[Computerbank] Re: What happened at the AGM?

[Robert Mead]

I Agree I feel that at times some people have lost the Plot re what Computerbank is about,

Regards

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 27/11/2002 at 1:03 PM Shaun Branden wrote:

>On Tue, Nov 26, 2002 at 05:43:25PM +1100, Patricia Fraser wrote:
>> Hi Tim (long time no see!) & all,
>> 
>> > I still find it surprising (frankly) that there was nothing on the
>lists
>> > about the AGM until an interested (semi) outsider who follows CB ask
>what
>> > happened.
>> 
>> Do you? I don't. Most operational stuff - announcements of meetings,
>advance 
>> meeting agendas, notices of reports &c so people can read them ahead of
>time, 
>> notices that minutes are up, that kind of thing - doesn't seem to have
>been 
>> going up on the lists for quite some time. It's not how I'd personally
>like 
>> it to be, but it's the way it seems to have developed... the lists faded
>in 
>> importance and informativeness from the day CBV moved into Rosslyn St.
>
>The level of communication needs to change dramatically. I have had some
>mail server issues, sut am still trying to find the mail asking for
>nominations in the archives.
>
>5 of the committee members are based in 2 house holds, so I guess they
>just have their private conversations and do as they please.
>
>> I think it's been a mistake, because communication between us all is
>very, 
>> very important - and not everyone we need uses irc, or even has regular 
>> access to the net...
>
>I am on irc quite a bit and there is not much informations there either.
>
>> > Are we going to have an announcement from the Prez?
>> >
>> > Are we going to have a 'serious' protest from anyone?
>> 
>> The most serious protest, and the most dangerous to this very special 
>> organisation, is the silent walkout of volunteers and members who no
>longer 
>> find/found Computerbank a place where there offerings are welcome. It's
>not 
>> about legality, it's about a perceived lack of community; to some of us,
>it 
>> has felt very possible to be "unsuitable" for quite a while. I think
>this is 
>> a sad thing; Computerbank began, and ran for quite a long time as the
>most 
>> inclusive, welcoming organisation I've ever come across. I think that is
>all 
>> but gone in the Vic part of the organisation, and I'd love to see us
>doing 
>> some real work to bring that back; 
>
>Don't forget about the members who will leave. I used to be proud
>to be associated with Computerbank, but now feel like leaving as I don't
>like how it is being run.
>
>> > This organisation used to be one of the most transparent I knew of -
>> > discussions should be taking place on the mailing list.
>> 
>> I agree; and I think the transparency grew from the warmth, the trust
>and the 
>> inclusiveness of the group; a real sense that we needed everyone who was 
>> willing to help, no matter what offerings they brought. And there was a
>real 
>> sense that it was up to us as a group to encourage each other and value
>each 
>> others' contributions.
>
>> It's sad that we might even have to think about enforcing as a policy
>what 
>> used to happen from people's generosity of spirit...
>> 
>> > At the moment it seems like several core groups are infighting, simply
>> > presuming everyone who 'matters' knows what is going on.
>> 
>> I think everyone is afraid, and hurt, and upset; and why not? the lovely 
>> thing we built is fracturing, and it's not so lovely any more.
>
>> We desperately need to re-find our real reason for being here at all - 
>> otherwise, many of us are inclined to pack up and take our gifts
>elsewhere...
>
>Well said.
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>not 
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>way.
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