Weekly message from Peter Savage, Company Secretary

This week I intend to focus on internal matters.  That is not because I don’t have views about what’s happening in the USA or don’t care about rising Covid here but because the next six weeks are important for ADSO in an organisational way.  Before moving on though, I would like to express concern and empathy for all ADSO members as the spike in Covid rises, and my thoughts are especially with those of you in high prevalence areas.

Free ADSO Membership initiative
Back to internal matters.  Firstly I am very pleased to report that the decision to offer free membership to ADSO to people not in employment but thinking about a career in democratic or governance services has been well received and six people have met the criteria and been signed up for their one year of free membership.  Welcome to ADSO!

ADSO AGM by Zoom, Thursday 26th November, 5.00pm – Content and Quoracy
ADSO is a company and therefore needs to have an AGM.  Normally we tie this in to the annual conference which appears to work well.  With the cancellation of the conference this year we have decided to hold the AGM via Zoom.  Most of you will be familiar with the concept but on this occasion you will have the chance to be the active side of the camera!

You will shortly receive an invitation to attend the meeting which will be on Thursday 26 November 2020 at 5pm.  It will be followed by glitz and glamour at 5.30pm as the awards ceremony takes over, but it is important that the AGM is quorate and for that I need 5% (55 or so) to participate.

The following is an extract from the Articles of Association which govern the content of the AGM:

(a) The confirmation of the election of the Chair and Vice Chair [we also include the other directors].

(b) The Board shall submit to the Annual General Meeting an annual report and the Association’s accounts. Copies of all the reports and the accounts shall be circulated to all members of the Association simultaneously with the notice of the meeting.

(c) Any recommendation that the Board may submit for the fixing or variation of the subscriptions payable by Members of the Association and others.

(d) Any matter within the objects of the Association of which a Member has given to the Company Secretary 20 clear days prior written notice requesting it be considered at the meeting.

(e) All such other matters as may be stated in the notice of the meeting given by the Company Secretary.

(f) Any other matter that the Chair (or other person presiding) considers should be considered by the Meeting because of urgency or for some other special reason.

I need to have circulated the agenda to you all 15 clear days before the meeting – ie by 9 November 2020.

Hans Rijs elected as IIMC Region XI Director
Next I have some external internal news if that isn’t a contradiction!  Following the election for the vacant IIMC Region XI Director’s position, we are pleased to report that Hans Rijs from the Netherlands was duly elected. Our congratulations to Hans and we look forward to working with him to develop our international networking.

ADSO Forum
Turning briefly to what is happening in the Forum.

  • Susan Biddle, Director of Training is very keen to hear views on “training for new DSOs”. Please participate in that one!
  • I was personally interested in the exchange about cancelled and abandoned meetings caused by technology breakdowns because of anxiety over the forthcoming video AGM!
  • John Austin, our Chair, is still keen to hear views as to whether we should lobby government for an extension to the remote meetings legislation.

The Forum is a very valuable tool for you all – you might as well use it!

Stay safe and well.

Peter Savage, ADSO Company Secretary

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