Bluebell Cottage,
Tillingham,
CM0 7UB
01621 778859
1st. January 2003
Dear Fellow Member,
You may not yet be aware, as the autumn 2002 Bulletin is not out, that I have had a fundamental disagreement with a small, but vocal, minority of the committee, who were trying to steer this association away from the direction the membership has always indicated to me, that they wished it to go. They made my position so difficult I resigned from my post after the October 10th committee meeting.
I subsequently informed the President I was willing to continue to do most of what I had previously done, organising meets, help with plans, answering all queries on the Eventide, supply info for the webmaster and the EOA website etc, pending a vote in my favour at the AGM, but I was no longer willing to serve on committee. The committee have however excluded me from all these posts, demanding the hand over of passwords etc, which is why the web site has stagnated and no e-mail enquiries for our designs are being answered. I am still however, happily dealing with mail, subscriptions and answering telephone enquiries etc.
For some years now I had voiced requests for a new secretary, but every year, as none were forthcoming I have resumed the post. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on committee and thank all those members who have shown their appreciation. However it was increasingly apparent that there were some on committee who were reluctant to help the assoc in any tangible way, very happy to leave all the work to the few.
I have been a member for 30 years now, and served on committee for 25 of those years. I have served in every post from Committee to Editor, from Plans to President, and enjoyed them all. I was given such encouragement by members when I was starting off, that I promised myself that I would try to give the same help to those starting today, by way of a thankyou. So, for over half my lifetime I have devoted myself to assisting you, the membership. It has given me great pleasure to see so many of you get afloat over the years, to see the fruits of your labours actually sail!
I have defended this ‘Owners Association’ from all comers, but I was amazed to find that some of the committee were prepared to devalue this association, without a thought to what the membership wished. As an Owners Association, we are special and if we no longer have to be an owner to be President or indeed Sec, Vice President or Editor, we will have lost that exclusiveness. Most members I have spoken to have been genuinely shocked to think this could occur.
Basically the prime posts of this ‘Owners Association’ have only, historically, (for over 40 years now), been filled by those owning, and either actively building or sailing our designs. Indeed over the years officers have always stood down when moving on to other, non EOA designs. Some have stayed with us as ‘social’ members, indeed we, or I should say I, for it was me that headed the subcommittee that did it; relaxed the rules with the specific idea of allowing ex-owners to stay with us twelve years ago. At no time did we imagine however, that anyone would attempt to become or assume the prime posts, not being an owner.
The situation has arisen where a Vice President has sold his boat, (over a year ago), and has been persuaded by two or three other committee members, to stay in post. I felt this was a very unsatisfactory state of affairs and said I would not support it. We now have the situation where our President is also wishing to sell his boat maybe in favour of a non EOA design. I firmly believe our membership still wishes our prime officers to be those who vote with their hearts (and wallets), and actively sail or are building one of our designs. I equated it with the directors of companies being seen to have public faith in their products. Would the chairman of Fords turn up in a Vauxhall! If he did so, what would it say about his commitment to his product?
I was actually accused of blackmailing the committee, by refusing to stay on as Secretary, and my voracity was called into question over my minutes of a past meeting, made from my notes, written at the time! (Sadly recently there has been a very ‘relaxed’ approach to meetings and I cannot honestly record a vote in the minutes, if none is officially taken.)
It was even suggested by one of my detractors, that a wrecked Senior be obtained, for the price of £1.00 and moved from officer to officer as needs be, so they may claim they ‘owned’ an EOA design. I felt this was dishonest, not only to themselves but to you, the members.
No one has any objection to an ex-owner, a prospective purchaser or any person with a genuine interest, being a member, but it seems that there are some may wish to use this association’s relaxed rules for their own kudos and not the benefit of the membership at large. For this reason I have proposed we set the membership rules down in a proper and workman like way. I have proposed a motion for the AGM, Friday 24th January, for the rules to be amended.
Almost every
other owners association I have contacted has similar rules, allowing those
with ‘interest’ to be associate members; some were stricter, with ‘owner’s
only’ policies. (For instance we could not join our treasurers other
association, as we probably do not own a Southerly!) Most would not allow
associate members either a vote or occupation of the prime posts. This is what I am proposing, and at the
moment have the support of most of the membership I have spoken to. However as I realise many of you will be
unable to attend the AGM, I have taken this step in an effort to show the committee
what the membership wants, so urge you to send your comments and hopefully your
endorsement back to me in time for me to present it on the 24th. I am
willing to stand up on your behalf; I would just like your support.
I include the proposed rule changes. The changes should not affect any members, except those that wish to be prime officers, without showing the commitment of actually either, actively sailing or building an EOA boat of their own!
Further I seek to strengthen the ties between owners of other craft designed by our designers and have this officially written into our rules. This would include the Alan Buchanan and Maurice Griffith’s designs, also the new designs by Colin Fagetter, none of which are Y.M. designs, but all of which have been welcomed to our association.
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RULES.
3.
(a). Full membership to the ‘Eventide Owners Association’ shall only be open to anyone owning and actively sailing, or building any one of the Y.M. sponsored designs, or other designs by the same designers.
(b). Associate
membership shall be open to anyone who is interested in the designs; (this could cover those wishing to buy used
boats, or those who have sold their association boat and moved on, but still
wish to stay in touch, ex builders etc.)
They will receive the Bulletin and be welcome to join in any of the
functions of the EOA, but to have no vote and be barred from the ‘Prime posts’,
i.e. President and Vice President, Secretaries and Editor. (Those that might be seen in the public eye as representing the Owners
Association.)
The fees to be the same for both.
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I am proposing Rodney Leaper as a candidate for Vice President, but something tells me that more Vice President, Committee and even Presidential proposals might be welcomed at the AGM, as I see a major shake up on the cards. I would welcome your suggestions and any volunteers too. (Please do not suggest me though!).
My telephone number is 01621 778859
My e-mail address is bluebell.cottage@virgin.net
I do hope you forgive me for unburdening myself on you, but I felt it important enough, for the future of the EOA, to take the time to explain my seemingly irrational action, for no doubt you might well be wondering why it is your association has lost, in the short space of a year, not only it’s Treasurer but also it’s Secretary, both resigning as a result of their treatment by some of the committee.
Fair winds and lee going tides, and to builders, power to your elbows,
John Williams
EOA Secretary, resigned.