God help the BRS!

[Carbotec]

I went to meet the new committee today to find out why I hasn't received my invitation, like many hundreds of other members!

I was told that that there was only 250 email addresses handed over!!

So when I enquired further I was made aware by members of the "old ( but definitely "with it") committee that the total membership database was given over three times now BUT the "new committee" we're using the email addresses from the website only! Doh!!

So I wonder when they will be able to email ALL the members from the database !!

So sad really, I miss the weekly translation of the Turkish newspapers and updates from MNCB ( they have been told that BRS members do not need their updates!!). PERHAPS they should have asked the members first! Oops forgot, they don't know how to yet!!

Welcome back to the OLD ways of NOT much !

I will take on any challenge on this information!

[tomsteel]

Surprised - nah!!

[waddo]

That's it then, its official! There are only 250 members left in the BRS - according to the new committee because the website never lies. You could not make this up......

[Philoz]

I have read all that has been posted recently on this and other threads.

The conclusion I have come to is that the Committees position is clearly untenable,they should all resign and an EGM should be called with a secret vote and any hecklers/bullies named,shamed and thrown out.

There are no accounts published in the members area of the website,neither are there any member lists-If an organisation want to appear to be open then this sort of information should be available.

I too am trying to make sense of the membership numbers.

I have lived here for 3 yrs and always meant to join but never got round to it,it was when I went into Creditwest Catalkoy and met Amanda did I sign up,and it would seem that this proactive approach increased membership numbers by 200 since Jan2014(according to a post by carbotec on another thread).

So,If there are only 250 members,but 200 were signed up from Jan 2014-that would mean there were only 50 members prior to that would it not??

It just doesn't add up at all-given that there were allegedly 330 plus at the recent AGM.

A more cynical person than I might think that if you have an organisation (sic)with a paying membership of 500,but a reported membership of 250 would mean that there are 250 subscriptions floating around unaccounted for.

[tomsteel]

Ref msg 4/4 above. Should not the BRS Accounts/Members Numbers for the past 5 years be the subject of an independent audit? If the current committee have nothing to hide/fear, do it and publish the report. As a member, I have an interest.

[Marions]

Could someone please explain. I di d not go to the meeting for reasons obvious (to those who know me, anyway), but what is this about membership of 250? I got an invitation a bit later than others, but is this saying that one thousand people did NOT get an invite as the data base did not include them.

Would this account for the low number of people attending.

There are still those discontent with BRS matters, but it now seems we have more questions than answers. But I am genuinely confused here - obviously there must have been some kind of misunderstanding?

[Carbotec]

The Acting Chair tried to report previous inaccurate membership figures and accounts at the AGM but was shouted down!

This is not over yet! Let's wait for the first resignation! Not long now!!!!!!!!

[Hutch]

I want to know as a fully paid up member WHY I have not received one email from this new lot! NOTHING diddly squat!

[Philoz]

Hutch-I think the people that got an invite were those without any 'history' and therefore considered safe.

[meldy]

Philoz, as far as I know I have not 'rocked the boat' with the BRS but I did not get an invitation either.

[Philoz]

meldy-did you ever use the website and log in as a member?
I ask because I am starting to think that might be the criteria for an invite.

[Hutch]

Philoz, nearly right.

When questioned at the meeting yesterday they claimed that the old committee had only handed 250 email addresses over!

In fact 3 times the total database has been given over ( some 1400 names from the past couple of years, not all paid up) but the website holds those emails that members have registered with.

The old ( but definitely techie!) committee obviously used the total database to email members adding links etc etc. I don't think the new lot have worked out how to do this!!

I understand that is why so few invites went out.

Hutch

[George47]

Hold on a minute Hutch!

I read the CV's of this new committee when they were published on the BRS website before the AGM. Apparently they bring a wealth of experience to the table. We now have International project managers, heads of dept in international businesses, human resource managers, and last but definitely not least, the 'new' chair himself who has taken credit in Cyprus Today for having installed the system that facilitated the much praised frequent email communications to members that occurred from the end of last year up until this years AGM.

I hope you are not trying to suggest that these very same highly qualified and experienced people don't know how to use a simple database? That would imply that they were creative on their CV's, wouldn't it? Surely not! Wash your mouth out.

[terry2366]

Surely these people must know or at least some of them how to do the job?? If they are incapable then why put themselves forward? There is money involved so you need someone with the experience to manage it ,I gather in the past the membership did not tally. A secretary that has experience of computers and accounting .some of these have been on the committee before must know there are more than 250 members so one would have thought someone among them would have had more than one brain cell and in the weeks they had to prepare for this would have reconciled the membership numbers. Or as is most likely they wanted a quiet few to start with hoping this will die down. If they had emailed all members and expected large numbers to attend why would they have picked the venue they did? I did attend as it's my local and met mr Brown what an odious little man reminded me of my bedding storeman in the army 15 years in still a l/cpl. It does not fare well. Guys.

[tomsteel]

It would appear, therefore, from the posts above the new Chairman and his committee has the support and respect required to run the Society on behalf of the (proletariat) members? I think that is the Committee's function, to serve the Membership and not dictate. Personally, I will maintain membership of RBL and MNCBP and just let the BRS sail/drift along wishing them 'bon voyage' - unless, of course, there is a change on management.

[MoonageDaydream]

" If they are incapable then why put themselves forward?"
Probably because they want the recognition and kudos that comes from having a title and a place on a Committee! (Big fish and small pool comes to mind).

The old guard also saw the BRS as their little private club, and didn't want people taking over who might dilute the organisation with newer and younger members who might actually want to do things other than organise raffles and dinner dances. Yet the BRS is a members organisation, things like proper accounts and membership data should be a given - but they weren't.

Time for the 'reform group' who walked out of the BRS to regroup, and update the MNCB website IMHO. They have demonstrated that they could be an effective pressure group, so I would ask then to stop crying over spilt Efes, regroup and move forward. If they do that some of us who are repelled by the old colonial mentality of the BRS Committee would probably join them.

[squashmad]

Well said, MoonageDaydream, I don't think that the group that walked out realise how much support they have.

[Carbotec]

squashmad, You hit the nail right on the head but I don't think we've seen the last of them yet, convinced there will be some resignations coming quite soon. just watch this space. Cant be quick enough for me and many more members.

[waddo]

George47, I think that the only groups of people who outnumber the International project managers, heads of dept in international businesses and human resource managers in the TRNC are the ex SAS/SBS and other special forces people! But then being the guy who personally laced up Neil Armstrong's boots before he took his first steps on tranquility - I take it all with a pinch of salt.......

[Philoz]

Waddo- With credentials like that you have my vote for Chairman of the new improved BRS which hopefully will emerge Phoenix like from the ashes of the current set up, who seem to me to be devoid of integrity and honesty.

[tomsteel]

Can I join? Ex- Army driver (RASC) and PTI - as specialist as who knows what?

[dippersgirl]

Philoz - Like you we met Amanda in Credit West, Çatalköy in January and we liked her very much. We both joined then and I agreed to be a representative for the Karpaz region.
I was not able to come to any meetings prior to the AGM, but was hoping to meet Amanda and some other people last month.
Now I am not really sure, I read all the various threads, but....
Amanda sent me frequent emails, the last one on 3.04 2014.
On 28.4.2014 I received the next BRS email:

Your new committee is organising an informal "Meet Your Committee" session on Monday 5th May. It will be held at KAMARES restaurant in Karaoglanoglu from 12 mid-day til 2pm.
Free light Indian style snacks will be made available. A "Welcome drink" is also provided.
This will be an opportunity for you to learn of our thoughts and ideas to move the BRS forward and to give us your opinion on where our priorities should focus.
We need to know if you are coming so please let us know by midnight on Wednesday 30th April at the latest.
Please contact Julia Bennett on Julia.brstrnc@gmail.com

Unfortunately I was not able to attend, as I had guests, but it does seem, that my email was on their list!!