Barge Association argy-bargy continues

Recent disputes among the leadership of the Barge Association (DBA) seemed to have been resolved with Andy Soper back in post as Chairman following his dramatic resignation... but now two key board members have resigned putting the association in turmoil yet again.

Barging in calmer waters: Picture by Bob Naylor©

The interpretation of the Association's rules by a 'faction' within the board is the reason given for his resignation by Paul Whitehouse, the Hon Secretary and Treasurer who has been on the board of the DBA for 10 years. He  has announced that he will stand down this month to give the association time to find a replacement before its next board meeting.  

The DBA IT Director, David Beaumont has also resigned saying: "Having been on the board for coming up to 12 years I have found the last two easily the most unproductive and antagonistic of all that time."

He went on to describe fundamental disagreements between those who have been on the board a long time and those who joined in 2010 — and he said: "Factionalism is a very poor method of operation in an association. It does not make for pleasant or productive meetings —most of meeting time recently has been spent on discussing 'Processes & Procedures' and 'Articles & Aims' — rather than barge or member related things. It could work — but it cannot work when one faction keeps coming up with damaging or frankly loony ideas and trying to push them through."

The resignation speech of Penny Rickards, who was Chair briefly for the period between Andy Soper's resignation and his recent re-election is described by Beaumaont as 'having a lot of innacuracies and a classic example of factionalism'. 

The board have resisted calls for an EGM to sort out the wrangles because fewer than 100 members have so far put their name to the request — and under the association's rules more than 160 are required. 

Members are angry because as one said: "Of the limited number of members that actually know about the destructive infighting, the overwhelming majority are calling for an EGM to clear the air so that we can get on with being a boat club again."

The next AGM promises to be a lively affair when, as David Beaumant calls them,'two refuseniks of the reformist tendancy', say that unlike the rest of the board they will refuse to face election — interpreting the DBA rules to mean that if someone is co-opted onto the board then they are never required to be elected by the members. In the words of the Penny Rickards... once co-opted they are 'eternally co-opted'.  

This coupled with rules that deprive the Chairman of a vote — other than a casting vote in the event of a tie seem to be at the heart of much of this latest round of infighting within the association.


Related stories: 
➠➠Shock resignation of Barge Association chairman 
➠➠Barge Association 'U' turn in chairmanship wrangle

Shock resignation of Barge Association chairman

The behind the scenes wrangles at the BDA (The Barge Association) came to a head at the weekend and led to the resignation of Chairman, Andy Soper.

Andy Soper, right, with Vice Chairman Guy Toye when 
they spoke on behalf of the DBA at a conference run 
by the VNF (The French navigation authority) at Decize
on the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy this summer.  
Picture by Bob Naylor©

In an email to members he explained that four newer members of the board did not agree with the way he has been running the board and he said:  "During the meeting two proposals to change our Articles were tabled that would limit Directors' terms of office to six years and thus remove half of the existing Board. These would have been passed if I had not stood down as Chairman and regained my Director's vote (The Chair has only a casting vote in the event of a tie)".

He also said that he is sure that the four newer members will use their majority on the Board to push through their policies.

Andy will continue as a Board Director and he said: "Sadly and with a heavy heart I am standing down as Chairman of the Association — and of this meeting now — but I will continue to support the needs of barging members."

The board elected Penny Rickard as the new Chairman.

Members shocked

On the  Association forum a member said: "I was shocked, surprised and confused when I saw Andy's post. I must admit that, probably like most DBA members, I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes." 

Another member called for the ordinary members to hear from each board member about their vision of the DBA and its future.  This view was expressed by another member who also said: "I think it is a tragedy that Andy should feel it necessary to take this step. I don't recall the newest (or any) Board members being elected on a mandate to fundamentally change the way the Association is run."