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4
Mei/May 2015
vet
nuus
•
news
From the Editor
I Van die Redakteur
T
ime is a valuable
commodity. Time
management is a precious
skill that some become
masters of, whilst others
(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
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
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?)
time commenting
on matters that
everyone else
commented on by
e-mail, or criticising
documents that
were circulated for
comments prior
to the meeting,
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
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
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
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
Paul van Dam
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.
“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).”