WSRA Trustee Election Hustings

>>>Shhhhhhh!!!!! The Trustees will hear you!

But I am sure that the Company Secretary knows the Articles like the back of her hands anyway

 

In a much earlier post Robin indicated that there was no spokesperson for those opposed to the direction of the WSRA. This is correct, but the WSRAMAG continues to have two spokespersons, Rodney Greenway and myself. This posting is written on behalf of the WSRMAG group, and we hope others may share our views on this particular point, if not other points. In our original principles published some months ago, one sentence read (and reads) as follows:
Mutual respect for views: everyone has a right to be listened to;
In our view this applies as much to WSRA Trustees (and WSRA management) as anyone else. The fact that many of us are disappointed and even angry at our treatment at the recent WSRA meeting, does not in our view absolve us from this. Indeed we will never reach a resolution of these problems if we allow insults and denigration to fly around. Please folks, can we please stick to the issues in this discussion and not allow any personal feelings we may have to get in the way, however amusing we think they may look when first written. The WSRAMAG criticisms are of what people have done, not who they are. Indeed some of the people have been friends and colleagues for many years - and we need to move to understanding each other, not hurling lumps of metaphorical concrete, though that is sometimes an awful lot easier.

(Gets down off high horse and retreats to corner.)

Frank

 

I endorse Frank's remarks on behalf of myself and Magda Davies.

(Doooo come out of the corner , Frank! )

Kind regards

Robin White

 

Hear Hear...

 

Here's a little thought on Resolution 7 (Members Subscriptions) at the resumed AGM. Would anyone like to second my proposed amendments? I would need your full name and WSRA Membership Number.

Kind regards

Robin White

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO WSRA AGM RESOLUTION 7

In view of the need for the WSRA to re-connect with the working volunteers, employed staff and the WSR plc in general, the following additions (1) and (2) to Resolution 7 (Membership subscriptions) are proposed.

(1) A £5 reduction shall be available to any class of membership where, at the time of joining or renewal, the member, one or more of the members in the case of joint or family membership is a working volunteer, in that they hold a WSR plc-issued ID card.

(2) A 'privilege' rate of membership be available at the rate of £5 for any class of membership to any person employed (for at least 20 hours per week) by the WSR plc at the time of joining or renewal.

These two items are likely (at worst) to be cost-neutral for the WSRA in that working members are a small proportion of the total membership (estimated to be 500 at most). Likewise staff memberships are a vanishingly small number. In both cases judged against the 5-6,000 WSR memberships in total. It is to be hoped that this initiative would encourage membership recruiting which would (1) more than outweigh any losses, (2) raise membership amongst vital opinion-formers on the Railway, and (3) make a positive contribution to the WSRA's standing on the Railway generally.

 

After reading the posts on here and reading Robin's report I have decided to join up to the WRSA and add my voice to the growing calls for change and reconciliation. I do this not for the WSRA nor the PLC but to support the railway that I love and enjoy.

 

I'll second that Robin, Kenneth James Davidge Mem Num 12300 (they wouldn't let me have 7 back as no records exist but you know I was there). Ken D

Congrats to moored excellent decision

 

My question was rhetorical in response to jma1009's rather gloomy analysis. He says the trustees cannot be defeated in an AGM or an EGM. He and a few others seem to think the best tactic is to give up the fight for control and just let the WSRA wither away. I think that is the worst of all options since the withering could take a very long time and risks the railway losing the best parts of the association's assets and activities for ever.

I reckon we may find the previous tactics have seriously undermined the present management, even if they didn't quite fall into the hole. But you are right to say a different kind of plan may be needed for the resumed AGM (and EGM's or legal actions if necessary). That seems to be happening. So bring on the big bad wolf, and other animals if they dare, for the final huff and puff.

 

Point taken .It is many years since I let outrage override action, I have modified several posts accordingly.

 

Good idea! It makes sense for volunteers to have some sort of monetary compensation for their efforts.

I don't know whether you're limited to a single seconder but, if it would be useful for a non-volunteering, non-employee, 'armchair' member to second this, I'd be happy to do so. (I'll PM full name and membership number if you want to take up the offer)

Barry

 

Yes please - and any other WSRA Members who would like to add their voice.

Kind regards

Robin

 

Robin

As a remote member I would also wish to support your proposal for subscriptions. A good idea that volunteers and plc employees should get a reduced rate. I know that other railways already do this

David Smith
Membership No 6691

 

And me

Tim Cowen
Membership No.9904

 

And us!

Barrie Nicholas Childs & Dee Childs
Joint Membership number 5647

 

You can also add me to your growing list.
Robin Fisher
Membership Number 4216.

 

I might be missing a cunning plan here but I fear the timing of the proposal may not be ideal.

It seems clear that you need to find a way to get the word out to the masses. I suspect some members still aren't aware there's a problem, many others will only know the Journal's take on it. Some may have seen news in the national railway press, though the reporting has been brief and to me, rather one sided, so not persuasive. I very much doubt many have found the unofficial forum (I went looking) or the threads here (which I found by chance).

I'm not sure how you do this. The press may pick up on the AGM fiasco but unless they can point readers to a "Reformers" website that may be of little value. You might need to call an EGM just to give you a means of contacting everyone, (though I wonder who pays the postage for that)? Or perhaps an ad in the national press (I dread to think at what price both financially and to the railway's reputation).

Either way, once you make contact, there's a risk the armchair supporter sees a group comprising largely of active volunteers lobbying to take control of the WSRA and one of the first things they want to do is..... reduce subs for themselves! I suspect that may lose you more support than it gains you.

Sorry but I don't think you'll ever win the battle through social media alone and I'm not convinced you'll ever recruit enough new members from the volunteers to do it either. Getting the message to the masses won't be easy and you really don't need to give them any excuse not to trust you.

 

I like the creative thinking, Robin. Concessions for those with staff IDs are an excellent idea. I'd prefer this year's business to be completed without further modification and complication but if this can be added easily and properly communicated to the membership before placed before the re-convened AGM then you have my support. Looking further ahead, I'd like the promised "stakeholders group" (or "partnership group") to look at the possibility of standardising concessions across all WSR groups (including travel concessions) so one group is not seen to be competing with others for members; that idea has already been put to the Plc who have not said no.

Steve

 

As already stated, Larry, I haven't had a discussion with the WSRA's chairman since before the AGM, save a brief email exchange to arrange a chat later this week, so your assertion that I "continue to be the WSRA's mouthpiece and not independent" is not true and never has been.

My "Plan", as you put it, is summarised in my "150 words" and I will continue to pursue those aims. As above, my chat with the WSRA will include some strong advice about what the WSRA needs to be done in the next week or so. The reaction to that advice will be pivotal, in my humble view, to the destiny of the current WSRA. When/if there is something to report, then I will do so.

Steve

 

All

I set out below the text of my e-mail to David Williams and Susan Kaufman of a few moments ago.

The great hope, of course, is that the present Trustees listen to the utterly clear message sent to them last Saturday, and those who are now part of the problem rather than the solution, step graciously aside.

If not, rest assured that there is a clear approach being worked to by the 'reformers'. I openly flagged some days in advance here and elsewhere the kind of speech I intended to make and when I intended to make it. But you have to be flexible and the contempt shown by the Trustees for the membership led to the spontaneously organised 'walk-out' which brought the meeting to an end.

I have, in the past few days been contacted by a number of journalists, mostly because my 'account' document has achieved wide circulation, so it is inevitable that there will be reports of the AGM.

There is a clear strategy for the resumed AGM. I have set it out to the other 'reform' candidates who were at the AGM but I don't want the present Trustees to know what it is, so forgive me if I don't go into detail here. I am confident that the strategy will continue to move us in the right direction, and all I ask is that any WSRA Member who possibly can, comes along to the resumed AGM. It will NOT just be a pedestrian consideration of the remaining agenda items.

As far as the membership proposal is concerned, there is a desperate need to reconnect with those who keep the day-to-day Railway in being and to make the WSRA attractive and relevant to them, and respectful of them. As far as reducing subs for those proposing the Amendment, I am a Life Member, so I made a substantial contribution many years ago, and now pay no annual fee. So my only interest is in making sure the WSRA is something worthwhile to be a life member of!

kind regards

Robin White

TEXT OF E-MAIL TO DAVID WILLIAMS AND SUSAN KAUFMAN

Sent at 08.20 on 23 July 2014

Dear David and Susan

You will now be considering how and when to recall the AGM.

The pause for thought has generated some further thoughts, and one is for two amendments to Resolution 8 which remains to be vote upon. I set out my proposed amendment below, and the growing number of folks I have who would wish to second it.

You will no doubt be writing to the membership in respect of the resumed AGM and so could communicate my proposed amendments as part of that. I would be grateful if you would pass on my text unaltered.

Kind regards

Robin White
WSRA Life Member 2221

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO WSRA AGM RESOLUTION 8

In view of the need for the WSRA to re-connect with the working volunteers, employed staff and the WSR plc in general, the following additions (8.1) and (8.2) to Resolution 8 (Membership subscriptions) are proposed.

(8.1) A £5 reduction shall be available to any class of membership where, at the time of joining or renewal, the member, one or more of the members in the case of joint or family membership is a working volunteer, in that they hold a WSR plc-issued ID card.

(8.2) A 'privilege' rate of membership be available at the rate of £5 for any class of membership to any person employed (for at least 20 hours per week) by the WSR plc at the time of joining or renewal.

These two items are likely (at worst) to be cost-neutral for the WSRA in that working members are a small proportion of the total membership (estimated to be 500 at most). Likewise staff memberships are a vanishingly small number. In both cases judged against the 5-6,000 WSR memberships in total. It is to be hoped that this initiative would encourage membership recruiting which would (1) more than outweigh any losses, (2) raise membership amongst vital opinion-formers on the Railway, and (3) make a positive contribution to the WSRA's standing on the Railway generally.

Proposed by:
Robin Moira White
WSRA Life Member 2221

Seconded by:

Barrie Nicholas Childs & Dee Childs
WSRA Members 5647

Tim Cowen
WSRA Member 9904

Keneth James Davidge
WSRA Member 12300

Robin Fisher
WSRA Member 4216

Barry Alan Kitchen
WSRA Member 6557

David Smith
WSRA Member 6691