What to expect at the Which? AGM

I propose attending.

Given the vaccination effectiveness and the relaxing of all restrictions I can so no good reason why a physical-attendance AGM – socially distanced if necessary – could not be held in conjunction with an online attendance and participation.

In my experience, physical attendance leads to more questions and discussion of responses than is possible in an online-only version, when it might be easier to avoid awkward contributions.

With over 8000 people currently in hospital with Covid and many more suffering from the disease, Which? has made a responsible decision, as have many other organisations.

In England I understand we are more or less back to a restriction-free life with venues like theatres, concert halls, cinemas, clubs, schools, universities…. reopened. We are not seeing the exponential rise in cases as is happening on the Continent – Netherlands, Austria, Germany for example – helped here, presumably, by our excellent vaccination and booster programme. I hope we will not go backwards but, with this protection, I understand the inevitable infections will be generally much less serious and new restrictions can be avoided.

As most people attending the AGM will be of more advanced years, vaccinated and probably boosted, I think a physical AGM would have been quite practical, with social distancing (advance registration is necessary), proof of vaccination and face masks a requirement perhaps. Otherwise, at what point do we draw a line under Covid? It is going to be with us, seemingly, for evermore just like ‘flu. We cannot be hermits for ever.

@cbranson, thanks Charlotte. I understand the caution but I would have thought an optimistic view could have been taken, in view of the vaccination success. Were there to have been a turn for the worse the public event could have been cancelled.

The last AGM was held in the Which? offices. This one could have been planned for there again with short-notice cancellation quite easy. So many other public gatherings were arranged as the pandemic seemed more under control.

malcolm r says: Today 15:02
So many other public gatherings were arranged as the pandemic seemed more under control.

It’s difficult to know where it’s going at the moment; infections and deaths have been moving upwards since June pretty steadily. There have been troughs, but the figures speak for themselves, one reason why Wales and Scotland do not believe the pandemic is more under control and have kept many restrictions in place. In Wales it has become political; Labour and Plaid have joined forces to stop the Tories abolishing restrictions. England has no such option, and it will be interesting to see which policy was wiser. With roughly 6000 people a week being admitted to hospitals the omens do not look good.

I suppose the cynical might ask why one party believes risking health to make money is a sound decision.

From New Scientist, today:

After a period of relative calm in terms of the coronavirus’s evolution, further notable variants are now emerging. An offshoot of the delta variant, known as AY.4.2, appears to be slightly more infectious than the original delta, and could slowly replace it. Several other new variants are being monitored, including one that seems to have evolved undetected in Central Africa before spreading to Europe and beyond.

None of these emerging variants appear to be hugely more infectious or better at dodging immunity than delta, so aren’t expected to trigger major waves of cases around the world. But the bad news is that it may be only a matter of time before such a variant evolves.

People of more advanced years are more likely to have underlying health issues, and would be reluctant to use public transport to travel to the Capital. With Christmas shopping now underway, the risk of contracting Covid increases. I would much prefer to be a safe hermit than a dead one.

@cbranson, thanks Charlotte for replying so quickly. I wasn’t sure whether the people icon displayed on screen with a number was representing attendance.
Given there are over 600 000 members, an attendance of less than 0.01% must be extremely disappointing. Considerably less than attended in person in the past, which is surprising. What is Which? considering to get more interest from members in its affairs?

This lack of interest seems to be seen not only in the AGM, but in, for example, its Convos and Which?’s seeming lack of interest in pleas to engage with members more directly.

“Considerably less than attended in person in the past, which is surprising. “

I didn’t think the pub dive afterwards was the big driver but perhaps…. {grin}

Joking apart I too had fully expected a far larger turn-out.