AGM in Clonmel - why?
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Brendan Lawlor | Sep 20 2012, 10:26am | I see it is proposed to hold this years AGM in Clonmel. Who decided this and why? This to me is a recipe for a poorly attended AGM and is consequently undemocratic. 90% of IMRA's activity and members are based near Dublin/Wicklow and the AGM has been held there for as long as I can remember - why change now? |
| Brendans Toys | Sep 20 2012, 12:00pm | Brendan, Please stop throwing us toys out of the cot. From what we can gather you want to say it is "undemocratic" to have the AGM in Clonmel because YOU want it in Dublin/Wicklow. Please leave the politics to the Politicians. This is the IRISH mountain running association, not the Dublin/Wicklow or Brendan Lawlor mountain running association. I think you are being demeaning to the people who chose this day/place by your criticism. This is a wonderful opportunity to enter a run in Clonmel. I think if you don't show up, we won't miss you. |
| Paul O'Grady | Sep 20 2012, 12:13pm | Ah come on - Brendan is entitled to his opinion (which I agree with). We need to stop attacking each other on this forum. People are too quick to play the man instead of the ball - and worse, do it anonymously. I am going to table a motion at the AGM to stop this trolling/anonymous posts and bucket loan spam by requiring people log in to myimra first. If people want to behave like this they should head off to Boards - this is our forum and people should be entitled to their opinions and therefore people should be prepared to stand over their opinions by logging in. We dont need these type of comments (or a bucket loan of spam). |
| Gareth Little | Sep 20 2012, 12:35pm | @Brendans Toys, if you are going to join in in an adult forum topic please man up and grow up and use your real name. |
| Donal Troddyn | Sep 20 2012, 12:58pm | Paul, the problem with forcing people to log in is that new bods, who've never run an IMRA race and therefore can't register, can't ask questions, which would be a shame. As for the merits of hosting the AGM in Dublin, it would seem to make sense, considering that population density here is an order of magnitude higher than any other county, and a majority of the events take place in Dublin/Wicklow. I'm sure there's reasons and rationales behind Clonmel, though. |
| Mick Hanney | Sep 20 2012, 1:04pm | Was there not a discussion on the possibility of an alternate venue for an AGM the last time around (I could be mistaken)? In my opinion its good to see a different end of season race being added. I like Powerscourt Ridge but variety is also good and if I could run then I'd love to try Slievenamon. Obviously moving the AGM outside of Dublin risks a smaller turnout but AGMs don't tend to get big crowds in any event? There might be an opportunity to have a social event around the race/AGM and bus people down and have a captive audience for the meeting. In Glencormack many people have drifted away after the race results. There is a plus point too in getting more people up from around munster who ordinarily wouldn't make a Dublin event. |
| pat barry | Sep 20 2012, 1:17pm | On the FRA site people self register and use that login from then on. It takes a bit of time for the application to be approved so you would have to wait a while to make a one-off anonymous comment. There is a fair mixture of real and "nick names". It works very well as even the people who do not use their real names become know overtime. |
| Stuart Scott | Sep 20 2012, 2:36pm | As far as I know, the possiblity of an alternate venue was discussed last year, as was the desire to promote and develop regular IMRA races all over the country. While the Committee is Leinster-based and Leinster-focused, the organisation is for the country as a whole and this is the only opportunity others have to make suggestions or to raise issues that affect them. And having developed an aversion to Powerscourt Ridge I think a change is an excellent idea! Only 32 of the 155 race competitors attended the AGM last year and the majority of these are the 'well-established' members who would most likely be willing to travel anyway. But if there was enough interest, a bus and a social event after would be great. |
| Aidan Hurley | Sep 20 2012, 2:47pm | Will the proposed Children's Referendum, to be held on the same day, contribute further to a lower attendance? |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Sep 20 2012, 3:19pm | Hopefully not. Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm generally. Plenty of time for anyone to head to their local polling station either before or after the race/AGM. |
| Aidan Hurley | Sep 20 2012, 3:23pm | Think hours will be curtailed as the 7am-10pm is usually used for weekdays to facilitate those going to work early/coming home late. |
| Brendan Lawlor | Sep 20 2012, 3:40pm | I suppose you could argue that 32 at last years AGM out of nearly 2000 registered members is not too democratic either. If Brendan Toys is joined by shuavgbry shuavgbry, luancrbty luancrbty, Rhizbrurb Rhizbrurb and perhaps Red and White tape and a few of their pals then there may be more than 32 at this years and my complaint is blown out of the water. The usual turnout at a Munster based race is 25-50 so it will be interesting to see how this experiment works out. Now , back to my pram.... |
| Torben Dahl | Sep 20 2012, 4:23pm | One thing is the AGM, another thing is the end of league race, that I know a lot of people (including myself) had been looking forward to. Driving nearly 400 kilomoteres (if based in Dublin) in one day to run 8k (and to attend the AGM of course!!), writing off a full day, will in my opinion not really contribute to increasing the number of people attending the AGM. However as one said "Only 32 of the 155 race competitors attended the AGM last year and the majority of these are the 'well-established' members who would most likely be willing to travel anyway". I guess that's one strategy to keep the attendance low... Anyway I second Brendan's point that it will be interesting to see how this experiment works out... |
| Stuart Scott | Sep 20 2012, 5:02pm | I think you've misunderstood me a little bit Torben. The bigger the attendance the better, especially if it encourages more to get involved in volunteering with and developing the organisation. It is also the offical forum for making requests to the incoming Committee (such as this!). If it helps, I'll bring a leftover case of Biere de France... However, an easily accessible location after a popular race produced only 32 attendees. So a change is needed - it is an experiment, but hopefully one which will work out. It looks to be about 2 hours from Dublin, not much further than most of the weekend races. I've never run Slievenamon but Diarmuid seems enamoured by it...there's only one way to find out! |
| richard nunan | Sep 20 2012, 7:12pm | This decision was taken by the committee based on feedback taken from last years AGM. Don't forget the AGM offers a perfect opportunity to get voted on to the committee. New people on the committee are always welcome. It provides a great platform for people to contribute to the wonderful organisation that is IMRA!! If you would like any further information on how this works please feel free to email me. Regards Richard Nunan Secretary |
| Rachel Cinnsealach | Sep 20 2012, 9:06pm | Wow, That post in response to Brendans post was just horrible. It should be removed. Posts on the forum should be to express an opinion. They should not be personal. IMRA is a great organisation and these type of posts are negative and unwanted. As for anonymous posts, why do people say things and yet, not actually put their names to things? Do they not believe in themselves? A As for the AGM, I think it is a good idea to have it somewhere new. If more people travel to the location for the race, they be more likely to stay for the AGM. All the better if there is a social afterwards. Also, I have run the powerscourt ridge route too often and I am sick of it! A change is welcome! |
| Brendan Lawlor | Sep 20 2012, 9:35pm | Stuart and Richard Thank you for answering my query |
| Viagra for sale | Sep 21 2012, 11:04am | I think Slievenamon is a good idea - broadens the geographic scope of what is sometimes quite a Dublin/Wickla-centric organisation (and I say that being from that general area). As others have said, generally the hard core comm-ittee interested people will turn up anyway, no matter where it is. Long live the new democracy. Hasta la victoria siempre! BrÃan |
| John Kelly | Sep 21 2012, 1:54pm | Would have loved to attend the AGM but can't justify a trip to Clonmel to do so. Am a bit dissapointed really. |
| Brian Meehan | Sep 21 2012, 3:20pm | Why don't we have the AGM over the forum? |
| Elizabeth Wheeler | Sep 22 2012, 7:53pm | Firstly I think that exploring another area is a great idea and I have no objection to travelling. Is it at all possible however to make it a 20km race in order that the challenge of the race actually outweighs the effort to get there. Secondly it might be possible to explore webcasting the AGM so that regardless of geography, members can comment or participate. Thirdly I wholly agree that anonymous posting should be prevented - our forum should be a bully-free area where one can openly swap opinions, information, logistics and a conduct a healthy debate about running for the benefit of all. |
| Niamh O Ceallaigh | Sep 22 2012, 11:05pm | Surely Mr. 247 Meetings can sort something out for us? Seriously though, it is a pain to drive 4 hours for an 8k race and an agm that will probably take an hour longer than it needs to. I suppose though, in the interest of democracy, we should have the agm in Munster once every ten years or whatever the proportion of number of members/ funds contributed to the pot is. Or is democracy where the majority always gets their way?? |
| Gavan Doherty | Sep 24 2012, 10:34am | seeing as i'm being dragged into this... no problem, go to http://www.247meeting.com for a free trial of our conference call & webinar services (not a plug, just topical, honest...!). the only thing is that you might get Antuazzna Antuazzna joining in remotely. they might even get voted onto the committee ....? my tuppence worth is that the committee should be entitled to have the AGM wherever they want. said committee however risks not having enough people around & being re-voted back on by default .... |
| Mick Fal | Sep 24 2012, 10:50am | Can I go to the agm? |
| John Greene | Sep 24 2012, 11:24am | everyone could go on faceboook at the same time and log on to 'live chat' ? |
| Mick Hanney | Sep 24 2012, 6:34pm | Fair play to the committee for trying something different and responding to discussion at the previous AGM. Sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. It would be very easy (and safe) to go with Powerscourt Ridge and the Glencormack Inn once again. Much is made of the short distance of the race. Lots of our races are short distance? Much is made of the distance to travel to the race? From south Wicklow the journey time is c. 2 hours. If I raced in Howth I'd nearly have to travel as far. We runners do travel long distances, and overseas, sometimes to do short races. A bit of positivity for once would be nice. P.S. Looking forward to an extended Slieve Blooms race next year, hopefully there'll be one. |
| Charlie Lyons | Sep 25 2012, 9:14am | Would have to agree with Mick, I passed this hill on the Sean Kelly spin a few weeks ago and it really looks like it could be a great run. I'm delighted to get the opportunity to have a crack at this and reckon it's well worth the 2 hour spin down. Looking forward to it. Charlie |
| Carl Fogarty | Sep 25 2012, 3:54pm | Ireland V Springboks in Dublin on the 10th, too much going on closer to home! |
| Real Irishman | Sep 25 2012, 4:05pm | Who gives a toss about the social climbers sport Carl? |
| Real man Fake name | Sep 25 2012, 4:33pm | Amongst others, those of us who play week in week out. |
| Alan Ayling | Sep 25 2012, 4:56pm | Can't make the AGM unfortunately, have another commitment that day. A thought for future years - Sunday might be a better day in that more people are likely to have the day off work than on a Saturday. No objection to the choice of Clonmel, Slievenamon. Good to try something different. And it would seem very unfair to judge the worthiness of any race by its length. I'd go if I were available. Finally, in response to Mick's post, I'm not convinced about the Glencormac being a "safe" option. That room upstairs always had the feeling that the roof or the floor or both were in imminent danger of collapse. I hated that room. |
| Dermot Murphy | Sep 25 2012, 5:08pm | Sorry I haven't replied to this earlier, but I have been away on holidays rambling the Swiss mountains. The original query has been answered but just to add a couple of points... The request to consider holding the AGM at a different location was made at the last AGM, as has been already been stated, and Slievemon was picked as a good central location in response to this. There was also a post on the forum asking if there could be a change in venue for the AGM - I think this request was for the AGM itself and not to change the race from Poerscourt but I did reply saying that we were considering changing the location this year and I asked for people's opinions or suggestions - very people chose to reply to this - why? And why complain now when the change has been announced? The whole point of the events on the AGM day is the AGM itself, not the race. While the Powerscourt race is a popular one, I'm not so sure it fits in well with the AGM as people are often tired after it and have other commitments that they need to fulfill so end up not attending the AGM. So personally I think a shorter race is better to have on the AGM day. Some people have also commented they have other commitments, but this would still be the case if the AGM was the same as last year. Slievenamon is a certainly a mountain that deserves to be on the calendar, so hopefully people can make the trip to experience this. With mountain running, the length of the race is not the only element which makes it challenging. Nephin was on the calendar this year and is only 5k. But I thought it was probably the most challenging race of the year, as many people who ran will attest to! Perhaps the Powerscourt race would make a good Leinster Championship race? |
| Brendan Lawlor | Sep 25 2012, 5:33pm | Dermot There was a thread on this in July and I've only just spotted it now - I would have raised the issue then, so apologies for that. The views seem to be evenly balanced on this thread so the turnout at the AGM will tell a tale. There was a time when 32 at the AGM was considered a monster crowd, and I certainly think the last few AGM's have seemed well supported and attended I agree that Slievenamon is a fine idea for a race and should have no real bearing on the AGM I do hope that the issue of abusive and anonymous postings on the forum is sorted out soon |
| Dermot Murphy | Nov 10 2012, 9:28pm | Attendance at AGM - 31, and 62 ran the race, so a success I would say. |
| Robbie Williams | Nov 11 2012, 9:04am | Yesterday was brilliant-well done to Tom and the others for great organized race! The views were stunning and it felt like a real mountain running scene should feel .....too much of reading feet in the clouds maybe !!!! The AGM was very well organized, looking forward to good positive developments from what was brought up . I didn't realise there was so much detail in the positions such as treasurer and secretary etc. well done too everyone |
| Gareth Little | Nov 11 2012, 1:58pm | Will there be minutes of the agm published? |
