2011 AGM & Fieldtrip to Irvinestown, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

I wonder if there is any desire among the ordinary members to continue this organisation. To be fair, more pressing priorities coupled with the lack of official communication (Rural SA) has possibly resulted in the Rural SA being dropped from many members' radar.

Word of mouth (if this is in fact the method of communication used with regard to this AGM) is highly inappropriate and certainly lacks inclusivity (this organisation was set up for Graduates and Undergraduates of Rural Development across the whole of Ireland). The use of a Social Networking site relies on all paid up RuralSA members signing up to this method of communication. From memory there were over 60 paid up RuralSA members - very few of these appear to have signed up to the Facebook RSA account.

I gather last year a decision was made to develop a regional structure - I received no formal communication regarding its progress in my region - in fact the only active group that I am aware of is in the west.

I suggest at this stage that the Annual General Meeting should be postponed as any decisions reached at it will be unconstitutional. Whether at this stage the Rural Science Association (as a professional association) has any future - is anyone's guess. It will require a lot of hard work to bring all of its members back into the fold.

I don't think members in the west are being excluded. I am living in the east and I have received no communication regarding this AGM either. Thinking about it, I have received no updates from the Executive over the past year.

Has an official notification been sent out to individual members this year? Is this not required under the current Constitution? Has notification of individuals willing to go forward for election been issued? I have not seen it.