Society EGM - Important info

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:51 am

I'm glad you are proud Malcolm, bask in the glory for a while. I hope in the future your vote does not come back to haunt you. Remember you where in the minority.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

justmalc · Post by **justmalc** » Sun May 25, 2008 2:10 pm

Felicity - I ask again, what qualifications in Corporate Governance do you, the steering group or any of your expert advisors have? The changes were not to bring us in line with legislation. You are mistaken. We are automatically put in line with legislation when it is passed.

Martin,

You are correct, we were in the minority. However, in line with regulation we achieved the 25% necessary to block this change - do you object to every regulation or simply this one and those you breached when you brought down the elected Council in November? We are not village idiots who need dragging into the 21st Century by those of you who consider yourselves such experts on corporate governance.

The steering group have no qualifications in corporate governance and no mandate from the members.

By the way - slept great thanks.

Edited By justmalc on 1211721074

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Sun May 25, 2008 2:15 pm

yesterdays outcome can only be the beginning of the end for farming members membership of the DCS as fees will have to keep going up by leaps and bounds to keep pace with raising expence claims, but one point I would like to make is that under the freedom of information act should we not be allowed to see details of all council members expences. Bill

Rob & Alison Kirk · Post by **Rob & Alison Kirk** » Sun May 25, 2008 3:26 pm

The outcome of yesterday's EGM was not in the best interests of the DCS, whether or not you support the Steering Committee.

During the past few months we, the Steering Committee, have put much time and effort into the proposed Constitutional changes, with only one thing in mind, that being for the benefit of the whole Society.

It is unjust criticism of the Steering Committee for seeking professional and legal advice on such an important subject. Even members of Parliament would take professional and legal advice if needed!

The proposed changes to the Constitution are very workable.
In fact, the changes would have saved a considerable amount of money in Council expenses; the savings made would have gone a long way to holding subscriptions at the present level, but I fear subscriptions will now have to increase.

How suprised I am Justmalc that you gave up your own time and at your own expense attended the EGM, but failed to take the opportunity to raise your concerns re Corporate Governance at the end of Martyn's presentation. You missed the perfect opportunity to get your concerns aired at the meeting. This is exactly why members were given the opportunity to ask questions prior to voting.

All prospective nominees for the forthcoming Council elections should seriously consider seeking legal advice on Corporate Governance. At this moment in time all Trustees are jointly and severally bound to be collectively responsible for all claims against the Society.

I can assure you that I am / have always been a working farmer, and now earn a living from a herd of some 160 pedigree Dexter cattle. Since my involvement with the Steering Committee, it has certainly raised my awareness of Corporate Governance and the implications if not followed.

My own view is that the majority of the 14 members who voted against the revised Constitution yesterday, attended the meeting with a view to voting against whatever was put before them. How short-sighted their decision may turn out to be.

Robert Kirk
Boram Dexters

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:00 pm

Are you saying justmalc, that you would have probably voted for the amendments as a package (bearing in mind that not everyone will be happy with everything, including me) had it been an EGM held by a normally elected council? Because you said the suggestions were commonsense. But you felt you could not because it was an SC suggestion?

Felicity · Post by **Felicity** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:01 pm

Are you going to to stand for council at the next election Malcom or just sit on the sideline and complain as you always do.

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:21 pm

For heavens sake, what makes you tick Malcom?! I have read your babble and arrogance and quite frankly find you shameful. So many people have worked their nuts off and you have gone and ruined it, why on earth do you keep dexters? All your postings are so negative, perhaps thats all the personality you have you sad excuse for a man. Apologies to all others but Malcom is getting on my tits.............................

AlastairC · Post by **AlastairC** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:24 pm

This is possibly the most depressing topic I have ever had the misfortune to read. After months of work we still have a disfunctional Society. There is no way forward when the great majority want one thing and a substantial minority won't allow it. We shall probably end up as split as our transatlantic cousins.
Has anybody got a sensible suggextion as to where we go from here? I do not subscribe to fatuous conspiracy theories. For a variety of reasons, not all of them clear or admitted the last Council resigned en masse. Exactly the same problems face any new council and if the last one couldn't hack it who is to say that any new one could! Not forgetting that most active (as in real farmers/smallholders) members are already reluctant to stand for election in the first place. I do not think that I want to continue membership of a Society so fractured.
Isn't fortunate that Dexters have a great deal more sense than their owners.

Alastair Cook
Fieldhouse Farm,
North Yorkshire

justmalc · Post by **justmalc** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:54 pm

Rob, Alison, Clive,

I was completely happy with the majority of the proposed changes but,along with others, I have concerns around the numbers of council members, the availability of minutes and to an extent, proxy voting - I think postal voting may be the answer. My objections would stand whether the changes were proposed by an elected council or the steering group.

Happy Holidays, you ask what makes me tick. To explain my background, I have for the past 14 years worked as an advisor to central government departments specifically addressing corporate governance and risk management. In 1997 I qualified as a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors at MIIA (degree level) and in 2001 was asked by the Institute to be an examiner on their Corporate Governance and Risk Management module. In 2003 I was also asked to join the examinations team on the Organisations and management module.

In 2003 I was awarded my MSc in Management and Consultancy from the University of Central England, again majoring in Corporate Governance and Risk Management.

I am now working for one of the larger Central Government Departments and have sole responsibility for advising on the governance underpinning the Department's IT contract with an annual value approaching £1 billion, the largest public sector IT contract in Europe.

Luckily, my work allows me to work from home several days most week and play an active part on my family's 1100 acre farm and my own 90+ Dexters.

These, Happy Holidays, are the things that make me tick and the things which qualify me to have opinions and air them on these pages. I am sorry if you disagree with these opinions and that I "get on your tits" but I'd also be interested to know what makes you tick and leads to the level of ignorance displayed in your comments?

I find your "sad excuse for a man" comment pathetic and, to be honest, am surprised that it is permissable. Still, tell me how you are qualified to comment and to lambast my opinions and I will gladly retract them.

Edited By justmalc on 1211786083

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:01 am

In Canada, if there are any changes proposed for the constitution of the society, they are mailed out to each member in good standing along with a mail in ballot. Ditto for any elections. The minutes for all the directors' meetings (which are held by teleconference) are also mailed to each member in the same mailing as the quarterly newsletter. The UK may be small but it still takes a lot of time (and possibly frustration and money) to travel to meetings but I guess that was always done in the past so now it would be a big change. And we don't have that many directors. I am sorry to see such discontent but it looks as though change needs to happen.

Rutherford · Post by **Rutherford** » Mon May 26, 2008 7:51 am

I would prefer to keep this discussion on a constructional level. What I cannot understand Justmalc are your comments on corporate governance, ‘but didn't once explain to us poor mortals why this was the case’. If you are so obviously not one of us lesser mortals, why didn’t you speak up at the EGM. and more importantly why have you been unable to find time to volunteer for Council. You may be a very busy person, but so are most of the Steering Committee, now the immense effort they have put in over recent months has gone for naught.
You state we do not need constitutional changes for teleconferencing, and e-mail, your knowledge of legal jargon may be greater than mine, but I have always believed the statement that a quorum needed to be present in order to conduct business, ruled out conducting it through modern technology without a change. It would certainly be wise to clarify
Beryl (Woodmagic)

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:51 am

This is an open disscusion board on MY private website and i am very proud of it.
I think i have only ever removed 1 awkward posting, which was requested by other users.
Justmalc can have his say, thats fine, Happlyholidays can comment back and i found that just about borderline acceptable.
I will remove comments any worse than that.
Duncan has found it usefull for his ends to use my database to email a message to every user, again its a service there to be used but a communication beforehand to myself would have been nice.
The board has got so big......has it got out of control?
I want information on it, but by definition DCS council matters will be discussed.
I hope we can continue to put forward proper proposals for the DCS problem we have.
I personally am still trying to take in the full impact of the EGM, it has had implictions that i think the S/C failed to put across properly to the membership.
Anyway, just to recap, i have NEVER barred anyone from using this board, i may have not spotted legitimate applications to use it as i get 30-40 weird applications a day so if you use a weird name it gets binned, sorry!
I will post some EGM thoughts when i get my head back together.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:04 am

What I cannot understand Malcolm is that with your up until now undisclosed knowledge why you did not offer your services to the steering committee.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:06 am

Who gives the command that you are qualified enough. I asked you what made you tick and you told me about your work Malcolm, that says it all I think. Keeping Dexters has to be an awful lot about passion and love of the beautiful animal itself, especially in economical hardtimes. This is what makes the difference and it shows in hundreds of posts made by many people from all walks of life who have share the common love of dexters worldwide. This forum has been a bible to many, including well respected keepers, established breeders, enthusiasts and beginners. Please do not let a few bahumbugs ruin this, I am truly sorry to be so forward but me informing someone that I have an MBA makes no change to being an able farmer! How on earth do the younger members cope with such conflict, you have a 16 year old who is the future of dexters don't push him away. I have only kept the girls for a short period of time, but rather than being negative about having to give them up I look on it as a pleasure of having had the time with them at all. Life is very short and very precious, you never know what is around the corner or how long you have. I would normally hide away from confrontation, but I feel so strongly about this. I am literally shaking with emmotions as I write, not to mention feeling sick. Apologies for being outspoken, many many thanks for sharing your dexter keeping with me, I have absorbed as much as I could get and feel like I have made some special friends along the way, I thank you kindly. Here's to peace and harmony in the main.

bjreroberts · Post by **bjreroberts** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:33 am

I am sure like many others I am now feeling guilty that I did not attend and vote in favour of the changes.

It does seem a shame that such a small number of votes can block what on the whole seemed to be common sense modernisation i.e. proxy voting and council meetings by teleconference.

I for one appreciate all the efforts the Steering Group have put into trying to modernise the society. We can only hope that these ideas are not completely lost and that the new Council will move some of them forward i.e. proxy voting and council meetings by teleconferencing.

The objections do seem to have been at specific details or resentment at the disbanding of the Council / appointment of the steering group. Justmalc where is the common ground, what changes were you in favour of in principal?