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The following editorial is in the current "The Indian News" of The Indian Motocycle Club of Australia, Inc. The writer is the publication editor.
1953 -- End of story
The recent events regarding club eligibility definitions resulted in a somewhat unsavory period of time leading up to the Special General Meeting called to consider the resolution to change the club rules.
The initial debate was ignited by Phillip White's item in the November Newsletter titled "Club at the Crossroads" where Phillip took up both sides of the debate. Some members who own, or intend to purchase Giroy Indians, gave their support to the debate insisting that their machines were club-eligible.
At the November meeting there was a spirited discussion, and to prevent continued confrontation over the issue, and to allow the members their democratic right to decide the future direction of the club, there was a motion put to define club eligibility to those machines manufactured up to and including 1953. This motion was put to the vote and, of the 40 members present, 39 voted in favor, thus giving the Committee a clear mandate to take the steps to formulate, circulate and present the necessary amendments at a Special General Meeting.
At a further meeting of the Committee on the 13th February it was resolved to hold the Special General Meeting on 25th March to consider the resolutions to amend the rules. There was significant lobbyiing conducted in the four weeks prior to the Special General Meeting and a number of distateful inferences and allegations made -- including claims of impropriety against the Club Secretary, criticisms of the manner in which the process was being conducted and attempted intimidation of club members.
The issue from the outset was not whether a Gilroy Indian was a "real" Indian or not, but was in fact simply what motorcycles the majority of the Club membership wanted the Club to cater for. The final vote, which incidentally was 143--16 in favor of the change, was an overwhelming indication of what the vast majority of the club members desired. To then receive offensive emails directed at the Secretary, and indirectly the Club, was disappointing in the extreme.
It was also very disappointing that the democratic voice of the majority of the members was not respected by those who did not necessarily share that opinion. Had the resolution not been carried (it only required 26% to defeat it) it would've resulted in the club being dictated to by a minority, with expectation that Gilroy Indians would have been welcomed into the fold. The same inclusive attitude has not been evident from some members since the outcome of the meeting.
The process employed as strictly in accordance with the Club rules and Corporate Affairs, as confirmed by legal advice, and to allay any continuing misconceptions regarding the conduct of the process, the committee would welcome anyone still dissatisfied with the result to inspect the records of the resolution voting.
It was in fact, a case of changing the rules so the club could remain the same.
Barry Curley
1953 -- End of story
The recent events regarding club eligibility definitions resulted in a somewhat unsavory period of time leading up to the Special General Meeting called to consider the resolution to change the club rules.
The initial debate was ignited by Phillip White's item in the November Newsletter titled "Club at the Crossroads" where Phillip took up both sides of the debate. Some members who own, or intend to purchase Giroy Indians, gave their support to the debate insisting that their machines were club-eligible.
At the November meeting there was a spirited discussion, and to prevent continued confrontation over the issue, and to allow the members their democratic right to decide the future direction of the club, there was a motion put to define club eligibility to those machines manufactured up to and including 1953. This motion was put to the vote and, of the 40 members present, 39 voted in favor, thus giving the Committee a clear mandate to take the steps to formulate, circulate and present the necessary amendments at a Special General Meeting.
At a further meeting of the Committee on the 13th February it was resolved to hold the Special General Meeting on 25th March to consider the resolutions to amend the rules. There was significant lobbyiing conducted in the four weeks prior to the Special General Meeting and a number of distateful inferences and allegations made -- including claims of impropriety against the Club Secretary, criticisms of the manner in which the process was being conducted and attempted intimidation of club members.
The issue from the outset was not whether a Gilroy Indian was a "real" Indian or not, but was in fact simply what motorcycles the majority of the Club membership wanted the Club to cater for. The final vote, which incidentally was 143--16 in favor of the change, was an overwhelming indication of what the vast majority of the club members desired. To then receive offensive emails directed at the Secretary, and indirectly the Club, was disappointing in the extreme.
It was also very disappointing that the democratic voice of the majority of the members was not respected by those who did not necessarily share that opinion. Had the resolution not been carried (it only required 26% to defeat it) it would've resulted in the club being dictated to by a minority, with expectation that Gilroy Indians would have been welcomed into the fold. The same inclusive attitude has not been evident from some members since the outcome of the meeting.
The process employed as strictly in accordance with the Club rules and Corporate Affairs, as confirmed by legal advice, and to allay any continuing misconceptions regarding the conduct of the process, the committee would welcome anyone still dissatisfied with the result to inspect the records of the resolution voting.
It was in fact, a case of changing the rules so the club could remain the same.
Barry Curley
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