SOP AGM.

[ploughman1963]

indeed - they may even persuaded me to rejoin if they deliver

 

[12 bore]

Thanks for the honest reply dealer, has helped me make my mind up, I want to plough eventually in a vintage class so I will be better off looking for a local club by the sounds of it. I'm mainly interested in doing it so I can use my old tractors and to have fun and produce a reasonable standard of work. Shame really I would of thought they would of catered for all ploughmen in any class especially newcomers.

 

[ploughman61]

Though we all sincerely hope now that there has been a change at the top, there will be substantial change - fingers crossed

Wasn't at the agm yesterday, but all the feedback I have had is very positive think things are looking up. Think now is time for us all to back sop and move on post ken chapel.

 

[Cordiale]

I was new to ploughing 3 years ago and asked myself the same question

I am still not a member, my reasons were that I plough in the classic class and the society is run for the world style reversible and conventional styles with the aim to choose representatives for England to the world championships.

The vintage classes are not normally represented at these as there are now classes (first time last year in the UK) for vintage.

so what can the society offer me?

reduced spectator entry to the UK championships and a quarterly news letter and a poor web site.

I have purchased a set of there rules £3.50 (you don't need to be a member to buy them) should be given them foc I think If you join.

I looked to see what else they could offer for £30 quid and could not find anything else.

I am not going to qualify anytime soon for the national finals so don't need to join to compete there.

you then start learning about the political / personal issues and think what's the point as its run to suit a few at the expense of the many.

My question to you would be, what can it offer that you want from it? and does it justify the annual fee, I spent my fees on guide books and videos to try and improve.

Join a local ploughing society draw as much info from the guys the are standing on the podiums most weeks, keep improving against your own standard, join the main class as soon as you think you aren't going to make a fool of yourself, as ploughing against the better guys makes you get better quicker.. and enjoy it for what it is, learning a new skill and a chance to compete against like minded people and don't take it to seriously if you don't win as its based on opinions and views of the individual judges.

If you do join pay your money and get as much from it as you can but not sure what exactly they can offer you, unless you plough world style!!

Unless things have changed drastically, I doubt whether you would get much out of it if you plough world style.

I seem to remember back in the eighties, it was always the same few who made the finals, and if they didn't qualify for the plough off they judged it.
New talent had a job to break through.

Graeme Witty in my opinion was held back for far too long, then when he did break through I think he went on to become the most successful conventional ploughing we have ever produced!!

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Wasn't at the agm yesterday, but all the feedback I have had is very positive think things are looking up. Think now is time for us all to back sop and move on post ken chapel.

i was there, and yes i think your right

 

[Dealer]

Wasn't at the agm yesterday, but all the feedback I have had is very positive think things are looking up. Think now is time for us all to back sop and move on post ken chapel.

Good to hear and hope the changes prove positive, but given the relationships between new and old it is difficult to believe in a sea change.

If one man had so much influence over the whole society then it goes to show what a cartel it's has been. And the board of directors should have a been replaced at the same time as they clearly are not up to the job..

 

[ploughman61]

Good to hear and hope the changes prove positive, but given the relationships between new and old it is difficult to believe in a sea change.

If one man had so much influence over the whole society then it goes to show what a cartel it's has been. And the board of directors should have a been replaced at the same time as they clearly are not up to the job..

The difference is that sue has no interest in the ploughing, or the political aspects of the sop, she won't sit at meetings listen to everything thats said by the board then do just what's she wants to, and with respect don't think ken is any fit state to have any input.

 

[Dealer]

As I have said above

I will judge them on results

First thing to do would have been to change the membership categories

Active ploughman and judges full membership

Non active members given associate membership with no voting writes. Then the ploughman have a louder voice in proposing changes.

And would stop the proxy voters fiasco,s of the past..

 

[ploughman61]

As I have said above

I will judge them on results

First thing to do would have been to change the membership categories

Active ploughman and judges full membership

Non active members given associate membership with no voting writes. Then the ploughman have a loader voice in proposing changes.

And would stop the proxy voters fiasco,s of the past..

Agree with what you say, so go to agm next year and let's push it through.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Agree with what you say, so go to agm next year and let's push it through.

yes i agree, but remember you have to be a member to vote

 

[ploughman61]

yes i agree, but remember you have to be a member to vote

Now's the time to become members and push our ideas through, don't say it can't happen, just look at brexit and Trump, miracles do happen.

 

[Dealer]

Yes but both of those had a fair and unbiased voting system.

 

[ploughman61]

Use proxy votes to your advantage, pass them on to someone who is going to the meeting, I had two proxy votes yesterday and passed them on to a like minded member, and once we have power, get rid of proxy votes, unless you want to keep them to hold on to control

 

[Dealer]

Yes agreed but

Did the administration not do the same thing to keep power and withold the contact details of the members to stop proxy voters acting against them.


How many of those voters listen to both sides?

They just handed there votes to the chairman to strengthen his position..

 

[ploughman61]

Yes agreed but

Did the administration not do the same thing to keep power and withold the contact details of the members to stop proxy voters acting against them.


How many of those voters listen to both sides?

They just handed there votes to the chairman to strengthen his position..

All members should have the facts in front of them, think last year was the major issue about proxy votes, with the vote against the rebel 5, all facts were given to all members who voted accordingly, they were voted off. Since then what has happened, very successful world and national, over 250k in the bank very happy agm and everything looks good, so let's all.be optimistic for the future. Look forward to seeing most of you at Flintshire on Saturday

 

[12 bore]

Looks like a case of watch this space then, I sincerely hope they do well but it all seems far to political for me at this stage judging by what a lot of people have said

 

[Dealer]

Yep always optimistic.

Yes flint Saturday

Morville Sunday

 

[Dealer]

Looks like a case of watch this space then, I sincerely hope they do well but it all seems far to political for me at this stage judging by what a lot of people have said

Yep. Get your head down enjoy your days out and let the big boys fight it out between them.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Yes agreed but

Did the administration not do the same thing to keep power and withold the contact details of the members to stop proxy voters acting against them.


How many of those voters listen to both sides?

They just handed there votes to the chairman to strengthen his position..

I think it is the case, that all members have a right to vote, and really that is how it should be, just the same as in a general election all of voting age can vote,
the big difference here is 99% of them moaning are not members, moan a bucket full that SOP does nothing for them, and cannot be bothered to pay there subs, and go to the AGM,
you won't get it handed on a plate to you, and you only get out what you put in, and if you put in nothing, then expect nothing in return

 

[ploughman61]

I think it is the case, that all members have a right to vote, and really that is how it should be, just the same as in a general election all of voting age can vote,
the big difference here is 99% of them moaning are not members, moan a bucket full that SOP does nothing for them, and cannot be bothered to pay there subs, and go to the AGM,
you won't get it handed on a plate to you, and you only get out what you put in, and if you put in nothing, then expect nothing in return

As ploughman1963 pointed out to me if your not involved on the inside you won't make any difference, so come on join up and vote for what you want and let's make the SOP worth being a member of.