CPS committee changes debate

[Vic2]

Hi Phil,

Interesting reading.

Thanks for digging this out. I'm always interested in exploding old wives tales, particularly those that I've started.

Phil

Ah, so you are still reading this topic, Mr CPS Secretary!

Any chance of a statement on investing some of the CPS' considerable funds in conservation of peatlands, as is the ultimate point of the DEFRA consultation, and was posted previously in this topic and on a separate thread?

The RSPB has done all the work in this instance; the threatened peatlands contain CPs; you only have to help financially.

(Flick the 'Money Monster' still does an excellent job managing the accounts, but can't spend it without approval, of course...)

Such conservation is a main objective of what the Society was set up to do, and I for one would be delighted to hear of areas where the CPS has invested in conservation in the last 12 months.

Ah no, by heck - I'm feeling magnanimous today - have a bigger window, on me:

How and what has the CPS invested its members' money in conservation of CP's in the last 2 years...?

(You can include the RSPB Flow Country campaign, if the CPS has actually given them some money).

Feel free to start a new topic, so we can all see what a good job you're doing!

Vic

Edited April 3, 2011 by andycpuk

[pwilson]

Vic,

I'm not going to get into a slanging match with you and I suspect my fellow committee members feel the same. We are sick to the teeth of your continual jibes and digs. Praise where praise is due though - you never miss an opportunity do you?

If you were a member of the CPS I might feel some sense of duty to reply to you but you are not and further, your only reason for almost every post concerning the CPS is to attempt to run it and us down. Even when you praise us you can't resist the temptation to add just a little bit of venom can you - for example your last post on this thread. Because of this I have no intention of being drawn into a public debate with you so this will be my one and only final answer!

If members would like to know what the society is doing with regards to conservation I suggest they look in the Planta Carnivora or better still, come along to the EEE at Chester Zoo!

Phil

[Vic2]

Vic,

I'm not going to get into a slanging match with you and I suspect my fellow committee members feel the same. We are sick to the teeth of your continual jibes and digs. Praise where praise is due though - you never miss an opportunity do you?

If you were a member of the CPS I might feel some sense of duty to reply to you but you are not and further, your only reason for almost every post concerning the CPS is to attempt to run it and us down. Even when you praise us you can't resist the temptation to add just a little bit of venom can you - for example your last post on this thread. Because of this I have no intention of being drawn into a public debate with you so this will be my one and only final answer!

If members would like to know what the society is doing with regards to conservation I suggest they look in the Planta Carnivora or better still, come along to the EEE at Chester Zoo!

Phil

I'm simply being open and honest, Phil; I highlight what the CPS doesn't want its members and others to know.

Which is just how bad things have become inside the CPS, through appalling neglect at the top.

And how it's going to stay that way - or get even worse - under the ruling status quo.

I'm not picking on you, Phil. It's just that you (and Flick) are only members of the CPS Trustees serving their Society membership well enough to respond to serious issues like this.

What you don't say is as important as what you do.

• You don't deny that the CPS has £14,000 of members' money sitting idly in the bank, for years;
  
• You won't say what conservation work the CPS has undertaken, although this is a prime objective of the CPS' charitable status. (rf. Society Rule 3);
  
• The CPS won't commit a contribution towards a major UK peatland preservation project, where native CPs are known to exist and all the administrative work has been done by the RSPB;
  
• You don't give any statements from the CPS leadership;
  
• You don't deny that Tim and Dennis are the only CPS Committee people doing anything about the DEFRA consultation and the EEE.
  

Thank heavens for Tim and Dennis, otherwise the CPS wouldn't even have the EEE this year.

Even fair Sheila is showing welcome signs of returning to activity, despite a recent double lung transplant.

More than can be said of others, eh?

I think it's about time the Charities Commission was made aware of what is (not) happening inside the CPS, don't you?

Only-the-Hidden-Fear-Light of Letchworth

Edited March 19, 2011 by Vic2

[pwilson]

Well at the risk of completely contradicting myself I’ll respond to your accusations here once and for all.

First off though, if a member wants to ask these questions I will happily answer them as openly and honestly as a I can. You on the other hand have no such right. If you think you have a case please stop making them here on this forum and take it to the charities commission. I will state once and once only that not a single one of your accusations has even a grain of truth. I will deal with every one of your points here for the record and to shut you up finally. You have of course tried and failed completely to urge members to challenge us at the last AGM. I think most people see through you entirely.

I'm simply being open and honest, Phil; I highlight what the CPS doesn't want its members and others to know.

Which is just how bad things have become inside the CPS, through appalling neglect from the top.

And how it's going to stay that way - or get even worse - under the ruling status quo.

You are being economical with the truth. The membership can make any points they want at any time to any committee member and further, they can raise these points at the AGM. You on the other hand seem to think that you have a God given right to criticise a society with which you have no connection. I deny completely and utterly that there is or has been any attempt to cover anything up and further that there is nothing that we do not want our members to know. Everything including finance is stated completely and openly at every AGM. Flick produces a comprehensive statement of account which is handed out to all AGM attendees and is made available in the society publication. Flick also leaves the books for anyone at the AGM to inspect and for those who are not able to attend she is always willing to provide any information or answer questions from members. As for you being “open and honest”, this is a very strange interpretation of the term. You produce facts that are incorrect and brandish them as the truth, you make accusations against committee members that are completely unfounded and you attempt to split the committee by praising some and slagging the rest off. Let everyone see the evidence below.

As for the "appalling neglect" I can see no evidence of this. We have a thriving and vibrant society. We produce displays at the two largest plant shows in the country (RHS Chelsea and the NEC). We are organising a fantastic event at Chester Zoo this year and we have a great new publication, the Planta Carnivora. We also have two specific CPS shows each year (the AGM and the end of the year show) and we have members and other open days throughout the growing season. Neglect? Don't think so. It's actually very easy to make statements like "appalling neglect" without qualifying them or in fact providing a single piece of evidence to back up your claims. And before you even begin to open your mouth again do not make a single accusation against Steve Cottell or Paul McKeown that you cannot back up 100%.

What you don't say is as important as what you do.

• You don't deny that the CPS has £14,000 of members' money sitting idly in the bank, for years;

DENIED.
The current balance in the society account is around £12000 and from this we still have to pay approximately £2000 for the production and mailing of the next Plant Carnivora. The figure you quote is from several years ago and was artificially inflated because we had reserved money for a journal that didn’t appear (my fault – sorry!) and the CP Guide. Since that balance we have produced one guide and two journals at one go. The guide cost very roughly something in the region of £3500, the last journal cost something close to £2000 and each Plant Carnivora costs a somewhat lower figure but it is something around £1300. There are postage and packing costs on top of these figures plus we employ a graphic designer to get the publication print ready. Again I don't have these to hand but it's something close to £800 for the Planta Carnivora. There is also a ring fenced figure for the conservation fund, which is £1200 so the approximate balance of society funds is in fact around £8700. All these figures are available for EVERY member since we publish the accounts from every AGM. They are also available online (I think) and if all else fails, any member can get a copy by emailing or writing to Flick (with an SAE of course). Hardly covering things up is it?
We have to maintain sufficient funds in the account for several reasons. First, we need a cushion for unexpected events and we have already decided that this will be no less than £5000. This is to cover us for anything that might turn up. It is vital that we maintain some sort of financial security as otherwise we risk insolvency and the society will cease to exist. Few members are aware that when Flick took over as treasurer how close the society was to being insolvent. We are also underwriting the EEE this year to the tune of something close to £5000. This means than in the event that the EEE makes a loss the CPS will cover it. Quite obviously we hope to make some sort of profit but you can never tell with these events. Foot and mouth devastated events of this sort not that long ago and the weather can make a tremendous difference too. If it rains all weekend we can expect significantly fewer visitors than if it is brilliant sunshine. But finances are more subtle than that. We also have to have the funds to buy all the resources that we will need for the EEE in advance. For instance marquees have to be hired, PA systems too. We also need to buy publicity and display materials and there are a thousand other things that need to be bought. Quite obviously the money has to come from somewhere for all this and the somewhere is society funds.
Also separately we need funds to allow us to buy things for the members. T shirts and other promotional stuff for instance and books. We can use our buying power to get books at a significant discount which is then passed onto members. All this needs funding and we have to keep those funds so they are available. Our new promotions officer has loads of new ideas for CP related clothing and other stuff. Suffice to say that we cannot underwrite events such as the EEE if we do not have the funds available to do so.
One further point is relevent here. We are and have been running at a slight loss over the past few years. The loss will actually increase this year because the new Planta Carnivora is a more expensive publication than the old journal/newsletter combination. I suppose some might say that the extra costs are unjustified but hopefully these will be a minority and certainly we on the committee think that the improvements in communications and the overal quality of the Plant Carnivora justify the additional cost. The only reason we can justify running at a loss is by having a reasonable financial cushion and as long as the cushion is there we will be able to continue to maintain the membership fees at the currrent price. I have been a member of the CPS for far longer than I care to remember and I cannot recall when we last had a membership fee increase. That is surely a benefit to the members isn't it?

You won't say what conservation work the CPS has undertaken, although this is a prime objective of the CPS' charitable status. (rf. Society Rule 3);

DENIED.
In the last year? Well we supported a research project concerning one of the few (possibly only) site for the Drosera hybrid D. belezeana and the major project is of course the EEE which will be supporting at least two organisations concerned specifically with conservation. All profits (if any) will go to these organisations and we will be fundraising actively for them as well during the show. In addition to any profits there will be separate fundraising activities for our sponsored organisations including a plant auction and collecting tins. Almost as importantly though will be the coverage that our supported organisations will be getting giving visitors an oversight of the threats that carnivorous plants face and the work that is being done to protect them. And before you ask I don't want to name the organisations yet because I don't know that they have been finalised. This is something that Tim will name when the time is right. That's not being secretive. I don't think it is fair to make public announcements before the details have been finalised.

The CPS won't commit a contribution towards a major UK peatland preservation project, where native CPs are known to exist and all the administrative work has been done by the RSPB;

DENIED
The RSPB are welcome to make an application to the conservation fund. But this is also a classic example of how you twist things to suit your own purposes. Because no one has bothered to reply to your comments you assume it means we have refused it. We have not refused anything because we have not even talked about it.
We have a specific duty to make sure that society funds are only spent on projects that specifically benefit carnivorous plants. Specifically and quoting from the CPS website,
The aim of the fund is to provide support to conservation projects where carnivorous plants are to be saved, their habitat protected from destruction, cultivated for reintroductions to wild sites, or where key sites can be used as an educational resource.
This means that we have to examine every application to make sure it conforms in one or more respects to the criteria set up for this purpose. While I'm sure that the RSPB project is extremely valuable and worthy there is no mention specifically of preserving carnivorous plant habitats. Having said all this I am going to contact the RSPB to see if there is any relevance to carnivorous plants and to see if there is any way that we could support a specific funding application. I don't think buying gimmick parcels of land is a suitable use of society funds though of course if members think otherwise they are more than welcome to let any committee member know.

You don't give any statements from the CPS leadership;

Well I am one of the CPS leadership and I suppose you could consider this to be a statement. In preparing this reply the committe have discussed the response in detail so please be absolutely certain in the fact that I am representing the opinion of the entire committee. You continually make the point that certain committee members do not respond to comments and emails. I have stated it before and I will state it again that all committee members have a right to a private life and they should not be subjected to personal abuse from you or any other person, member or non-member. You do not have any right of reply where society matters are concerned. So DENIED.

You don't deny that Tim and Dennis are the only CPS Committee people doing anything about the DEFRA consultation and the EEE.

Thank heavens for Tim and Dennis, otherwise the CPS wouldn't even have the EEE this year.

Even fair Sheila is showing welcome signs of returning to activity, despite a recent double lung transplant.

More than can be said of others, eh?

DENIED. Tim wrote the reply to the DEFRA consultation because writes these sorts of reports professionally so he knows the format. There was a general contribution towards the content and we had several drafts before we agreed a final format. Naturally Tim announced this on the forum - why wouldn't he. You assume from this that Tim did all the work. You are WRONG. As for your claim that Dennis had a major input I'm sure he will forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm not aware of him making any more contribution than the rest of us. As for the claim that only Tim and Dennis are responsible for putting on the EEE I will put you right there too. It is true that Tim has taken on the major role of organising the EEE and that Dennis has had a major input but to say that the rest of us are taking a back seat is pure insult. Let's see, we have Flick who is responsible for the overall funding. Darren is producing the website. I am organising the speakers. Steve and Paul are organising the plant display.

I think it's about time the Charities Commission was made aware of what is (not) happening inside the CPS, don't you?

So stop right now and send your accusations to them. Go on! I'll even make it easy for you. Here is the website for the Charities Commission. http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ We would love you to do this in fact because we do not have a single thing to hide from you, the charities commission or any single member.

Now, since I have answered your accusations it's only fair that you answer some of mine.

1. You wasted CPS funds on software that was not needed. I still have an educational/chartitable organisation copy of Dreamweaver CS4 that we will sell to anyone who is interested BTW. Contact me by PM if interested. Vic bought this software insisting it was needed shortly before he resigned his post as Internet Officer. Later I found that the society website was written in a language that is not compatible with Dreamweaver. Presumably you were planning to re-write the society website but suddenly found you needed to spend more time with your family.

2. You left your post as Internet Officer with no notice leaving us with no one to maintain the site. Is this the behaviour of someone who claims to be profoundly concerned about the society?

3. You sent offensive and probably libellous emails to certain committee members including me and then denied all knowledge of them. You also threatened prosecution under the data protection act unless we deleted these emails from our personal computers. Fortunately you are not a lawyer because if you did you would know of course that the data protection act does not cover data held on personal computers. I for one still have these emails and intend to keep them for my personal protection.

4. While a committee member you attempted to cultivate and ferment disorder among the committee. At one point for instance you suggested that I stand against Steve as chairman for instance. I refused point blank because I considered it to be disloyal. I suspect it was at this point that you turned your spiteful venom against me.

5. Why do you continue to criticise a society with which you have absolutely no connection. You are not a part of the society. You left the committee after a very short time and were later ejected from the society because you refused to retract certain allegations made to me and other members of the committee. It matters not a bit to you what happens to the society now you are no longer a member and in fact there is nothing to even stop you forming your own splinter carnivorous plant society. Perhaps this is what you should do considering you think we are making such a bad job of it.

And now a general message to whoever moderates this section of the forum. If you feel that I have answered these continued accusations once and for all please say so. If you think that there is more to answer please also say so. If however it is your opinion that Vic's accusations have been answered once and for all I urge you to prevent him posting on the topic again. I've said it so many times now but I'll say it again. He is an ex-member with a grudge and that's the end of it.

I'll state once more that I have the backing of the entire committee on this so this is not just me giving my opinion. If neccesary we will take these accusations to the full CPS membership and get their reaction. We will also seek assistance from the charities commission if we think it neccessary.

And now a final appology to anyone else who has waded through this post. We don't respond in this manner lightly and I am aware that there will be those on the forum who will be saying to themselves, "not again"! Sorry.

Phil

[Vic2]

Perhaps you should have consulted the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the rest of the Committee before making such an ill-advised post and personal attack on behalf of the Carnivorous Plant Society UK, Phil.

I will happily accept an apology for and retraction of your remarks by the CPS Chairman, publicly on this forum.

I hope to read the retraction and apology by 28th March.

Kind regards,

Vic

Edited March 21, 2011 by Vic2

[Vic2]

Can I please assure CPS members that the Committee has compiled the Peat Consultation response to Defra as a unit.

Finally, and my personal comment, I find the Committee a happy and joined up unit.

2011 is a year to really celebrate our hobby, and I would urge everyone to get behind the Society - members and non-members. Of course, that doesn't mean members shouldn't keep us on our toes!

My best wishes to you all

Tim

Hope to read your DEFRA response soon. Well done!

Will you be posting the response? We need to preserve our plants and our peat.

Just to be clear, Tim:

Does this mean you - as a member of the CPS Committee - support Phil Wilson's post above, which is made on behalf of the CPS and has your unanimous backing, according to the post?

I'm still waiting to hear from the CPS Chairman, btw.

Serious allegations have been made by the CPS - which I know the Society can't substantiate - and it is the Chairman's undelegatable duty to respond for the CPS.

I genuinely hope that Steve Cottell - nothing to do with the well-known and -respected Stephen Morley, btw - will not provide further evidence to support my case of what is seriously wrong inside the CPS.

Best wishes,

Vic

[pwilson]

I'm still waiting to hear from the CPS Chairman, btw.

Serious allegations have been made by the CPS - which I know the Society can't substantiate - and it is the Chairman's undelegatable duty to respond for the CPS.

Just to make it absolutely clear, I can substantiate every one of the claims that I have made against you. Would you like me to publish the details now?

As for Steve Cottell responding to your futile demands - he may well not have even read your demands since last time I heard from him his computer wasn't working. It doesn't really matter anyway does it. You have to right of response from anyone from the CPS. I note that not a single member has taken up your case.

Phil

[Vic2]

Just to make it absolutely clear, I can substantiate every one of the claims that I have made against you. Would you like me to publish the details now?

As for Steve Cottell responding to your futile demands - he may well not have even read your demands since last time I heard from him his computer wasn't working. It doesn't really matter anyway does it. You have to right of response from anyone from the CPS. I note that not a single member has taken up your case.

Phil

Yes, please - publish all the details that are truthful!

I've nothing to fear from the truth. As you well know.

Just be aware of the laws of libel, Phil...

Maybe the CPS Chairman should calm down the CPS Secretary, before he gets the Society into really hot water...?

Vic

P.S.

As for no members taking up this case, that's not true either, Phil:

They're just not brave - or foolhardy - enough to risk a savaging by you.

I have given my word not to make their names public, btw. Which is the truth.

P.P.S.

Better start a new thread, too; not very fair on Stephen and his important DEFRA issue to continue here.

Edited March 22, 2011 by Vic2

[mobile]

I, as a forum and CPS member, would like to request that Vic and Phil please take their discussion elsewhere. I do not wish to take sides and there may be need for further discussion on the subject to which these members are 'debating', however this thread is not the place for such. This thread is for the discussion of 'DEFRA consultation on the use of peat'.

Edited March 22, 2011 by mobile

[pwilson]

You're right Mobile - this is completely off topic. Can one of the moderators please move these posts to a new thread?

I have to say that I considered it very seriously before posting here. I am aware that most members of the CPS and of this forum probably view this argument with a large amount of distaste. But I have stood by long enough while Vic makes wrong and completely unfounded accusations about a society and its committee with which I have had a long and largely very happy association.

BTW - one final point that I ought to make. I've just re-read some old emails from Vic and I was wrong that he was ejected from the CPS. He resigned his post and then applied to re-join. It was at this point that we asked him to agree to a few simple and reasonable conditions that we as a committee felt that he needed to accept. He refused and therefore he was refused membership of the CPS. I appologise for presenting misleading information - I should have checked my records first.

Phil

[Vic2]

I, as a forum and CPS member, would like to request that Vic and Phil please take their discussion elsewhere. I do not wish to take sides and there may be need for further discussion on the subject to which these members are 'debating', however this thread is not the place for such. This thread is for the discussion of 'DEFRA consultation on the use of peat'.

Agreed, mobile

I hope that Andy will allow the Society to start a new thread, as it would be nice to confirm that I have always been open, truthful and honest, and my good name has never been in doubt.

And they shall also see why I've endured this hassle to try and save the CPS from incredible neglect by its leadership, who show no signs of moving aside for better Committee members to take their place as Trustees and leaders, thereby hindering the CPS in its charitable duties.

Vic

[Vic2]

You're right Mobile - this is completely off topic. Can one of the moderators please move these posts to a new thread?

But I have stood by long enough while Vic makes wrong and completely unfounded accusations about a society and its committee with which I have had a long and largely very happy association.

BTW - one final point that I ought to make. I've just re-read some old emails from Vic and I was wrong that he was ejected from the CPS. He resigned his post and then applied to re-join. It was at this point that we asked him to agree to a few simple and reasonable conditions that we as a committee felt that he needed to accept. He refused and therefore he was refused membership of the CPS. I appologise for presenting misleading information - I should have checked my records first.

Phil

At last, the cracks are beginning to show:

The CPS Secretary admits he has not told the truth about me...

Andy,

Please allow a new thread to be created.

Then I can post the "few simple and reasonable conditions that we as a committee felt that he needed to accept" to rejoin!!

Believe me, they're absolute corkers...

It's a forced confession, reading like a document from Stalinist Russia rather than an allegedly open and friendly UK charity covering the hobby of carnivorous plants!

Edited March 22, 2011 by Vic2

[mobile]

It appears that my request has simply served as an opportunity for further off topic bickering. This thread has lost its purpose.

Edited March 22, 2011 by mobile

[Vic2]

It appears that my request has simply served as an opportunity for further off topic bickering. This thread has lost its purpose.

Sorry, mobile...

Vic

Edited March 22, 2011 by Vic2

[Andy Collins]

I have split these off topic posts from the DEFRA consultation on the use of peat thread.

[Vic2]

As for Steve Cottell responding to your futile demands - he may well not have even read your demands since last time I heard from him his computer wasn't working.

Phil

How convenient!!

I note that the CPS Vice-Chairman used the very same excuse previously, to justify not answering emails from the Society for a 9-month period...

I have an alternative hypothesis to offer for the Chairman's unending silence:

The CPS Chairman cannot be bothered to fulfil his duty to the Society.

He won't even help out the CPS Secretary, in his hour of need.

In short, he doesn't care enough about the Society, its members or even the Trustees and Committee to raise a finger to help them.

I doubt you've even been able to get a reply from him.

(In other words, exactly the same behaviour as when I served on the Committee, a few years ago).

I challenge the CPS Chairman to prove my hypothesis is wrong.

I've already said that a simple statement from the CPS Chairman on this forum by the 28th March will allow the serious allegations against me by the Society to be forgotten.

Over to you, Steve Cottell... prove me wrong, and justify your position as Chairman of the CPS.

This is your remit, and you can't shirk it onto someone else.

I shall be absolutely delighted to admit error, and would happily give a fulsome retraction for doubting you!

Show-You-Deserve-Your-Position of Letchworth

Edited March 22, 2011 by Vic2

[mobile]

I have split these off topic posts from the DEFRA consultation on the use of peat thread.

Thanks Andy

[Flick]

Agreed, mobile

I hope that Andy will allow the Society to start a new thread, as it would be nice to confirm that I have always been open, truthful and honest, and my good name has never been in doubt.

Vic

I am also glad that Andy has moved this thread away from the Defra use of peat consultation, so that I can comment publically - without restraint - in spite of the fear of further poison and threats (veiled or otherwise) that will surely be heaped on the CPS and me from you.

For those of you who do not know, I am the CPS Treasurer and also one of the four Trustees. Your personal treatment of me, (in your short time as a committee member) was as far from open, truthful and honest as it can get. You would swing from praise to critiscism depending on what suited you at the time. You still do that. You are clever - I grant you that - and you have a fantastic way with words - you were also a good internet officer - although briefly. But you were, and are, manipulative, selective and tireless in your compaign against the CPS Committee and I felt personally bullied by you.

We are damned if we answer you and damned if we don't. We have tried answering you collectively as a committee and also individually. Whatever any of us says or does, you twist it.......turn it.........spit it back. It is very easy to spit venom on a public forum, you are not personally within reach. If any of us dare to critiscise you in return - you threaten us with libel. I will happily face you and tell you what I think of you, but only in front of witnesses so you cannot misunderstand, misconstrue or misuse what I say.

I am saddened that I will now face a barage from you and I have been drawn into your game. I enjoy my role in the CPS and I take it very seriously. I carry out my duties to the best of my ability - we all do that. This hobby is fun, informative and constructive. I just cannot keep my feelings to my self any longer.

Flick

[Andy Collins]

It would be nice to read the thoughts of other members on this subject.

Does anyone believe/agree with what Vic says? Some of it or all of it?

Is Vic doing this for revenge, spite, to get his own back?

Is this damaging the CPS?

If Vic gets his own way and committee members do resign will the CPS survive?

Do people care what happens to the CPS?

[Andy Collins]

Just for the record I do not believe or agree with anything Vic says.

Andy

[danthecpman]

Just for the record I do not believe or agree with anything Vic says.

Andy

im with you andy :) seems like pointless bickering to me and most of phils replies have been twisted and changed.

Anyhoo im happy with the CPS as im sure most of the other members are.

Dan

[Vic2]

Does anyone believe/agree with what Vic says? Some of it or all of it?

Is Vic doing this for revenge, spite, to get his own back?

Is this damaging the CPS?

If Vic gets his own way and committee members do resign will the CPS survive?

Do people care what happens to the CPS?

For the record, from my perspective Andy and CPUK have never taken sides in this.

I understand that he is under severe pressure to suppress dissent by me, and needs to distance CPUK from this debate.

I respect his even-handed integrity - and sheer courage - in allowing this debate to continue.

(Very sorry to cause you grief, Andy: I apologise that I couldn't find a better way).

The proof is there, for all to see:

No comment - ever - by the CPS Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

And this is covered up by the Society at every available opportunity.

I would welcome other comments.

The only person who can tell you if it's for revenge, spite, etc. is me.

I can categorically deny that it is for any of these things.

I am on a crusade - though sadly without a white charger and much-needed body armour - to shift two neglectful, selfish and uncaring individuals from critical positions of power within the CPS, which they will not relinquish even though they won't do the work and responsibilities required of these leadership and Trustee posts.

They are also amiable and excellent CP growers, which is probably why they have got away with it for so long.

CP's in the UK, their conservation and their growers are suffering as a result.

The elections at the AGM have been arranged so that it is easy for these two gentlemen to stay in their posts.

Consider it a flaw in my character if you will, but I cannot stand by and watch a Society, of which I am very fond, be screwed by a selfish and uncaring Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

To shut me up, all Steve Cottell has to do is personally post a statement on this forum as outlined previously. The CPS Secretary has made a rash post on behalf of the Society, and it is the Chairman's personal duty to respond for the Society on such a serious matter.

Steve Cottell has until the 28th March to show that he is in fact a Chairman, and not a self-interested and neglectful individual occupying critical positions as Chairman and Trustee that would be better filled by Tim Bailey, Dennis Balsdon or Flick Foreman, for the good of the CPS, our plants and our growers.

I'm deeply sorry to have to inflict pain on the Society in this way. I tried quietly within the Committee, but this appears to be the only way to save the Carnivorous Plant Society of the UK from deep-seated, long-term neglect and abuse from within.

I look forward to reading your views, people...

Am I wrong to try and change things for the better?

Vic

P.S.

I would like to thank those people who have been kind enough to support my campaign from the sidelines. I won't embarrass you in public - you've all seen how the Society has tried to discredit me for telling the truth - but thanks, guys and gals I needed to know it wasn't just me who was disgusted by the situation within the CPS. It needs to change, or CP's and their growers in our fair land will continue to suffer for it.

Edited March 23, 2011 by Vic2

[mobile]

I do have one complaint about the CPS and that is with communication, in particular internet/email. The CPS website looks outdated and the information on it is outdated too. Some example are:

• On the Home>Members News>Member Only, the 'new' news is the 'Treasurer's Report April 2009'.
  
• The meetings page is still 2010.
  
• The 'new' newsletter is June 2009, and the latest one I have access to is 'The CPS News No.3 Dec 2009'.
  
• The 'NewsFlash' has a entry about Paul Mckeown's open day - which was last year.
  
• The last entry on the Conservation page is 'Irish Peatland Conservation Council - 2004.'
  
• The promotions page has a contact link for David Tite and the order form has David's address on; however, he is not listed as a committee member on the 'Committee Contacts - Email' page and Steve Taverner is listed as the promotions officer.
  
• As an eMember my subscription expired without me realising, as no notifications are sent to inform members and nothing that I can find on the site that states what date it expires.
  
• Renewing membership took 5 days, which is quite long considering payment is instant via PayPal.
  

To be perfectly honest, I no longer visit the site, as there is nothing new. This is not a good advertisement for the CPS, especially considering that younger growers are likely to seek information via the internet.

I realise that committee members give up their free time for CPS duties but I honestly think that more effort needs to be concentrated on the internet site and services to their eMembers.

[Phil Green]

As Andy has asked, I'll add my opinions.

I don't know anything about the inside workings of the CPS so don't know if what Vic says is true or not. Nor do I intend to take side on the Vic verses CPS issues - I suspect there are faults on both sides.

But I do consider that there are long standing problems with the CPS. The CPS is very bad at passing on information (often important info) to it's members, and often only does so once a thread appears on here asking what is going on. Even then, the info goes on here, but not their web site - which is where it should be!

For many years, their web site has been effectively dead and virtually always long out dated info is on it. The info on the home page about "Planta Carnivora - Newsletter and Journal of the CPS" is all about the problems with the Spring 2010 edition and expected delays with the Autumn one - Nothing about what is happening with this Springs edition. Yes I know Tim has told us on here - but why nothing on the CPS web site ??

Like wise with the EEE this should be a really BIG DEAL, but with the exception of a couple of lines mentioning the EEE blog, there is nothing about it and no link to the EEE web site. Given how long it is likely to be before the UK holds this again, there should be no way that a casual visitor to the CPS web site can leave without knowing ALL about it.

I feel that rather than attract new members, the CPS web site actual puts off members.

I know Tim is trying really hard to sort out and improve the CPS publications and I do not attach any blame for problems on him - but sometimes using the cheapest quote or 'friends' to do something, just causes more problems than it is worth. If you feel someone is 'doing you a favour' it is hard to push them or complain about their lack of progress. I suspect Tim is even more frustrated with the continual delays than I am.

So basically, if things don't start to improve, I won't be renewing my membership in 2012.

and that is ALL I am going to say on this matter.

EDIT - I took so long to carefully write this, that I now see I'm not the only one with complaints about communications and the outdated web site.

Edited March 23, 2011 by Phil Green

[mobile]

EDIT - I took so long to carefully write this, that I now see I'm not the only one with complaints about communications and the outdated web site.

Sorry, beat you to it, but the state of the website is a real bugbear to me. I am an avid internet user but find the CPS website somewhat pointless and possibly even has a negative effect.

So basically, if things don't start to improve, I won't be renewing my membership in 2012.

Given the lack of 'value' offered to eMembers, you will not be the only one.