WEB Vetnews May 2015

From the Editor I Van die Redakteur

Op die Damwal Generally speaking, I do not like meetings. In my opinion one can often achieve as much (or more) through direct

communication, informal liaison, chatting around a campfire. But I accept that some meetings are essential.

Paul van Dam

T ime is a valuable commodity. Time (most of us?) remain apprentices. On a daily basis we rush from one place to the next, from one task to the next, from one thought to the next, often not even finishing one thought before moving on to the next one. We use the noble “paper-less approach” as an excuse to respond to e-mails during a meeting (“No, I was typing some notes on the discussion!”). We cannot fight the urge to read and respond to messages (e-mail, sms, mms, WhatsApp, etc) received on our management is a precious skill that some become masters of, whilst others

time commenting on matters that everyone else commented on by e-mail, or criticising documents that were circulated for

comments prior to the meeting,

times when you really can not get around to doing. We also do not mind accepting an apology (as long as it is not habitual). We all need to change our approach to meetings: • By accepting the responsibilities that go with the election/ appointment to a committee. • By coming to the meeting prepared. • By giving the matter at hand our full attention, participating in meaningful discussion. • By not catching up on other work during the meeting and by ignoring messages. • By standing by decisions made (even if you were part of the minority in decisions that were not unanimous). • By executing tasks, sticking to deadlines, responding to requests for input or comments. Henry Ford said: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”. Enjoy this issue of VetNews!. v

documents that should only be approved (not discussed) at the meeting. Than there are the lame excuses. “Sorry, but I just did not have the time…” (during a six-month period?), or “I never received the minutes…” ( you did have the date for the next meeting; why did you not ask for the

phones and in doing so, loose track of the discussion around us. We insist on being provided with minutes of meetings as soon as possible, “to allow us to

previous minutes), or “I cannot recall that this task was allocated to me…” (and you never bothered to query this when you read it in the minutes), or “I gave this more thought, and no longer agree with the decision made during

“We all know and accept that there will be times when you really can not get around to doing. We also do not mind accepting an apology (as long as it is not habitual).”

take action on the discussions” – but the real reason probably is that we did not concentrate during the meeting and need the minutes to see what was actually discussed… Some attend all meetings and have an opinion on everything that is tabled. But they never take it beyond this. Nothing is done between meetings. Tasks assigned are not attended to, despite reminders. Input towards matters is not submitted. Comes the next meeting, they spend (waste?)

the previous meeting…” (actually, you never gave it another thought and are now trying to talk your way out of it). It is true that I am privileged to be involved in SAVA affairs on a full-time basis. It is part of my job to implement decisions made at meetings. It is also true that everyone else who serves on committees or management structures of the SAVA does so on a voluntary “spare-time” basis, a position that I was in before and understand. We all know and accept that there will be

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Mei/May 2015