Are they just a bunch of oldies who don’t represent the community?
(This is an attempt at an impartial overview of some issues that have been discussed recently. It does not represent the views of the Community Association or any other group. )
At the last Cilycwm Community Association meeting there was hardly anyone under 50 attending, and the majority were “incomers”. The committee was elected unopposed by those present.
This is a common problem with voluntary organisations, but it happens throughout local government, in trades unions, even in parliament: those who can lead and initiate action are the ones who set the agenda. Also, those who initiate action tend to do so because they have a personal interest or involvement in the issue.
It is probably true that, in its present form, the Community Association is dominated by the older and more recently arrived residents. They are the people with the time and inclination to help the community. The question is “does that matter?” Here are two ways of looking at it:
- Yes, it matters because the young and the native population are the ones who have created the community and who will sustain it in future.
- No, it doesn’t matter providing the “activists” have a good understanding of the history of the community and can honestly represent the views of those who are too busy with families and jobs to get to meetings and do the work.
Does it matter if someone leading an initiative has a personal involvement? (A good example would be someone campaigning for the school who has a child at the school.)
- Yes it matters because any expenditure is shared by the whole community but may only benefit a few.
- No it doesn’t matter if the interest is openly declared and is shared by an important section of the community.
If you tend to feel “Yes it does matter” to any of the above issues, then how can the situation be changed? Again there is more than one view of this:
- If you want to change things then get involved. There is no bar on anyone coming to the Association meetings; all are welcome and anyone’s views will be listened to and discussed.
- In a democratic system, it’s the responsibility of the committee members to ensure that they really represent the views of those who do not come to meetings. This can involve time and expense but must be done.
I would be very glad to see any comments on this.
Dick Turner
24 Feb 2012
