Launch the Lifeboats?
July 22, 2010 | Posted by Tony Do I detect a slight listing to starboard on the good ship Barbel Society?
First we have a call for members to commit to fisheries permits, not just for this year but next also. Apparently there is something of a shortfall in covering fisheries rents due to poor take up and falling membership. More waters will go next term if the situation doesn’t improve. Do they know what to do about it? Do they buggery.
Then Communications Manager Fred Bonney verbally abuses a longstanding member on the forum and the moderators see fit to impose a forum ban on him, how ironic is that? Dead right though.
Steve Pope sees red and tries to get the moderators to reinstate his Southern brother resulting in all the mods resigning on mass. Fred, unable to post on the BS, takes out his frustration on another forum but just gets a thrashing, as usual.
Pope trys to recruit new moderators but is told, “no thanks”……. Looks like its up to you Frampton……… what fun that would be, my word, it’s almost worth joining for.
I feel it’s not over yet and if I were a betting man, which I am, I would say one or two names may yet walk the plank of their own free will..
On second thoughts its more than a slight listing, there is a hole in the bow. Will Popey be able to shore it up?
Only a fool fails to see when enough is enough, time to leave the party.
.
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8 Comments »
Tony,
Seem to remember someone offering their business expertise about 3 years ago (after analysing the published accounts) in terms of marketing,on-line membership renewals and merchandise sales but they had it covered in house – so thanks but no thanks !
Move on a few years and my little stretch is now running at a healthy retained reserve and a lengthening waiting list.
AML
Shorties little runner
No one can save the BS just by implementing a few modern touches and web redesign/marketing expertise. It would be impossible for anyone to market something so broken. The internet has allowed people on the outside to see what is going on and most don’t want any part of it. They see the rows spilling over and just think that is all the BS is about.
One man’s public persona has caused this – that and an undemocratic/unmoveable executive. Who’d want all that grief encroaching on their precious hobby time? I feel that unless some drastic restructuring is done immediately there will be nothing left for Popey to shore up.
I left because I could no longer justify being part of something that caused me such angst. I also knew that I was powerless to do anything about it – so I voted with my feet.
Conrad
Conrad,
I would agree that tweaking won’t work now but as I said that was about 3 years ago before it slipped into terminal decline,at that stage the finances were just a little fragile and all it needed was a bit of a lift,following that half the committee “left” to be replaced by the current incumbents who have tried their best under very trying circumstances and with their hands tied behind their backs with plummeting income and fixed outgoings.Once the cross subsidies were found and stopped something had to give and the current fisheries which haven’t paid their way will surely have to fall by the wayside until the finances are recovered.
However I don’t agree that it cannot be fixed full stop,I can think of probably 20 people who could lead it out of the doldrums back to it’s glorious former self with a new younger, more vibrant leader at the helm and democracy restored.
ATB
Chris
Fair point Chris, democracy is certainly one of the main sticking points with me; a view shared by a number of other people that I’ve talked to.
Obviously I was not around back then but in many ways wish I was, then it would be easier to have a historical perspective. All I can really say is that I personally found myself being constantly aggravated by one man’s actions. A public facing officer of the BS has alienated scores of people and has not been challenged until now. This situation amazes me to this day.
I hope not only that it can it be fixed but that it does get fixed in a form that would allow many people to return.
Conrad
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
Or NOT as the case may be !!!!
It’d certainly take some doing, Chris, now what to getting back to me about HKS membership?
Will
What can be added after today ?Not an awful lot to be honest,sad very sad indeed.
I’ve just been on Monty’s blog and a tear came to my eye,literally,no kidding,never seen the words to the song before ,very moving,this is a really sad day,you all have my respect in bucket loads,that couldn’t have been an easy decision for you.I just live in hope that this is a turning point that will be pivotal in bringing about the change that is needed and gives a wake up call to the blind allegiance by others that is now only delaying the inevitable.