BE Scotland AGM - Thoughts?

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smurf

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I went to the meeting last night. A summary of my thoughts are:-

1) Disappointed in how many people went. There was a good bunch of people there but a very small percentage of the membership

2) Brilliant that Sport Operations Manager Chris Farr and Financial Director Wendy McGowan came. It meant we were able to make suggestions and ask questions and get it 'Straight from the horse's mouth'. They said they would go away and look at relaxing the 4 day ticket rule for Scotland for this season to encourage more people to event.

3) Still confused about what BE Scotland does and why we went to the trouble of voting in a rider rep

4) The new working party sounds great. Some really strong people on that and I have high hopes they will move the sport in Scotland forward.

5) Communication - not been as good as it should but they got the message - Loud and clear. Optimistic it will improve

6) Jane Reid is doing a brilliant job running the training program. Scotland needs more volunteers of the caliber of Jane

7) The elephant in the room was the fixtures list and lack of Scottish events
Anyone else got any thoughts
 
Likewise I was disappointed in the number of people. BE Scotland has over 700 members but were lucky if 30 odd people turned up. If you can't be bothered to turn up to voice your opinion then don't moan.

Firstly, the negatives:

1) I'm still unsure of why we have a rider rep and why we went through the palava of voting for a new one.

2) Unfortunately, the regional co-ordinator didn't come across to me as someone who is confident and a voice for the region. When put on the back foot slightly she was lost for words. Even if she didn't know the answer she should have been in a position to say don't know or we will get back to you instead of awkward silence. If this is how she comes across in a small meeting of 30 people how can we expect her to put our voice across in bigger meetings.

3) No proper explanation as to why Brechin date was lost and felt it was brushed under the carpet as they had the course, the organiser and a date but then BE couldn't give them a date???

4) The BE Ball was billed as the event of the year and mentioned a few too many times as this was the most important thing on the agenda. However, it is ok as this year they are going to hold a raffle! :p:p

5) I cannot believe that BE Scotland hadn’t given any thought previously in how to promote the sport within Scotland and also how to source additional funding.

The Positives::D:D

1) They were willing to accept that yes they had got it wrong in the past, for example, Communication and as a result of this the working group has been set up. Which, if they deliver what they have set out the aims to be, shall only be a good thing for the sport in Scotland and I am looking forward to the impact it should have and also what their short, medium and long term targets are.

2) The working group are welcoming to new ideas and also were first to admit that they shouldn't take any criticism given personally but act on it in a positive way and try and change perception of BE in Scotland. These people are willing to listen for the good of the sport and be proactive.

3) The fact that the working group included those with non horsey connections but connections in business and other sports will be a positive influence.

3) The training that Jane has put in place for such a short period of time has been fantastic and I hope that it grows even bigger and all credit to Jane.

4) I thought attendance by Wendy McGowan and Chris Farr were a good thing and therefore gives the message that BE HQ do want to take seriously the views of it’s members. They came across extremely well and were willing to go away and look at some suggestions that were proposed.

From the first idea it looks like a survey may be going out to members to ask what they want to see happen in Scotland and gain new ideas so please everyone take time to fill it out.

If you don’t speak up then people will not know your thoughts. Things will not change overnight but I’m hopeful that these changes should overtime put eventing in Scotland on a better standing and move forwards.
 
FlyingCoo said:
Likewise I was disappointed in the number of people. BE Scotland has over 700 members but were lucky if 30 odd people turned up. If you can't be bothered to turn up to voice your opinion then don't moan.

If you don’t speak up then people will not know your thoughts. Things will not change overnight but I’m hopeful that these changes should overtime put eventing in Scotland on a better standing and move forwards.
Click to expand...

Thanks for filling us in on the meeting. Personally I can understand why there was not a big turnout as even with the 7pm start it was impossible to make it in time for many. With Scotland being a big region geographically this was always going to be an issue for many and the earlier meeting for int/advanced riders was even more of a problem. It's not that people don't want to be involved but it's the fact that they work that facilitates their eventing. Hopefully a survey will get lots of respondents.

Can you tell us who was elected as rider rep? Also was anything raised about the distribution of events throughout the season at several on consecutive weekends and then several weeks with nothing?

It's sounds as though it was generally a positive meeting, thanks again for your reports :)
 
Hi
Douglas Edward was re elected as rider rep, despite his admission that over the last 3 years he has not really done much. Personally I was disappointed as I felt both the other candidates seemed keen and would have provided fresh blood. But as it transpires we were electing the rep for BE Scotland which seems to be a rather pointless committee and as far as I see their main role is to run the ball ...oh, and the raffle !

The new working party - the important group, who will change eventing in Scotland, has riders represented in the form of Louisa Milne Home (4* rider and pro) and Alison Newton (BE90 and CCI* horses and a partner in a law company) Alison really came across well as someone who not only cares but has the skills that our Regional Rep lacks.

Fixtures, dates, etc were never really mentioned.

Can I urge all those who could not attend for whatever reason to look out for the planned survey and reply.
 
Does anyone know if the survey will be sent or emailed to us and when? I would really like to fill this in as life, work, horse commitments got in the way of me attending the meeting last night.
 
I don't think it will be that soon as it was only discussed last night for the first time. ie it was an idea floated at the meeting that they said they would act on rater than a survey that is already to be sent out.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

Will definitely look out for the survey

I too was one of the people who planned to go but just couldn't get there for the time, I haven't moaned that much on an online forum, but I do have views. I appreciate you need to attend to be able to get your views across but I did ask BE if I could vote for the rider rep in advance but this was a flat 'no'.

Maybe they could organise the AGM on a Sat in future, They could have a lunchtime meeting and I bet more people would attend then.

the working committee sounds positive, I am really looking forwards to this season BE :D
 
I managed to attend last night, all in it was an informative meeting, it answered a number of burning questions and most importantly drew a line in the sand on what has happened in the past with clear ambitions of progressing the sport forward in Scotland.

I echo the thoughts above that the rider rep voting was a palaver, the reps weren't set up with the expectation of doing a introductory speech, so I thought it unfair to spring it on them - however they all did a grand job considering. It turned out though that the rep was being voted onto the BE Scotland committee (for funding and organising the ball and raffle :confused:) rather than the newly formed working group – which is where the voice of the riders is really needed.

The aims of the working group should address or channel the key concerns and challenges for BE in Scotland: fixtures, classes, venues, championships & training; the survey intends to flush out all the opinions on how to develop and improve our sport – no idea too big or too small. Recognition was given that the membership wants and needs a channel to input and participate in the strategy of eventing and to have a means of providing feedback and ideas. I am optimistic about the capabilities of the working group; it has a robust membership with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and strengths.

Kudos has to go to Jane Reid in her voluntary role as Training Coordinator – she has done a tremendous job and I hope she continues in this capacity for some time. Interestingly participation in the training events organised to date has seen an unexpected volume of non-members and waitlists being held for the training camps in April and May – I didn’t take the chance to ask if there were sufficient riders on the waitlist to merit additional instructors at these popular camps (I’ll send an email). Most value is gained from camps if they are held early in the season.

The Regional Coordinator did not give leave a confident impression, appeared on the back foot and defensive when questioned. Hopefully this meeting was a turning point and if communication and sharing of information is improved and the working group gains momentum, this impression should change.

It appeared that Brechin could have gone ahead, a lot of mumbling, talking over one another and finger pointing didn’t result in a clear understanding of what happened this year, however it looks likely that a BE event could run at Brechin in the future – that’s my optimistic take anyway!

Attendance from Chris and Wendy from HQ brought a sensible & authoritative component to the evening, they were open, encouraging & pragmatic. I felt that they hinted that BE Scotland have not been asking for or seeking all opportunities available from BE, i.e. for funding & support. This is a personal view and neither Wendy or Chris came out and said it outright but the way they worded their responses were along the lines of “if you ask you might get” – anyone else get this vibe??

I also agree that if the AGM is held off-season then it could be arranged at the weekend to allow more people to attend - maybe at our National Equestrian Centre??
 
Thanks again, I'm sure both Louisa and Alison will be great as part of a working party, articulate and approachable and between them they have experience of all levels of competition and Alison will know the struggles of balancing work away from horses with competing which is what so many members face.

I'm surprised at the coments on the regional co-ordinator especially given her in depth knowledge of the sport, on a one to one basis she always comes over well but obviously not last night.

It's a shame so much emphasis was put on the ball, I always thought Les did the major part of arranging it but maybe not now? TBH I would have thought a social function, whilst nice, would not be high on the list of concerns for BE Scotland.

It's good to hear everyone's views and sounds as though generally it was a positive meeting. I'm not a competitor but am very involved with organising a family member who does event :rolleyes:

Good luck to everyone this season, currently looking out at the sun here with my fingers firmly crossed I'm at last allowing myself to think we may have chance of getting a decent number of events!
 
Re. the lack of people going.

I know numerous people couldnt go due to job committments, i dont think its got anything to do with people moaning then not being bothered!! I for one gave feedback to someone going to the Int/Adv meeting - and i know what i said was brought up.
 
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