WSRA Trustee Election Hustings

AIUI The proxy votes must be announced. Perhaps Robin will tell us what the legal position now is since the meeting could not continue due to there not being a quorum?

 

Thanks aldfort - the figures above only covered votes cast in the hall - does anyone have a note of the overall result?

Steven

 

Oh dear.......

Life in this household being what is usually is, a last-minute 'domestic hiccup' prevented me from attending after all. Probably just as well for my blood-pressure, as - based on comments above - by the sound of things it would have boiled long before the walk-out!

Some comments/observations.....

1. Were there no votes cast for Steve Edge at all then? (not mentioned in Faol's report)
2. Is it legal to accept proxy votes, when the report presented at the AGM apparently was different?
3. Whilst no doubt they had good reasons, I'm surprised that so many of the new candidates stood down, it seems rather like surrendering before a shot is fired. Even if they knew that they would lose, I would have thought that the vote might have proved a useful indicator of their respective support.
4. It seems curious that one (apparently little-known and not even present) Trustee should get so many more votes in the hall than the other 3.
5. If the meeting was abandoned as inquorate, then surely it should be re-convened to be completed, or is it legal to make decisions afterwards purely on proxies alone?

 

We await Robins report.By the time we got round to Steve and Jeff, time was pressing,well after 5pm and some members were already leaving the meeting.What was plain to me was who were the inner power base of the trusteeship, and the ability to manipulate voting methods to achieve the desired result.The AGM management has shown any credibility WSRA had as a suitable freeholder with the Council had been considerably diminished.

 

>>>There will have to be another meeting i.e. an EGM.....

I'm not sure about 'have' to be, or that it will be an EGM. If the WSRA reconvenes the meeting (hopefully with a quorum) in order to finish the business of the AGM Agenda, then surely that will still be an AGM, not an EGM.

On the other hand....if there are members who succeed in due course in the formal process of calling an EGM, then it will be they - and not the WSRA - who will set the business for that meeting.

 

Sorry I didn't get all the vote numbers I was too involved speaking on several occasions. If I remember rightly Steve Edge polled less than Jeff in the room but more proxies but together did not have as many as Chris Walters. I think the Company Secretary mentioned 740 proxies but never broke that down just stating that the auditor and legal representative had checked and signed them as correct. It did come out in Robin's speech that one trustee standing for re-election was telephoning people at home canvasing votes. The trustee's solicitor did mention about 100 proxy votes were completed incorrectly.

 

I expect to hear more on Sky News this evening...

 

The proxies will not cover it because there was not a quorum present after the mass walkout. AFAIK an EGM will be required. Of course the existing trustees might resign.

 

I had been thinking of taking out life membership, instead of renewing year by year, but if that is how the WSRA runs its AGMs I shall not. Very sad.

John

 

I don't think they are selling life memberships. On the bright side the opposition to the trustees worked together to try and defeat the top table. As I have said we all have different opinions on things but we are united in the love of the railway and this was shown today in the meeting. Back to work tomorrow renewed in the determination to get the WSEA back on the right track.

Rodders

 

Well said Rodders no matter how long it takes we WILL return our Association to normality and remove the lunatics. Kend

 

I don't think that's likely. From the look of steely determination in the eyes of at least 3 of them, they appear to see this a merely an annual irritation.

Worryingly, the Chairman seemed to genuinely believe that the vast majority of the membership were behind the trustees.

Barry

 

I am greatly discomfited about this latest hiatus and await Robin's analysis with interest; I wonder if legal action is the only way forward to dispose of the trustees or is it a case of creating a new Association and side-lining the WSRA ?

 

But the WSRA has assets - 2 locos and significant sums of cash

 

Just sitting down now to write an account of today. What all 'rebel' candidates are agreed on is that members SHOULD NOT resign / fail to renew, at least not yet. We are optimistic that there are positive avenues to follow, and as Arnie said' we'll be back!'

Keep faith a little longer please. Our Railway and our Association is too important to abandon.

kind regards

Robin White

 

I suggest you write to SCC reporting what happened. It should help discredit WSRA as a suitable freeholder. Likewise the Charities Commission.

 

This is not the end,it is the beginning,and strength will grow. I wonder if any of the press were present.

 

Sadly, today's outcome is very much as I expected and had posted on the WSR unofficial forum.

I am rostered to work the WSRA Quantock Belle tomorrow but resigning as a volunteer as soon as I get home (after 20 years service). I'm not going to inconvenience our valued paying passengers tomorrow but it will be my last QB for as long as this regime holds sway. I will also withdraw from working at the WSRA Steam Rally and return my staff ID to Minehead for cancellation, as my current volunteering is all for WSRA Promotions sponsored departments. I am strongly inclined to deliver a WSRA membership resignation letter to Brunel House tomorrow but will await Robin's considered advice before deciding.

A very sad day all round.

Barrie

 

Resigning from the Association will not help. We need everybody who wants rid of the existing trustees to remain and help vote them out.