WPCS Announcement.

 The Society has been requested to announce the resignation from the WPCS Council by Trustee Steve Everitt on the 21/09/2023. He wishes to note that he has resigned on personal grounds (not health related grounds). The Society would like to take this opportunity to thank  Steve for his contribution and energies whilst on Council and as serving Chair of the Judging and Showing committee.

 Chairman’s announcement to members – Trustee resignations

Dear Members

I make this announcement in the interests of transparency, as far as confidentiality will allow, to dispel any rumours and speculation about the recent resignations of a few Trustees.

In July 2023, the Council unanimously voted to commission the services of a professional business consultant to carry out a diagnostic review of the WPCS business operations and its interaction with the board of Trustees. This was done to address declining membership, falling registrations, £70K financial deficit in our core business and staff leaving the office to seek better pay and conditions.

The findings were published in a report and presented to Council outlining a number of short, medium and long term recommendations to improve efficiency in our operating procedures, structures and case management systems, which also included Council roles/responsibilities and recommendations looking ahead at a strategic level.

Unfortunately, as is the case on any board when change and difficult decisions must be undertaken, not all Trustees were able to reach a consensus of agreement with the majority vote concerning when and how best to implement the diagnostic recommendations. Regrettably, some Trustees have subsequently taken the decision to resign from the board, unable to agree and /or support the proposed changes, which is their prerogative; we thank them for their knowledge, experience and contributions that they have brought whilst serving on Council and respect their principled decisions.

The WPCS Articles of Association permit the remaining Trustees to continue constitutionally as a board and to that end they remain committed to serve and improve the Society for the benefit of its members.

Ed Gummery

Chairman