Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I never thought I would be ashamed to be BRITISH but, I am. After today, what masqueraded as the BRS AGM. I thought it was a disgraceful exhibition. I have been a member for approx. 15 years and have been to all the AGM. since living here nearly 9 years. I shall seriously have to consider if I wish to to remain a member!

Do tell! We were unable to attend and would like to know who got elected and who didn't

Perhaps Marion can enlighten ,as I left the room, couldn't stand the slanging match. I believe David Brown is chair person as for the rest no idea, Half the people I voted for withdrew their names after I had voted!!!

Have to echo this sentiment. After a very useful, informative and helpful pre-AGM talk by the TRNC Foreign Minister, the actual AGM turned out to be a shambolic slagging match between factions acting like spoiled children. I left the AGM mid-way through Item 7 in frustration and disgust at the tenor of the ensuing arguement. I'll remain a member because of the help/services offered by willing volunteers, whom I greatly admire and respect.

I don't think you are alone with those thoughts Owl Lady. Farcical and chaotic are two words that spring to mind and I can honestly say I have never attended an AGM anything like that in my life before.

I am in total agreement with Owl Lady. I also attended and was very embarrassed at the behaviour of some of the attendees, with people being shouted down and bullied in particular from one side of the two factions. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the situation were, there was no excuse for the behaviour of these people. This is a relatively small local organisation’s committee trying to do its best and not the houses of parliament. Methinks that there were far too many vested interests and “old scores” to settle to made this meeting worthwhile for me to attend.

I agree that the Minister's speech was informative and well received. I do hope that he did not witness any of that disgusting behaviour!

Agree with you 100% Owl Lady - I, too, left at item 7, I must have missed tomsteel by second's.

Both sides were no better than each other, they were all having 'tantrums'. It was disgusting behaviour and of which I did not want to sit through and they should ALL be thoroughly embarrased by their own behaviour. The behaviour of some of the members in the audience was no better.

From now on I will remain a member but only to get the discounts that being a member offers in the hospitals and Iktisatbank for our insurances, other than that I want nothing to do with them - they all showed their true colours today!

I did not go, to be honest I was bored with the behavior brought to my inbox, really can't be bothered with it all. Committees have always frustrated me and the BRS seems to be currently at a low point.

We have been on the Island for ten years. We joined the BRS about 6 months ago in the hope of contributing and receiving advise when needed.

We attended the AGM today and were appalled at the attitude and behaviuor of the majority of the audience. The moment the acting chair spoke she was shouted down from the bullies in the crowd.

I don't think I have ever witnessed a more shocking display of rudeness and petty behaviour of so called grown adults in all my life.

Well, good luck to the old guard, they will get what they deserve, I for one will withdraw my membership forthwith, absolutely disgusted with what went on today.

Thanks for the support, as Tom Steel say, I will remain a member, purely for mercenary reasons, to get discounts.

I wasn't able to attend but reports coming my way indicate an appalling state of affairs orchestrated by one particular bully who has shown his true colours. TRNC leaders. are aware of what happened as was the Mayor of Girne very soon after the meeting. I used to feel a sense of pride in the BRS but no longer and after 10 years wish to have nothing more to do with it. I feel sorry for people who have recently joined as they will not be aware of what a beneficial organisation it was..

Is anybody going to tell us what actually happened,...or is it top secret ?

Anyone from the BRS to put their side.

Owl Lady, you were not the first person to say 'Ashamed to be British'. Phew. I now have two headaches (a) to write up the minutes................ and (b) to write a true and accurate report of the events for KibKom Times.. I think my best option is to get a plane ticket out of here tomorrow to avoid having to do both (a) and (b).

As most of you are unknowns to the general public (I kow who some of you are!), would yu mind if I quoted some of your comments when writing my rep0ort for kibKom Times. obviously they will be anonymous, but you have all expressed such strong and heartfelt opinions, I feel this is what the public needs to know.

I would be equally happy to reprint any remarks in defence of today's AGM.

I wanted to break out into song - can't remember where it comes form, someone said Chitty Chiutty Bang Bang - you know the one that goes 'I've never seen anything like, it, I've never seen anything like it, I've never seen anything like it in my life!!!'

Definitley a 'phew'
For the recor,d if I remember correctly, David Brown is Chair, Vice Chair Stephen Day,l Hon Sec (Nigel was asked but stood down completely) is now Ann Challi,s Treasurer Daniel Duggan with the others being JuliaBennett, ~Trevor lyes, Prue Lundie and Mike Maternaghan.

turtle wrote:Is anybody going to tell us what actually happened,...or is it top secret ?

Looks like a secret then

Dalartokat wrote:

turtle wrote:Is anybody going to tell us what actually happened,...or is it top secret ?

Looks like a secret then

Or it could be one of those magic moments that cannot be explained by words, you had to be there to experience it...

kbasat wrote:

Dalartokat wrote:

turtle wrote:Is anybody going to tell us what actually happened,...or is it top secret ?

Looks like a secret then

Or it could be one of those magic moments that cannot be explained by words, you had to be there to experience it...

Guess we will never know then

Kbasat - you are right, you just had to be there to believe it.
Marions - having met you for the first time and thanked you for writing the Arthurian Tale about my dog Arthur's poisoning I honestly have no idea how you are expected to right the minutes for what happened today. All the very best of luck.

Today was my first BRS AGM and I have to be honest, having seen first hand the very childish behaviour from so many so called adults, it will most likely be the last. It was quite apparent from the outset that this was never going to be allowed to be a sensible AGM with so many people wanting to shout down others it certainly wasn't. Some individuals need to take a good long hard look at themselves and give themselves a slap. If this is the kind of people running the show I don't think I'll be a member for much longer.

Now I know who a few more people are on here. Fantastic!
As to recounting the tale of today, as has been said you really would have needed to be there. Were I a better writer and had time, it might be better told as a TV , one off programme.

For those for whom it was their first AGM, I really can assure you that there has never been one like this before. And obviously no one wishes a repeat. I have about 25 pages of notes without copies of the various e mails, resolutions, etc etc, so it is far too long a tale to be told here on the Forum.

Many I am sure will retain their membership, for many joined because of the benefits such as discounts, or a sense of having a 'Big Brother' to guide through situations appertaining to residency, property etc. I am equally sure that some people would like their money back for membership.

And to Arthur's Dad - I was delighted to meet you today. I would like to meet Arthur one day and shake him by the paw for being such a brave dog with a Dad who loves him so much. And of course I am always happy to share any stories that will encourage us all to believe in the good that does prevail in our lives and to share the caring of many good people here. Many of those people were at the AGM today, and I could see one after another leaving due to the disappointment that the AGM was not what they had hoped for.

The future? Well, that is yet to be written.

And to the curious, I am sure you will find out more. Read between the lines above, - I am not sure what Kerem will write for Cyprus Today, and I have several days to write what I saw and heard - but of course it will not be my opinion , but the facts of the events (if I can!).

But Nami's talk was indeed very helpful and it was worth going to hear that! That was definitely an extremely good reason for going.

Brit expats!!
Unfortunately TRNC is not a better place after years of brit expat influence
They bugger up their own country and then go off and spoil everything they touch.
I know that is a generalisation and most expats are decent people but there is a sizeable minority !!!!!!!!

Ref msg 15 above, Marion please quote me! Further, having now learned who is the new Vice Chairman and having read his appaling article on women in command in the Armed Services in the Cyprus Toddy in 2009, I'll have nothing to do with the BRS whilst he is on the Committee and you can quote me there too.

Sandman - so true.

Unfortunately there is nothing to be done. Whether it's the BRS comittee or the UK Parliament or any other elected body, the people we must elect can only be the people who put themselves forward - and the people who put themselves forward necessarily have a high opinion of themselves and their views. The quiet, self-efacing, ordinary people, the ones who would be the most effective in running things for us, wouldn't believe that anyone would vote for them nor, most likely, do they have the skills necessary to get elected - bluster, over-confidence and the 'gift of the gab'.

For those who may remain members of the brs justcto benefit from the discount scheme bearcin mind the Royal British Legion kyrenia branch runs a similar scheme for its members. Search on rbl kyrenia branch for details. Members also support a great charity supporting serving members of britidh armed forces, ex members and their fsmilies. Even better the committee know how to conduct themselves - and no i am not a committee member.

Am I right in saying that the current committee are there by default, there was no actual vote or ballot taken, none of the ballot forms were counted, so in other words this is a Kangaroo committee.

Despite not being permanently resident in the TRNC we were considering joining the BRS next year when we come out for an extended stay as we believed it would be helpful for us to have a support networkfor advice if needed. Whilst we have no details it seems the BRS meeting was a shambles - hopefully over the next few weeks we can read all about it and gain an insight into what happened.

As someone has already posted it is very sad that some expats, especially the British come across in such a bad way. For this very reason we prefer to avoid the " cliques" as it were and more often than not will avoid places that have to much of an ex pat feel about them - pity really .

I rwead that the RBL offer a similar support network so as an ex forces person it would be better to investigate how to join this organisation.

Good luck to the BRS but I think they have a long hard journey ahead!

After yesterdays events, I think they have an almost impossible job ahead.
Incidentally and When my husband died, two years ago, I didn't even get a phone call from them.3 members of the committee attended his funeral, that was it!.The most helpful person was Zoe from the High Commission. So don't think of joining just to get help!

Ref msg 26 above. I am a member of both organisations here. Different objectives and RBL Kyrenia operate under a universally agreed and accepted charter in support of ex-Service personnel and their immediate families needs. BRS is/was useful for voicing expat concerns to TRNC Government as well as supporting blood donations, local hospital equipment purchases etc and for general advice on living here. Lately the BRS had good success with several issues affecting expats living here - it remains to be seen where the next committe will take the Society. However, my personal and heartfelt thanks and admiration to those volunteers who achived so much on our behalf last year.

I am more than happy to point you in thedirection of RBLKyrenia Branch if you want.

There must be people who were at that meeting and are reading this thread this morning who were one of those shouting and behaving like school children. They should really hang their heads in shame this morning. their behaviour was nothing short of appalling.

If any of you who did the shouting can come on this forum and justify your actions, I for one would be ready to hear your side of the story. Cries of "sit down" "be quiet" "you don't know what you are talking about" when members of the committee were trying to conduct business was just plain rude.

I have already torn up my BRS card, discounts or no discounts, a kangaroo committee is not the way forward for me. (shame on you all)

Marions,

Please feel free to quote my contributions on this topic.

Thanks all. I am trying to collect as many quotes as possible, and would of course be happy to have from the new committee and their supporters. I want to write an honest and true report!

By the way, some people have said to me they will retain their membership because of the excellent discounts, but I believe (and you must investigate further yourselves) that ATA offers health discounts to its members with the hospitals. It doesn't seem to say anything on their web site, but I will investigate further on that one. The health discounts are very important.

As to other advice etc, et,c well I hope that members will see kibKom as possibly providing those answers, plus of course there are many companies that offer discounts through the KibKom app etc. But better the boss tells you all about that, cos I am rotten at advertising!!!!

Should men tion regarding the elections. Most of us had completed our ballot papers and handed them in, but in view of the seven existing members of the committee standing down, then it was a block vote. This meant that even had anyone not got so much as a single vote on the ballot paper,s it made no difference. the names were elected as a block vote, .

Sadly also that much which was said publicly was only half a story. The resignation of Ann Challis was quesiotned as to how many times she had resigned and for what reasons, but that was not discussed. In fact neither resolution was debated, but poor Peyman the legal advisor to the BRS seemed to be turning grey before our very eyes at the challenges of the event!!!! But the voting, in the circumstances was 'legal'

I agree with you Marion regarding our inability to hear the “other half of the story” in respect of Ann Challis’s resignation history. I was also extremely disappointed that when, the Acting Chairman was going through her statement sharing the history of inconsistent reporting of membership figures from 2009, which appear not to bear any relationship to reality, only to be interrupted by the “boorish” behaviour of several members including members who have now been appointed to the new committee by default. I was also interested at the fact of last year’s accounts being in a mess when handed over during the course of 2013 which were not allowed to be discussed without the constant interruptions. It does seem to beg the question as why the “objectors” wanted to prevent members from hearing the full story.
All in all it was a day that the instigators of the totally unacceptable behaviour should hang their head in shame at what I am convinced will now have a long lasting impact on the BRS recruitment of both new and of course the retention of existing members such as myself and my Wife.

Re Marions msg 33 - I have a question:

The ballot papers consisted of numerous names however if seven of the existing members that were listed resigned 'before' the election does this make the ballot paper null and void? If so, should they not have postponed the voting to a later date and is this new comittee legal?

I actually do not know the answer to this I am only making an enquiry.

Maybe the people who felt the need to withdraw themselves from the voting process yesterday could give some thought to setting up an alternative society. I know it isn't as easy as that but it seems that they have some good ideas and it would be a shame if they were lost. I have no bias towards either of the rival factions as I don't know any of them but after yesterday I, and it would appear many others, would like to go elsewhere.
Just a thought.

Do you think that Kibkom would be able to run an "on-line" poll on whether we would like an alternative body to represent us. If yes then we should open it up to everyone and not just existing BRS members?

I have to agree with lally in msg 34, we never did hear as to why previous committees had got the membership figures wrong and why the figures these previous committees banded around did not match the subscriptions taken - how can such a simple thing be so wrong?

Anyone got an answer to msg 33?

I think what ever happened at the meeting we need to move on. Whoever is elected and has stood up for it more than likely genuinely has the best interests of the members at heart. It is all very well not renewing, tearing up cards etc (never been that fussed in the discount scheme to be honest it is not why I am a member) but what is important to us all is numbers, the more they represent the bigger the voice they have for us all.

Separate from this there seems to have been some "action" from the floor, if this behaviour was happening for whatever reason it is wrong, this should be kept separate from the committee issues whoever's side they were on it is just bad behaviour and should be treated as such.

I am not pro one side or another but now we need to move on, let us judge whoever on what happens over the next few months, support the organisation no matter who is in charge in the hope they can do us all some good.

Let us hope some lessons have been learned from this, hopefully the people who have behaved in an unpleasant/ungentlemanly/unladylike manner or whatever can look at themselves in the cold light of day and see it as such and correct future behaviours.

Very glad I did not go.

Ref msg 39 above. I agree the need for +ve thinking. However, if the newly `elected` committee follow previous attempts at "leadership" we shall go backwards from what has recently been achieved. My take on this issue is some 'self interests' have been served, rather than members best interests being supported.

For what its worth, I believe this incident has done more harm than good for the reputation of the BRS. While I am, or should I say was a member, I knew that I could approach the BRS with the utmost confidence that my inquiry would be answered in the strictest confidence and with the dignity it deserved.

I have lost all confidence in the current regime and would not darken their doors again.

No-one has mentioned the fact the Vic Lundy (husband of Prue) was taken ill during the proceedings, taken to hospital, operated on and had a stent inserted.

No Sophie, because that was personal to the Lundie family and off topic. However, speedy recovery Vic.

Lundy, even.

Yes Sophie, I thought that a personal matter not to be included with this posting. I enquired last night and this morning about Vic and am glad all is now going well.

Many people are grateful for the posting about Vic. Someone asked me today and I was able to answer because you had mentioned it to me in an e mail. It was very sad and no one knew what the problem was other than a stretcher carried him off. Don't know whether it wazs angina or what, but obviously the stent will do the world of good - let#s hope so. A rather unfortunate incident - very sad, but glad that lal is well.

Marions and tomsteeel,

Have sent you both an email.

Cheers

I only mentioned the subject, not out of wanting to be intrusive , but because I thought it made the other matters seem insignifcant under the circumstances.

Indeed, Sophie!

Well I'm still no wiser and if this Secrecy is representative as to what goes on within this organisation i have no wish to be a part of it