A 5th Hand report just in suggested that a full list of candidates standing for whatever positions at Tuesday's AGM would be on the LFS Website "soonish". Low and behold we checked and at about 10am today it popped up – rather than try and distill it all go and look for yourselves.There are no huge surprises in the candidate list and it seems that all the issues are on the deck and up for discussion. Democracy is such a tedious process but as previously quoted here, Churchill said that "democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
We also like this one of his “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Since we are in FPQM (Famous People Quote Mode) we cannot leave Gandhi out. "Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today."
Now we have just one question: at this late time how are members expected to get this information? Anyway pass the word!
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7 comments:
Democracy has nothing at all to do with quality. If we had a movie program decided upon by a show of hands or some other democratic process there is every chance that it would be awful and deadly boring. So when it is experience, expertise and information that is needed democracy is unlikely to give us what we really want or need.
Not liking democracy is often explained away with this kind of argument. Usually what democracy haters are saying is that they do not wish to be held to account.
Being found out for being correct is good. Being found wanting well that is bad and very very embarrassing.
It is not democracy that the haters do not like, it is actually accountability that is so odious. It is all very silly because we are left to wonder why and mostly we do.
I just want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for Gill Island’s efforts in particular. I had not realised that I owed so much to her for bringing such an excellent program of films to Launceston. Great work Gill.
I should also say that I really do appreciate the work of the film society. My cousin and I have shared a membership for years but I get to go more often than he does. Fortunately we have the same name so the introduction of the smart card has not interfered with our arrangement at all. I know that I speak for him when I say thank you.
Does this website only publish negative comments about the Committee?
I am looking forward to the AGM next Tuesday. I think the Committee has done a great job and it is only a minority of disgruntled members who are stirring up all this unpleasantness.
The films have covered a wide selection that should please most people.
The SmartCard is a good idea - you have to move with the times. Imagine if we didn't have automated check ins at the airports!! A person to help check the members through seems sensible as lots of members arrive after 6 pm start and it also frees up the committee to make themselves available to members and their queries.
Roll on the AGM and lets get on with running the Film Society as it should be - a place to show interesting films to interested people.
Concerned Film Goer
In response to Anonymous, the blog welcomes all comments relating to the LFS. Unlike some people, Mae does not "hate democracy". Silly and little she may well be, but she knows financial responsibility when she sees it, and she knows when it's lacking. She also knows when the membership is being consulted and when it is being insulted, and understands the difference.
Well let us take up the challenge. I/we think, and most Launcestonians know, that the Launceston Film Society is a cultural treasure. Furthermore, it is commonly agreed that film (that is the moving image in all its formats) was the most compelling artform of the 20th Century virtually eclipsing all others. For the 21st Century, well it is far too early to say but ‘filmic art’ is destined to be a part of, or will spawn, whatever the 21st Century is yet to produce.
The LFS has a history beyond the memory of most members. That a place like Launceston should produce a cultural organisation of a kind that most others could only aspire to being like is truly extraordinary. That the organisation over its life has attracted the diversity of members across such a broad spectrum of ‘interests,’ that is more than extraordinary,
Rather than relying on grants to exist the LFS made grants to film makers and perhaps others. We're not sure if it was more than once, probably, but in any event the point stands. That too is extraordinary.
The most important achievement is that the organization has NEVER conceded to the lowest common denominator. Also, it has maintained a vibrant membership (past and present) all of whom feel an intense sense of ownership for their organization. For most organizations as old as the LFS it is usually about time now to melt into the ether to make way for a more contemporary manifestation.
It is clear that the LFS is not yet ready for that. The LFS will undoubtedly continue to be a vibrant part of Launceston’s cultural life unless it is scuttled. That is not going to happen, well not this week.
Now Mae I dare you to publish this positive comment.
Anonymous 2
Couldn't agree more!
What Mae is hearing from many members is that they want the illustrious history of the society to be resumed after the hiccup of the last several months.
Mae has had it drawn to her attention that comments made in good faith on the LFS 'official' site have been removed. One thing Mae, along with millions of film lovers, hates is political censorship. She is proud to publish all comments she receives, within the bounds of legality and decency.
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