The lack of Body Positive members coming forward to work with the organisation's outgoing board to put a new board in place was based on a reluctance to work with the people they had just ousted, according to a member who has offered to be part of the process. "I think most members, certainly of the group that lead the petition to oust the board, didn't feel comfortable working with those they had just voted out," says member and immediate past BP General Manager Bruce Kilmister. "There was a significant amount of animosity and mistrust and they just thought they would wait until the board was actually gone, to avoid any possible unpleasantness." The Board formally resigned on Monday and Kilmister says as soon as BP's current head, Executive Director Mark Fisher, confirms details and dates for an election process to appoint a new board the members will hold a meeting to discuss how they can support Fisher through that process. He believes there will be sufficient people of sufficient calibre stepping forward to fill the twelve-person board. Kilmister says he has offered to be part of the transition process but has no intention of any longer-term involvement. "I'm keen to stay retired. But I am not keen to see Body Positive roll over and fail... so I have met with Mark and others to ensure people with talent put themselves forward. And I've contacted the Ministry of Health [BP's primary funder] to advise them that I'm available to assist in this way, to give them some reassurance that the process should not destabilise Body Positive. "I hope everyone can dig deep and find the good will and remember that everyone involved in this, including the outgoing board, are volunteers and have contributed. I'm sure everyone would prefer to go forward together," he says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News
First published: Thursday, 3rd December 2015 - 9:58am