How was the BCG?

[Lorna]

How was the meeting yesterday?

After saying I would go but wouldn't stay for Ed, I ended up being on-call this weekend, sadly MK is more than 30 minutes away.

Lorna

[incrisis]

We went, and it was pretty good.

The speakers were informative, even though some of the audience were falling asleep in the afternoon session.

[fantapants]

Originally Posted by Lorna

How was the meeting yesterday?

After saying I would go but wouldn't stay for Ed, I ended up being on-call this weekend, sadly MK is more than 30 minutes away.

Lorna

it was good, i have literally just got back from the hotel. the people that did attend where really pleasant nice people and i met quite a few old friends and some new ones too. The talk by Lynn stoakes (sp) was really quite good and very unbiased. The fact she advocates the use of vivs deffinatley wasnt what i was expecting to hear from her and it came as a nice surpise to hear the words spoken from a qualified individual. she presented her methods and wasnt at all judgemental or preachy. Eds talk was good and was really well recieved. the questions asked afterwards were all relatively positive too. all in all a good day.

We went, and it was pretty good.

The speakers were informative, even though some of the audience were falling asleep in the afternoon session.

YOU! where the hell did you go? i spent ages knocking at your room this morning to see if you were coming for breakfast. did you leave at the crack of dawn??

[Tamie]

Very disappointing that the BCG have decided to go ahead with the Carapax fund raising campaign, given all that has been shown recently.

To make matters worse they are giving Carapax £2000 'emergency funding' in case the court case goes against them. Good to know how members' donations and fees are being used!!

Tamie

[Lorna]

Originally Posted by Tamie

Very disappointing that the BCG have decided to go ahead with the Carapax fund raising campaign, given all that has been shown recently.

To make matters worse they are giving Carapax £2000 'emergency funding' in case the court case goes against them. Good to know how members' donations and fees are being used!!

Tamie

Well, if that's the case I will reconsider my membership. I assume the BCG will justify their donation.

Lorna

[Tamie]

Originally Posted by Lorna

Well, if that's the case I will reconsider my membership. I assume the BCG will justify their donation.

Lorna

Even more alarming was Don Freeman's revelations about how he was involved in the theft of various animals from zoos, including a Barbary ape, drugging them to the point they looked dead and then stealing them.

Not quite what you expect from the Chairman of the BCG.

All in all I sincerely hope that members do reconsider supporting such behaviour and funding!

Tamie

[incrisis]

Originally Posted by fantapants

YOU! where the hell did you go? i spent ages knocking at your room this morning to see if you were coming for breakfast. did you leave at the crack of dawn??

We had some breakfast about half 8 and left about 9am.
I was going to send you a text but I didn't have any signal in the Hotel.

Originally Posted by Tamie

Even more alarming was Don Freeman's revelations about how he was involved in the theft of various animals from zoos, including a Barbary ape, drugging them to the point they looked dead and then stealing them.

Not quite what you expect from the Chairman of the BCG.

All in all I sincerely hope that members do reconsider supporting such behaviour and funding!

Tamie

If I recall, when the animals were being stolen it was by a rather large member of staff and Don was a bit frightened of saying anything.

I am in no way condoning the behaviour, but it might be easier for people to understand how it happened by retelling the 'whole' story.

[Tina]

Originally Posted by Tamie

Very disappointing that the BCG have decided to go ahead with the Carapax fund raising campaign, given all that has been shown recently.

To make matters worse they are giving Carapax £2000 'emergency funding' in case the court case goes against them. Good to know how members' donations and fees are being used!!

Tamie

So I take it this was discussed at the AGM? What was their 'defence' in carrying on with funding the project?

Originally Posted by Tamie

Even more alarming was Don Freeman's revelations about how he was involved in the theft of various animals from zoos, including a Barbary ape, drugging them to the point they looked dead and then stealing them.

Not quite what you expect from the Chairman of the BCG.

Tamie

Originally Posted by incrisis

If I recall, when the animals were being stolen it was by a rather large member of staff and Don was a bit frightened of saying anything.

I am in no way condoning the behaviour, but it might be easier for people to understand how it happened by retelling the 'whole' story.

Crikes!

Could that be condoned in any way??

[gtm]

It was a strange day. It's been a very busy week at work (one of my colleagues has gone 'mad' & muggins here has had to pick up the pieces) coupled with the fact I got 3 hours sleep on friday night accounts for my vacant 'presentation' yesterday.

The speeches were generally interesting & informative (although the substitute speakers did seem to struggle a bit but bearing in mind the limited amount of time they had to prepare understandable).

The lunch was poor - a meager portion of ham, 2 bits of cheese, salad & bread (& an apple) - not good enough.

The Don Freeman / Barbary Ape story was quite frankly shameful. His partner in crime may have been big and intimidating but he should have shopped him to the police or zoo authorities rather than 'going' along with it. I appreciate it was a very long time ago but it showed a shocking lack of judgement to tell a story like that in front of 200 + people. He's meant to be the chairman of an animal welfare charity for christs sake

As for Carapax well to say I was bitterly disappointed by the Committee's (Kevin Eatwell excepted) attitude would be an understatement. It's worth noting they got another £8000 last year from the BCG which means they have had £45,000 + since 2002. The next step will be to try and call an EGM but whether that happens is another story.

[Lorna]

Originally Posted by Tamie

Even more alarming was Don Freeman's revelations about how he was involved in the theft of various animals from zoos, including a Barbary ape, drugging them to the point they looked dead and then stealing them.

Not quite what you expect from the Chairman of the BCG.

All in all I sincerely hope that members do reconsider supporting such behaviour and funding!

Tamie

Heck Tamie, this is awful. Don Freeman sounds like a not nice person. Don, eat shit or die.

Lorna