Speaking of ISME, the e.g.m. also provided an interesting insight into the different views of small business owner/managers. Perusing the proposed constitution, Mr Paul Bergin asked if employees of a member of ISME could become a member of the national council. He then took exception to this notion, enquiring if it meant that employees who were only interested in having their hands out for a wage at the end of every week could become members?

Mr Robert Berney, one of the chief architects of the new constitution responded that employees could indeed become members, while another member, Mr Jerry Kiersey, moved to dissociate ISME and himself from Mr Bergin's comments.

He pointed out he had employees for 18 years who were great workers and always did more than "put their hands out at the end of the week".