NMV wants to split members with contribution

Members of the NMV who are subject to VAT must pay a contribution from 1 September in proportion to their company size. Other members do not have to, but both retain the same voting rights. This is stated in a proposed amendment to the Articles of Association, which will be put to the vote on 1 September at the General Members' Meeting (GM) in Nieuwegein. The members may judge it.

The amendment to the articles of association will take place in consultation with ZuivelNL, says daily board member Elly Koning. ZuivelNL chairman Arjan Schimmel explains that this organization benefits greatly from this. "We now have to pay VAT on many of our activities. We cannot reclaim that money, because not all our members have recorded that their affiliated members are liable for VAT. This has already been arranged at the NZO and LTO, but not yet at the NMV. Adaptation can save us a lot of money and also benefit the NMV as an organisation."

Distinguishing by types of members
Not everyone on the NMV board sees the need for the proposed amendment to the articles of association. Secretary Bertus Doppenberg finds it inconvenient that a distinction is made between types of members for tax reasons. Reasons that, according to him, members should not benefit directly from. "Others don't have to tell the NMV what we should do." Doppenberg also did not cooperate with the proposed amendment to the articles of association.

Last year the NMV board split into 2 camps, with DB members Elly Koning, Gerda Peters and Gerrit Boer on the one hand and Jeroen van Maanen and Bertus Doppenberg on the other. In the meantime, outgoing chairman Harm Wiegersma withdrew more and more from day-to-day affairs and gave space mainly to the first group, which for a long time also included non-board member Femke Wiersma. This camp has given the order to proceed with the amendment of the Articles of Association. It is supported by an external agency, which also carries out assignments for dairy companies.

More clarity about course
Wiegersma hopes that the next GMM will at least provide clarity. Especially when it comes to the overall course. It is unclear who will be the new chairman. "ALVs of the NMV have always been surprising." Wiegersma is counting on an interim board headed by an external chairman. He does not expect Elly Koning to become chairman, as some believe. Koning herself does not want to say whether she is a candidate. The resigned vice-chairman Jeroen van Maanen leaves it to the members whether he will return. "If they call on me, I'll consider it. But I want a clear burp sound, not a scheming."

Doppenberg also wonders whether the planned amendment to the articles of association can go ahead. "By law, the proposed changes must have been submitted to the members at least 14 days before the vote. That has not happened. No explanation was given about the proposed changes. They only put the document itself in an envelope. members are communicated."

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