline its communications to its pilot group, and
WHEREAS communications which are inconsistent with Board policy and position do not benefit the pilot group as a whole and may in-fact imperil various USAPA legal positions, and
WHEREAS the Board has determined that communications which emanate from other than official USAPA channels, currently defined as the USAPA web site and USAPA email distribution system, are not typically available for review and do not present the Association in the most professional manner possible, and
WHEREAS the Board has determined that the use of the USAPA acronym and/or USAPA titles indicates to the pilots that the source is official and therefore that the message can be trusted as consistent with Board policy and position, and
WHEREAS the Board has determined that communications shall have a uniform message, consistent with USAPA BPR approved policy and direction, and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that is shall be USAPA policy that all USAPA communications shall be distributed only via official USAPA channels such as the USAPA web site and email distribution system, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that use of the USAPA acronym, either alone or combined with other letters and/or acronyms, and the US Airline Pilots name, shall be restricted to use only when associated with official USAPA communications
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that it shall be USAPA Policy that any and all USAPA communications shall be subject to review and revision to be consistent with USAPA BPR policy and direction prior to distribution.
The first paragraph is fine. The second is iffy. The third makes it almost seem that the BPR is deciding on what members may discuss if that information has not been pre-cleared by USAPA and determined that those conversations may not paint USAPA in the best possible light. The fourth paragraph almost makes it seem that USAPA is now about to claim that use of the acronym "USAPA" by anyone other than the officers, representatives and the communications committee of "USAPA" is unlawful because USAPA owns the term USAPA and/or US Airways Pilots Association. (I guess in the future I can refer to the USA Pickleball Association or the US Army Publishing Agency...)
How undemocratic can this collection of fools, which includes the esteemed (cough) legal counsel, be in running this organization. I have disagreed with some of you about the evil ALPA, arguing that the disease was from within rather than from without. But I seriously ask all of you, is the cure for the disease worse than the perceived disease was in the first place? That is a serious question.
Something needs to be done soon. I don't know what the appropriate venue is for fixing these problems and whether Judge Wake's courtroom is perhaps such a spot. The advantage of his venue is that he is already well-acquainted with some of the worse aspect of the US Pickleball Association and the thought process of its esteemed legal counsel, so the degree of disbelief at hearing or reading some of this would not last as long.
The question of "who will rid me of this troublesome priest" comes to mind. The question is whether the troublesome priest is the leadership of the Pickleball Association or the dissenters of the way the Pickleball Association conducts business. It is all in the eye of the beholder.