HOME and how to join › Forum › Open Area › General Scott topics › So! Has the AGM decided to close the open Forum? Yes or No!
Deleted User.
Deleted User🙄 I have heard conflicting reports re the AGM . Was the decision to close the open forum? Its simple really. Yes or NO! 🙄
BRIAN MARSHALLAs I understand the situation, the decision had already been made, prior to the AGM, by the Committee, and it was NOT up for voting on at the AGM, even though there was a lot of discussion on the subject.
This was apparently because no proposition had been put before the Club Secretary to ask for a vote on this subject, and so the Committee was under no obligation to change the decision that had already been made, and therefore the decision was not reversed, to some peoples’ chagrin, and to other’s satisfaction…..
As I said at the beginning, that is just my understanding of what occurred, and I may be quite wrong. I can certainly see why conflicting reports of what happened are circulating, and can only suggest that members wait until the Report on the AGM is printed in the next Yowl to see what the official version is. Non-members will no doubt get it second-hand and possibly garbled, another good reason for JOINING THE CLUB….
Brian
Deleted Userthis may be a reason to leave the club!
Deleted UserTed, I noted quite few points at the AGM which have informed some ideas i’ve circulated around the committee. Believe it or not i’ve spotted it might be more complicated than just yes/no. I can’t speak for the formalities of the AGM but hopefully there’ll be something communicated soon to follow on from Lewis’ posting.
Cheers,
Deleted User🙄 Hi Guys and Gals!! To my surprise Ive had quite few messages, phone calls and emails on the procedure at the AGM. From the 6 replies it seems that a properly constituted motion was put before the AGM under “Any other Business” It was proposed and seconded by SOC members but was veto’d by the Chairman because it was not put before the Secretary beforehand 😈 . Now, as Secretary and latterly Chairman for 8 years of my local branch of the RNLI, and with this experience behind me, I find this surprising and curious that an item bought up at an AGM cannot be voted on. However, and I repeat, its none of my business. I see from Brians reply above that the decision has already been taken. I leave to others to comment on this. But lets move on to the sunny uplands of pastures new! 😀 All are welcome to take the Online Scott Newsletter!!!!!! 🙄 Cheers Fans! Ted 😀
PS. I can, in retrospect, quite see why the General Forum will be closed. At least the SOC wont have to read my ramblings anymore. I suppose it will be rather peaceful (to quote from another forum message) “Behind the Drawbridge!
Deleted UserWhen such an august person as Dennis Wray says “its time to leave the Club” after 50 years of membership, surely the writing is on the wall.
Incidentally, the motion to vote upon the forum was not vetoed because it had not been previously notified to the Secretary (indeed another previously un-anounced motion was proposed and carried) but because it was declared such decisions regarding the future of the forum were vested in the Committee, not the Membership.
BRIAN MARSHALLI’m told that just 27 members attended the AGM, apart from the Committee, but perhaps some didn’t sign in ? This is the lowest figure that I can remember in over 30 years of not missing an AGM, and I have to ask myself WHY ?
Just 27 out of about 650 is, I know, a better percentage than the VMCC achieve, but it is not good or healthy. We have to consider all sorts of reasons, from the cost of petrol/diesel, not being provided with a buffet, members thinking “Why bother, it’s a Limited Company now, and democracy, like nostalgia, ain’t what it used to be”, or “We can now air our grievances on the Website and not have to go to the AGM”, etc., etc..
Perhaps it is just a symptom of a general apathy and indifference pervading many clubs such as ours, where all the old enthusiasm, comradeship, helping one another out, and so on, is fading away.
What can we do to rekindle all that enthusiasm and stop all the moaning and backbiting !?
Brian
Deleted UserHi Brian,
On your first point about the numbers turning up for the AGM you are right, as far as I was concerned, the cost of the fuel alone made me think twice – I really wanted to go and air my views on the subject at hand – Given that it is, clearly, a controversial debate, it needed airing and not swept away on a technicality. If I had spent the day and the money on fuel I would have felt very angry on the drive home.
How to change it is simple – read the posts from everyone opposed to the idea of closing the forum and get the decision changed – Surely the “Leaders” represent the members.
Regards
Steve
dave bushellI agree with your comments Steve and Brians first reason. I didn’t attend the AGM for medical reasons, but I would have been quite angry if the open forum matter hadn’t been discussed.
I disagree with Brian, in that I don’t think all the old enthusiasm, comradeship, helping one another out, and so on, is fading away. There may be some drop off on the enthusiasm front which I would put down to ageing membership. At 76, I’m less inclined to ride the distances that I used to when I was younger, (I don’t like trailering a bike that is capable of doing the distance, even if I’m not!), but I’m still enthusiastic and willing to help out any member or potential member if I can, and I think that goes for many others. I think that the management committee should bite the bullet and admit that this time they made the wrong decision. In all other aspects, they do a great job for which the membership should be grateful.
Dave
Deleted UserRe Brians points above. 🙄 Surely 27 members turning up due (in part) to the distances to travel/costs, points desicivley to having the AGM on the web live! Its called a “Webcast” People can vote in real time. No traveling. No venue. Surely voting can be arranged so that members who wish to stand for the Committee could be at a central meeting point and put their case forward. Just a radical/forward looking idea Gents!
Also re “Being able to air their grievences on the Web” Exactly Brian!!. The grievances are aired on the Web due to the fact its easy and available and costs NOWT! However, it is no substitute to having a presence at an AGM either in person or electronically. Holding ones Management Committee to account is always good for democracy. 😆 Mind you the Open Forum matter wasnt allowed anyway. 😆 😆 Makes you think Huh! 😀 😀 Ted
Deleted UserI suppose that this is a logical next step, following the club’s refusal to supply spare parts to North American members…. I await with interest what follows….
Steve GibbonI would just like to respond to Brian Marshall’s post of Wed Apr 18.
I do not see much evidence of indifference pervading the club. I am a relatively new member of the club and have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and comradeship of the club and in particular the South London section. I have been given much advice and encouragement firstly to buy a Scott and then to get it back on the road, the help extending to offers of a loan of a carburetor and a magneto from people I hardly knew, plus visits to my garage to help diagnose problems.
As a younger member (54!) I think the club should recognize that its future lay with the internet. The time may come when the club will not be able to afford to publish the yowl in paper form – yet it will be free to publish via the web. I would be happy to receive an electronic version of Yowl (but recognize for the moment there will be many club members without access to the internet – but this will change as time moves on).
In the modern world the internet, websites and emails are essential tools for business and communication. Potential new (younger) members first port of call will be Google or equivalent search engine, so an engaging, informative and open website will be essential to attracting new members. With respect to the Forum, personally I was quite happy with the set up as it was – with a private area for members only/club business.
I also think the members only area of the website should be developed to include more reference material – only available to members. This + the Yowl + the spares scheme + club meetings & events are carrots to membership. Restricting the forum will only make the club seem backward looking and old fashioned – I do not think this is the way to attract new members (and judging by some member comments, this may lead to fragmentation and loss of members). I think that a breakaway independent forum is the last thing the club needs – so we should be careful not to ‘force’ the creation of one.
From the recent traffic on the forum it is also clear that there is much feeling in the club over this issue. The committee should be embracing the forum – it offers a quick and inexpensive method of two way communication with the membership (or at least those with internet), so members do not have to wait until the annual AGM to “air their grievances” (assuming they can spare the time or money to attend). Based on the level of feeling about this issue, it would seem reasonable for the committee to consult the membership regarding the forum access issue.
Deleted UserTo Graham in Arkansas. Your lawyers love of litigation has been a two edged sword and British bike clubs can not afford insurance to cover the liability of exporting to North America.
We are all sympathetic to your needs and I have sent spares personally once I have had contact and judged that the person I was dealing with was reasonable. That, of course with taking the greatest care that the quality of the goods was above reproach. However, if some legal professional could come up with a form of words that the Scott owner in North America could sign that gives a measure of protection from the worst predatory lawyers, that would be appreciated. kind Regards Roger
Deleted UserPaul
Just as a matter of interest, are the comments on the Forum reaching those on the commitee who don’t have web access?
If not how can we ensure that they are aware of the feelings being aired?
Regards
Steve
Martin HeckscherHallo Steve,
You can take it as read that all committee members are fully aware of the website postings.
You may also like to know that the groundswell of membership opinion expressed at section meetings does not necessarily tally with the opinions aired on the forum. It may even be the case that the opinions expressed are those of a vocal minority. Indeed some of these postings have been made by non-members.
The committee is not as ridiculously out of touch with the membership or the modern world as has been suggested.
Martin
