United Kingdom: ME Association governance issues

I don't but does the details here help?
https://register-of-charities.chari...rch/-/charity-details/801279/charity-overview

 

Thanks Andy. Got that but was hoping to find their full published report analogous to AfME's: https://www.actionforme.org.uk/uploads/pdfs/Action-for-ME-annual-report-2020-2021-updated.pdf

 

Available on the CC Register on left hand column "Accounts and Annual Returns" pdf = https://register-of-charities.chari...ilsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=801279

 

Thank you.

 

Copied from the thread on the PROM funded by MEA https://www.s4me.info/threads/uk-me...alist-services-2023.33221/page-64#post-565801

Not surprised.

MEA have an AGM coming in December. As a member we can vote on suggestions tabled and raise issues.

The way I see it is if they don't want to respond to us then we need to do something about that by attending the AGM and airing our grievances.

 

Understand and respect your decision Haveyoutriedyoga.


But I encourage each of us who are members to raise it at the AGM. Let MEA know "your silence is deafening". Until concerns are taken seriously & addressed not much will improve. This isn't the only issue with MEA but a symptom.

Plus we get a chance to have a say in the way MEA is being run & managed as members at the AGM. Something to consider, there's still a couple of weeks.

 

I don't know how many of us are on Twitter these days but thought I'd add this to the discussion because it's relevant.

A couple of people from within the ME community have tabled a motion to MEA to be discussed at their AGM. My jaw was on the floor reading it.

It's a lot to take in but long and short of it is MEA isn't doing what they're meant to and there's a lot (millions) of funds unspent.

My dissatisfaction with MEA has been expressed here and other places. With their AGM coming up and taking into consideration this motion, previous behaviours (Professor Tyson) and what I read from their magazine (ME Essentials) where Neil Riley suggests movement like a walk in the garden might be a risk but he thinks it's fine, I'm going to support this motion. If others want to get involved please do.

I'm angry about how this Professor Tyson mess was handled and ignored!

(I respect Charles Shepherd so much. I don't want to see him go. I'd like him to take a different position at MEA so his knowledge and experience can stay)

More info:

Here's the link to the twitter post: https://twitter.com/user/status/1857348450834157677

 

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02361986/officers?page=1

Dr Charles Shepherd has been a Trustee since 2003.
Neil Riley (now 79) since 2004.
Ewan Dale since 2004.

Richard (Rick) Osman served as a Trustee from September 2002 to 2023.

 

I suspect that both Elisabeth Klaar (Proposer) and Nicky Proctor (Seconder) are likely to find their membership of the organisation terminated.

 

Do you think it would prompt a crisis for the MEA if they do?

If all they do is put forward a legitimate motion in a manner conforming with procedure, it certainly ought to.

 

https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-con...-Association-of-ME-Association-11.03.2014.pdf

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE MYALGIC ENCEPHALOPATHY ASSOCIATION LTD

 

A legitimate request in 2004 for a copy of the Members' Register (which would have hypothetically enabled the requestor to trigger an EGM) resulted in the Board refusing to release the Members' Register to the requestor.

 

Do not underestimate the resolve of CS to maintain the status quo.

 

It wasn't so much the leadership.

An organisation expelling people for asking reasonable questions should surely have the membership questioning what's going on and whether they're happy with it. A few well-targeted social media posts could potentially cause significant damage and division. Would they risk that?

I don't know the answer, but if I were a trustee or a senior officer, I'd see it as a flashing red signal.

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1857386735736430672


NickyProctor @NickyProctor
And that’s exactly the point isn’t it Nic! All we know is 9 Dec. No timing given, no idea if it will be on zoom or similar? We have been told details are in the printed @MEAssociation
member mag going out in the post from 21 Nov. Will share on here when we see details.
11:34 AM · Nov 15, 2024


According the MEA's Mem & Arts:

Notice of General Meetings

33. An annual general meeting must be called by giving at least 21 clear days’ notice in writing. Other meetings of the company must be called by giving at least 14 days clear notice. These notices must specify the place, date and time of the meeting and the business to be discussed. Notice of the meeting must be given to all those members entitled to receive it and to the reporting accountants or auditor of the company. Notice of the right of a member to appoint a proxy must be given in the notice

​

Posting out notice of the AGM in the MEA's mag on 21 November is cutting it tight for "21 clear days' notice" before "9 December".

 

From the Mem & Arts:

38. A resolution put to the vote of a general meeting must be decided by a simple majority on completion of voting cards.. Postal votes are allowed provided they are received by the company at least five working days before the holding of a general meeting takes place. Any votes received after will be null and void.​

I've asked whether it has been confirmed that the motion has been added to the agenda for discussion at the AGM meeting. Elizabeth confirms that it has been added (via an email from the Chair of Trustees).

 

So if the AGM is scheduled for 9 December, and if there is to be a postal vote, that will not leave much time for members to return their vote.

Edited to add: I've asked Elizabeth if the Chair of Trustees has confirmed whether there is going to be a members' postal vote for motions discussed at this forthcoming AGM. That is, are voting slips being sent out with ME Essential or whether the outcome of a motion to make changes to the Mem & Arts will depend on the votes of those attending the AGM in person.

The 2005 EGM proposing a number of constitutional changes to the Mem & Arts proposed by the BoT, themselves, did go out as a postal vote [1][2].

1 Notice of 2005 EGM and postal vote: https://dxrevisionwatch.com/egm-notice-june-2005comp/
2 Notice of revised date for 2005 EGM: https://dxrevisionwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mea-egm-letter.pdf

 

Elizabeth is unable to confirm whether there is going to be a postal vote for this forthcoming AGM.

 

As some of you know, I was barred from membership of the MEA in 2004, so I don't have a vote and I don't see copies of ME Essential. When the December issue of ME Essential has been sent out, could someone please post a copy of the AGM notice - thanks.