Alleged voting irregularities demand a response
Dear USHBA membership at large:
I am shocked to have received Tom Rossmassler's email of 2/7/26 (I first read it just today) describing voting irregularities allegedly perpetrated by officers of the USHBA in the recent elections. I am not in a position to confirm the allegations, but given Tom's position on the Board of Directors and his membership in the Election Committee, I am treating the matter seriously and as very likely truthful.
Tom alleges that the USHBA President, Vice President, and Secretary removed candidates from the ballot AFTER voting had concluded, despite clear direction against doing so from the Board of Directors.
Given this allegation, I cannot, in good conscience, renew my membership in USHBA (due now) until such time as this matter is satisfactorily resolved.
I urge a similar response from members, as this sort of alleged behavior is unacceptable in a nonprofit membership trade organization—indeed, in ANY organization of honest people.
Thank you for your attention to this vital matter.
Ben Gorman
Eugene, OR
Thank you, Ben for taking the time to post some of your very relevant thoughts here. I hear you.
As a (now disqualified) candidate for secretary, a current board member at large (for the last 2 years) & a regional leader (who was entitled to a free membership), I was BAFFLED to learn that all I needed to do was enter a discount code to become “eligible” to run for secretary.
I wasn’t given the courtesy of a call, text or email to let me know that I was not a “member in good standing”.
They (Ashley Stallworth- president, Amanda Martin - vice president & Ria Maddock - secretary) went against a board voted decision to NOT disqualify candidates after the votes had been cast. It’s been extremely dismaying.
Mind you, these are people I’ve collectively spent hundreds of volunteer hours on the phone or in virtual meetings with over the last year.
It’s sad that these same three didn’t have the common decency to reach out to the other candidates to let them know the flawed system had failed them. AND all they needed to do was pay a fee?
Most alarming, is that all the members (our life blood) who voted for disqualified candidates basically had their voice stripped away.
Many members weren’t even aware that they were not “in good standing” (until they received a personal outreach from Ria during the active election) even though they’d received a secured ballot via email (myself included).
The president of the board wasn’t “in good standing “ until February 1, 2026 So yeah, it’s a little odd that now they want to cite the bylaws. FYI, you’re entitled to ask to see the bylaws.
Oh & by the way, “in good standing” means absolutely nothing because there’s no definition of what “in good standing” is.