There are always lots of reasons to avoid attending an AGM. I’ve got too much to do, the kids have soccer that night, I’ve got a report due at the end of the week, I’ll be on the road, AGMs are SO boring. You know them. You live them.
As communicators, our work is truly never done. There’s always something more to do – one more crisis to deal with, one more strategy to rationalize, one more evaluation to write. It goes on and on. And then there’s our way too busy personal life. We struggle for balance.
But here’s the thing. CPRS Calgary is your community. We’ve got you. We get you. And we need you. Cause, really, without you, there’s no point.
With that in mind, here are five really good reasons for you to come to the AGM on June 15 at the Barley Mill. And if you really can’t make it, here’s a link to the proxy to let your voice be heard even in your absence.
1. Networking. You meet the most interesting people at an AGM. People in your field. People who understand what you do – not like Joe in Accounting who thinks counting things is really the only way to measure the success of stuff. At last year’s AGM, I met a couple of remarkable women who have since become friends and a whole board full of PR pros who are committed to the profession. Fun!
2. Meet the Board of Directors. Ask questions, makes suggestions, state your opinion. These are the people who work hard to represent you at the national level and to other chapters across the country. Get to know them and their views. And if you don’t like what they say, if you want change, run for a spot on the board yourself. Over the years, I wasn’t really impressed with the lack of communication to members. Now? Well, that just happens to be the portfolio I manage. Hope you like it.
3.It’s a right. Attending and voting at an AGM is a privilege we’ve earned. One of the reasons we have an AGM is to elect new board members. In it’s small way, voting at the AGM embodies all those hard-fought battles for democracy across the ages. You get the government you deserve. Apathy sucks. Please vote.
4.Make your membership work for you. Through your membership, you’ve paid for the right to vote and for the opportunity to question the board of directors. Why not exercise that right and take advantage of the opportunity? Have a look at the financials, check out the progress of the promises made last year. This is a chance to hold the board accountable. How much fun is that?
5. Quorum. Yup, that’s right. Without enough voting members in attendance or by proxy, the business of the board cannot take place. So, the legal requirement the CPRS Calgary Board of Directors has: to present the financials to the membership, to elect a board of directors and to appoint auditors for the books? Not. Gonna. Happen. Without. You. I’ll say it again: apathy sucks. Please vote.
See you at the AGM.
Kimberlee Jones, APR,
Communications Chair, CPRS Calgary
