🚀 go-pugleaf

A few comment on the Ottawa SGM.

It was never clear what would have happened if an insufficient number of
members had come to the meeting and a quorum could not have been achieved.
Fortunately, about a dozen or so Ottawa members were there along with about 20
from the Toronto area.  From the information I was given, the absence of
either of these groups could have meant that the quorum would not have been
achieved.

It is probably indicative of how important members see CIPS that, out of
approximately 6,500 regular and certified members, more than 20% voted and 1%
actually showed up for the meeting.

I, too, was there.  It was disappointing, but not unexpected, to see that the
meeting was closed.  I had been hoping that CIPS and the executive would
recognize that being "open and public" would begin to repair the damage.
Instead, I saw a mentality that believed a select group knew what was best for
CIPS and that was the way they and CIPS would continue to operate.

As I said in an earlier message, the Board's policy of overturning the results
of an election were wrong and I looked forward to the Board's rectifying the
situation.  It is clear now that they  will not correct the root causes of the
situation. I'm almost tempted to say that the Board still doesn't "get it"
though, had I been allowed to observe the meeting, I might have a different
interpretation.

I don't think the Board appreciates the harm they have done.  I am not the
only person leaving the organization.  Some of the others were active
volunteers at local sections and the loss of their energy will be felt.  I
hope that those people who were actively involved and are leaving will
continue to use their energy to help other organizations that depend on
volunteers.  On the professional side, there are organizations like PMI; on
the community side, there is the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

In short, I hope that those who leave CIPS see a new opportunity and carry
with them the idealism that they had on joining CIPS.  And I hope those who
stay will mold a CIPS that members past and present can be proud of.

John Beamish
former CIPS member

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