rpra report now on line

[Diamond Dave]

Council have used rule 142 to set the subs and fees for next year which are £35 subs for full members of which £31 goes to HQ and £4 is retained by the regions, i say retained as it is the Regions or more accurately the Region secretaries that collect the subs and forward them onto HQ this is in itself saves a tremendous amount of time and cost to HQ
I think that the admin of HQ is top heavy for the work involved and that further cost savings should be considered to avoid a year on year increase.
As membership falls which is inevitable and unavoidable, the organisation must charge what is necessary to cover its costs and to survive.
However a lot of people must be asking why the subs are what they are when the NEHU subs are only a third?

Hi Bowbroom, hope you're well.
In my opinion, this is exactly the reason why the RPRA are in the shite in the first place - because they are not moving forward with the times.
The collection of subs etc in this day and age could easily be mechanised and the regions disposed of with a saving of some £80,000. If its all done on line, it would have a minimal "burden" on HQ.
Can you tell me what else the regions do for their £4 per member - other than paying for the ludicrous travel expenses and accomodation to meetings etc. Which can also be done on line. - we are in 2024 for goodness sake.

[Diamond Dave]

they should give individual members who pay same fee as a club member a vote at present they have no say

Exactly George, the council members have NOT got the best interest of the fancy at heart. If they had, they would have voted the Hall report in and the RPRA wouldnt be in the mess it is in now. Instead, they are looking after their own interest.
Ian Evans' proposals will change all of that by doing away with the council and having a five man committee with any major decisions being voted on by the fancy, putting the control of the RPRA back with the likes of you and me George.

[Bowbroom]

Thank you, I hope that you are well also
The regions are an integral part of the association as the constitution is drafted and it would need a complete root and branch reform of the rules to change it which of course requires the proper process being followed and the agreement of the majority of the members, will you be starting the process? Council must be mandated by the membership and currently that is done via a member, through their organisation to region and then on to Council, total rewriting of the rule book cannot be achieved by the invocation of rule 142.
As to what the regions do, have you been to a meeting? If you had you would be aware of the function settling petty arguments and giving the opinion and feelings of the member clubs to Council well at least that of those that can be bothered to send a delegate.
I agree that subs could be collected electronically but how would this be done securely without the potential disenfranchisement of members that do not have access to the internet or are uncomfortable with it, the same applies to the idea of a previous GM or CE to register votes electronically.
As for the cost of regions, apart from the accounting semantics used in the past, the only costs that regions create to the association are those that arise from Council meetings and travel to same which is nowhere near the figure you quote.
ATB for 2025

[CHARLTON34]

That show's you Bowbroom how outdated & archaic this is in the modern world we live in today in 2024, with all the technologies available to move forward & being held back by this organisation or the people that SHOULD represent everyone's interest to all the membership. Think Diamond Dave is spot on with his recent post, if you put the rules of the RPRA forward to a Solicitor they'd have a field day & throw it out full stop. We can only hope that enough momentum will push the change's needed even if it means some of the top table /Councillors are removed.

[Bowbroom]

The way I look at it, RPRA members have 4 options regarding the situation with the RPRA
1. Accept things as they are
2.Try to change things by using the required procedures, remember this requires effort and no one is going to do it for you
3.Carry on moaning and do nothing
4 Resign
I don’t think I’ve missed any other credible option
ATB to all

[Bowbroom]

You have decided to do what suits you others will do the same

[Buster121]

we will soon know when fee has to be paid by 1st of this month the problem we had was not being a club member in fact my birds don't fly out all i needed was rings so think there should be a much lower fee and i would have stayed but not at £70

It used to be cheaper George until last year

[Diamond Dave]

Bowbroom, I am not intending to be facitious in any way but your comments show for themselves how out of date you are.
I am guessing that you haven't read Ian Evans' proposals on line. I am afraid that

[Diamond Dave]

Oops continued....
I am afraid that the reform has started and yes, I am at the forefront of some of it.
I hope that with such an eloquent manner, that you might come on board with it as well and lets bring about the change that our sport desperately needs.

[Diamond Dave]

i think Dave clubs would not like individuals having a say on how racing should be run

Hello again George, I am inclined to agree. Infact nothing would get done.
Ian Evans' proposals includes for a 5 man committee to be selected from candidates that have no other vested interest in the sport.
The fancy in general would be balloted on the important issues - such like selling the Reddings, rule changes and putting up subs etc. Which would all be done instantly rather than waiting 2 years before you can even get a proposal through.