Nicky wrote: >...My husband and I were both delegates at the Scarborough Convention this year, I am a member he isn't. When it came to the AGM he was officiously refused entry by the woman on the door, I queried it but she was adamant that he was not allowed in - as was another mouthy person attending. Consequently I attended on my own while my husband thoroughly enjoyed himself in the company of suppliers Richard and Jenny Ives - hence despite the considerable embarressment that we were caused we didn't make an issue of it...
I'm arriving a bit late on this subject, reading my mail a week after, but I find it very strange to read about all those people who get offended or embarassed by being refused entrance to a general meeting! Just ask yourself this : if your husband/wife/friend.. was a banker, would you *really* prance into the bank and expect to sit with them at their AGM?? I bet you wouldn't even think of it! So, just because lacemakers associations are warm fuzzy places, does it mean that all the rules of management have to go out of the window because someone feels more relaxed about the lace AGM than about the Bank one? I think not! As far as I know, non-members are refused entrance at our Australian Lace Guild AGM meetings, and I am quite agreeable to it. It's a matter for members only, and no-one else should even think of crashing in, even if they are interested in joining. they get plenty of chances to see what the association is like by attending other events. Of course, the problem of recent members remain, but there is a limit to be drawn somewhere. Perhaps the Committee could ask new members to come to the office at the beginning of the Convention with some proof of membership to make sure they are on the roll? That business reminds me of all the customers who come to our public library and expect us to do strange things for them like lending them a guillotine, giving them paper clips, rubber bands, blank paper, stapling their documents, lending our Tipp-Ex, using our phone to ring up their friends, and many others, and get short with us when we refuse. Would they go to a bank or a doctor's surgery and expect the same? not really...We are glad to see that people view us as a "kinder" sort of institution, but we also wish they would grow up and be sensible! Off my soap-box,now, to wish you all many happy AGMs... Helene, the froggy from Melbourne, where the sun shines after a lousy weekend. Typical! Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]