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| The Bletherings of Former Chieftains on absolutely anything and everything |
| If you missed BLACK AND WHITE Nos. 1/2/3/4/5 Please Click here to view ARCHIVED MATERIALS |
B&W 6
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| ELECTION SPECIAL |
Let the Battle Begin
Well, well, who would have believed it? We have three candidates for the position of Chieftain at the Society’s AGM to be held on 10th April this
year. What a turn-up for the books - we have not had this since 1987. Personally I think it’s a real morale booster for the Society and says a lot for
all the efforts the current Chieftain and his Committee have put into their tasks over the past year - that the top position will be challenged for by
three members and not just one.
Another wee snippet of the Society’s history.
Prior to the Constitution being changed (I believe in 2001) to reflect the current requirements for nominations at the AGM it had been the practice
of the Java St. Andrew Society to accept nominations from the floor at the AGM for the positions of Chieftain, Honorary Secretary and Honorary
Treasurer. Anyone could be nominated for these positions on the night. However, being a “democratic” Society, what normally happened was that
several weeks prior to the AGM the Past Chieftains who were still resident in Jakarta had an informal meeting to discuss which members would be
most suitable to continue the proud tradition and high esteem in which the Society was held within the expat community. Once a candidate for the
position of Chieftain had been identified and agreed on by the Past Chieftains in attendance, it was then left to the current Chieftain to approach
the chosen candidate to request their acceptance – usually a formality. Informally word was then spread to the members the name of the person
who would be standing as the upcoming Chieftain and that person was invariably voted in as Chieftain at the AGM. Easy and painless!
That all changed at the 1987 AGM, thanks to one of the Past Chieftains dropping a spanner into what we thought was a well oiled machine! The
Past Chieftains had held their meeting, a candidate had been chosen and she had agreed to her proposed nomination as Chieftain. But then
calamity! A Past Chieftain, without advising either the current Chieftain or any of the other Past Chieftains approached another member and
lobbied with him to also stand at the AGM for the position of Chieftain, which this person, in his ignorance of what had already been agreed by the
other Chieftains, accepted. The “fit hit the shan” about a week or so before the AGM when it came to light that the wife of this “Machiavellian” Past
Chieftain had been seen outside Kemchiks canvassing for votes for their candidate. Naughty, Naughty!
The lady who thought she would have been elected unopposed was suddenly faced with a competitor, had virtually no time to launch a counter
campaign and was, quite naturally, unprepared for this 11th hour challenge. So it was down to straight vote counting on the night for one or t’
other. What an acrimonious AGM it turned out to be too! A tumultuous meeting, with emotions reaching fever pitch at times –so much so that at
one point it almost came to blows between yours truly and the “gentleman” (I use that word disparagingly) who nominated the second candidate.
He challenged my role as the Official Returning Officer, responsible for counting the votes, to which I took great exception and it took some of my
friends to calm me down. I actually wanted to invite him outside to settle the matter. Aye, I was a lot more hotheaded in those days! Mind you, I
think I could have taken him, - nae bother. How life changes, I could hardly beat a drum these days!!! By the way, the candidate chosen by the
Past Chieftains lost the election which made the life of the elected Chieftain much more difficult than it could have been.
When the changes were first adopted I had mixed feelings about the effect they would have on the AGM, with the key positions being all cut and
dried in advance. Let’s face it, in recent years the Society’s AGMs have been rather quiet and sedate affairs with only one candidate being
proposed for Chieftain. But this year the ballgame has changed and once again we can look forward to a keen race for the key position, Chieftain,
which is a good and healthy sign.
The rules of the Constitution are clear and all full or Life members who cannot attend the AGM must register their proxy vote in the prescribed form
at least 3 days prior to the meeting, so please don’t complain afterwards if the candidate you would have preferred does not obtain the majority of
votes necessary. Vote now or forever haud yir wheesht.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE
I just cannot close this article without adding some levity, especially as the two fitba teams I support don’t look like they are going to be title holders
this year.
For Celtic the ba’s definitely “oot the windae”! MU, well we will just have to wait and see.
- This one is for my good friends Sid Whyte, Murray Thompson and “Aye Ready” Chuck Jeffery.
Working people frequently ask me what retired people do to make
their days interesting.
- Well, for example, the other day my wife and I went into Glasgow and
- went into a shop.
We were only in there for about 5 minutes.
When we came out, there was a traffic warden writing out a parking
ticket.
We went up to him and said, 'Come on man, how about giving a senior
citizen a wee break?'
- He ignored us and continued writing the ticket. I called him a Nazi shite.
- He glared at me and started writing another ticket for taking up two
parking places.
So my wife called him a shit-head.
He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the
first.
- Then we abused him even more and eventually he got on his radio and
- called a truck out to tow the car away.
We looked at each other as the car was clamped and lifted on to the back
of the truck.
Personally, we didn't care.
We came into town by bus, and the car had a Rangers sticker on the back window.
We try to have a little fun each day now that we're retired. It's
important at our age.
