DCS. AGM 2016 Proposed Resolution

[solburydexters]

Many will be aware I requested inclusion of a proposed resolution for members to have access to Council meeting Minutes for the DCS AGM 2015 see 'Topic' 'Dexter Cattle Society AGM 2015. Is It A Smoke Screen?'
This request followed invitation by the Chairman of Council for members to submit proposals in the run up to the AGM.
The request was refused on the basis that I did not have support from at least 5% of the membership of the DCS.
At present I am seeking to get support from as many of the membership as possible to submit this proposal for the AGM of the Dexter Cattle Society to be held on the 8th October 2016. Prior to 2012 members had access to Minutes of Council meeting Minutes of the Society. I do not think the present position gives sufficient information on Society matters for members.
If you are interested in supporting this proposal please email me at 1ajcarrington@gmail.com and include your DCS membership number I will then reply with the proposal for your approval.
Thanks. Alan Carrington

[solburydexters]

If you are still pondering what do do, why not email me see the proposal then decide whether to support? Many Thanks
Alan Carrington

[Jac]

There will no doubt be some new members of the Society who have never seen a copy of the Council Minutes and do not see any reason to support this proposal. You may feel that you don’t yet have the knowledge (of Dexter issues) to form an opinion on the running of the organisation that you support financially but for sure you (and the breed) are affected by the decisions others take on your behalf. Let me first of all assure you that the ‘summaries’ that you receive from time to time in no way resemble the real thing and by that I do not imply that they are fictitious. So stop for a minute and ask yourself the question how am I ever to obtain sufficient information to allow me to make informed decisions when the time comes to vote people onto Council or to decide whether resolutions are good or not so good for the Society?

Some time ago there was a real big upset in the Society, all the Trustees resigned (or were forced to resign depending on your point of view) and were replaced by a Steering Committee who set about bringing changes to the organisation and in the fullness of time, the membership was denied access to the Council Minutes. Theories abound regarding the reasons for not letting the membership have access to Minutes. In the past some Council members felt that the Minutes were providing a ‘stick’ to the membership with which to beat them. The following suggestion was put forward by Clive Taylor who was involved with the Dexter for a short period of time “ the intention was just to allow privacy on sensitive issues; i.e. issues that if public could harm the society or an individual for example (as a director/trustee it is against the law to do something that could harm the society)".

This concept of ‘harm’ needs further examination. Normally scandals lead to reform by making changes to stop the event from reoccurring but over zealous restriction of information is a double-edged sword. Transparency encourages the two-way flow of information that is vital for good decision-making. Above all what is being lost here is the concept that the membership are 'part of the team' and when people feel excluded they become disconnected and drift apart. I truly believe that publication of the Council Minutes (in a secure area) is in the best interests of the Society because without the commitment of the membership there is no Society. With the deadline to submit proposals about to close I ask you to give your support to this proposal after all what have you got to lose?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

We badly need more open-ness in DCS, please think carefully about it and support Alan's motion if you can. Due to the ever tightening grip of control on DCS it is now necessary for 5% of the membership to sign up to a proposal before it can be put to the AGM, and since we are such a widespread membership it is not easy to communicate effectively with everyone. PLEASE email 1ajcarrington@gmail.com indicating your support and do not forget to include your DCS membership number with the email.

Duncan

[monica a waltho]

Just wanted to say I support the proposal to have more detailed minutes and more openess in the society. I am sure the council think they are doing whats best but we may better understand descions if we know about them and what has anybody got to hide.Isnt that why we had alot of trouble a few years a go and it would seem it is some of those people who orchestrated the change are the ones who are objecting to this openess and surely any member should be able to make a proposal without having to get 5%. did 5% put the resolution up the first time ??

[Jac]

Just wanted to say I support the proposal to have more detailed minutes and more openess in the society. I am sure the council think they are doing whats best but we may better understand descions if we know about them and what has anybody got to hide.Isnt that why we had alot of trouble a few years a go and it would seem it is some of those people who orchestrated the change are the ones who are objecting to this openess and surely any member should be able to make a proposal without having to get 5%. did 5% put the resolution up the first time ??

I am really glad that you have decided to support the proposal. The 5% business I have been told is company law and nothing to do with the DCS but in view of the difficulties, it would be great if Council could help individuals as much as possible to get proposals off the ground. However, early indications are that there is some support out there for this but as ever, there is always more to be done so please send your name and membership number to Alan without delay to indicate your desire to support this proposed resolution.

[Saffy]

Surely most people would support this, if they knew the reasons? I can see absolutely no reason not to.

Stephanie

[Saffy]

If like myself you would appreciate the right to see the full minutes of the meetings of our council, don't forget to send your name and membership number asap to :

1ajcarrington@gmail.com

Stephanie

P.S. Don't worry if you aren't sure of your membership number it is simple enough to check.

[Louisa Gidney]

Having recently listened to the Leonard Cohen song Democracy, we could do our own spoof version: Democracy is coming........ to the DCS

[solburydexters]

Good Day,
Make it a good tomorrow.
Please support the proposed resolution, if you have not already done so, for Dexter Cattle Society members to see full Council Minutes.
Many Thanks
Alan Carrington