Urgent Message
Another open letter from John Annett prior to the forthcoming local groups’ conference:
To all YHA Local Groups
URGENT MESSAGE
I would be grateful if you could forward a message urgently to your delegates who are attending the National Local Groups Conference on 17th March at Matlock.
You may be aware that delegates at the November meeting formed an informal Local Groups coordinating committee on the Friday night because we were prevented from doing so formally at the meeting on Saturday.
The committee proceeded to organise this coming Local Groups Conference but we were subsequently stopped by National Office staff who said that they were going to organise it. This is a direct contradiction to what we were told at the meeting and what was subsequently put in writing.
In addition, I have asked that an item is placed on the agenda that allows us to comment on matters of our own choosing. This would normally be “Open Forum”. Again, my request has been denied. Instead it has been suggested that we vent any concerns during Andrew Purkis’ session on the Governance Review. I do not feel that this is appropriate.
There has again been a refusal to allow us to formally elect a Coordinating Committee for Local Groups at this conference. I was initially asked to circulate Local Groups to ascertain their views on the terms of reference of such a committee. It seems that the response that you have taken the time to send me will be wasted.
In desperation, I wrote to the National Chairman and Chief Executive by way of a formal complaint about the dictatorial attitude of the member of staff. I have just received a reply which does not address all the points but does give a ray of hope for an informal committee.
I know that several Local Groups have concerns over affiliation, license, booking conditions and insurance etc and have unsuccessfully tried to make representation. I was invited to correspond with the YHA’s solicitors on the matter of a license to satisfy myself that the it is the only option but it seems that the reply has been interfered with because it is still not forthcoming. I would like to ensure that we are given a fair opportunity to conclude these matters at the Conference in open and honest dialogue instead of being forced into submission. I would therefore like to invite those delegates who are present to get together to discuss our options at Matlock youth hostel after dinner on Friday evening (16th March). I would guess this to be at about 8pm.
I look forward to meeting up again
John Annett
6th March 2007
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So John Annett is stil trying to run local gorups as his personal fiefdom presumably with the collusion of his craven minions who only open their mouths when he kicks them to do so at the right time.
Why does he he want a co-ordinating committee? Simply because his is afraid that if local groups actually speak their own minds he will find himself in a minority so he reverts to type and makes pathetic events to take control into his own hands where dissenters will be allowed even less of a voice than he himself imagines (wrongly) will give him.
Democracy is fine as long as power is autocratic!
I hope you’re not including this site among John’s craven minions, “me”. I welcome any views, from any group. If John uses it and others don’t, who’s fault is that?
Not all I find this site quite interesting. I don’t agree with some of the opinions but that is your and mine right. I just have a problem with a small coterie trying to hijack an entire category of the membership to further their own small minded ends.
I was most gratified at out LG social this week to find out that Annett had most of his motions to the AGM booted out by more sensible people and not as he might claim banned by YHA management. A good reason why there should not be a co-ordinating committee for local groups.