Further answers to members questions below, keep them coming!

Q22. With respect, your answer to Q20 doesn’t really tell me why we can’t have a Thinktank in the new set-up? And your answer to Q21 sounds like you are trying to blackmail members into accepting your proposal?

A- As we've said before the Thinktank has produced some great ideas which have enhanced the club. However, we also often find that it is duplicating some of the activities undertaken by the General Committee. This is obviously wasting members time. The fact that so many senior important committee positions are vacant shows that the club does not have unlimited resources with regard to time members are prepared to give up on behalf of the club. Where members are prepared to give some of their valuable time we need to ensure that maximum value is gained from this effort. Clearly, if two committees are duplicating effort then that is not an efficient way to do business.

There is also an issue with respect to management lines of communication. Under the old system, the Thinktank reports to the General Committee via a representative who sits on the General Committee, strictly speaking as a non-voting member (this is yet another post that has been vacant since the last AGM). However, under the new system clearly this line of communication is no longer available.

The urgent priority following the EGM will be to introduce the new system as soon as possible and as fully manned as possible. No one is under any illusions that this will be straight forward. There will be inevitable teething issues with the new system which will be somewhat a change in club culture. The newly formed Executive can follow whatever path they desire, but I would expect the first year will be needed to bed in the new system. Thereafter, assuming all the key posts are fully manned, they may decide they need a Thinktank or a Development Officer for that matter. That will be up to them.

We’re not trying to blackmail anyone, but we need members to understand that the club cannot go on as it is now. We are hopeful that by the EGM we will have a volunteer for each key post, these will then, hopefully, be approved by the members, and then we can move forward. The Executive and General Committee have been considering this problem since the AGM last November, this is the best and only suggestion we can come up with.

Q23. Only full members will be eligible to vote at the forthcoming EGM under the existing Constitution. Consequently, this presumably precludes any indoor members from filling any of the proposed positions. Clearly such a restriction (which in itself is unconstitutional) could result in the exclusion of potential volunteers from filling these vital roles.

A- You are correct in that section 3.1.1 part H of the constitution reads (h) INDOOR ONLY MEMBER - shall have no vote and cannot take office. At the AGM in November the matter was discussed by the membership. Allowing Indoor Members to vote at AGM and EGMs was not accepted. Although you may find this disappointing, the Constitution was agreed by the members at the AGM and therefore is not unconstitutional. The only way this can be changed is by a full member putting forward a motion to amend this section at the November AGM.

Q24. Please can you keep in mind that some of our members don’t have internet or email? They won’t be able to see these questions and answers.

A- About a week before the EGM I will print off a copy of these Q&As and display them on the noticeboard. Inevitably communicating via email or internet is less time-consuming and less expensive than writing and posting letters to members without access to the internet. The club will always strive to communicate with all members, but we’ve not got a secretary at the moment, so we need to do all we can to make the administrative tasks required for running the club simpler, more attractive and less time-consuming. I would expect most internal club communications to be either web or email-based, with a copy placed on the club noticeboard for members without email to read. I know some members who prefer their communications via post will be disappointed by this, they will need to discuss this with the new Admin manager after the EGM. If any member without email would like to volunteer to help with this, I’m sure our new Admin Manager will be keen to hear from them!