the Netherlands Red Cross Apeldoorn members meeting

Thursday 30th of October was the annual members meeting of the Netherlands Red Cross department of Apeldoorn. It was a heated evening in which the board of the local Red Cross branch stepped down due to the plans of the national branch of the Netherlands Red Cross called "samen1" (together as 1). As these plans encompass the abolition of the local societies and merge them into one national society, many local branches oppose this plan. One of these branches is the Red Cross Apeldoorn branch. Despite the opposition, the national branch has managed the acceptance of their plans. At the end of 2009 all local branches has to be desolved and merged into one national union.

During the annual members meeting the board announced their plan to step down. However, some board members, such as the vice-chairman Peter Doornebal and boardmember for volunteer affairs Gerda Proper announced that they will remain on their post to handle current affairs as well as they will search for new boardmembers to implement the Samen1 plan. 

During the evening, the first aid workers of the 3d taskfield expressed their grievance with the board for sacking their coordinator. This was a last act of the departng board and happened after one and a half year of infighting between the different taskfields. The new board has to find a solution for the bad co-working between the different taskfield of this local Red Cross branch. Some members called for the "Red Cross spirit" which all members and volunteers should share! For some members the emotions were too high and as such the upkeeping of this spirit was not possible anymore.

In the end, after a heated evening of debates and fights all members joined in a peacefull drink and some snacks.