Morris Minor Owners Club

RQ, this is very interesting.

Please post exactly what those members who wish to join the committee have to do.

As I understand we are all shareholders albeit a £1 each, so I assumed that, provided there was majority support was from members at the AGM, a member who wished to join the Committee could be voted on without going through an interview procedure.

Volunteers need to be encouraged!!

Yes, I'm intrigued by this requirement, too!

I would advise caution if you wish to be a committee member. There is nothing worse than having grand ideas and the passion to deliver what you believe in. On taking up the post you suddenly realise it is a lot harder to deliver your promises as there isn't enough time to put in. A lot of people you may need to deal with may only be contactable during office hours, a time when you could be at work yourself! I've tried it myself, but a full time job and family commitments do restrict. This is often why committee members are of retirement age.

There are only so many positions available. As in the case recently when the Ass. Secretary retired. The vacancy was advertised in MM.Anyone interested in applying submitted a CV if there are several applicants they are interviewed. If everyone who wished to join the Committee was just "voted on" (ideal world) the Committee would be so large no decisions would ever be taken, and the club could not move forward.

As with all companies it is done on a rotation process - Committee members serve for (I think its 3 years) and then if no one wishes to stand against them and they are willing to serve again, they are proposed, seconded and serve for another term. If 2 or more people wish to stand then they are interviewed and the best applicant gets the position.

At the AGM if someone wants to stand against a Committee post that is up for re-election, they must declare their intention to stand and be proposed by a paid up member and seconded by another

Thanks for all that, Lou.

At the moment this is sounding a bit impenetrable. Can I make sure I have understood you?

You can't stand for any of the posts which have not come up for re-election in the usual three-year rotation.

If any member wants to offer to stand for one of the posts which is up for re-election, they declare their willingness at the AGM and need to be proposed and seconded by two different paid-up members.

They will then need to undergo an interview to see if they are the best candidate for the post.

Presumably the interview is conducted by serving committee members?

If two or more members are willing to serve in a particular post, do the members present at the AGM get a vote as to which they would prefer?

Do members not present at the AGM get any input into the process?

How can members find out which posts are up for re-election?

regaliaqueen wrote: Just another word of caution, please remember that you can only apply for a specific position. You will have to apply in writing and go through a formal interview, like any other job interview.

Not in the case of being proposed and seconded at an AGM. It is up to the membership to decide.

regaliaqueen wrote: At the AGM if someone wants to stand against a Committee post that is up for re-election, they must declare their intention to stand and be proposed by a paid up member and seconded by another

I believe that I have the commitment and the time, so perhaps someone could enlighten me as to which positions are to become vacant. I can then decide whether or not to apply, and would request a proposer and seconder. I would also hope that any judgement be made on past record as opposed to any posible personality clashes.

I hope I've explained it correctly WP - I think its a bit like the Offside rule in football! Everyone present at the AGM gets the input in the process - that's why it's important that members attend. If they dont they have no grounds to complain about "lack of imput" later. I should have said the rotation is for the Directors of the Company not committee members. Anyone wishing to stand for a committee post applies for it, is interviewed by the Committee, appointed and the post only becomes official after it has been ratified at the next AGM.
I was appointed in April but had to wait until last November to be "ratified" by the members present at the AGM.

So should I apply for the position of one of the Directors?

However are you saying that all members of the committee, other than directors, have had interviews? If so perhaps you could send me copies of the Minutes indicating this. Incidentally I do recall supporting your application for the position of Regalia Manager.

This is getting really fascinating.

An interesting scenario would be the directors voted out at the AGM and the decision taken to sell the Club to a consortium of minor parts traders so that they would have a captive audience of customers.

Who is an expert in Company law to explain whether or not this could be done?

Is this public knowledge ? And at what rate are these expenses paid - is this information available ?

I ghuess the club could save some money by not publishing their accounts! not much point if people never read them ;-)

As for Jon and Lou - I've said it elsewhere and will say it again here, that the amount of unpaid time and effort they put in for regalia is tremendous - Hats off to the both of them!

How would one go about applying for a role?

The post of assistant secretary was advertised in the club mag many times with very little response!

If I wasn't planning a wedding, doing up a house and moving house and going on additional training I'd have applied myself. I presume that after all this time the post is now close to being filled.

Hopefully the accounts will clearly show, for example, regalia purchase outlay, including expenses, against regalia sales income.

I believe that I have the commitment and the time, so perhaps someone could enlighten me as to which positions are to become vacant. I can then decide whether or not to apply,

Surely the best person to ask is Ray Newell as he is responsible for procedural issues! It might be better to phone him to get a quick answer.

I may well do that Ray.

As per the minutes of previous AGM's:

2005 - "Committee posts - all officers were re-elected"

2006 - "Committee posts - all committee members and one director were re-elected"

2007 - "Committee posts - all committee members and one director were re-elected"

This does rather seem to suggest that the committee are voted in on a yearly basis at the AGM rather than rotated

1) Fantastic who wants to help with next years National ?

The National Rally team always needs helpers, so who is willing, we have lots of jobs big and small!!

2) Regarding the committee the selection process it seem pretty clear to me!
An existing committee member resigns, the post is advertised, recent examples being Treasure, Editor, Assistant Secretary, Concours etc.

MMOC members apply the other committee members interview them and then decide who to appoint! The appointment is then confirmed at the AGM.

So - Committee members are appointed by - the Committee!! Now there's a 'clique' if ever I heard of one ! Any other Society/Club I have been involved with - the Committee members (including re-election applications in rotation) are voted openly by the Members attending the AGM!! I've never heard of a closed shop Committee before!

pqc520 - If you hold your 'National' within reasonable reach of my home - ie somewhere in Central Scotland - I will gladly help! Let me know the dates !!

pgc520 wrote:1) Fantastic who wants to help with next years National ?

The National Rally team always needs helpers, so who is willing, we have lots of jobs big and small!!

If communication is improved, and my presence is not objected to as this year, I would be more than willing to help.

pgc520 wrote: 2) Regarding the committee the selection process it seem pretty clear to me!
An existing committee member resigns, the post is advertised, recent examples being Treasure, Editor, Assistant Secretary, Concours etc.

MMOC members apply the other committee members interview them and then decide who to appoint! The appointment is then confirmed at the AGM.

I note you don't mention the posts of Secretary or Chairman?

Nor the proposal and seconding of someone at the AGM. I think you will find that in this case an interview is not required as the choice has been made by the membership.

I only asked who was going to the AGM