 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group In the Saddle Peter Smith |
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On behalf of all members I want to thank Lloyd Borrett, Giuseppe De Simone and George Skarbek for achieving what they have under difficult and trying circumstances. Their tolerance, energy and professionalism has kept our group alive and in a position where we can continue to serve your wishes. Your new committee intends to acknowledge their service by appointing all of them as Honorary Life Members - Lloyd already is of course, perhaps it means that he is now allowed to not pay membership dues twice per year? Alternatively H1 squared is still H1? Whichever way its looked at, many thanks, Lloyd. On the night of the AGM the membership present voted by acclamation that Giuseppe and George should be granted Honorary Life Membership, I am certain that the membership at large will agree. However our Rules stipulate a somewhat more rigorous approach, so this is a formal notice of motion for the 7 October 1992 General Meeting:
That the meeting records its profound thanks to Lloyd Borrett, Giuseppe De Simone and George Skarbek for their work on the interim committee and that Giuseppe De Simone and George Skarbek be admitted to Honorary Life Membership of Melbourne PC User Group Incorporated.
Hello and Thank You
Firstly my thanks for the resounding vote of trust you have placed in me and the other members of the committee. While the numbers express a clear majority opinion, we are all mindful that your group must also serve minority interests and will not neglect them.
I am looking forward to helping Melb PC become the "Best User Group in the World"1 The operative words are looking forward-in a letter to all committee members I stated
"...looking forward must be just that. 1 am not interested in recriminations, or rehashing old ground-sure let's learn from the past, but not dwell on it."
Your new executive is a mixed bag, before they get at me, let me explain! Charles is the only member to have previously held an executive position with the group, Bill and I were elected to the ordinary committee at the December 1991 AGM, and Viv and Sam are fresh faces. All of us have a desire to put our operations on a sound management and financial base. We have some full-time workers, others with more time available, and a range of ages (I'm in the middle!) and experience. As I said at the AGM - lots of ability (and even more enthusiasm).
Your committee is similarly diverse, some previous members of committee, others new, a range of ages, some old-time members of the group, some newer-a wonderful range of experience and expertise.
Editor
During my campaign I stated that I would be giving up the job of Editor. I am pleased that Major Keary has volunteered to take over that position and can announce that the committee has appointed him as Acting Editor, pending any further expressions of interest from other members. These must be with the Secretary by the 14th of September, to enable a recommendation to be put to the committee meeting on the following
Monday - 21st September.
Conduct of Committee Meetings
All Committee meetings are open - all members may attend. Non-members may attend only by invitation of the committee, or by agreement of the executive. Any member wishing to have business raised at a meeting must give notice to the Secretary in time for it to be circulated well before the meeting. Unless extremely unusual circumstances apply this should be no later than the Monday prior. Committee members have been asked to submit all reports before the meeting and for any individual clarification to be carried out beforehand. The same rules apply to sub-committees and the membership at large. A conservative estimate of 1,000 man hours per annum is spent in committee
meetings - this can be valued at anything up to $100,000 plus - we must spend that time wisely.
Sexism?
I used the term man hours above. It is unfortunate for the group that our committee is, once again, entirely male. We understand and appreciate the reasons why Joan and Lorelle did not seek re-nomination, however there are, and will be, plenty of opportunities for sub-committee
leaders - ladies, please ensure your points of view are considered by the Group.
Overseas Magazines
In the past we have run an advertisement for Telmar, who were able to organise airmail magazine subscriptions at reduced prices for our members. Herb Goodman, of Telmar, has advised that he has suspended this service, with apologies, as the prices he can offer now exceed the overseas subscription rates offered by various publishers. Please do not send any more subscriptions to Telmar; if you have sent one recently and not received a refund, please contact them
directly - unfortunately, the Group cannot act on your behalf.
Your Opinions
Your committee is just that - your committee. With an organisation the size ours is, it is difficult to be sure that we always represent your views and needs. Each month I will be canvassing a particular topic and inviting your responses. First
up - our Rules. Most of you will have a copy - either on the New Member's Disk or in the December 1990 issue of
PC Update. If you need a copy please either purchase the New Member's Disk, which has other goodies on it as well, or drop a line to the office and ask for a paper copy to be sent. Many of you, like me, will be involved in other community-based
organisations and have valuable experience to share with us. Undertaking to review our rules is a mammoth job-Sam Brown, your new Secretary, has volunteered to coordinate this task, so please address your thoughts to him, at the Group Office. As a guide, I have already asked the
committee to consider the rules with a view to finding flaws and to recommend changes that will help make the Group better able to handle a membership of, say, 20,000 in three years.
The Saddle?
In case you are wondering - it refers to one of my other pursuits - the Pony Club
movement - a body with a similar membership size, in Victoria, to ours, but with a more defined local, regional, state and national structure. There are many
parallels - and as many differences - we can all learn from each other - maybe there is a need for an Association of Associations?
At the Pony Club Association AGM a few days ago. I noticed a sign in the hired
hall - "There's no Strangers here - only Friends who haven't met". I hope we all share that spirit.
In closing, once again thank you all for your confidence and support. I wish there was time to tally to each of you individually, I like a good
chat! But even a five-minute call with each of our 6,200 members would take 3 months of 40-hour weeks. My voice and business
couldn't stand it and there wouldn't be a lot of time for other Group business either.
Reprinted from the September 1992 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
