NFYFC criticised over decision to turn its back on ‘DIY’ AGM weekend
Young Farmers made it clear they were still raw about NFYFC’s decision to cancel the annual convention, which was announced in August last year.
Lauren Dean
Young farmers were not shy in voicing their criticism over the federation’s decision to distance itself from the more than £7,000 raised for charity at the ‘DIY AGM’ last weekend.
The disgruntled members made it clear that hundreds of Young Farmers felt that scrapping the convention with no viable alternative to make up the financial shortfall was ‘a disastrous decision, made by people of whom we, as members, are entitled to expect better from’.
Speaking at NFYFC’s AGM on Sunday (May 12), Stephen Jarmuz, vice-chairman of Boroughbridge YFC, pointed members to a recent post on NFYFC’s Facebook page - stating any members wearing YFC-branded clothing at the ‘DIY AGM’ did not represent the organisation - suggesting it was wrong to ignore the event, which he said was ‘a roaring success raising more than £7,000 for two amazing charities’.
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It was obvious members were still raw about its decision to cancel the annual convention, which was announced in August last year.
Radnor YFC county chairman James Poulton said: “Put simply, what company voluntarily opts to do away with its major source of income in any given year, then expects the shareholders to willingly bail it out?
“Senior officers within the movement have to accept that they have lost a huge amount of credibility in the eyes of the average club member – and those are the people who count.”
NFYFC board chairman Delme Harris was quick to defend the organisation, suggesting it had a ‘tarnished reputation that we need to fix’.
He said there had been the usual pattern of more members attending the AGM in Blackpool in 2018 than in Torquay in 2017, but that the number of those attending and not paying to be part of the weekend was increasing.
He said: “Please do not think that if we held the convention in 2019 we would have seen a convention surplus matching 2018.
“Extra costs would have been involved in policing, stewarding and reputation. That would have greatly impacted on the event.”
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