Don, While we could argue about how Kevin stated his views, all members have the right to express their views, including current Board members. I am personally humbled by Kevin's kind words of support in his message.
You are right that the OBC is a bicycle club and not a political party, but unfortunately it is members of the Board, sometimes at considerable personal cost, who have to deal with the unpleasantness of the politics that always linger beneath the surface in a large organization like ours. The Board has had to deal with some distasteful political challenges over the past year or so, in addition to executing its principal responsibility - the delivery of cycling programs. It has done so in a democratic and business-like manner. Board actions, by and large, have had the unanimous support of Board members. While I'm President, I will endeavour to ensure the Board continues to work on a consensus basis and continues to take the high road on sensitive matters. Meanwhile, I encourage any member wishing to learn more about Board activities to examine the records of Board meetings. They available in the club office; and please, ..... ....... let us all try to keep the focus on cycling issues. After all, we are in this club to have fun on bicycles, aren't we? Avery Carol and Don Friedlander ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) writes: > Kevin Nelson wrote: > >> ..........The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wed. Oct 24........ > >> .........This year, although I am a Director of the club, I will not be > able to >> attend due to work commitments. I feel quite bad about this because I >> am hearing rumours that some of the people who are planning to attend >> the AGM are people who have publicly and loudly pronounced their >> disapproval of the OBC, current board of directors and the >> President, Avery Burdett in particular. ...... > >> ........For the first time in my experience in the club, there is an > election >> race for the position of President. For the past two years I think Avery >> has done an excellent job of keeping the club finances in check, keeping >> interest in many different activities high, representing the interests >> of the OBC cyclists and helping the other directors in managing the wide >> variety of events the OBC offers you. As we all know, he is extremely >> passionate about all types of cycling. He has been seen on his bike at >> almost every OBC activity. Each year he has been involved has been >> better than the last. >> He is more than capable of carrying on in these duties. > > At the risk of starting a war, I have a problem with this message that I'd > like to get off my chest. First off, I admit to having no knowledge of any > political situation which may be unfolding here. I don't know what group is > supposedly unhappy with the activities of the club, nor how/whether they > plan to take over the OBC to suit their group's purpose. > > But I do have some knowledge of governance and volunteer associations. In > the circumstance of two current members of the board running for the > position of president, I have difficulty with another current member of the > board coming out in public support of one of them, with veiled references to > some other group hijacking the club. I don't personally know either Kevin > Nelson, or Avery Burdett. I do admire their commitment as volunteers and > sincerely appreciate their efforts, as I appreciate the efforts of the other > OBC directors and committee members, on behalf of OBC members and cycling in > Ottawa. But I also understand and respect that there may be other members > who may see a different direction for the club. The last time I looked we > still lived in a democracy. We ignore, or worse yet, slander, their opinions > at our peril. > > I believe that comments of this nature by a current board member are a > recipe for acrimony, future ill will, and promoting and polarizing political > divisions. I wish to belong to a bicycle club, not a political party. If > Kevin Nelson's purpose was to get more members out to the AGM, then in my > case he's succeeded. I'm not sure he'll appreciate the result. > > Don Friedlander > > ------ > To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED], (613) 230-1064 > Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb > Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter > > -- Avery Burdett Ottawa, Ontario ------ To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED], (613) 230-1064 Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.a2i8p1 Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
