TRF becomming Extinct?

[scotsy]

Having recently bought this chaps other nx250 and then a S/H garmin Montana for a return to some trail riding i was planning on re-joining the TRF again but i am holding fire for now to see what happens. It seems that if a new volunteer isn't found to replace someone the existing person if offered a fee to do the job for financial gain from the TRF funds

Ian

[Mike54]

So, after all this arguing etc, what exactly is the issue with the Directors/ex director and what's going on because it's still not at all clear to me what the problem is/are

That's why I started a thread on the TRF forum, so that myself and everyone can try and understand what's happening.

http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23077

I just read the first 3 pages Bob and am still none the wiser :laugh:

[scotsy]

So, after all this arguing etc, what exactly is the issue with the Directors/ex director and what's going on because it's still not at all clear to me what the problem is/are

That's why I started a thread on the TRF forum, so that myself and everyone can try and understand what's happening.

http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23077

I just read the first 3 pages Bob and am still none the wiser :laugh:

stick with it.....it gets interesting later on

[Richard Simpson]

Having recently bought this chaps other nx250 and then a S/H garmin Montana for a return to some trail riding i was planning on re-joining the TRF again but i am holding fire for now to see what happens. It seems that if a new volunteer isn't found to replace someone the existing person if offered a fee to do the job for financial gain from the TRF funds

Ian

I'm not sure what you mean, or why it would make any difference, to be honest.

The TRF has always paid people to do stuff on its behalf...including hiring QCs at vast expense to go to the Supreme Court and kick Dorset County Council's arse. It's expensive, but lanes are priceless.

Likewise it has always paid 'contractors' to undertake various tasks and projects. These payments, which are relatively modest, go some way to compensate for long hours spent, wages or profits lost etc in protecting the rights of green lane users like you and I.

The TRF has, to my knowledge, never paid anyone a wage, or anything like one. The nearest it got to that was paying a printer to put the club magazine together and post it out every month...and the magazine was a victim of cost-cutting some time ago.

NB: Rather than holding fire and seeing what happens you could join now and attend the upcoming AGM, and INFLUENCE what happens.

[Mike54]

So, after all this arguing etc, what exactly is the issue with the Directors/ex director and what's going on because it's still not at all clear to me what the problem is/are

That's why I started a thread on the TRF forum, so that myself and everyone can try and understand what's happening.

http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23077

I just read the first 3 pages Bob and am still none the wiser :laugh:

stick with it.....it gets interesting later on

Ok, have read it all now. If I was still a member I'd be sorely tempted to get enough people together, call an EGM and eject the board in its entirety and start again. What a mess.

[-Ralph-]

So, after all this arguing etc, what exactly is the issue with the Directors/ex director and what's going on because it's still not at all clear to me what the problem is/are

That's why I started a thread on the TRF forum, so that myself and everyone can try and understand what's happening.

http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23077

Having read that it's clear some people have too much time on their hands.

Oh the irony!

Have to do something while sitting on the throne... only time I check the forum (yup guess where I am now), the replies on that thread are long and they come thick and fast. You wrote that on the 30th and I've just seen it. Doesn't suggest I have too much time to spend on here really does it....

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Barftone]

I like others have been considering rejoining. Over the years I have watched all sorts of good and bad things happen in and around the TRF. Its normally because people care...sometimes too much....You can invest too much into somethings in life. Things can get out of hand and personal (Brexit anyone?), opinions divided, and it can get very messy, very quickly. Walk away...count to 10 and breathe if necessary...look back in and look at the big picture...Is the TRF delivering for its members both locally and nationally? Is there a better alternative working on fighting to keep lanes open and open old ones? What is the most affective way of getting issues moving? Infighting is mana to the many enemies trying to close old roads down

[Kipper]

If you're thinking of rejoining why wouldn't you? Ignore the leadership politics and look at the results.

At a group level we have grown massively, with new members joining each week. We are winning battles against lane closures. We are running great events. Join and you make new friends. At a group level the leadership politics don't affect us. But the leadership does help us when needed. Probably better than ever.

£45 well spent. To be honest I would guess over 80% of members are unaware of the mud flinging at the top.

And this isn't just my group, I have friends at 3 other large groups and they all say the same. Don't get me wrong, we had concerns a couple of years ago but have now become more confident in where the directors are taking us and the results gained. I would of regarded myself as an anti to be honest.

And with regard to people who want massive change, I don't believe they have the support they hope in the wider, happy, non political membership. A suggestion for an emergency meeting for a structural change was recently put up on the TRF forum and all replies were against the suggestion. They supported the directors, maybe not their attitude, and the replies were from some regional club officers.

So join and you'll find that the TRF is far from going extinct.

[MikeIrving]

80% of the membership are unaware of the mudslinging just as they are unaware of the reasons for the Mudslinging. What they are being told is a twisted and perverted version of the truth and deliberate misinformation.

they have even closed the forum down to anything but supportive posts.

the successes are not entirely due to the management
its not about individuals with grudges but individuals who have recognised what is really happening and trying to do something about it.
Decision making has been transferred from the membership ( where timely decisions were very rare) to just two individuals ( they say 5 but this is definitely not the case) the extra Directors may make a difference (but only time will tell). A new establishment is needed and a management style somewhere in the middle.

These two individuals will go to every length to cling onto power as they has a vested interest. One is supplementing his income significantly with Rights of Work and does not want too many volunteers involved ( as he claims they cannot and have not been doing it properly) the other.....we have to wait and see what his motives are.

the AGM is this Sunday...we will see if anything changes. And only time will tell if i am wrong.
I will put my helmet on as the abuse will now start coming in.

[Kipper]

One is supplementing his income significantly with Rights of Work and does not want too many volunteers involved ( as he claims they cannot and have not been doing it properly) the other.....we have to wait and see what his motives are.

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So for balance this was the reply when raised on the TRF forum:
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Just to clarify and give some more detail to the comments above;

ALL Directors perform their respective Director roles free of charge on a volunteer basis.
In addition to their FOC volunteer Directors duties the RC director is the cheapest contractor and performs RC contractor work outside RC Directing at the lowest hourly rate of ALL RC contractors.
He was awarded a his contract unanimously by the board in Feb 2016 (See published Directors meeting minutes for all of the Directors present at the meeting who agreed)
He has to demonstrate best value for the TRF annually or his contract will not be renewed.
He cannot award himself work. Dave Carling has undertaken to manage and approve all work piece by piece and all invoices are subsequently approved by the FD, Michel.

As such - although it is possible for members to insist that the Directors are volunteers and not paid there would be a considerable cost burden and detriment to the TRF in doing so as the alternative would be external advice at higher cost and lower competence .