A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any given issue.
The commonsense view, this mutt reckons, is that the organisation, its board and executive branch ultimately exist to serve its membership and represent their views.
Yet, time and again, these organisations seem to act unilaterally without consulting the guys and gals that pay the directors’ fees and management salaries.
The latest example raising hackles was Rural Women NZ lodging a submission opposing the Definition of a Man and Woman Bill.
There’s no evidence they went to the membership on this one, choosing a “board-led process” instead.
Some members have publicly said they are upset with the decision.
We’ll never know if they are in the minority or the majority because the board never asked.