I was just reminded of something I've been seeing for years that's always confused me:
Wayne LaPierre, CEO.It's not just how others refer to him, it's how NRA refers to him, case in point, on official tax documents they file with the government.
"The officers of the Association shall be a President, one or more Vice Presidents, an Executive Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Executive Director of the National Rifle Association General Operations, and an Executive Director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action."Then you get to (b) and it says (in boldface type):
"The Board may not abolish said offices nor create any other offices."That seems pretty specific and there for a reason. Anybody who knows what the deal is, please feel free to educate via comments.
By the way, I encourage all members to get a copy of the current Bylaws (the most recent rev. is April 29, 2017), because I believe it's important to hold directors and paid staff to them. I've advocated before that they ought to be online, but Fairfax doesn't want to do that and even put a copyright on them some years back, which precludes someone else (legally) doing it.
Perhaps if enough members request a copy, which is their right, postage costs will prompt a reconsideration.
6 comments:
I always thought he was the Executive Vice President. That's how I remember seeing him titled. I haven't paid much attention lately.
Copyrighting something so innocuous is something I'd expect from, well, some "religious" organizations.
America's 1st. Freedom Magazine I get in the mail lists him as Executive Vice President in his commentary titled "Standing Guard", usually on Page 8.
He is definitely the Executive VP. Since the NRA's bylaws do not provide for either a Senior Executive Vice President or a Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President is the highest executive position in the organization. He is responsible for the day to day operations of the organization.
So, why is CEO often used to describe Wayne LaPierre? Well, IMHO, it is likely used to avoid confusion. The NRA lacks two other offices (see above) that normally would be in most corporate structures. Both these offices would be above Executive Vice President. Using his actual title makes him appear to be the #3 person in the operational structure, when his is actually at the top. In most corporations, his position would be labeled as CEO - so using that term describes his actual position accurately to people who are not familier with the NRA bylaws.
I have to agree with Vince Warde: He's been referred to as "CEO" in various places where the reader cares about the job he performs for the organization, and not what the organization actually calls the position.
He's an executive officer of the corporation, and there is nobody above him. As such, he is the CEO of the NRA regardless of what the NRA itself chooses to call him.
-HSR47
It's not just what others call him, it is what they put on their 1099 filings. By what authority can they do this, especially when the Bylaws specifically mandate no other titles are authorized by the Board?
What other Bylaws is paid staff free to ignore now that the precedent of ignoring them for convenience or appearance has been established-- and evidently -- condoned and excused?
Why have them at all if they're just suggestions?
We see the govt routinely usurping powers not delegated in the Constitution and we rightly point that out. Yet when Fairfax does it we defend it?
I wonder if the 1099 instructions or case law reference the "CEO"? Again, that could be why they call him by that term in their filings.
Frankly, I have bigger fish to fry, Re: the NRA. I am still upset with their entering the training/insurance market with what is, at best, an average product - which they are using the NRA name to sell. IMHO, it is a betrayal of the many trainers and other in that industry who have signed up terms of thousand of new NRA members.
When I have some extra money to contribute, over and above my membership, I will be sending it to SAF to help with their excellent legal work.
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