Sun 22 Nov 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Disappointment and optimism have been expressed after a resolution of no confidence in the board of Body Positive was convincingly passed following concerns at strategic decisions made by the board which has acknowledged its communication with members could have been better. Outgoing chair Ashley Barratt is philosophical about his board's fate at yesterday's landmark Special General Meeting and unsure if the organisation can remain stable enough to attract funding and fully carry out its work of peer support and advocacy for people with HIV. But Craig Webster, one of the group which petitioned for the board's removal, is anticipating more clarity and transparency around the new board's decision-making. “I'm obviously disappointed on behalf of the board,” Barratt says. “Obviously the meeting didn't go quite as expected. We felt it was appropriate that we put forward a resolution supporting our direction so on a personal basis it was difficult to have that removed and be told that we hadn't communicated or hadn't tried to. But that was the decision and we'll take it to the December 5 meeting. The key thing now is that the peopple who believe that they have got a desire and skills and ability to be part of the new board come forward.” He says the outgoing board “as a collective and as individuals” needs to “decide their own view as to what they want to do going forwards but it is clear that we are an outgoing board and there will be a new election. As to whether the months of conflict between the petitioning members and the board,the uncertainty about BP's future direction and the way this is interpreted by BP's funders and other stakeholders, will adversely affect how the organisation operates in the future, Barratt merely says “time will tell.” However, one of the petitioners whose submission to yesterday's meeting was a key expression of the petitioners' concerns, Craig Webster, says he's “very happy with the outcome, very pleased with that. It was a good meeting, there were a few changes made but that went quite well." Looking ahead, Webster says he'd like "all the issues presented to be followed through with, that until the board does change over, that they follow through with the expectations, transparency and clarity. There is going to be a new board so that needs to be advertised, members need to be aware of it and put themselves forward if they wish to be on the board, and that it's followed through with due process.” Webster doesn't believe the dumping of the current board and likely re-evaluation of the organisations processes, strategic direction and service delivery will destabilise BP or adversely affect it's future operations in direct or indirect ways. “What will transpire from this is that we will have clarity about the direction that Body Positive's going to take and that everyone can be included in the decision-making."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News
First published: Sunday, 22nd November 2015 - 8:44am