It’s not as though the Hawk and Owl Trust is heavily publicising its AGM on Sunday is it? You have to look pretty hard to find any information about it at all on the HoT website.
It’s verging on the secretive I’d say.
If you put ‘AGM’ into the website’s search engine you find lots about last year’s AGM, and the one before, but not much about this year’s. Why is that, I wonder?
It might be that the HOT is a bit worried that a lot of members could turn up on Sunday morning and then vote against the Chairman Philip Merricks who is up for re-election.
What’s the betting that some other large landowner will be up for election to the Council too? After all, that’s who HOT seems to think is its natural constituency these days.
The HOT is out on a thin branch in supporting brood-meddling against the opinion of its former President Chris Packham and the birdwatching community as a whole (and the RSPB by the way). Then there was Philip Merricks’s Telegraph article which slagged us all off as eco-zealots (or eco-activists). I wonder whether that article was agreed by other Trust trustees or whether it was just another embarrassing foot-in-mouth by their Chair. Wasn’t the HOT very quiet on the issue of licensing of Buzzard killing? Did you hear them on that subject? Surely a matter of relevance to a bird of prey charity? But there was no silencing Mr Merricks when it came to his tour de force at the Sheffield conference.
It’s been quite a year for HOT with staff leaving and disquiet in the ranks of staff and members alike – at least that’s what we hear.
And then there’s this open letter from a mate of mine who is an ex-trustee of HOT:
It could be an eventful AGM – maybe that’s why it is so difficult to track down the information of the HOT website.
[registration_form]
Actually, I fear very few will bother turning up at all.
The AGM has been a stitch up from the start.
Back in August, I emailed their office to enquire why there was still nothing on the website with only weeks to go. Nobody bothered to reply.
The AGM papers where sent out just over a week ago. If you want to vote by proxy you are required to have your proxy in by the 23 Sept! If you wish to bring up anything under AOB you have to inform the Chairman of the details 14 days before the meeting!
After my staunch support of HOT no so many weeks ago on this very site ( although it was the members and volunteers that I was supporting) I now feel pretty stupid.
I was going to make the trip down to Somerset to have my say. No point now is there.
Think I may just be on the point of telling them to stuff it.
BAWC and LACS will use my money better.
It may be worth checking the H&OT constitution to see precisely what the regulations are and then, if they have clearly been broken, complaining to Charity Commission.
John, thank you. Had already decided to go that route, see my earlier comment (later on here).
Bit more to do today though!!
Paul, It seems more likely that HOT is in breach of its own constitution, or rules or similar, than that it is directly in breach of any Charity Commission rules (as distinct from guidance.) So the starting point is to ask for relevant documents of that kind. I can’t see a link to them on the website, though it could be there somewhere.
I was sent out a HOT members’ magazine, even though I am no longer a member. It featured Phillip’s recent telegraph article, and it said this ‘article has been reprinted here for Peregrine readers and sets out the Trust’s position regarding the Hen Harrier Recovery Plan’….. Interesting how the original article title has changed from ‘Don’t let eco-zealots wreck this chance to save the hen harrier’ to ‘Hen Harriers and Grouse Can Live Side by Side’….
The fact that the article was printed at all in ‘Peregrine’ was the point that I realised continuing to be a member is pointless.
What a kick in the teeth for all the volunteers who have worked so hard.
I remember when Sculthorpe was no more that a muddy path through a wet woodland with a shed. The transformation over the years has been unbelievable.
I never dreamt that HOT would undergo its own transformation into a mouthpiece for the shooting fraternity.
Makes me wonder if it’s not a case for the Charity Commision to look into.
Trust and Trustees, must remember to look those words up. Meaning must have changed somewhat.
While enjoying the Greenpeace “revelations” that huge sacks of taxpayers cash are stil being delivered to the landed, rich and famous every year via the Common Agricultural Policy, imagine my surprise when I saw one of Philip Merricks’ farm in the top 100.
Jack Merricks Farms, received £733,000 of farm subsidies in 2015, roughly half from single payment and half from ELS/HLS. Jack Merricks Farms accounts show a healthy £6.5M of shareholders funds – healthy at least for the sole shareholder – Philip Merricks. Based on single payment income, Mr Merricks owns around 2000ha of land. Sheppey and land at Winchelsea make up about 1700ha of this – does anyone know where the other bits are?
I wonder what the Hawk and Owl Trust will propose for the future of farm subsidies in England?
It’s also the RSPB AGM on Saturday, Mark. Will we see you there?
Richard – not this time! Please report back. Lyn was good enough to write it up last year… Hint! Please…?
I’m having a weekend off – well, that’s the plan! We’ll see.
Lyn’s packed her notebook! Have a great weekend, rest richly deserved.