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03/07/2008 12:28 PM - (SA) Newcomers attempt AWS 'takeover' 04-07-2008
"We have these wonderful, experienced people on our committee who has stuck with the society through the "lean years" and now that the AWS have money, people who have not been members before, suddenly want us to give them signing powers," a disgruntled AWS member said this week. He was avid about an "urgent letter", which was sent out on June 13 by "12 concerned members" to all AWS members asking them to attend the AGM and vote for change. If unable to attend, they were asked to chose one of four names on an enclosed proxy form, to vote on their behalf. A stamped envelope was included. Sylvia Taylor, a committee member on Monday admitted that she was the author of the letter and that the other signatories were all friends. One is an architect, another an estate agent, a third a lawyer and three of them serve on her fund-raising subcommittee. Seven of the signatories have been nominated by her to serve the committee, which has eight members. Sylvia insists that that she is not out to destroy the AWS. "I know it looks like a takeover, but I'm not saying the committee has done anything wrong. We need new blood. The people I have nominated are businesspeople. We're getting new kennels shortly and I feel we need people who understand business more. Let's get proper substructures going, also subcommittees and keep everyone informed." The AWS committee has since retalitated with their own letter and a press release, saying the constitution of the Society does not make provision for voting by proxy and that this method is disallowed. The letter, they say, was sent out without their authority or prior knowledge and they themselves only received it 11 days after it was sent out to all other AWS members. "The present committee has over 40 years of experience of the AWS, while of the 12 signatories of the letter written on June 13, two were not members until June 17 and 18, while another five only joined between June 9 and 13. Six of these new members have since accepted nomination as candidates for the committee for the new year. Of the six, the two members with the longest membership, had only been members for four days when the notice was sent out. Despite 11 of the 12 signatories not having any personal knowledge of the affairs of the AWS whatever, they have listed six items which they say need attention at the AGM, all which are constantly under discussion at meetings of the committee and all are on the agenda of the AGM," the committee say in their letter.
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