BMGC EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING: 31 May 2008

Some personal observations: Peter Saundby

In common with other members I have observed recent events with great distress. This has been deepened by reading the red folder in the office. Therefore I have set down these observations for others to consider.

When I retired from the Royal Air Force and came to join the club I said that I no longer wished to be involved in club management. I had done enough over the years although remaining active at BGA and international level. Much later I was on the committee for a short period. The problem now facing us is a conflict of personalities dressed up as a dispute over policies. From the file it is clear that some people are unable to separate proper and legitimate differences of opinion on club policy from personal hostility, or is it the personal hostility that has led to the manufacture of policy differences?

On policy I have had my own differences; during 2005 I drafted the second twelve year plan which is available to interested persons. That was to run from 2008 until 2020. The final years of the first plan and the initial period of the second plan were to be spent paying off debts. Robbie R condensed this into a five year plan running from 2006 until 2011 and this has caused our debts to increase further. Nevertheless his plan was approved by a democratic vote and I then left the Committee. Despite this Robbie remains a close personal friend and we are syndicate partners with an ASW 20.

Others have advocated their own policies; Ken B once supported what he has since called the 'shack at the back' because he wanted somewhere to stay overnight. Don P wanted a well equipped training centre and he will be recognised as farsighted when EASA finally publish their specification for an approved training organisation. In future without such an approval we could not offer trial lessons. Don P also wanted a new training glider that would spin. That need is questionable because EASA only require a training glider to be capable of teaching spin avoidance. Roger H wanted us to buy the PW-6 Twin Smyk glider. That would have been a bad buy because the ground handling characteristics are unrepresentative of solo gliders and it could not have been resold. Eventually we purchased a Ka21, this is an excellent basic trainer and one that could easily be resold but with an inadequate performance for serious cross country training. Also it will not spin within the normal weight range and I oppose tail weights as making a safe aircraft unsafe.

While I was on the Committee, there was repeated sniping on the web site from a few members. Untrue statements were made and not withdrawn when requested. A self appointed shadow committee felt entitled to criticise any decision without restraint or even acknowledgement of facts. Hard working committee members had their work increased by this irresponsible activity and became less inclined to give their voluntary time. Following the election of Ken B, this disruptive activity entered the committee itself to the great disadvantage of the club. Since his debut there have been needless additional costs that we cannot afford, this meeting being one. Good people are unwilling to offer their time to the club and have resigned. No serious alternative policies have been proposed, just carping criticisms of others.

This activity appears to have been driven by personal animosity, mostly against Robbie R and to a lesser extent against John S and Bo N. We are now presented with a large number of resolutions to change the Articles of Association. Most of these are designed to facilitate the internal conflict from which we have already suffered greatly. None are supported by our Directors. It would be unwise to consider any change until after our present conflicts are resolved. I shall vote against.

Under present articles, powers exist to expel a member. It could be made clear by the membership to the Board that bad conduct constitutes grounds for expulsion. Lies by one member about another or libellous statements must be judged as unacceptable behaviour.

What the Club needs now is several years of peace and quiet, no additional new developments, and no conflicts; just paying off debts and adapting to EASA rules. If we run into bad times we will have to sell the Ka21. Our plans contained contingency options for the purchase of land. Unfortunately we now have no contingency funds so we can but hope that any opportunities will arise later.

There is a case for restricting the number of Directors but that can be done without a change of Articles. The Company Secretary need not be a Director under existing legislation so that proposal serves no purpose.

Monday, 26 May 2008