Talk: 2010-2011 AGM/Candidates/Andrew Owens

Hello Andrew - I'm assuming you will accept questions and have posted them here but if you want me to put them on the candidature page please let me know.

Firstly, well done posting your statement with as much time as possible for all financial members to consider your intentions etc.  I am hopeful that every candidate, whether a vote or not is required puts their position up clearly for all to see.

I have two questions - they may be related.  

*Question 1 - I (and I'd say others) were fully expecting to see you apply for a more senior position on the committee than a general member - can you tell us why you have decided not to put your application in for those positions?   

*Question 2 - which may be related to an answer to question 1 - During this current year of committee work you were at times inundated by real life commitments and you found this to impact to varying degrees upon your achievement of goals which you had set.  Given that your stated goals this year are perhaps even more ambitious, what can you tell us about your ability to remain with your 'hands on the wheel' so to speak?

I look forward to all financial members being able to read your answers.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:19, 13 September 2010 (EST)

: Hi Steve, and thank you for your questions.
: In answer to (1), I had intended to run for a more senior position, and others had encouraged me to do so. It came down to - others beat me to the nomination, and it seemed senseless to try and knock one of them off simply to get into a position myself and present members with an "either/or" choice, especially when there's such a shortage of candidates. (I would have run for such had the constitutional amendment currently on the table been passed.) John, Adam and Craig all bring things to the table from entirely different fields that I think we desperately need on board, and I particularly like the idea that we can break out of this "Australia is NSW/VIC" mindset that has pervaded the chapter since its foundation. A committee member in every state - now that's something I could never have imagined just 10 months ago.
: I think that (2) is based on a misconception that time and real life commitments were the only factors which limited my effectiveness and ability to contribute during the term, particularly with getting the information pack moving, a task which I never anticipated having to do entirely by myself. I have both the time and the ability to see through the commitments I have laid out in this statement.
: Our term was not noted for its activity or level of success, and it's worth noting the decision by more than half of the team including its leader (our second during the term) not to renominate, along with the general feeling inspired by a look across our published minutes over the term (both of which have attracted comment from members and former members) and the general state of the public mailing lists. Almost none of the decisions taken at our planning meeting in January, for which a variety of committee members were responsible, were put into effect either. The culture I have just described is not one that an Ordinary Member gets to have much say in - indeed, most of my candidate statement is not news to anyone on the last committee. I do not see any advantage in revisiting the past, however, so I will simply say that I am confident that a new leadership team and a new executive, as has been confirmed unopposed, will bring cultural change and offer new talents, skills and ideas to our chapter. Should I be elected, I will be doing everything I can to help them succeed. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 19:24, 13 September 2010 (EST)