I thought I would write because a number have people have asked me why I stepped down as MFS President. The answer is that I didn't.
I would like to make it clear that I had no idea that there would be another candidate for the Monaro Folk Society president position.
In my opinion the attendance at the AGM did not reflect the membership at large, and appeared to me and to others that I have spoken to, to be largely made up of people associated with two groups within the society. The election results reflected this.
Just for the record, I would have been happy to continue in the role.
The unrepresentative election process should cause concern about our rules.
I feel that members have the right to know before the meeting (when they are deciding whether or not to attend) who the candidates are, what their background is, and what they stand for. Just the same as members know what motions will be put, at least 14 days before the meeting.
In other organisations that I have been in, candidates declare their intention to stand, provide a photograph and short statement about their background and what they stand for, and voting takes place over a few weeks with all members having the opportunity to vote.
As a minimum, I think that nominations should close say two weeks before the meeting with candidates' names published, with further nominations on the night only if there were vacancies left by the formal nomination and election process.
Do you agree? If there is a lot of positive response I will draft an amendment to the rules.
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Regards
Lance
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I for one welcome our new MFS overlords... :) but yeah some more transparency in the election proceedings would be fair.. I didn't know that Aylwen was even in the running for president until after the dust settled.
ReplyDeletePersonally i'm not fussed about who is president, I would equally enjoy working with anyone really, but everyone should have a fair go
I endorse your comments on election procedures. Gaining office by ambush is fun but not democratic. I would like to see Candidate nominations for
ReplyDeletepresident and secretary close at least 2 weeks before the AGM. The nominations should be accompanied by a policy statement and a photograph to be places on the web site.
I feel I have to make a comment on 'An Unrepresentative Election' I notice the comments are made by persons who were not at the AGM. It is a members perogative to vote as they wish, also to attend the AGM if they wish to vote, and the silent vote results point to this, I note that those reults haven't been advertised 29 votes to Aylwen and 10 votes to Lance. The fact is there were more than 2 groups represented at the AGM, Contra Club, Bush Music Group and the BDG, wrap team to name a few. No one on the night complained that 'due process' had not been followed.
ReplyDeleteAs for candidate nominations that should be placed on the web, what about members who do not have web access? 2 years ago at the AGM I nominated for president and assume Lance nominated on the night as well, there were only 2 votes difference in that one and I hadn't canvassed my intentions. Last year I was in New Zealand. I have been attending the mFS AGM from at least 2001 and candidates have always nominated on the night.
If every one is so concerned about the outcome of the AGM then maybe they should have attended the meeting then they could have placed their vote. I believe there are about 127 financial members on the books? On the night if everyone voted there were only 49 members in attendance.