Watchful Melb PC BBS users (those who read the General Message Area) will by now be aware of the messages written by me and countless other members about the forthcoming elections. It was announced that an organised attempt was being made to take control of the Group by a ticket of eight members running for office and committee positions.

I am pleased to say that after some urgent talks with some of the people involved, the position has become a little less disconcerting. I am grateful for the assistance of Doug Brooke and Graham Paul for their wise counsel. It has encouraged me to totally rewrite this column with a little less emphasis on heavily critical matters, instead concentrating on an analysis of the statements of our opponents and the merits of the team I wish to lead in the forthcoming year.

It is significant that this comes when the club has never been doing better. Financially, the Treasurer's report published in the October magazine reveals a healthy surplus for the financial year ended 30th June, 1994. Melb PC has achieved a $127,105 turnaround from 1993 to 1994. Income has increased by $173,509 while costs have only increased by $36,261. Since then, we have been doing even better, with regular monthly surpluses. In the last four months, we have had a total surplus in excess of that for the whole of the last financial year - over $50,000! Our overall asset position is much healthier than a year ago.

A glance through my Annual Report will verify the improvements in service, and sheer hard work done by so many. Experienced Committee members such as Peter Smith and Gary Taig have stated that they can never remember the administration so harmonious, and effective.

In the interests of the Group as a whole, I have decided to "water down" my remarks here about the members of the ticket referred to above for several reasons. It is clear now that they were far less tightly knit and organised than appeared to be the case when the nominations were received. Two of them have since withdrawn, including one for Assistant Secretary, a position we hope to abolish as an elected Officer under the Rules revision. I have had lunch with my opponent for President, Major Keary, and we candidly discussed our respective views for the future of Melb PC. Other "opposition" candidates have sat down with me and chewed the fat. I have learned a lot about their wish lists, and they have hopefully realised that the administration is not averse to listening to constructive criticism. I wish some of them had approached me a little earlier.

I have not put up a 100-word statement. The Annual Report is a somewhat longer document which sets out our achievements and plans for the future. I rely on that. The Rules require me to put it before the members at this time.

I turn now to the main aspects of the statements of Major and Don McKenzie, who is standing against Gary Taig for Secretary.

Major Keary proposes that Melb PC be run by Committeemen uninvolved with the day-to-day services of the Club (eg, the magazine, BBS, Internet, the office, etc). This would effectively remove Barry McMenomy, Gary Taig, Peter Smith, Ash Nallawalla and Dave Mitchell from the Committee. In my view, it would be exceedingly difficult to imagine a set of Rules of a hobbyist organisation such as ours being drawn in such a way that those running the various services of the club were somehow legislated out of being able to sit on the Committee. Aside from the impracticality of the proposal, I doubt that such a complex and delicate set of changes would pass the scrutiny of the Registrar. Furthermore, where would you draw the line? What degree of participation in conducting such a service as a SIG, the magazine or Training would disbar a member from sitting on the Committee? Are SIG leaders, trainers, subeditors to be so disbarred? Major and I agreed to disagree.

Major asserts the Group is suffering from a "cost blowout" and that "the way we are going seems sure to result in a fee increase". He said the same last year when he ran for President against Charles Wright. How does he equate the Treasurer's Report with a cost blowout? No fee increase is either necessary or contemplated. (I was going to say here, "Read my lips! No fee increase!" But, for some reason, I thought better of it. <G>)

Don McKenzie is a committeeman, running against Gary Taig for Secretary of Melb PC. His policy statement implies irregularities which do not exist, many of which he has not raised at Committee meetings. The current administration is criticised for spending money on a consultant when it had nothing to do with that decision. The consultant's final report arrived in June last year! He exaggerates the amount of money spent on office salaries, additionally lumping the costs of trainer fees and magazine distribution in with them. He claims that staff salaries are almost $100,000 without overtime. They are in fact $78,405, including overtime. He feels that Melb PC wastes money on employing any office staff when a group of retired volunteers would achieve the same result. In my view, this approach is out of touch with modern management methods and the sheer size and related responsibilities of Melb PC.

He also states that "office rent and expenses exceed $50,000". Which expenses? Annual rent is currently $32,807. Is he suggesting another shift of premises? I agree with him that minutes should not be altered after Committee meetings. They should be first prepared, after Committee meetings, submitted for the perusal of the Committee, and if they represent the decisions made at the relevant meeting, ultimately received. Then they become the actual minutes. That is what has happened in my time on the Committee. Is Don seriously suggesting that something shonky is going on? I'm not sure what his point is here.

A Team of Workers

I have behind me a team of proven performers and new blood which want to continue the success of the current administration, recognising that we can always do better. We intend, where possible, to put into operation the wishes of the members, as expressed in the survey.

That team is:

Peter Smith (Vice-President) - he is an asset in any position he holds in Melb PC. Currently Managing Editor of PC Update.

Gary Taig (Secretary) - Gary has come to our aid after my call for someone to stand as Secretary. He has great people skills, is a good organiser, and gets on well with office staff: No one sells the Group better than Gazza!

Bruce Elliott (Treasurer) - has done a bloody fantastic job in the last year. We are lucky to have him, frankly. Whilst the main thrust of criticism seems, as usual, to revolve around financial matters, our rivals have not nominated anyone against him.