The UK Lancia Motor Club LMC, Lancia Delta, Centenary, irregularities, use of force, committee abuse, Jack Romano threat: an uncomfortable truth

Modern committee meetings are about debate, rational argument and voting without fear of consequences. When committee members* in open debate threaten to resign if their preferences are not voted in favour of, you are talking about management by force and of corruption of the principles of modern committee management.

Both Diana Williamson and David Melluish stepped across this line in the October 2006 UK Lancia Motor Club committee meeting and threatened resignation during voting.

It must be noted that the individuals involved are appointed by the committee and not elected by the membership (as they receive money for their services). This means these people are there for good until they themselves decide to resign - and the ordinary club members have no power to change such a situation.

Diana Williamson and David Melluish must resign their positions, or the LMC will have to accept that their management shows little sign of good practice, honour or robust scrutiny.

Burying the past is the tactics of deception. The reform work that has started at LMC since the new Chairman and President took office needs to be based on solid foundations. Without resignations, what assurance does anyone have that "it won't happen again" when the reform doesn't suit certain people? It is not for anyone to threaten resignation as a means to force will - let alone paid unelected officers!

2007 has seen the birth of a New UK Lancia club dedicated to fans of the marque with club statutes based on MSA rules - and business conducted professionally. Come and visit www.lanciasport.com - well over 200 names are already on the club books.

* 11.Nov.2007: I am aware of a verbal complaint regarding this page that the two people concerned are not "committee members" and that therefore this webpage is not factually correct. Perhaps someone might explain how, now, these two non-committee members were permitted to be present and interfere in the vote for chairman of a body they are now not members of at all? At least it would seem that the irregularities of the committee are not being disputed and we are left discussing semantics, since the LMCs own articles state Treasurer and Membership Secretary are "ex-officio members of the committee".

** Who as chairman of the club confirmed at the time of all the irregularities took no action against a paid officer of the club who made a serious personal threat in writing against a committee member (me). In company law it is against the harassment laws not to take action against such grievances. For the LMC, no action is deemed acceptable.