Polls and Polls

On the subject of polls maybe we should have one on the direction TARS should take, in view of Roger Wardales letter in the latest Signals

The lack of response to Robin's posting is disappointing. Whatever one thinks of Roger Wardale's analysis of the current problems facing TARS, he has surely put his finger on many of the concerns of members and he has correctly diagnosed a current sense of 'drift'.

Roger's points seem to me to be well-made, but there is one conclusion which I disagree with - that the Trustees must take lead in changing things. No - effective change is more likely to come from the grass roots. It is the Regions, i.e. ordinary members (including Overseas) who must judge the position and propose any necessary changes. A poll (or at least an exchange of views) on the lines suggested by Robin is an excellent start, but alas, where is the interest?

I think part of the lack of response is due to the sad lack of traffic on the board, something that needs attention, also of course the holidays could also be a factor.

When I took over from Dave Thewlis I did a survey among TARSUS members one of the questions was would they wish to change TARS and TARSUS in any way, hopefully with suggestions.

I received about a 50% return of the surveys with the overwhelming majority wishing the Society to remain as it is. Now on this side of the pond we are unable due to the distances between members to have events as in the UK so one is unable to have face to face contact with members which might lead to a different story.

Certainly as discussed on the Tarboard thread this website though excellent in some ways needs to have more current things to bring members to it. which would also bring more feedback on this topic.

Part of the problem is that I don't always have my copy of Signals to hand when i am on the computer and I am not always on the computer when i read Signals. Sometimes those two aspects of life get separated!

Secondly Robin's post was put up just at the start of what for may was an extended holiday period. Some people have more time to watch sites while they are on holiday but I am sure many others including myself were busy with family and holiday activities and I certainly had a week completely "off" the Internet when I didn't even read my emails.

Now I am going to have to dig up Roger's article and then think about it while I am in front of my screen.

Maybe we should move this thread to General discussions and rename it Roger Wardales letter.

I am not sure this is possible, but it may get more attention.

I think that you might be a little harsh, Peter, by being disappointed with a lack of response to Robin's posting.  Given its date of just before Christmas, when there is so much going on, and also with most British members having to deal with their own 'Winter Holiday', I would not be surprised with a lull in the proceedings.

I agree that Roger's case is well-made, and deserves to be looked at seriously among the members.  Clearly, most of the members are quite happy with the way that the Society is going, although there is that quiet, but persistent loss of members and dwindling of the ranks.  This calls for a survey of the lost members to find out why they have not renewed their subscription, and if the Society is has not met their needs or expectations.  This would be a huge job for someone to take on, and would be better broken down by doing it at a regional level rather than a central one.

As the existing membership team have the information but already have enough to do (I'm sure) the team need additional staff to deal with this.  These people would advise a nominated person at regional level, who would then send out the prepared letter to the resignees.

Change from the grassroots in any direction requires widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs, and I don't think that we have that.  A vigorous 'ideas person' might bring change by suggesting a new course to the Trustees for their approval, but it will also require a lot of persistence by a lot of people in order to get it to 'take root'.

As you know, I vist Tarboard daily, and have even made some contributions lately.  Because I have perceived that this forum 'moves' more slowly, I have only visited here weekly.  Here you are; I'll make a New Year's resolution!  I'll visit here daily from now on, and make contributions when I have something to say. 

David.

Previously Peter Hyland wrote:

The lack of response to Robin's posting is disappointing. Whatever one thinks of Roger Wardale's analysis of the current problems facing TARS, he has surely put his finger on many of the concerns of members and he has correctly diagnosed a current sense of 'drift'.

Roger's points seem to me to be well-made, but there is one conclusion which I disagree with - that the Trustees must take lead in changing things. No - effective change is more likely to come from the grass roots. It is the Regions, i.e. ordinary members (including Overseas) who must judge the position and propose any necessary changes. A poll (or at least an exchange of views) on the lines suggested by Robin is an excellent start, but alas, where is the interest?

 

David or anyone, if you have Google as your homepage you can click on the RSS link under announcements, you will then see a link to the forum with a brief synopsis every time there is a new post.

I find it very useful as  I don't  have to visit the forum until  there are  fresh posts.

However we do need more traffic. Editors of Signals and other TARS poblications please advertise it to the members

Hi Robin, I have Google on my homepage in Firefox 3.5.7, but there is nothing about 'announcements', and I have no idea what a RSS link is or what it looks like.

David.

Previously Robin Marshall wrote:

David or anyone, if you have Google as your homepage you can click on the RSS link under announcements, you will then see a link to the forum with a brief synopsis every time there is a new post.

I find it very useful as  I don't  have to visit the forum until  there are  fresh posts.

However we do need more traffic. Editors of Signals and other TARS poblications please advertise it to the members

Sorry David I should have explained better.

The announcements window is on this websites homepage, there  you will see RSS link.

this will take you to Google to set it up.

I am not sure why it is not on the Forums page also it really should be.

Sorry forget to put the link http://arthur-ransome.org/forum/RSS

"I think that you might be a little harsh, Peter, by being disappointed with a lack of response to Robin's posting."

David, I don't understand how expressing disappointment can ever be regarded as 'harsh'. Disappointment is a very gentle emotion. It is now halfway through January and there has still been little response to Robin's original invitation. Am I allowed to be disappointed about that ??

I don't always get the correct word for the occasion, Peter, so I apologise if I have offended you. Yes, certainly by mid-January no-one can claim that there was too much distracting things going on.  Mind you, the AusTARS had an excellent distraction on Saturday, with a feast to celebrate AR's birthday.  After the main barbecue was done, and we were settling down to a Black Forest trifle  (one of Nigella's recipes) I asked the assembled AusTARS how they felt about the way we conduct things here.  The general consensus was that of satisfaction with the way things are, and as nuthin' is broke, don't try to fix it!  Of course, a certain amount of this feeling may have been due to the warm afternoon, a delicious barbecue, and 'fruit' of the vineyard (well cellared).

David.

Previously Peter Hyland wrote:

"I think that you might be a little harsh, Peter, by being disappointed with a lack of response to Robin's posting."

David, I don't understand how expressing disappointment can ever be regarded as 'harsh'. Disappointment is a very gentle emotion. It is now halfway through January and there has still been little response to Robin's original invitation. Am I allowed to be disappointed about that ??

 

 

Sounds wonderful David, is it still pretty hot there?

A drop of the grape (grog) usually loosens tongues and feelings so one would assume the response was the way everyone felt.

Robin

David - no offence taken! What I was doing was expressing concern and, yes, disappointment that very few members were prepared to comment on Roger Wardale's letter in Signals (and also Dave Thewlis's in the previous Signals). Just because we have had a bit of snow in the UK, that does not mean that people can't use their computers! I am very glad to hear from you that all is well with AustARS, but I'm sure you will appreciate that Roger was really writing about TARS UK. Here, we do seem to have lost our way a bit, and Roger has diagnosed some causes. Whatever view one takes, there is scope for discussion here. Simply saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a way of evading the issues in the UK.

Weth the exception of one new member present for her first event, we have all known each other for a number of years, so there was also the candidacy of old friendship.  We get occasional insanely hot days, in the mid-forties Celsius, but fortunately they do not last for long.  Most days are very pleasant 20 - 30 degrees, dipping lower when it decides that we should have some rain.  This, when it comes, is usually a decent downpour, so that it gets the job done quickly and then goes back to the more popular sunshine.

David.

Previously Robin Marshall wrote:

Sounds wonderful David, is it still pretty hot there?

A drop of the grape (grog) usually loosens tongues and feelings so one would assume the response was the way everyone felt.

Robin