Scott's proposal is virtually identical to the selection process for the Baseball Hall of Fame. While this is certainly an interesting idea, there are a few things we need to remember.

* INBA does not have a headquarters building or office in which to house a Hall of Fame. If HoF items would be displayed at conventions, who be in charge of keeping that stuff through out the year?

* We currently honor our most respected members with Distinguished Service Awards and Life Memberships. We honor others - from both within and outside our business - with the Illinoisan of the Year Award.

* Given some members' lack of knowledge about markets other than their own, it would be virtually impossible for all candidates to receive fair consideration statewide. For instance, Chicago members may have never heard of the greatest and most respected news anchor in the history of Carbondale. A new INBA voting member - six months out of school - may have never heard of any of the nominees.

* Some Illinois universities have produced an abundance of INBA members. Could a group of old college buddies get together and - using their sheer numbers - vote in some one the rest of the organization has never heard of?

* Appointing a committee (and then a "veterans" committee on top of that) is much easier said than done. We often have trouble getting people to volunteer for convention committees!

I am not discounting Scott's idea. I'm just not sure it's practical for an organization like INBA that already has much on its plate. However, if a board member were to raise the issue in new business, I would welcome the discussion.

Steve Scott
INBA President

Steve, you bring up great issues that can be resolved.

A location for names would be great. My idea - The Broadcast Museum in Chicago. Or how about in the Press Room at the Capitol? A traveling plaque could be displayed at conventions.

It's true some members wouldn't know the history of someone....your point on a new member hits home about voting for board positions, some don't know them but vote anyway, so it's critical the HOF committee publish a good bio of a nominee.

As for "voting blocks," I don't see where a name would be so unrecognizable to most voters. A HOF committee would recommend names for voting that would avoid that. Example would be Bill Small - most members today never met him, but many know his impact. Or Ed Brown - most current members never met him but know of him.

Which reminds me - a good idea would be to have an Educator HOF. They need to be recognized.

I agree with Steve, there are a lot of issues but none that can't be overcome. I would hope a board member brings this up as new business at an upcoming meeting.

FTR, I am on a couple of Hall of Fame committees and am a member of one. A HOF does an organization a lot of good.

Sez

Sounds like an excellent tuneIN piece. Interesting in turning one? I'd like you to share the idea with the members.

I initially hestitated in joining this discussion, but allow for a moment of personal experience, if you please. I have been the only chair in the 15 year history of the Peoria Professional Hockey Hall of Fame Committee. It is a committee of nine to 14 members who review statistics and other information before voting on membership. It is a three step process ... nomination, preliminary vote and final vote. With that as background, may I suggest an INBA Hall of Fame will be difficult to manage. You first need a single person who is willing to undertake this project. Yes, one person to coordinate the nomination/voting process. It would be much like the head of the Honors & Awards Committee because in both cases, it is best to have one person as a central location for better coordination. Having served 20 years on the H & A committee, several of them as co-chair (with Ben Stone), it is a daunting and time consuming task. Ask Michelle if you have doubts. So who will step forward to handle such a duty?
How would voting be handled so as to assure it is beyond reproach?
What background information would be used as information for voting?
What minimum level of INBA members must vote to assure the vote is representative? If you don't reach that level, what is your recourse?
What amount of time would it take to keep the mail/e-mail addresses updated? And I agree with Steve on his points of concern.
While I personally am not casting aside the idea at this time, my experience with the Peoria Hockey Hall of Fame raises a lot of questions in my mind. We have many other important issues on the plate, and tackling a Hall of Fame at this time might detract from those projects.
For another point of view, ask any past INBA Past President if he/she had difficulties in getting nominations for Illinoisan of the Year. And if I have trouble handling a current committee membership of 13 people in one SMSA (and I do), imagine the difficulties in handling it statewide.
Worth discussing? Yes. But many hurdles must be overcome.

H