My colleague Jim Brighthope is a candidate for the Carlton FC board at their forthcoming AGM next Monday.
Regards,
MrMOB
(n.b. I am not a Carlton member, but am posting this here as a favour for a mate. Jim's email address is at the bottom)
Jim Brighthope is a passionate Blues fan and is attempting to run as an independent at the forthcoming Carlton AGM. Interestingly, he has found that Ian Collin's new Carlton One board seems to be employing exactly the same "closed shop" tactics to as the old one under John Elliott.
COLLO'S CARLTON ONE IS USING THE SAME CLOSED SHOP TACTICS AS ELLIOTT
By Jim Brighthope,
Candidate for Carlton FC Board
I’ve been attending Carlton matches for more than 45 years and have been a member for over 30 years, so I think I have a fair knowledge of what supporters think and feel. Recent events have made Carlton supporters take stock. It’s clear that things are never going to be the same at Carlton. Or are they?
At the Special General Meeting last year I sought to clarify the rights of ordinary or independent Club members in relation to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (now to be held on March 31, the last date possible under the constitution).
One of the major problems evident by the “closed shop” attitude of the previous Board is that members felt disenfranchised over a considerable period of time. My concern is that the Carlton One team have effectively continued this policy.
By petitioning for a Special General Meeting seeking to elect only the members on their ticket, the Carlton One Team were elected back in November without any other ordinary Member having the opportunity to nominate. And this month, the 12 member Board voted NOT to increase their number, even though under the club constitution they have the power to offer up to 20 places at the next election.
(Interestingly, the decision to keep the board number at 12 was taken PRIOR to Greg Williams’s announcement that he will not be seeking re-election. One wonders whether the agreed number would have been 11 rather than 12 if the vote had been taken after Greg’s statement?)
However, it is a constitutional requirement that one third of the Directors stand down each year. If there is any doubt about the desire of the current Board to keep control, note that - despite a written request - the Board has determined to circulate a voting paper only, with the names of candidates in alphabetical order. Directors seeking re-election will be highlighted, but there will be no brief biography of candidates. Even the Collingwood Football Club does that!
With three of the 4 seeking re-election under these conditions, it is not unreasonable that they will all be returned, thus making it realistically possible for only one non-Carlton One Member to be elected. And if Greg Williams had not unexpectedly thrown a spanner in the works by withdrawing his candidature, it is probable that NOBODY outside Carlton One would stand a chance.
Wasn’t this closed shop, old boy's network coterie sort of thing exactly one of the major criticisms leveled at Elliott and his cronies?
I'm standing for election to the Board because I don’t believe that the only criteria to be a Director revolves around money. There are thousands of members and supporters who have valid ideas and whose voices should be heard.
When was the last time that any of the Directors queued for tickets, stood in the rain waiting for the gates to open, sat in the open on a cold and wet afternoon, or were forced to sit high up in a stand because corporate and coterie groups had all the best seats? How can a Board truly represent its members when Directors don’t know how the majority feel about THEIR game?
Jim Brighthope is a former Mayor, Federal Vice President of the Australian Institute of Travel & Tourism, Vice President of the AFL Members Association, Chairman of numerous local organizations and a passionate Carlton follower. He can be contacted at jim_brighthope@bigpond.com
Regards,
MrMOB
(n.b. I am not a Carlton member, but am posting this here as a favour for a mate. Jim's email address is at the bottom)
Jim Brighthope is a passionate Blues fan and is attempting to run as an independent at the forthcoming Carlton AGM. Interestingly, he has found that Ian Collin's new Carlton One board seems to be employing exactly the same "closed shop" tactics to as the old one under John Elliott.
COLLO'S CARLTON ONE IS USING THE SAME CLOSED SHOP TACTICS AS ELLIOTT
By Jim Brighthope,
Candidate for Carlton FC Board
I’ve been attending Carlton matches for more than 45 years and have been a member for over 30 years, so I think I have a fair knowledge of what supporters think and feel. Recent events have made Carlton supporters take stock. It’s clear that things are never going to be the same at Carlton. Or are they?
At the Special General Meeting last year I sought to clarify the rights of ordinary or independent Club members in relation to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (now to be held on March 31, the last date possible under the constitution).
One of the major problems evident by the “closed shop” attitude of the previous Board is that members felt disenfranchised over a considerable period of time. My concern is that the Carlton One team have effectively continued this policy.
By petitioning for a Special General Meeting seeking to elect only the members on their ticket, the Carlton One Team were elected back in November without any other ordinary Member having the opportunity to nominate. And this month, the 12 member Board voted NOT to increase their number, even though under the club constitution they have the power to offer up to 20 places at the next election.
(Interestingly, the decision to keep the board number at 12 was taken PRIOR to Greg Williams’s announcement that he will not be seeking re-election. One wonders whether the agreed number would have been 11 rather than 12 if the vote had been taken after Greg’s statement?)
However, it is a constitutional requirement that one third of the Directors stand down each year. If there is any doubt about the desire of the current Board to keep control, note that - despite a written request - the Board has determined to circulate a voting paper only, with the names of candidates in alphabetical order. Directors seeking re-election will be highlighted, but there will be no brief biography of candidates. Even the Collingwood Football Club does that!
With three of the 4 seeking re-election under these conditions, it is not unreasonable that they will all be returned, thus making it realistically possible for only one non-Carlton One Member to be elected. And if Greg Williams had not unexpectedly thrown a spanner in the works by withdrawing his candidature, it is probable that NOBODY outside Carlton One would stand a chance.
Wasn’t this closed shop, old boy's network coterie sort of thing exactly one of the major criticisms leveled at Elliott and his cronies?
I'm standing for election to the Board because I don’t believe that the only criteria to be a Director revolves around money. There are thousands of members and supporters who have valid ideas and whose voices should be heard.
When was the last time that any of the Directors queued for tickets, stood in the rain waiting for the gates to open, sat in the open on a cold and wet afternoon, or were forced to sit high up in a stand because corporate and coterie groups had all the best seats? How can a Board truly represent its members when Directors don’t know how the majority feel about THEIR game?
Jim Brighthope is a former Mayor, Federal Vice President of the Australian Institute of Travel & Tourism, Vice President of the AFL Members Association, Chairman of numerous local organizations and a passionate Carlton follower. He can be contacted at jim_brighthope@bigpond.com
