QUODCUMQUE  FACIENDUM : NIMIS  FACIEMUS

Editorial

Record

With the list of candidates for the committee election finally closing at sixteen, a record number of nominees has been clocked up.  It will be very interesting to see what effect this very large number has on the voting.

Opinions

When any members who keep their ear to the ground comment on an aspect of the way the club runs its affairs, I always find it interesting, because it is not often that the feelings of club members get into print in spite of the fact that some members hold strong views on these subjects.

This observation follows my reading of 'Fifth Column' for this month.  Contrary to popular opinion, the editor does occasionally read the B.B. Whatever the merits or demerits of our particular system of electing officers and committee members by allowing the elected committee to pick its own team (a parallel with parliamentary general elections?)  I feel that the 'birds' have a very valid point to make in that all candidates for the B.E.C. election should have to declare what they would or would not be prepared to do if they got elected.  Currently, many members feel that committee members should be prepared to accept any job that wants doing.

As I understand the philosophy behind our present system, we elect nine people who we then charge with the responsibility of running the club on our behalf. Some of these people will be 'naturals' for particular jobs.  Others will not.  In extreme cases, the committee might even have to look elsewhere for the right person for a particular job.  Again, it is often argued that, as part of their commitment to the club, committee members should be prepared to step into the vacancies even at some degree of personal inconvenience.

However, the subject is a large one, and (as the 'birds' say) contentious.  It is certainly too large to warrant snap judgements either in this column or indeed, from the sort of debate we normally get at an A.G.M. Perhaps a full enquiry into the system might be a good thing.  Even if it does not result in any major change, it will at least bring all the various viewpoints into the open.

Meanwhile, club voters have still to construct a committee from the 16 candidates in such a manner that the successful nine will not be landed with a difficult – or impossible – ballot amongst themselves for the various named officers of the club.

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