Submitted by Samuel Louis Gensic.

Its that time of year again to decide who will represent the family for the coming year. I propose be a 3 step process for the election of The 2010 Family Chairman:

1) Nominations. If you are nominated in the comment thread of this Agenda Topic (online) or during the actual meeting, you are in the running. 2) Try Outs. During the meeting, nominees have an opportunity to communicate their vision for taking on the role of The Family Chairman, any particular noteworthy ideas or action points of their campaign platform, and/or express any other reasons why they do or do not want to hold this position. 3) Vote. We will decide The 2010 Family Chairman via a ballot vote, one per person.

Submitted by Samuel Louis Gensic.

The Mizpah Shrine Circus is coming to Fort Wayne from January 21-24, 2010. I propose that we consider and discuss; and if there is enough interest, decide on a date that would work to all go together. That’s right – it’s time to revisit the kid/carnie in you and once again experience the fearless lion tamer, crapping elephants, circus peanuts, fire rings, glow sticks, and flying trapeze acts!

Submitted by Samuel Louis Gensic.

With the increasing importance of keeping accurate records, tracking historical data, and preserving the integrity of the content of The Gensic Family Meeting and its related experience, I propose we appoint a secretary (hereafter known as The Gensecretary).

This appointment should take place at the start of the meeting via a ballot vote; one ballot per person, one person’s name per ballot. The Gensecretary will assume his/her role immediately and will serve a two year term.

Roles and responsibilities should be to record Meeting Minutes and assist The Family Chairman during his/her time in office. Other roles and responsibilities may be determined via forthcoming discussion and/or by future polls.

Submitted by Samuel Louis Gensic.

I propose that a poll be created to see who will become The Family Pie President. Candidates for this honored position will be the first 7 people nominated and seconded (seconding your own nomination is not allowed). Once the candidates have been selected, the poll will be posted and open for 48 hours, voting members will not be limited by cookie or IP address, and after the polls close, the winner will be recognized at the actual Gensic Family Meeting of 2009.

Upon determining The Family Pie President, he/she will assume their role immediately – and become the authority of all things pie. This individual will serve a one year term and even have higher authority than The Family Chairman when it comes to making decisions related to pie(s). Other roles and responsibilities of The Family Pie President will be determined via forthcoming discussion and/or by future polls.

Submitted by Benjamin Mark Gensic.

I would like to formally announce that I will be drafting a document for the family’s consideration and voting approval/ratification this year’s meeting. This document will be both descriptive and succint (unlike Pirate Farkle). Interestingly enough (or not), the subject of this document is the Official Voting Process for family meetings. This proposed document will set forth the official process and requirements for Agenda Topics which require a vote. This will explain how a voting item is introduced/proposed, seconded, considered, and ultimately voted upon. In closing, this would simply validate a process which is currently in use based on past precedent.

Autopilot Voice: “So…Ben, we’re gonna vote on a process which tells us that which we already know how to do?”

Answer: Somewhat, yes. But this officially establishes a voting process and is important for two other reasons.

One – potential conflict exists with the undefined powers of The Family Chairman to improperly allow agenda items to be voted on without proper procedures (yet to be approved) being met. My intentions of pointing this out are not to accuse the present chairman of any wrongdoing, but simply to add the proper checks & balances to our family.

Two – this demonstrates my faith in The Gensic Family Meeting and adds credit to my character and (pure) motives.

Finally, I would like to formally announce that I am running for election as The 2010 Family Chairman. I know that you don’t have to actually “run” for election. And actually, I believe you can be elected against your will. However – just so everyone knows – I am a family member that actually wants to be elected.

Thank you for your consideration.

Submitted by Paul Michael Gensic and Melissa Jean Gensic.

Melissa and I are considering never allowing little Jacob Bear to believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and all the imaginary stuff that goes along with those characters. However, to fill that Imaginary Void, we would like to teach him that Jedi Knights really existed “a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.” We are also open to other suggestions to fill the Imaginary Void.

We would like to open this discussion to the family to hash through the pros and cons associated this decision. We also propose that this become a voting item, ultimately leaving it up to the family whether we will or will not leave Santa (and company) out of his life.

Submitted by Paul Michael Gensic.

I propose that this year we officially establish The Family Register Of Favorite Pies, where we combine our individual favorite pie lists to form a collective family favorite pie list. The pie that makes it to the #1 position will be prepared and eaten by all following its establishment as The Favorite Pie Of 2009. I propose we do this every year so that over time, we see where our tastes have changed from year to year.

Matt, The Family Historian, will be charged with recording these favorites for years to come in The Family Register Of Favorite Pies; so our future generations will have a strong pie heritage to reflect upon and identify with.

Submitted by: Paul Michael Gensic.

I would like to propose a vote to officially outlaw Four Berry Pie from the family. Any members caught in the treasonous act of eating, preparing, or thinking about this pie will be banned from partaking of any of mom’s most commonly accepted pies.

Submitted by: Jacob John Gensic.

I propose we cancel The Gensic Family Meeting of 2010. We don’t need the meeting anymore. It’s served its purpose and is nearly proving to be a waste of time now. Furthermore, being elected Family Chairman is considered being elected “The Family Gayness Coordinator,” in my book.

Discussion is welcome, but the truth is hard to argue.

Submitted by: Elizabeth Lou Gensic.

These days, everybody is obsessed with answering the question, “What are you doing?” … be it via a status update on Facebook, a tweet from Twitter, or a blog post. C’mon now – I just want to shake these people and say, “Wake up and smell the coffee! Who are we kidding? By the time anybody actually reads your status, tweet, or blog – it’s already old news!”

What I’m more concerned with is the future.

Instead of signing up for these new services and dwelling forever in the past, I’d rather only travel back in time but for a moment…as a way to learn about the future. That’s why I think The Mirror of Galadriel or The Wizard of Oz’s Crystal Ball were so important. They were ahead of their time. In essence, they transcended time; because they told us about events in the future! Instead of answering the question, “what are you doing?” we should be answering the question, “What are you going to do?”

So, I’d like to propose a discussion about the events of this upcoming year by borrowing from the words of Jack Nicholson [(Batman, 1989) right before he pulled the trigger on somebody who didn't have the foresight to move beyond the past or the present]. “Hey Eckhardt, think about the Future!”

What are you going to do in 2010?