I agree with both Keith and Craig on how to use proxies. Closed proxies give the community the opportunity to see how a member feels about a motion.
Craig argues well on the use of proxies, the history of how Goolawah has used them in the past and a fair change to one proxy vote per proxy-holder, I feel his comments are worthwhile considering.
I agree that the community would NOT conspire to remove proxy votes by amending a motion. I believe amendments come about through people expressing their view and the community coming to an agreement on the amendment. In all cases, if the amendment fails then the motion returns to the original wording.
A proxy holder also has a responsibility to the member giving the vote to voice the argument for or against the motion. In the case of an open proxy, without discussion before the vote there is no means for the community to hear or see the member’s view especially considering proxies are only legally permitted during a poll, that is a secret ballot, which must be called from the floor or by the chair if it can be seen that the vote will be influenced. This can be concluded from the discussion, proxy papers or after a show of hands vote.
A good example is the last GM (the March vote on Payment terms), where, if a call from the floor was made, 8 proxies would have been included (one proxy was not valid as the member was not active) however an against outcome was not obvious as the discussion was all positive and in agreement with the change and proxies were open so no conclusion could be drawn.
The proxy system is being abused.
There has been a history of altering the resolutions during the course of the meetings so that the proxies are invalidated.
This is probably illegal.
.
In my view open proxies should not be permitted.
All members should be permitted to vote for/against a resolution that has published at least 7 days in advance of the meeting.
Blank or open proxies allow factions to skew the votes.
I agree that recently the proxy system has been abused and open proxies are being used to skew votes.
In my capacity as a Director, since the AGM in October last year, up until now, I have been informed of at least 5 cases where a member has been concerned, confused, upset or very pissed off about certain members, “door knocking” and soliciting proxies.
I also believe several other members, who did not go into detail, probably out of embarrassment that a member who they thought was their friend and probably trusted was trying to use them and their proxy as a political tool.
At the last GM (March), as you may have seen in the minutes, 2 members held the maximum of 3 open proxies each. That means 2 members between them had 8 votes – does that not seem, at the very least, unusual to you? I believe a maximum of 1 proxy per member. Eg, Your neighbor is going away and they ask you to lodge their proxy – closed, as you stated.
An open proxy should only be given to someone you trust and have discussed the issues at length with – you are giving them your vote. If you were at the meeting and heard the arguments for/against – how does your proxy know how you would vote? Unless they are your very close friend, for years. Again – you are giving them your right to vote – and they may not be representing you honestly.
I disagree however with your comment that there has been a “history of altering resolutions…to invalidate proxies” If you had the time to go through all the minutes over the 20yrs, you would find very few resolutions that were altered significantly enough to deem proxies invalid. In fact, you will find very few resolutions over those years where the proxy votes had any impact on the outcome of the resolution, full stop.
Secondly, if a resolution is amended significantly, Eg – a budget item is increased from $1k to $2k due to new information presented at meeting. This amendment is voted through at meeting (with 2/3 majority, in our case). We have no idea if the absent member with closed proxy voting yes to original resolution, would be ok with that. It makes sense that it is deemed invalid…….it is not illegal.
The argument – “give me your open proxy because THEY will amend the resolution to deem your closed proxy invalid” – is just another ploy used by these “door-knockers” to take your vote. (remember THEY – has to be at least 2/3 members present – not just some small faction).
I have never made a comment on our website before – are they allowed to be this long? So thanks again, keefwivanef – and by the way – Bollocks to you too 🙂
Goolawah Co-op Members 
Telling the truth is a WILD ACCUSATION//
Yes Wayne, thanks for making it so clear. It’s obvious some members don’t read the rules before making wild accusations!
Roger B
I agree with both Keith and Craig on how to use proxies. Closed proxies give the community the opportunity to see how a member feels about a motion.
Craig argues well on the use of proxies, the history of how Goolawah has used them in the past and a fair change to one proxy vote per proxy-holder, I feel his comments are worthwhile considering.
I agree that the community would NOT conspire to remove proxy votes by amending a motion. I believe amendments come about through people expressing their view and the community coming to an agreement on the amendment. In all cases, if the amendment fails then the motion returns to the original wording.
A proxy holder also has a responsibility to the member giving the vote to voice the argument for or against the motion. In the case of an open proxy, without discussion before the vote there is no means for the community to hear or see the member’s view especially considering proxies are only legally permitted during a poll, that is a secret ballot, which must be called from the floor or by the chair if it can be seen that the vote will be influenced. This can be concluded from the discussion, proxy papers or after a show of hands vote.
A good example is the last GM (the March vote on Payment terms), where, if a call from the floor was made, 8 proxies would have been included (one proxy was not valid as the member was not active) however an against outcome was not obvious as the discussion was all positive and in agreement with the change and proxies were open so no conclusion could be drawn.
Wayne
“I agree that the community would NOT conspire to remove proxy votes by amending a motion.”
No, the COMMUNITY would not.
Well said Craig!
The proxy system is being abused.
There has been a history of altering the resolutions during the course of the meetings so that the proxies are invalidated.
This is probably illegal.
.
In my view open proxies should not be permitted.
All members should be permitted to vote for/against a resolution that has published at least 7 days in advance of the meeting.
Blank or open proxies allow factions to skew the votes.
Thank you keefwivanef,
I agree that recently the proxy system has been abused and open proxies are being used to skew votes.
In my capacity as a Director, since the AGM in October last year, up until now, I have been informed of at least 5 cases where a member has been concerned, confused, upset or very pissed off about certain members, “door knocking” and soliciting proxies.
I also believe several other members, who did not go into detail, probably out of embarrassment that a member who they thought was their friend and probably trusted was trying to use them and their proxy as a political tool.
At the last GM (March), as you may have seen in the minutes, 2 members held the maximum of 3 open proxies each. That means 2 members between them had 8 votes – does that not seem, at the very least, unusual to you? I believe a maximum of 1 proxy per member. Eg, Your neighbor is going away and they ask you to lodge their proxy – closed, as you stated.
An open proxy should only be given to someone you trust and have discussed the issues at length with – you are giving them your vote. If you were at the meeting and heard the arguments for/against – how does your proxy know how you would vote? Unless they are your very close friend, for years. Again – you are giving them your right to vote – and they may not be representing you honestly.
I disagree however with your comment that there has been a “history of altering resolutions…to invalidate proxies” If you had the time to go through all the minutes over the 20yrs, you would find very few resolutions that were altered significantly enough to deem proxies invalid. In fact, you will find very few resolutions over those years where the proxy votes had any impact on the outcome of the resolution, full stop.
Secondly, if a resolution is amended significantly, Eg – a budget item is increased from $1k to $2k due to new information presented at meeting. This amendment is voted through at meeting (with 2/3 majority, in our case). We have no idea if the absent member with closed proxy voting yes to original resolution, would be ok with that. It makes sense that it is deemed invalid…….it is not illegal.
The argument – “give me your open proxy because THEY will amend the resolution to deem your closed proxy invalid” – is just another ploy used by these “door-knockers” to take your vote. (remember THEY – has to be at least 2/3 members present – not just some small faction).
I have never made a comment on our website before – are they allowed to be this long? So thanks again, keefwivanef – and by the way – Bollocks to you too 🙂
Craig
Bollocks.