North East Regional Branch
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Absolutely spot on YMS.I've read some crap on another Party site and this should put an end to it. Hopefully it will allow the North East Branch to get on with what they wish to do, to facilitate the spread of socialist awareness. I can't imagine true socialists would wish to prevent that.
I have informed all 18 members about the meeting by post and sent out minutes of the August and September eMeetings of the branch. vin maratty, Secretary (NERB)
SocialistPunk wrote:Absolutely spot on YMS.I have to agree, otherwise the branch is in the ludicrous position of being permamently unable to accept new members. What if there was a Form A at the next meeting? And this is a real possibility.
Minutes of the Special Branch Meeting of NERB Branch held Fri Oct 3rd – Sun Oct 5thPresent: S.Colborn, E. Colborn, J. White, V.MarattyVisitors: Joe Davison, Steve DavisonMember John Bisset 1 vote via email(1) Election of Chair: It was AGREED Cde S.Colborn take the chair.(2) Adoption of Minutes of previous 2 eMeetings of Branch.Motion: (S.Colborn, E. Colborn) “That the minutes of the previous two branch meetings be adopted” CARRIED 5-0 (email vote John Bisset)(3) Party Image/Logo Chairman: The meeting will be open for input and ideas from members and indeed sympathizers.The General agreement appeared to be that a name change was not necessary and Kent and Sussex branch are on the right track. VM: I have made no secret of the fact that I think the party needs to adopt a single logo and design of party name to be used everywhere SC: A unified Image and Logo would be the most sensible way to go. Look at Greenpeace, The World Wildlife Fund ETC. If we are going to advance, we need something that is "tied" to us and makes it instantly known, who and what we are.SD(visitor):We have to decide how we want to be perceived and Image and Logo are an integral part of that. But in all seriousness I think you have a valid point. I think you once stated how many different identities the Party operates under. Do you recall how many? To create an identifiable logo, would require a decisive Party name.JD(visitor)
have a question. At present, what logos, or banners does the party use at this time? I ask this to see if we can narrow the field a little.VM:Not sure but a lotSC:I've been trying to decide, on a purely personal opinion level, if we need a total break from the Past. What I mean specifically and in the first instance, is the Party name! Would it be advantageous to change from The Socialist Party of Great Britain, with all the "baggage of nationalism it entails!We are now, a part of the World Socialist Movement, do we really need to continue to be linked with an outmoded, outdated geographic term? That is so at odds with our stated aim of, World Socialism! I am not, by the way saying we "should" undertake such a root and branch upheaval but that we should give serious consideration to the merits and conversely demerits of such a move.It is necessary to decide our stance on this question, before moving on to the more specific questions of Image and Logo!. In my humble opinion!VM:I see Kent branch are in favour of a single design and logo. At the moment it is left to individuals and branches and committees to decide which design and logo to use. The party is lost and hidden amongst all of the confusion. SC:We have one aim, Socialism. As opposed to those who practice meantime politics; a little bit of Save the whale here, a bit of opposing increased tuition fees there. Stop the war, increase the minimum wage. Their are so many "little fights" that crave for attention, the outcome that will get rid of the need for these "fights", Socialism. is lost in the Din. Just as the multitudinous logos and images hide our real target and singular aim. I applaud Kent and Sussex for clutching the nettle but we need to start in the right place! and clutch the right nettle.JD:I find it hard to believe that the members have not dealt with this matter years ago. One logo that everyone can identify with and which EVERYONE uses, fit for the 21st. century. A logo representing our place in the World Socialist Movement.SD:Even though I'm an ex Party member I have the utmost care and respect for the WSM. And that is my point, the SPGB is part of a world socialist movement, and new parties now adopt the tag of World Socialist Party (name of country). At some point, in the furure, the two Parties that insist on holding on to their historic identity will become outdated and conservative. Let us not forget that socialism how we define it is a radical departure from most of what is seen as "normal" and accepted by mainstream society today. So holding on to a historic identity for the sake of tradition is and will be seen as futile and conservative, by a growing movement. If the Party were to adopt the tag of World Socialist Party (Britain), it could adopt (or adapt, improve) the globe logo. Global socialism, clearly and consistently. Unfortunately the mood of the Party at present is in a defensive/conservative mode, meaning such a change is unlikely to go down well. But as the Party finances are stable, and a few legacies are unimportant, now would be the perfect time to take a step forward.SC: What can be said, is that all members have a unified aim of fighting for a Socialist Society. That is their uniqueness, their singular purpose. The means of reaching this goal, that necessarily entails our image, has somehow taken a back seat, as members appear not to see the importance of a unified identity. I am not decrying the Party or the membership for this, far from it. I can see how it has been overlooked in the wider societal context! However, I think now, is the right time to dust it off, look at it and decide how best to move forward, with a unified image, as a prerequisite.JD:The proposition that the party needs to move forward under one banner/logo, is something I whole heartedly agree with and yes, while the party is small, this issue should be (but won't be) easily dealt with. But the party is smaller than official figures suggest and when small partys name change, it can have disasterous results. Either way, sooner or later the S.P.G.B. will have to comply with the rest of the Socialist world and become The World Socialist Movement ( U.K/G.B./B.I.) JW:I'll put my two penny worth in. If it's not broke why fix it! The SPGB carries a lot of historical and ideological meaning. There are examples of other organisations carrying out a form of symbolic suicide by engaging in name change, for the process entails more than a change of name, as can be witnessed by the demise of the old Communist Party of Great Britain. The change to the Democratic Left .was in effect an act of political hari kari. The Italian Communist Party committed the same error and suffered the same fate: political irrelevancy. I counsel caution. Don't deface 'The Monument'(with apologies to Robert Barltrop)EC:I agree with Joe. So much history and a name well known. Why take the chance?A lot have heard of the SPGB.JWThe logo is more of a cosmetic change, but a name change is more fundamental and the lessons of recent history do not bode well for such an action. In short, it would be self defeating..Joe.VM:We probably don't need to change the party name but we need to be consistent in its use. What I mean is something like: World Socialist Movement SPGBSD:The problem the Party faces at the moment regarding one image/logo etc, is that the issue of The Socialist Party vs The Socialist Party of Great Britain still hasn't been resolved. Some still use both, some use one or the other. There is no concensus even on that issue. Even a Party poll from the early 1990's agreeing to the use of The Socialist Party has been pushed to one side, as a conservative mindset has crept up on the Party. Unfortunately the only way for the Party to aquire a consistent identity and logo, is to decide once and for all what it wants to call itself. My view is, does the Party want to clearly reflect a World Socialist Party ethos and identity or stick to one of nationalistic imagery. There is also the issue of how much the Party would lose if it changed name to join the existing three World Socialist Parties of the WSM. I would say little would be lost in terms of political clout as the SPGB are a small party with virtually no presence on the political landscape of Britain.I think it was Alan Johnson (may have wrong spelling, sorry Alan) on the Party open forum that said a poll could be commissioned to find out how well known the SPGB are.JD:OK, Kent and Sussex group have illustrated their examples, would anyone here like to acept one of their proposals? MEETING ADJOURNED 4pm 5th Oct 2014Quote:JW:I'll put my two penny worth in. If it's not broke why fix it! The SPGB carries a lot of historical and ideological meaning. There are examples of other organisations carrying out a form of symbolic suicide by engaging in name change, for the process entails more than a change of name, as can be witnessed by the demise of the old Communist Party of Great Britain. The change to the Democratic Left .was in effect an act of political hari kari. The Italian Communist Party committed the same error and suffered the same fate: political irrelevancy. I counsel caution. Don't deface 'The Monument'(with apologies to Robert Barltrop)Exactly my view !
Great to see yet another branch publishing its minutes and other business online. Well done! By my reckoning that brings to five the number of branches now complying with this recent Conference resolution.
Conference 2013 wrote:Conference instructs the EC to correct the omission from the Branch Standing Orders to oblige branches to record and ratify a record of their deliberations (branch minutes) and to make such records freely available.(emphasis added)One trivial observation, Vin. In the agenda above you refer to the 2014 General Election.
This is another example of resolution creep ! That resolution does not require branches to publish their minutes online, only to make them freely available, as those of branches that don't do this are and always have been.
Agenda for North East Regional Branch eMeeting to be held between 17th and 19th Oct 2014Present:Visitors:1.Election of chair.2.Amendment/adoption of previous minutes 3.Matters arising from previous minutes(a) 2015 General Election4.Forms A and F(a) Form F: Jim. Tinmouth5.EC minutes6. ADM7.Correspondence and business arising there from8.Reports (propaganda, literature, finance etc)9.Motions of which notice has been given10.Appointment of Chair for propaganda meetings11.New notices of motion12.Any other business13 Meeting Adjournment *All branch members informed via mail shot
gnome wrote:One trivial observation, Vin. In the agenda above you refer to the 2014 General Election.Of course. Corrected.
ALB wrote:only to make them freely available, as those of branches that don't do this are and always have been.How are branch minutes 'freely available' if they are not published online?
Vin Maratty wrote:How are branch minutes 'freely available' if they are not published online?So nothing was freely available before the advent of the internet? Good job I'm too young not to remember those times
DJP, I think the term 'freely available' is OK in theory. How did it work in practice? I have to say as branch secretary during the 'stone age' I was never asked by anyone outside the branch for a copy of the minutes. More than that, I think Minutes should be 'published' even advertised. Kent have certainly made their minutes freely available and I think it is the way to go
Vin Maratty wrote:How are branch minutes 'freely available' if they are not published online?By writing to the branch secretary asking to see a copy or come to the next branch meeting. There's a Conference resolution stating that all our records are open to public inspection except the membership lists. Some members do not want their names published all over the internet for debt collectors, the tax authorities, their employer or ex-wife seeking alimony to see and follow up. No point in making it easy for them.
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