John Collins, on 18 May 2011 - 06:55 PM, said:
PHB puts in bold IF ITS NOT BROKEN DONT FIX IT (ACU)
I will try to answer:
I am afraid it is rather broke – or rather certainly not really for modern times?
We live in an age where we can tax our car, fill in our income tax return , order most things including our weekly shopping, all on line. We can get our driving licence, memberships of most things, book our air flights etc all on line. But when we wish to take out ACU Registration or Licence- we have to move back to the old fashioned ways
There are some problems.
While some clubs meet on a weekly basis ( mine does) others do not. Add in that this day and age people may be working and not able to get there, and also one can attend , and find that on that particular night the Official you need may not be there etc
So – for many the answer has been to fill in the form – and send it to Club Sec – along perhaps with the Club membership money – and then leave the dear old Club Sec to stamp them up and post them to the ACU. This all takes time.
Apart form someone ( Club Sec having to do this – and usually a lump at a particular time of year) and apart from fact that Club Sec may have further expenditure on postage etc ( not that cheap at present) – common sense and human nature tell us that the Club Sec should not be expected to do all this and trot to Post every day, so obviously they tend to “ bundle” them and post when they have a batch or the time to do so. Not all I know, but certainly some.
Problem – this time varies – and I can tell you for sure that at the start of 2011, some licence/registration forms were arriving many weeks ( in one case months) after the rider had done his bit
Result – Rider turns up at an event , truthfully and honestly states he has sent it all in – but weeks later it has not arrived.
Now – where the system works, and Club Sec’s have a good handle on it, fine – we see that this can carry on
BUT: Where it is not working, and where it is reasonable to assume the ACU should be trying to move out of the dark ages . It is surely reasonable to look if there are alternatives ?
The big big problem is not breaking the link between Club and member – which was that posed originally by Nigel . Some clubs are not that bothered about the membership fee ( they may collect it later or use Club membership cards to check at events etc) - others are worried – not only about loss of revenue, but it is also nice to see members now and again, if only when they want something i.e. form signed.
So, what has actually happened is that all Clubs have received a “ Consultation” paper , outlining about 5 options and inviting any other ideas, and obviously the comments, like we have read in these posts.
Since I just left short trousers I have always heard how the ACU should be speaking/asking/communicating with its riders – so here we have it.
Consultation not only with Centres and Committee’s, but with the Clubs
Again , frankly if the only worry some have is that they have Insurance ( and most of the post about this is nonscence - as it fails to consider what happens if a bike for example lands on a third party such as a spectator - which is why in every Trial we all avail ourselves of £30 million Third Part Liability cover - via our entry fee) , then those people dop not give a toss about Clubs anyway, and assume that the events we ride in must just appear out of eteher rather than a hard working Club put them on?
As I stated at outset, we all appreciate the link needed between Club and rider, but this applies in many walks of life, we need to move forward, and frankly – if we are using the present system just to force/ blackmail riders into paying the relatively small Club fee’s( for which the hard working Club people do a lot of work) - we probably do have a much wider problem and some worries for then future?
John,
Our club have yet to discuss the options, so I am only speaking from a personal point of view.
As a membership secretary I feel that it is MOST important for the ACU to confirm club membership prior to issuing the licence (registration)otherwise some riders will simply not bother to join a club.
It's not my place to post the five options on this forum, however option one includes the following statement -
"Clubs will be advised, on a weekly basis, of the names and contact details of each new or renewing member to enable them to chase up subscription payments."
In recent years I have sent every paid up club member a membership form and an addressed return envelope as soon as the ACU licence (registration) forms appear in the post. Mid/late November time.
This encourages the members to join the club and get their licence ready for the new year. The deadline for this is set for the Ralph Varden trial around the 9th of December when I send all of the completed forms to the ACU in a single recorded delivery envelope. These applications are processed and returned before the new year, an excellent service from the licencing dept.
My concern is this. Even sending out the forms with a return envelope to almost 100 members, I only get about 40 returned before Christmas, the remainder trickle back in the new year, some as late as May!
Now bearing this in mind, and remembering that currently riders need their application forms signed prior to getting their licences, what chance will I have of getting club membership fees under a system where I have to "chase up" the money after the licences have been issued?
I am all in favour of an online system, but I feel strongly that club memberships must be confirmed prior to the licence being issued.
Of course, one of the other options is to remove the need to join a club at all. This would make the ACU's job a lot easier and have no effect on their income, so I can't blame them for suggesting that idea.
As an aside, we do issue every paid up member with a current membership card each year.
Pete
0
