We are encouraging the WSRA Trustees to make a statement about the reported departure of the WSRA Manager, Susan Kaufman.
This would help everyone understand what short term arrangements the Trustees have made, along with plans for the longer term.
It would be extremely helpful if the statement could also explain any changes to Susan’s other roles as WSRA Company Secretary and Chairman of WSRA Promotions Ltd.
WSRA+ 
This is a good example of situation where “rumours are rife” around the WSR, but the Board *appears* slow to keep its membership informed. The WSRA does not seem to have a nominated Communications Officer – perhaps it should consider appointing one as a matter of urgency?
It is notable that the Chairman has been quick to rush out Press Releases in the past for what he might consider as ‘good news’, but very tardy in other respects – maybe in light of recent ‘issues’ with some of his utterances he is now proving over-cautious?
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Local journalists tell me that David Williams has beem claiming to be WSRA Press Officer recently. Perhaps you should ask him.
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The rumours seem to be on the basis that Susan K has already left the manager’s post, or will do so imminently. Normal employment procedure therefore would suggest that she would have submitted her resignation some weeks ago, certainly *before* the recent AGM. So why therefore was there no mention of this at the AGM?
Has her (pending) departure been kept secret from WSRA staff, or perhaps even the Trustees themselves? Or did the Chairman feel that any announcement at the AGM might be greeted by an embarrassing outburst of loud cheering from the audience?
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Difficult one this as it is Rally time this weekend and I would guess they (the trustees) are all very busy. Well one was having his lunch in the vast but empty WSRA members tent yeterday.
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I past the WSRA tent many times. At most I counted 4 people in it. I think batter use of it could have been made with a little more thought and input. Not a great advert for our Association.
Nick
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have you had are
ply?
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sorry was supposed to read
have you had a reply?
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Hi Nick – no reply as such and certainly no public announcement as far as we know. Mixed messages from unofficial sources. If the Chairman of the WSRA is reading this, how about making a public statement?
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If indeed Susan K *has* resigned from one or more of her WSRA-related posts, then I fail to understand why there has been no announcement. On the other hand, if the rumours are false, then surely the Board should move quickly to quash them.
Why is it that the Trustees seem to have such difficulty in providing accurate and timely news items on the web on a consistent basis? Is there some fundamental problem with their ‘communications management’, or is it merely yet another symptom of a general malaise within the WSRA organisation?
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13th August and still no response from the WSRA – Absolutely disgusting.
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No worries – Steam Railway issue 444 (Aug/Sept) pages 22 and 23 have the announcement. Interesting to read of other railways projects and the WSR?
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“Steam Railway issue 444 (Aug/Sept) pages 22 and 23 have the announcement.”
And the announcement was… what?
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The paragraph in Steam Railway confirms what is widely known. They say that they have spoken to Peter Chidzey, who confirms that Susan Kaufman has resigned from her paid positions as WSRA Manager and Promotions MD. She will retsin her role as Company Secretary “for the time being, until a replacement can be found”.
Her resignation was for personal reasons, not connected to “the present situation”
It seems that the Editor of Steam Railway is able to get answers from Peter Chidzey wheras the WSRA+ bloggers are ignored. Maybe you have upset him, Steve??????
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Thank you Roger for the reply.
It seems that Peter Chidzey only wants to talk to a selected few, and that does not, apparently,include the membership.
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Official Press release on the WSRA site today.
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Have noted a press released dated 4th August marked for immediate release has just been posted on the WSRA web site today 17th August by PCZ
Jeff Price
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One wonders therefore how long it will be now before the ‘Contact’ page of the WSRA website is updated to reflect this situation? After all, if Mrs K is no longer the WSRA Manager then clearly we can not use the ‘manager@….’ e-mail address any more if we wish to contact the Company Secretary. Hopefully the new Manager will be better at keeping such things in good order….
Who know – maybe even the 3 new Trustees will get their mug-shots there soon!
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