Democracy
in action at
the Poetry
Society
Those interested in the ongoing reform of the Poetry Society will have to wait at least another year to see the effects of a wider franchise on the election of its trustees. But in the meantime, there is little cause for disappointment with the outcome.
This year, for the first time in its history, all members of the PS – not just those who go to the trouble of making a pilgrimage to London for the annual meeting – are entitled to take part in the election, under a new system of postal proxy voting.
Five trustees will be appointed at the meeting, in St Giles-in-the-Fields Church on Thursday November 10. But as the number of candidates nominated is exactly the same as the number of vacancies, no ballot will be necessary.
PS members can still vote by post on motions to adopt the annual report and accounts and reappoint the auditors. Not much controversy is expected on those issues this year – but think what a valuable safeguard that right to a postal vote could be in other circumstances.
The personal statements of the five nominees should be a cause of much satisfaction to the PS membership as a whole, as well as to its chair [sic], Ruth Padel, who continues to do a splendid job of keeping everyone onside during the reform process.
“I believe poetry is a vital source of truth-telling and communicating beauty, of speaking intimately in an age bereft of this quality,” says Raficq Shaik Abdulla, who also has wide experience in business and community life. Former UK Ambassador to the United Nations Sir John Weston has “a passionate interest in poetry” [first collection from Peterloo in 2005] and an impressive career in public service. Mick Felton will continue to put more than 20 years’ experience with publishers Seren at the service of the PS for a further three years. Colette Bryce is a working poet with a string of achievements since her Gregory award in 1995. And Helen Gray has spent 25 years bringing poetry into the classrooms of an inner London comprehensive, whose students regularly win writing competitions.
This year, for the first time in its history, all members of the PS – not just those who go to the trouble of making a pilgrimage to London for the annual meeting – are entitled to take part in the election, under a new system of postal proxy voting.
Five trustees will be appointed at the meeting, in St Giles-in-the-Fields Church on Thursday November 10. But as the number of candidates nominated is exactly the same as the number of vacancies, no ballot will be necessary.
PS members can still vote by post on motions to adopt the annual report and accounts and reappoint the auditors. Not much controversy is expected on those issues this year – but think what a valuable safeguard that right to a postal vote could be in other circumstances.
The personal statements of the five nominees should be a cause of much satisfaction to the PS membership as a whole, as well as to its chair [sic], Ruth Padel, who continues to do a splendid job of keeping everyone onside during the reform process.
“I believe poetry is a vital source of truth-telling and communicating beauty, of speaking intimately in an age bereft of this quality,” says Raficq Shaik Abdulla, who also has wide experience in business and community life. Former UK Ambassador to the United Nations Sir John Weston has “a passionate interest in poetry” [first collection from Peterloo in 2005] and an impressive career in public service. Mick Felton will continue to put more than 20 years’ experience with publishers Seren at the service of the PS for a further three years. Colette Bryce is a working poet with a string of achievements since her Gregory award in 1995. And Helen Gray has spent 25 years bringing poetry into the classrooms of an inner London comprehensive, whose students regularly win writing competitions.
