Officail DCS statement

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:33 pm

Message to Dexter Cattle Society Members

Due to the large turnout of ordinary Society members attending the Council meeting on the 1st November 2007 and the subsequent discussion and discontent raised by these present members, the Dexter Cattle Society Council took the unprecedented step of tabling a motion to move towards a mass resignation from office. This motion first co-opted and then elected Mrs Fiona Miles to stay on and Chair the Society and three ordinary members to form a Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee and Mrs Miles are charged with forming a new constitution and developing new proposals for a more effective management of the Society’s administration.

Proposals for modernisation to forward the Dexter breed and improve service to our members will be presented at an EGM where the new management team will be elected. Suggestions and proposals of a positive nature are invited from the membership.

The new Steering Committee are:

Fiona Miles
miles@groubear-farm.co.uk
01884 251181

Martin Ryder
info@pikeendfarm.net
01422 823949

Rob Kirk
randakirk@ukfarmers.com
01608 674099

Martin Wilson
martin@global-fire.co.uk
07718 897256
01622 715660

The Steering Committee then co-opted the following to help with this work:

Mark Bowles
info@dextercattleforsale.co.uk
01509 211864
07973 841301

Clive Taylor
clive@broomcroft.com
01952 510335
07866 444010

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:25 pm

I cant beleive i spelt official wrong, thats not a good start!
Mark

Pennielea · Post by **Pennielea** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:42 pm

Was Yvonne persuaded to stay at least until the steering committee has completed its work?

Ian

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 5:23 am

Wow! Go for it. All the best to you. We look forward with bated breath to what you come up with. Its a big job ahead of you all.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:05 am

Well done to everyone who managed to get to the meeting, sounds like a very satisfactory result.

Woodmagic · Post by **Woodmagic** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:28 am

Many thanks Mark for such a prompt report, even if you didn’t have the dictionary at your elbow! Congratulations Felicity for doing such an excellent job for us, and to all those members who were able to travel to Stoneleigh and achieve the miracle. Lets hope now they can persuade Yvonne to stay. With a new team and such an excellent secretary who knows where the Dexter could go? We shall never be a mainstream breed, but exploiting the niche market we could still be in the forefront, if we use all our energies to this end, instead of infighting.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:31 am

Pennie, I have heard that Yvonne is willing to help out in a transitional period but will leave it to others that spoke to her to give you the full answer as I do not know the details of the outcome as it was late last night before I had the news.
I know there will be people that may be shocked at the events from yesterday but members present (including some council members) saw it as the only solution at the time. I will not go into detail here, but the minutes will be available soon for all to see.
The Steering Committee will be looking at the rule book in an attempt to make changes so situations that have arisen over the last few months cannot happen again. The structure of Council will also be looked at, in so much as I believe it was too big and cumbersome to agree even on a way forward for the Society.
Those of us on the Steering Committee will welcome any constructive idea's and offers of assistance from all members including those that resigned yesterday. We do not underestimate the challenge ahead, we have a huge task and ask members to be patient and understanding within this transitional period, we will as soon as possible arrange for elections to allow a new Council to be formed which will hopefully drive the society forward.
The membership will be kept informed as things develop as all on the Steering Committee believe that Council should be open and honest to the people it is there to represent.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

oliver1921 · Post by **oliver1921** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:54 am

I think thanks are in order for those who have shown such commitment to furthering the breed that they have stood up to be counted and are willing to put the time and effort in. I really think that the DCS can move onto a new footing and if I can be of any help in any way please contact me.

Steve Bailey
Scalebor Park Dexters
steve.bailey@landmarksukltd.co.uk
07966 169883

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:25 am

I was so delighted when I read Mark's post, as it does now sound like true progress has been made and positive action can now be taken for the good of the Dexter breed and all those involved with it.
Many thanks to all of those involved. I do hope that Yvonne can be persuaded to stay on.

Penny

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:02 am

Well done everyone who attended the meeting and congratulations to those selected to help with the steering committee. I would just like to say that there is no need to rush something through just to impress-- Take your time look at things and hopefully get it right. My Father used to say "measure twice and cut once", and if you can persuade Yvonne to stay as well then that would be a feather in your cap.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:14 pm

I have been swamped by weddings and therefore was stunned to see the developments in the society.
The AGM seemed to go well -
How many people attended the 'Council Meeting'?
When was it called an EGM? I wasn't notified of an EGM was anyone?
I note the many congratulations but have no clue as to what they are for!
I believed we had a working council .....
A bewildered Jo

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:46 am

Jo

I was there as an observer, not knowing hardly anyone and having never been to a meeting of DCS before. In summary, the Council couldn't agree on any issue whatsoever except just one, that one being that the Council wasn't working. That was how I saw the meeting. It wasn't all about the secretary either, as the impression may given here. Far from it in fact. The Council decided to stand down almost "en mass" and they did that in their own meeting behind closed doors and we shall be seeing minutes in due course. A steering committee has been formed, by the Council, to try and change things so that a "deadlock" does not happen again. Technically, the steerng committee IS the Council for now, but it is a caretaker Council here to listen and re-organise, not dictate and be secretive and will be replaced by an elected Council as soon as possible.

I have been co-opted (i.e. shanghai'd) onto that committee to try and help. We are all working on it now and will be canvassing all members for assistance and ideas, fairly soon hopefully. At the moment I am spending most of my time studying the so-called constitution, which I wouldn't exactly describe as the most exciting thing I've done in my life!

Edited By Broomcroft on 1194335286

ngr2804 · Post by **ngr2804** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 2:39 pm

As I am still shown in the Bulletin as Secretary for the Wales and Border Counties Group I received a letter from Bob Huntley yesterday. He seems to suggest that the Council decision was not voluntary and was forced on them. He also says much of the bad feeling seems to be against one particular female member of the Council.

He does not seem to be intending to lead a "counter-revolution" but wishes to set the record straight.

I presume other people have received a similar letter?

Nick

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:12 pm

I have seen the letter and it's as though I was at a different meeting. The one I witnessed was polite and there was absolutely no poor behaviour whatsoever. I would not have offered to help at all had I thought force had come into it. The whole council right in front of my very eyes agreed that the grouping didn't work, and that was before they went out to their private meeting. It was in fact the only thing they agreed on.

How on earth do you 'force' an en mass resignation in any case?

It would be good to hear how others perceived the meeting. Unless Mr Huntley is referring to the private meeting which was behind closed doors.

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:05 pm

ngr2804 are you still the wales and bordering counties secretary as we keep putting people on to you and they cannot get hold of you, if you do not want to continue in the position there are two ladies waiting and willing to take over, (both Dexter keepers) and I will forward their names to the caretaker committee.
I too was at the meeting on the 1st and agree with Clive, perhaps Mr Huntley disagrees with allowing the members to express their opinion, at no point did we force the council to resign this was a decision made after the members present were asked to leave the meeting room so that the council members could discuss the situation.
Bill,
Castlemears Dexters, Forest of Dean.

Edited By redhill on 1194631720