Received a few words from John Staddon and they are words that should
be read properly and taken as such. “New NFC rule for the future. Think not
what the NFC can do for you but what you can do for the NFC”. There is plenty
of opportunity for the NFC and it’s members should they wish to take the club
on board, the problem is getting members on board instead of on the sidelines
and airing views that are not a benefit to the club. If you have strong views
why not send them along and we can air them in these notes and any that can be
acted upon and dealt with by the committee all the better. Then if you do not
get a satisfactory answer or action hit the fancy press hard, there should
always be a way to move on without too much trouble and I think the NFC
committee will always strive for that goal.
The
discussions pages of the NFC web site see some interesting comments and I shall
be looking at a few of these to reproduce in these Bulletins. I have put my own
small notice on for objections and to date the replies have been positive,
after all not all fanciers are on the internet and don’t have the benefit of
seeing what members have to say. I am going to attempt to give an even spread
of the views and keep to that line, I like the President should be independent
and not agree or disagree with anyone through any avenue of the NFC, the only
way that the end objective can be achieved is to listen and act on the advice
of the majority. I have my own views but they are not necessarily for these
notes that are for the members.
A statement/question that received a good
response after the AGM was. “Due to the voting at the AGM the members who do
not want to fly the Dax international have taken the opportunity away from those
of us who did want to fly it under the banner of the best club in the country.
Why not have left it on the race programme for members who did want to fly
after all if a race is on the race programme members don’t have to send to it
do they? The point I am trying to get to in my clumsy way (after all I am not
the brightest bulb on the tree) is would it be possible for the national to
organise it as an open race and I am sure if we asked nicely the former
president would be more than happy to help to organise and liase, after all he
did do a sterling job last season. How many of you good members would send if
we could persuade the club and past president to do this, I for one would jump
at the chance as I am sure that the holder and runner up of the title of Dax
international winners would want to defend their crowns. PJC”. A reply came
from Mick MeGrevy. “PJC as you are aware
all propositions for an international race were defeated, although there were a
number of different ones. Propositions numbered 14,16,17,22,57,58; all proposed
a full race programme, which included one international race. Propositions
numbered 43, 46, 49, 51, 87, all proposed individual international race points,
and these were also defeated. Now, here's the crunch, proposition number 89
(Racing rule 45. Delete whole rule. New rule to read: - The NFC will not
organise any international races). This proposition also failed, 190 votes for
and 398 votes against 117 abstentions. Which means that the members do want to
have an international race, but they just can't agree which one, 67% of the
members voting want a race, 32% not which is 2 to 1 in favour. At the committee
meeting prior to the AGM it was agreed that the longest race and the young
bird/old hens race should be agreed, so that transport arrangements could be
made. International racing was not discussed. So, my opinion is this,
international competition is not yet ruled out, and we will have to wait until
the February meeting to see what the committee decides on this issue. Dax international
is on the 17th July, which is one week before Saintes, it will put a lot of
pressure on the secretaries, but I now they will cope”.
Another viewpoint came from DG. “Am I right in thinking that
the rule to race from Barcelona is still current in the rule book? If so and
the committee are still wanting to provide an International race then it looks
like we're going to Barcelona! After all if you want an international prize you
might as well go for the big one!”
Paul. O.
put the NFC in the right light with the following.” I think you've called it
just about right. A race program is all about providing a range of choice for
members. We provide and Old Hens sprint race for those who want it - so why not
an International race?? Nantes, Pau, and Saintes are the traditional choices in
recent years but what percentage of members fly ALL 3 races?? (based on 2002
figures this can be NO MORE than 772 and in 2003 just 623) Some members ignore
Pau completely and fly Nantes & Saintes. Others focus solely on Pau. The
point is that everyone makes their own choices - there is no compulsion to send
just because a race has been laid on. Adding Dax just provides further choice
and options for those who require it. 251 members took the opportunity to send
to Dax last year and I have no doubt that this figure would increase in 2004.”
Another
piece from Paul is also under discussion and one that many have talked about.
“The NFC is such a rich club! Rich enough that it can afford to lose committee
members of the calibre of Tyerman, Harris, McGrevy, Dudhill to name but a few.
Rich enough that it can afford to leave three sections wholly unrepresentative
(including Section A which had two volunteers - a fact notified to the AGM)
leaving the committee very much under-resourced. Rich enough that it can afford
to ignore the added value of competing with our Continental friends after just
one year and losing such hard-won respect from them.” I will add a name more to
that, Davies, Barrington, Christopher, Froggatt, What I can say to Paul is that
the committee have already moved on this and again the next meeting will
resolve the issue. No matter whether you like or dislike anyone, if there is a
position to be held and a volunteer then they should be allocated that
position, after all any decisions that go through are a majority at a committee
meeting and not the minority.
It is obvious that there is going to be a lot regarding the
International scene at the moment but as I pointed out in my previous notes the
final decisions on such events will be made at the February meeting. Then after
that we should get some good information on the discussions pages where both
the club and members can gain some good information.
