ESC COVERS, which is a EUROVISION fan website, based in Johannesburg, South Africa has decided to look at the various candidates in the upcoming OGAE elections for a new board.
In the first part we look at the 3 candidates standing for the position of PRESIDENT.
ESC Covers invites ordinary Eurovision fans and OGAE members to tell us if you have any specific questions for these candidates.
I personally have a question for all three of these candidates. Back in 2009 OGAE clubs had to vote where the statues of OGAE would be hosted. France and Finland were the candidates and there were very little to choose between the two – what however tipped the scale in favour of France for most club presidents was the fact that they said if any non profit organisation registers in France, the French government supplies them with a 5000 euro a year payment – money for nothing – any club can do a lot with that money. Despite me asking year after year, we have never seen the money or got a satisfactory answer to why we have not received it. I feel we had voted on a blatant lie and I want to know what the new OGAE president will do to get the statues away from FRANCE as quickly as possible.
BEN ROBERTSON – OGAE SWEDEN
I stand for President of OGAE International because I believe our current ways of working limit our huge potential. This goes beyond any difficulties with Kyiv and instead focuses on how we must raise our profile, making OGAE International truly fit for purpose. My manifesto is about empowering you as clubs to be more successful, and empowering the International Bureau to be more effective. It is time to truly #empower OGAE.
The full manifesto of Ben can be found here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7MqZOJ54QgjVjIxZHk5VEQxdVk/view
ANDY MIKHEEV – OGAE REST OF THE WORLD
I enter the OGAE International President elections under the motto “Transparency First”. OGAE network is facing a series of challenges, that need to be addressed, there are several weaknesses in its operations that should be strengthened. The most important of them is the lack of transparency in the operations in the network, when details of the internal processes are not accessible even by presidents of clubs, not even mentioning the general fans, who should be the core of the system.
The full manifesto of Andy can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/notes/andy-mikheev/transparency-first-ogae-international-president-election-manifesto-by-andy-mikhe/10155335675697845/
SIMON BENNETT – OGAE UK
I would very much like to seek another term in office to continue the work that has been started, particularly:
· To build on OGAE’s good reputation as a reliable partner for the EBU and host broadcasters
· To try to secure continued access to OGAE tickets and the EuroClub for our members
· To protect OGAE’s reputation as the premier fan organisation
· To review OGAE International’s legal status in order to simplify our structure and processes
· To give OGAE International greater flexibility in its ability to organise fan facilities in the ESC host cities
· To further improve our on-line presence
· To try to secure a more formal role for OGAE in ESC event planning in order to prevent a recurrence of the difficulties experienced in 2017
· To facilitate individual fans being able to locate and join their local national club
So far it looks like Simon has not published his manifesto in a public forum
Thank you for the question,
This is a complicated issue and while my understanding is indeed that the registration in France didn’t bring any benefit to the network turning eventually into a great burden (and I do mention that in my manifesto) – it is not entirely easy just cancel out registration in France.
First of all, the process has to be run by a French speaking person, who can guide it, since our Statute prescribes that “Any text in relation with OGAE International, its functioning or activities shall be in the French language”.
The solution perhaps is to dissolve OGAE International as the association registered in France (which should be done by a two-thirds majority decision of the Presidents’ Board in a general meeting) and then move all assets to the newly formed association in another country in accordance to the article 9 of the French Law of July 1st 1901 and August 16th 1901.
But that should be part of a wider discussion about the Statutes of the OGAE International. Complete rework of the OGAE International Statute should be carried out. The ideas and other input to the statute changes should not only be available to the Bureau, but national clubs, both Presidents and general members. A Statute development group should be set up to draft the statute. The finalized statute should be evaluated by the independent lawyer.
One of the issue should be a complete revisit to the issue of registration of the OGAE International. An advice should also be thought from the EBU as the owners of the Eurovision trademark, since it is OGAE desire to achieve statute of the Official club network. If eventually a decision to register organization is taken, there should be several transparent votings – whether we should keep registration in France (then perhaps Statute must reflect that OGAE has to have at least one of President or Treasurer with knowledge of French and ability to make necessary amount of work on the territory of France, alternatively reaching agreement that this work will be always carried out by OGAE France) – or do we do it elsewhere, at the same time investigating opportunities more deeply and putting emphasis on the English language of operations, availability of the option to handle reports online etc. This all is part of a much larger process, and actually a core part of it, so this can not be answered by the President only – it has to involve a broader view.
Another issue is that OGAE International should run throughout investigation of why the 5000 Euro idea was never realized despite we were promised “a myriad of opportunities” for that in France and it’s result should be made available in full to the presidents of the clubs.
As a member of OGAE I have never elected an OGAE-president. Did I miss something? Or is the president not elected by the fans? I need… transparancy 🙂
Greetings Heidi from Berlin