[H-GEN] HUMBUG AGM 2009

[James Iseppi]

Hi Greg,

The Agenda for the AGM has been on the HUMBUG website since the  
29/07/2009. It has been updated numerous times by 3 different members  
of the exec based on discussions on the mailing list and requests to  
the executive. The page has also been open to editing by anyone who  
has a wiki account since that date and anyone with an account on the  
wiki has the ability to request automatic updates when the page has  
been changed. Also, the standard requirements of the HUMBUG AGM are to  
be fulfilled in the currently proposed agenda.

The reason there are items up for discussion before the election of  
the new exec is because of the proposed agenda of one (and currently  
the only candidate) for president of the club. His agenda proposes  
sweeping changes to the way in which the executive operates (many of  
them which I think could improve the executive and how it operates).  
However because these changes are so sweeping, Matthew wanted to  
discuss them. Originally these discussions were less detailed,  
followed the elections and were listed as proposals of Russell's. This  
was changed at the request of Russell Stuart because he felt it would  
be awkward if the AGM elected him as president and then the meeting  
discussed his proposed presidential platform and decided to block his  
ability to implement it.

The exec meeting rules item, was a suggestion I made for the agenda to  
simplify the many separate agenda items that Matthew created based on  
Russell's presidential platform. Whether this is discussed before or  
after the elections is probably of no significance other than giving  
the new exec an understanding of the rules to which the HUMBUG  
membership will expect them to operate (assuming the item passes).  
Also, although I hope the discussion of the items will be limited, it  
would not be hard to remove or add any of the items on the proposed  
rules page at the AGM.

The items have been on the agenda for quite some time, unfortunately  
they were not in the best or clearest form until the more recent  
revisions of that page. Also they were going to take significant time  
to discuss and vote on at the meeting prior to the current changes.  
Also, the items were inserted before the elections because they might  
effect the ability of people to run for those positions, or to  
progress their platforms after they are elected. Based on your  
objections to the current agenda, I will add a new agenda item where  
the meeting itself can determine how to handle this situation before  
the elections.

Thanks
James

On 05/09/2009, at 9:47 AM, Greg Black wrote:

> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug  
> and     ]
> [ Unix-related topics. Posts from non-subscribed addresses will  
> vanish. ]
>
> On 2009-09-03, James Iseppi wrote:
>
>> In preparation for the AGM to be held this Saturday the executive has
>> prepared an Agenda which is kept on the HUMBUG wiki at
>> http://www.humbug.org.au/AGM2009 .
>
> I am quite concerned about the proposed agenda on that page,
> especially insofar as it diverges both from the long-standing
> AGM page at
>
>    http://www.humbug.org.au/AGM
>
> and from standard meeting practice for an AGM.
>
> The principal tasks of the AGM are to confirm the minutes of the
> last AGM; to hear reports from the members of the outgoing Exec;
> and to conduct the election of the new Exec.
>
> That, in itself, takes up quite a bit of time and anything that
> extends that time is an imposition on those members who make a
> special attempt to work around the demands of their real life to
> attend the AGM so they can renew their membership and vote for
> the new Exec.
>
> But, even more importantly, the last-minute proposal to schedule
> a major discussion of policies and procedures *before* the
> election is entirely inappropriate.  The outgoing Exec have had
> at least a year to discuss and present their ideas on new
> policies and procedures.  To suggest that this be done at an AGM
> (itself an inappropriate venue for such discussion) in the last
> hour of their role as the Exec strikes me as absurd.
>
> While I agree fully that some improvements to policies and
> procedures are called for, I think it's completely up to the new
> Exec to do some thinking about that and to make their proposals
> when they have had time to reflect on things.
>
> (Of course, it's entirely possible that the new Exec will be the
> same as or substantially the same as the outgoing Exec, but
> that's something we will know after the election, not before
> it.)
>
> I do hope common sense will prevail and that the agenda will be
> reverted to the well-established agenda that has served us until
> now.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg
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