After the Special Conference held last year, I recalled that each year, the President gives an address to conference. I discovered that this address is not the Annual Report, but a personal message to the association used to address whatever issues, problems or opportunities that exist for the association that he or she may wish to pursue. It has never been subject to vote, questioning, approval or rejection. I hope that you will think about what I am about to say.
I was elected onto the National Executive at last year’s conference in Queenstown. Three months later, after the Special Conference and the resignation of Steve Veaill, the Executive appointed me Interim National President.
It was obvious at that Special Conference that some branches, and members, perceive that there is a “them and us” attitude. I can see why – for some time our executive was not as transparent, open and forthcoming with information as branches wanted, or as the executive should have been. You may well feel justified in being upset or angry at this, but let me tell you – this belief needs to be squashed right here, right now. The executive in place since last September has always strived to resort to “in-committee” status under only the most commercially or personally sensitive situations. At times, especially when an individual is under scrutiny, we must go in-committee in order to preserve a person or organisation’s rights and dignity.
Let me remind you all of something – we are ALL members of this association and we are (for the most part) volunteers, who give up our time and energy to further the interests of this fine and long-standing organisation. If, at any time, branches feel that they need to be better informed, all that is needed is to contact their NATEX liaison member, our CEO or myself. Further to that, if you feel that any policy, method or person needs changing, then you have the means to do so – here at conference. Criticism of policy, people or method implies that you believe that there is a better alternative, and if that is so, you must take the steps necessary to bring those alternatives to light in a positive manner – for example at conference in the form of healthy debate, remits, Notices of Motion and nominations for executive positions.
Further to that, it is my very strong belief that in order for us to advance the association, retention of our CEO and National Advocate is extremely important. Both individuals have an enormous wealth of knowledge that we would struggle to replace without considerable difficulty or causing a loss to our organisation.
At this years conference we are on a very tight time-frame, with two sets of minutes to get through, along with our standard notices of motion and remits. I will not allow petty discussion on issues that do not advance us in our business, nor will I allow direct attacks upon or criticism of our employees. If issues arise, they should be directed to the National Executive. NZDA employs these people, and the executive, as your elected representatives manages said employment. As the manager of the employment contracts, the executive takes responsibility for the management, discipline and praise of our employees – just as private employers take responsibility for their employees. All employees, regardless of their skill level and ability, need instruction, clarity and definition provided to them by their employer in order to perform to the best of their abilities. In this instance, the direction comes from all branch members, through the executive. If anything is out of order, the responsibility comes back on the executive, not the employee.
A great deal of criticism was also voiced at the Special Conference over the NZDA submission to ERMA in the 1080 review. All I can say to that is, please refer back to the minutes of the 2007 conference and from there follow the history of the submission. You should also read our toxins and poisons policy. Like it or not, and I don’t the submission has been made, and made according to that toxins policy. If the policy needs changing, then this, here and now, is the appropriate forum in which to make those changes.
On that note, I welcome the nominations for executive positions that we have this year. We are a great, long-standing and proud organisation and we always need the best team on board. Change can be a good thing, providing that those leading the change do so for the right reasons – and to my mind those reasons are the continuation of our association, the promotion of hunters rights and another 60 years of NZDA.
After the Special Conference held last year, I recalled that each year, the President gives an address to conference. I discovered that this address is not the Annual Report, but a personal message to the association used to address whatever issues, problems or opportunities that exist for the association that he or she may wish to pursue. It has never been subject to vote, questioning, approval or rejection. I hope that you will think about what I am about to say.
I was elected onto the National Executive at last year’s conference in Queenstown. Three months later, after the Special Conference and the resignation of Steve Veaill, the Executive appointed me Interim National President.
It was obvious at that Special Conference that some branches, and members, perceive that there is a “them and us” attitude. I can see why – for some time our executive was not as transparent, open and forthcoming with information as branches wanted, or as the executive should have been. You may well feel justified in being upset or angry at this, but let me tell you – this belief needs to be squashed right here, right now. The executive in place since last September has always strived to resort to “in-committee” status under only the most commercially or personally sensitive situations. At times, especially when an individual is under scrutiny, we must go in-committee in order to preserve a person or organisation’s rights and dignity.
Let me remind you all of something – we are ALL members of this association and we are (for the most part) volunteers, who give up our time and energy to further the interests of this fine and long-standing organisation. If, at any time, branches feel that they need to be better informed, all that is needed is to contact their NATEX liaison member, our CEO or myself. Further to that, if you feel that any policy, method or person needs changing, then you have the means to do so – here at conference. Criticism of policy, people or method implies that you believe that there is a better alternative, and if that is so, you must take the steps necessary to bring those alternatives to light in a positive manner – for example at conference in the form of healthy debate, remits, Notices of Motion and nominations for executive positions.
Further to that, it is my very strong belief that in order for us to advance the association, retention of our CEO and National Advocate is extremely important. Both individuals have an enormous wealth of knowledge that we would struggle to replace without considerable difficulty or causing a loss to our organisation.
At this years conference we are on a very tight time-frame, with two sets of minutes to get through, along with our standard notices of motion and remits. I will not allow petty discussion on issues that do not advance us in our business, nor will I allow direct attacks upon or criticism of our employees. If issues arise, they should be directed to the National Executive. NZDA employs these people, and the executive, as your elected representatives manages said employment. As the manager of the employment contracts, the executive takes responsibility for the management, discipline and praise of our employees – just as private employers take responsibility for their employees. All employees, regardless of their skill level and ability, need instruction, clarity and definition provided to them by their employer in order to perform to the best of their abilities. In this instance, the direction comes from all branch members, through the executive. If anything is out of order, the responsibility comes back on the executive, not the employee.
A great deal of criticism was also voiced at the Special Conference over the NZDA submission to ERMA in the 1080 review. All I can say to that is, please refer back to the minutes of the 2007 conference and from there follow the history of the submission. You should also read our toxins and poisons policy. Like it or not, and I don’t the submission has been made, and made according to that toxins policy. If the policy needs changing, then this, here and now, is the appropriate forum in which to make those changes.
On that note, I welcome the nominations for executive positions that we have this year. We are a great, long-standing and proud organisation and we always need the best team on board. Change can be a good thing, providing that those leading the change do so for the right reasons – and to my mind those reasons are the continuation of our association, the promotion of hunters rights and another 60 years of NZDA.
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association