Society EGM - Important info

[Mark Bowles]

I thought i would bring to your attention the DCS EGM that takes place this Saturday 24th May at The Jersey Pavillion, Soneleigh Park. Arrive 11am onwards for a 12noon meeting start.
Unfortunately there is an Antiques Fair on the showground at the same time with a £10 entrance fee. So when you arrive at the gate give your name if you have pre registered and you will be let through.If you are turning up without pre registering then you will have to give your name and say you have come for the DCS meeting, the security may ring through to Sue (breed secretary) to check you are a member and can be allowed free entry. Be advised there may be a queue.
The discussion board has been silent on this particular subject and i am certainly not going to be the one to start shouting my political views.
If you have lost your paperwork then log on to www.dextersteer.co.uk to read the documentation a lot more easily than the papers that were sent out.
I do hope as many members can come as possible, i know its boring stuff but this is an important moment in the societies history, whichever way the vote goes.
Anyway see you all on Saturday.
Thanks
Mark
Ps don't forget to bring your lunch.

[Penny]

Thanks Mark, for putting this on the board. I would very much like to be present at the meeting, but unfortuntely I am at the Ryedale Food Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend, so will be busy setting up the stall. Am I correct in thinking that only those present at the meeting can vote?

I hope the meeting goes smoothly and that there is a good attendence.

[Mark Bowles]

Yes you are right Penny, you have to be there to vote.
One of the proposed changes to the constitution is to bring in proxy voting.

[Broomcroft]

Proxy voting...bring it on. I know lots of people who will not be able to go because it's a very busy time of the year from now onwards, but they ought to be able to vote on matters nevertheless. With proxy voting we will get something nearer a real indication of what people think instead of just from those with the time to have a day or two off and also get votes from those that cannot travel.

Most important though is that the modifications to the constitution that the SC have put together, mean lower costs for the society. They quite simply allow for the use of modern technology (suggested many times by Beryl) instead of everyone traveling the length and breadth of the country. The rule changes will reduce or even eliminate the almost certain necessity for fee increases, and there are also additional, significant cost reductions that can be achieved by the next council to be appointed in Oct.

It also means that people on the fringes distance-wise can now seriously consider being on council and at the same time hold regular meetings using teleconferences. Every such meeting will save hundreds and maybe more than £1000, PER MEETING, and with the suggested smaller council, teleconferencing really works! I personally don't think it can with larger numbers such as those in the current rules.



Edited By Broomcroft on 1211280905

[ann]

my mum always use to say let sleeping dogs lie!

The board may hum after the meeting:)

[Rutherford]

May I please echo the plea for as many as possible to attend the EGM. Reading these pages it is obvious that contributors think there is much that needs changing in the running of the Society. It is no good grumbling unless it is followed by action. I cannot travel unfortunately, and at present there is no opportunity for a proxy vote. Anyone who wants to alter the present state of things should make every effort to go to the meeting and vote the new constitution in, and then either lobby someone who they can trust to improve regulations or offer their own services on Council.
Beryl (Woodmagic)

[Broomcroft]

Apparently the vote was 70% in favour of the new rules, that would have brought the society into the 21st Century and reduced it's costs considerably, but a 75% majority is company law, so it didn't quite get there. So DCS is stuck with prehistoric rules that dictate that council members, all 12 of them, plus others, have to travel to have meetings and make decisions. Bad day for DCS in my book and guarantees that fee increases are now an absolute necessity. Nice first job for the new council to deal with that issue! But it is good to know that at least the vast majority saw the benefits of a modern constitution. Apparently the professional who did most of the work and has helped other societies to improve their rules just couldn't believe it.



Edited By Broomcroft on 1211661171

[areoch]

Perhaps the minority were voting for what they believed to be correct, and unwilling to be swept along by the tide.
Incidentally, who are the 'new council' referred to ??
Rgds., J M Muirhead, Auchareoch Farm, Isle of Arran.

[Broomcroft]

The new council will be elected in Oct. There will now need to be 12 of them, and they will have to travel from wherever they are and physically meet to make even simple decisions. Will they come by car or horse drawn carriage, that is the is the question? The new rules simply saved the society a lot of money, it's that simple.



Edited By Broomcroft on 1211664215

[Felicity]

I feel so sorry for our steering comittee they have worked like Trojans to try to bring the society in line with the present laws and legislations simply to be thwarted by a few shortsighted members some of which dont even own cattle.
How can our society ever hope to go forward when you have probably the best team in years leading it and idiots thwarting their actions.
Nobody with any real interest in the society s welbeing would have voted against the proposals put forward today.

[Martin]

I hope that the 14 members that voted against the changes to the constitution today sleep well in their beds tonight.
In some instances I believe it was a vote against the Steering Committee and not the proposed changes, the good of the Society was not a consideration for some.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

[Felicity]

Take heart they did not have the majority and one battle doesnt win a war.
But I know how you feel.

[Rutherford]

I despair, after weeks of optimism to hear that 14 voters have thwarted the future well being of the Society, it simply endorses the need for a proxy vote. How can the opportunity to go forward be turned down, simply because the meeting was held to ransom by a few determined die-hards who were able to make it, in conjunction with unfortunate timing. I too, feel a lot of sympathy for the Steering Committee who have put in so much hard work and time, in a genuine desire to give the Society a prosperous and meaningful future.
Beryl (Woodmagic)

[justmalc]

I am proud to say that I was one of the 14 members who successfully opposed the motion. Some of the messages posted above are typical of the arrogance displayed by a number - but not all - of the steering committee. At the EGM steering group members repeatedly and proudly told us that they didn't have a great history in Dexters but they were business people who were best placed to modernise the DCS - and presumably drag us ignorant small holders and farmers into the 21st century. Repeatedly Martin Ryder told us that certain amendments were "good corporate governance" but didn't once explain to us poor mortals why this was the case. What formal qualifications in Corporate Governance do the steering group members or their hired lacky have?

The advisor told us that we couldn't have access to Council minutes because it would inhibit the decision making processes - what a fool. We are able to watch Parliament on a daily basis - why the need for secrecy?

We were also told that the existing constitution is illegal because it doesn't refer to current legislation. THIS IS UNTRUE. We are subject to the legislation passed by central Government whether we say so in our constitution or not. Do the steering committee and their advisors really believe we can pick and choose which legislation we will adhere to?

Most of the suggested amendments were clearly common sense but concerns remained particularly around the number of members of council. The steering committee should have consulted. Fiona said that she had spoken to members about the proposed changes. She did not consult me. Did she consult anyone beyond the steering group?

How much of the members' money have you spent on your advisors? You were ill advised not to consult and to lump together the routine changes with those which required OPEN DEBATE AND DISCUSSION.

Finally, you do not need constitutional changes to hold meetings using telephone or videoconference links. As for whether we travel to council in cars or horse drawn carriage - AT LEAST WE BOTHERED TO TURN UP.

Nothing has been achieved except spending our money on ill - qualified advisors and mis-informed lawyers. Re-instate the Council or initiate elections immediately to reintroduce elected representatives of the members.

[Felicity]

The whole point of changing the constitution is to bring it in line with current legislation.
The steering committee have several decades of corporate management between them and are exactly what our society needs.
Why the need to know who said what all we as members need to know is what decisions are being made.
How can it be considered arrogant to take advice from experts.