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Number of Current CAO Members
750

Mission Statement

Promote a board of directors that is more representative of members
Strive to maintain our current co-op form of organization
Promote and enforce our financial code of ethics.

The role of a Board of Directors is to oversee Management in its execution of a strategy.

How is the strategy performing? Do adjustments need to be made? Do we have the human and financial resources to follow through? These questions need to be asked of, and answered by, Management consistently. We need to minimize surprises along the way. We need to seek feedback from the Owners whom the strategy is intended to serve. Is it working? What do we need to be doing differently?

The Board of Directors is NOT a retail advisory committee for Management.

The folks in Oak Brook would have you believe that we have rejected their strategy. Not true. We have asked questions intended to flush out answers on how the strategy has performed. What has been our return on investment on various initiatives? What has been the level of acceptance from Owners for various programs mandated? How well is ACE’s model performing as compared to our competitors? These are fair questions that warrant complete answers to the people that own this corporation. Unfortunately, history has shown that it is not enough just to trust that our Board of Directors is satisfied with the results, without sharing them with us.

On November 7, when I announced that I intended to run for the Board of Directors, I wrote this:

Some of my goals as a Director are:

1) Dramatically increase the exchange of information and ideas between the Board and the entire Membership. Establish Board accountability to the Membership, including opening up the Director nomination process, re-establishing the majority quorum requirement, and reducing the length and/or number of Director terms (currently three terms of 3 years each).

2) Enforce programs of accountability for ACE Corporate Management by establishing performance benchmarks and requiring regular progress reports to the Board and the Membership, including for retail development effectiveness and return on investment, supply chain productivity, merchandise buying effectiveness (cost and salability), budget management and Member dividend growth.

3) Promote an open-access Information Technology structure.

4) Promote a service-oriented focus in Oak Brook. ACE will be successful as a cooperative if it thinks and functions as a cooperative, not as a franchisor.

5) Increase the retention of existing stores.

None of this should suggest to you that I have rejected the current strategy and want to return to the days of Ward and June Cleaver.

As long as the Owners of ACE are given a fair chance to vote for who they would like to represent them on the Board, I will accept whichever result comes to pass. The CAO has not been given a fair shake by Oak Brook throughout this process, but I will hope that they accept the results of the election without making further legal challenges.

Brian Odell

Members responses to the current Board of Directors accusation that we would be a disruptive influence:

"If there were ever a time to dare to make a difference, to do something really worth doing, that time is now" Joyce Giula

As the BOD election nears, I have spent a lot of time lately reflecting on the growth of the CAO. The early posts on this fledgling forum were confused and tentative questions amongst strangers; individuals seeking unity and answers...evolving over time into knowledgeable, insightful, enlightened discussions amongst friends and colleagues who had come together as a cohesive group with common goals.

The growth of our forum has not just been in size, but in dedication, passion and conviction. The strength of our diversity has manifested itself into a vast communication network based on open and honest expression of ideas. The members of the CAO have demonstrated the knowledge and ability to make permanent and postive change in the direction of our struggling company - and are doing so!

As gratifying as it is, however, to catch the glimpses of changes that speak to the incredible possibilities, where we are at right now is not enough. Without representation at the Board level, we will never be seen in the bigger picture as anything other than the "disruptive presence" our administration has falsely portrayed us to be. Every day I speak to Owners who say, "I believe in the goals of the CAO, but what can I really do to make a difference...?"

Today, now, before another minute passes,if you believe in the CAO candidates,the platform they support, and the vision of what is possible, vote your proxy! Print it off our forum, fill it out and fax it in. Then make it your goal to call 3 other Ace owners you know and talk to them, REALLY talk, about the issues within our Company. I think you may be pleasantly surprised at the positive results. I have yet to talk to a dealer who is not appreciative of the time and effort to spread the word - and it means even more when it comes from someone they know. You CAN make a difference in this election, and you CAN make a difference in our Company...the time is now and the choice is yours...

Sharyn

"Your continued donations are helping us to make this possible by defraying the costs of reaching the many Voting Owners who do not use the Internet."

  

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If you are not receiving our post cards in the mail ...We don't have your correct address! If you would like to stay fully informed and have an alternative choice of candidates in the next election then please click HERE to update your address. Updating your address will not automatically sign you up for the CAO forum. You simply will have the ability to make a fully informed decision on the make up of your BOD in June and the direction of your company in the future.
 

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