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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:01 pm
by justmalc
I have heard recently that Mick Oliphant has been asked by the steering group to give up his post as Field Advisor Co-Ordinator. Am I the only one who feels that through actions such as this the steering group are depriving members new and old of a reservoir of knowledge, advice and enthusiasm which is invaluable to the membership?
I only know three members of the Council; Mick Oliphant, George Godber and Bob Huntley. I have constantly been impressed by their knowledge, their willingness to spend time with novices such as myself and their enthusiasm towards the promotion of the breed.
Why were people such as this not retained to help take the Society forward? Who amongst the steering group claims equal knowledge to these Council members?
The introductory page to this site states that this site is independent of the Dexter Cattle Society. Sadly, the reverse cannot be claimed as true. Members of this site have in effect taken over the Society. By having access to technology the members of this site have marshalled views and opposition.
MOST MEMBERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that attempts by Council Members such as Bob Huntley to inform regional groups of their position by post are being thwarted by groups such as the Central Group where the chairman has refused to circulate Mr Hunley's letter to members.
I have little hope that members will ever be informed as the steering group have seized not only this site but also all Dexter Cattle Society official channels of communication. Your coup is complete I believe. Well done, you must be proud.
Edited By justmalc on 1197219753
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:44 pm
by Mark Bowles
Hi Justmalc, you claim some serious points in your post. You are entitled to post on my website, you may say whatever you wish as long as it does not get personal. I hope you are not getting personal towards myself, that would be a shame, but i can take it.
I would very much like some of the other people who were there on 1st Nov to comment as it seems the people who were foolish enough to stand forward to be co-opted by the old council to "carry the can" can do no right.
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:07 am
by rodmet
Justmalc,
Sticking to the facts;
1. Council decided to set up the Steering Group on Nov 1st. There was no "coup".
2. Your own post shows that far from there being a "seizure" by the Steering Group of the Dexterforsale discussion board, this is a forum open to all regardless of their views providing they are well mannered and not personal. Just a cursory glance at the topics and the contributors shows that the site's membership is a cross section of Dexter owners and admirers -much more interested in the cattle and their welfare than Society politics.
4. It does not surprise me that a "political" letter from an individual in the Society has not been circulated to members of some or all of the Regional Groups. Ater all this costs money and it would set a bad precedent to spend money in this way.
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:59 pm
by bjreroberts
I am also a novice and have benefited from discussions with many members both those involved with the society and those that are not.
I have no issues with how we got to this situation, but do think it is important that the society moves as rapidly as possible to a new constitution and elections to the Council. What has happened is in the past and we need to move forward.
Having read the Steering Group minutes on the DCS website, my one concern is the apparent lack of a timetable for drafting the constitution and council elections "this will take place when it can be done"! Is there a timetable somewhere that I have missed?
I know the steering group have taken on an unenviable task, but the membership does need more clarity on the timetable for this. Can anyone clarify the situation?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:36 am
by justmalc
Mark,
Please accept my apologies if my post appeared a personal attack on you, it was definitely not intended as such.
The point I am trying to make is that most of the DCS membership do not know or understand the issues which have led to the current position and this is because they have not been informed of the arguements which have been widely aired on these pages. Members have received one letter which said that the Committee had resigned following protests of "discontent" at the November 1st meeting. The letter did not say what we were discontent with and so that side of the arguement has not been presented to members. Equally, Council members were advised not to discuss Yvonne's complaints and subsequently have been blocked by communicating with members because Group secretataries are choosing not to circulate Council members' letters to members.
Once again Mark I am sincerely sorry if this appeared a personal attack on you, I really appreciate your enourmous effort on these pages and the support and encouragement you have given me as a relatively new member. I am just frustrated that the wider membership outside these pages have no opportrunity to decide for themselves on the basis of the evidence which should be available to them. Some exceptional people have been lost to the Society and I find it regrettable that those such as Mick Oliphant and the others referred to in my original post, who have done so much for both new and old members, have been relieved of their duties in this way.
Regards,
Malcolm
Edited By justmalc on 1197359141
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:56 am
by Mark Bowles
Check out www.dextersteer.co.uk released yesterday, not had time to advertise it properly.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:50 am
by Sylvia
Shouldn't your last post be a new string, Mark? It should keep the doubters quiet for a while (hopefully).
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:59 am
by AlisonKirk
Justmalc
Have you actually spoken to Group Secretaries? The only reason I have not circulated the correspondence to some 48 members is because it meant I would have to photocopy 144 pages and put extra postage of envelopes (cost approx £25).
I am preparing the Christmas / New Year Group Newsletter and members will be given the opportunity to have sight of all the correspondence I have regarding the current DCS situation. if they so require it.
Members attending meetings are always made fully aware that the minutes of Council meetings are available on the 'top' table and I will certainly adopt the same procedure with ALL correspondence sent to Group Secretaries regarding the current DCS situation.
I would say that any Group Secretary who is doing their job would ensure members are given the opportunity to see all correspondence received.
Alison Kirk
Secretary
Midland Dexter Group
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:18 am
by Peter thornton
Mark
Just to echo Sylvia, can this be given some greater prominence? I've just had a swift glance but it does seem to answer a lot of questions.
Peter
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:16 pm
by Louisa Gidney
Justmalc, with respect you are just one person who has personal views on the merits of 3 members of the former council. It is easy to say positive things about people. What is less easy, in terms of potential libel and the existence of this very forum, is put counter negative comments about the same people, or other council members past or present.
Having been a DCS member for over 2 decades now, I well remember the AGM where David Key stood down and knifed most of the then council in the back as he did so. Several of those council members were people that I like on a personal level and were very helpful when I started out. Equally, it was clear that as members of DCS council they were not working together in harmony as a team for the benefit of the cattle.
There was another AGM where the jungle drums were sounded to get bums on seats to block a proposal by a person respected by some but found equally obnoxious by others, including myself. So the current situation could be viewed as a logical progression from such prior events.
I was once proposed for Council and stood for election, but was mightily relieved not to get elected. I did my stint as Group Secretary and know only too well how one vociferous member can make the job hell, without making any practical contribution.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:27 pm
by Broomcroft
Working with the Steering Committee has been a pleasure; the outside pressures haven't. They are all quite different but they are intelligent (well some of them are :D), good fun and a lot has been achieved in what has actually been just 6 weeks. I can see from the experience, that working with a really together bunch can be very rewarding. I think we've dropped a few clangers on the way, but hopefully not too many.
Take a look at the site which Mark will be announcing properly with a special topic I believe soon. www.DexterSteer.co.uk. He can't do it at the moment because unlike me, he has a proper job instead of playing around with animals all the time.
PS. It may not work that well on older PC's and especially if the browser is old, but it has been kept simple to allow for this. Let me now if it doesn't work for you. It will also be announced by post etc shortly of course.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:38 pm
by louise
I cannot see how anyone can complain that they are not sufficiently informed. The new web-site is excellent. I do not contribute often but am part of the silent majority who like to keep in touch by reading the websites. Surely there cannot be too many of the membership who cannot get on a PC nowadays.
Cheers Louise
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:37 am
by Louisa Gidney
I would also add that this is a public forum, where we are all free to air problems and express personal opinions. This has to be a vast improvement on the "old days" when the jungle drums were far less transparent, being sounded by cascades of phone calls or meetings at shows, when there was much more scope for private vendettas and secret agendas. The written word also means that everyone's voice is heard, rather than the loud and vocal drowning out less forceful speakers.
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:32 am
by Martin
As Clive says, some aspects of being on the Steering Committee have been an absolute pleasure, unfounded critisism is always hard to take. None of us has been critical of any ex member of Council.
We where put in place by the outgoing Council with their and our best intentions. If people would only read and digest the constitution they would see what a difficult task we have in trying to move forward quickly, they are the present rules of the Society and we must stick by them.
Things are happening behind the scenes and anouncements will be made about them as soon as things get finalised. Please read the dexter steer web site especially each members thoughts on how we should proceed. We need your input to carry out our task and your patience to allow us to do so as quickly as possible.
I would like to thank those that have given us their support on these pages and elswhere, as without support the job would move from difficult to impossible.
Martin Medway Valley Dexters.