Savethectc

Future of the CTC

DANGER

Dear All

How aware are you of the proposal of the CTC head office to change the constitution of the CTC from a Membership organisation and convert it into a full blown charitable trust?

Have the reports and proposals been circulated to Member Groups to consider and discuss? The network is there across the whole country, but has not yet been used.

Have you seen and read the Report on the proposal by John Meudell, CTC Councillor, on the SW London website? Look up the 'savethectc' link on the Hilly 50 webpage. Click on 'Hilly 50 Blog', then click on the 'savethectc' link in grey on the right.

Have you looked at the debate on the CTC Forum? It is red hot! There is also a link to the full Forum debate on the savethectc page

Do you understand what this means for you as a member?

How aware are you of the vituperative debate that has been raging about what this would mean for members?

Do you care?

If you do, it is time for you to:

• find out what is happening
• decide for yourself what you believe is the purpose of the CTC - who it is for.
  
• make sure you get a proxy vote and have it cast in accord with your belief in what you think the future of the CTC should be
• know that the result will be decided by your proxy vote, or failure to use it
• the proposal will require, I believe, 75% of the votes of those present , including proxy votes
  
• a failure to vote is as good as a vote in favour of the change, which cannot be reversed.
  

This fundamental change to the role, independence and future of the CTC as a member organisation will be voted on at the AGM, to be held on 15 May 2010. You know how many people attend AGMs. Did you attend the SWLondon AGM? A very small number of activists can decide the future of 62,000 members. We can anticipate a blitz of propaganda from the head office and some council members to promote their proposal. The Feb/March issue of Cycling carries for and against arguments from opposite sides of the debate (see pp 36-37).

Please consider for yourself the weight of the arguments for and against this momentous proposal , make up your own mind, and make sure that you vote. The future of the CTC as a membership organisation that represents YOUR interests depends on your vote.

Don't be a sheep - be a lion!

You have 100 days!

Here endeth the first lesson.

Jeff

Author: Jeff

3 Comments:

mike morley 02 February 2010 at 23:42 GMT

Jeff, Well done I always knew you were a stirer at heart. Now with this prompt you may stir the hearts and minds of the wider caring body of members that we are to get upto speed on the why's and wherefor's. If you'r not sure then you should vote No! Not to vote is a Yes! vote so use your proxy wisely.

ATC 03 February 2010 at 19:13 GMT

Hi Fellow Cyclists

I have no idea how to add a comment to your “blog”, but do have a question.

The CTC is a club, by definition owned by its members. Therefore if it is to be absorbed into a “Charity”, surely all assets should be transferred to its membership? How much £? could each member expect receive if the charitable status vote is passed?

Are you able to answer this question?

Cheers

Tym

Jeff 04 February 2010 at 00:12 GMT

Hi Tym

Welcome.

My understanding is that the assets would transfer from the membership to the charitable trust. The CTC trust has already taken ownership of the members former main asset, which is the HQ building. The Charity Commissioners would certainly not permit assets to be disposed of and dispensed to members - that would hardly be a 'public benefit'.

The answer to your question is therefore £0.00

Jeff