The blog is “quiet” at the moment.But everything seems quiet. However, there’s lots going on and the membership might like to be kept informed.
We still await confirmation about the details of resignation of the WSRA manager and whether this affects other paid roles for the individual concerned (we understand one of the monthly mags has printed a few words on this topic). [UPDATE: The WSRA have today (17 August 2015) published a press release (dated 4 August 2015) on the WSRA website.]
We also understand there has been some movement on the suspension of a Trustee (we can only hope this matter is soon concluded).
The Rally team reports a very successful event (see steamrally.org.uk) although nothing appears on the WSRA website. We are puzzled. It need not be a novel or even a paragraph. Just how long does it take to post “The Rally team reports a very successful event – see steamrally.org.uk” on the WSRA website? [UPDATE: see WSRA website for press release, published 17 Augst 2015) about ‘Holmes Halt’ which includes a brief mention of the successful Rally.]
Mention of the WSRA website reminds us that the Trustees have changed the hosting provider. We gather the previous provider was unwilling to continue hosting the WSRA website and we are not surprised about that. Sadly the quality of the WSRA website remains poor, not only in design and use of fuzzy images (the WSRA have been informed of an online private repository of high quality images, taken by over a dozen WSR photographers, that they can freely use for the website) but also in the “churn” of information. The Chairman, writing in the latest Journal, claims the webiste will never be updated daily. Fair enough. But surely at least once a week? It’s called “keeping the membership informed”. Or “communication” if you like. Perhaps, in our more relaxed moments, we can dream of a website that is dynamic in content, dynamic in design and something that is worthy of the membership’s money and loyalty.
The date for written submissions to the WSRA Review Panel has now passed. We understand over 90 documents have been received. We got that information second-hand of course (what do you expect!) Now the Review Panel will apply factfinding techniques to look for common themes and also prepare for some face-to-face chats with selected respondees later next month. Meanwhile, the Trustees (when they do communicate) say we should all wait for the results of the Review and give the Trustees time. Funny that. The Review was not – repeat not – the idea of the Trustees but was forced upon them through the membership via the reform group (remember what the Trustees said about them?). We think the next big question is what the Trustees will do with the Review’s recommendations and more importantly what the Trustees will do with any truly radical recommendations. Will the membership actually get a chance to approve or not? And if they do approve, will the Trustees act?
We will continue to contact the Trustees, whether reminders to previous questions, or raising new ones. We hope readers of WSRA+ will continue to do the same – even though it may seem a pointless exercise.
WSRA+ 
A good summary of the current situation – thank you WSRA+ team – but a sad reflection of the poor way in which the Trustees appear to be continuing to ‘run’ the show as before. Or has the WSRA simply ‘shut down’ for the holiday season?
One matter not mentioned in the posting concerns those 3 persons elected as new Trustees at the last AGM. Based on the information last gleaned from NatPres (before it too ‘went dark’ on the thread!), the next Board meeting is fast approaching yet they have been unable so far to get ‘inducted’. Effectively therefore it would appear they are excluded from operating in their official roles – a most curious state of affairs.
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We are all awaiting the next developments, they may come from the WSRA team or others
There seems to be plenty up in the air currently so something will land soon I am sure.
Keep up the good work WSRA+
Jeff Price
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All quiet eh? I am reminded about what they say about swans. All my appear serene on the surface but furious activity is often underway below the waterline. The review team have a busy late summer / autumn in front of them and waiting for the review output is sensible. I too worry about the implementation of the review outputs but surely the next big step is the first trustee meeting post the AGM? I’m sure that will be interesting.
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Hello,
two points of interest.
1) The Three Wise men have info on the Trustee suspension. How come?
2)The three wise men have been given detail about the Web Host providers. How come?
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Not sure about “wise” – more like “old” 🙂 Yer, we’ll tell ‘e “how come”. We talk to people, Nick. And people talk to us. Simple. Tis no mystery.
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“We talk to people, Nick. And people talk to us. Simple. Tis no mystery…..”
Perhaps the mystery is why it does that approach does not work for all those other members who try to get answers from the WSRA, but fail to get any response at all, and why it is that the (presumably) “people in the know” in the WSRA will provide information which they seem unwilling to disseminate to the rest of the membership themselves.
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In this case, none of the information of the two subjects mentioned by Nick came from WSRA. In both cases we were asked to keep the actual/full details confidential, which we have. We entirely understand your point, Peter, about getting no response from WSRA. We find it equally frustrating.
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Comrades may be there is a communication course available sponsored by Pravda Or Izvestia that the old trustees must mandatary pass. As they say in mother Russia ” Comrade the only news I want to hear is good news”
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The new WSRA manager is still shown on the Plc’s website as their Carering Manager, might this indicate that the Plc’s communication skills are need of improvement as well ?
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Apologies should have read Catering Manager, too early in the morning I’m afraid !
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I think we often forget the the plc runs with a very small staff many of who are part time and the help of a lot of volunteers. It’s hardly surprising that things like updating the website fall through the cracks. Not saying it should be that way but that’s often how it is.
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I am concerned that the new WSRA Manager appears to have been appointed without advert or competitive interview, and I see no mention of the word ‘temporary’. Am I wrong in this? If not, it is a very considerable departure from good practice.
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We have asked (by email) the Chairman and both Vice Chairman if Jacquie’s appointment is permanent but as yet have not received a reply. We have also asked for confirmation that Susan has vacated all roles at Promotions as that is also not clear from the press release.
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I note that there has now been a welcome development in the matter of Ian Coleby’s suspension – see WSRA news item http://www.wsra.org.uk/suspension-of-trustee-ian-coleby-resolved/ .
It seems a rather curious situation, as in effect it appears that they have simply “agreed to disagree”. Quite why Ian now needs (another) induction course rather smacks of the ‘re-education’ process so beloved east of the Iron Curtain!
“The Trustees had a number of concerns about Ian’s actions…” does not seem to marry with the information previously supplied by the Association that there had been a complaint made to the Chairman. It seems odd to me that the allegations were considered serious enough to suspend him immediately for over 3 months, yet it has now been ‘resolved’ by neither proving nor disproving such claims.
I note that “it has been agreed that no further statement will be made by either
party”, so I am assuming that we will not be able to get any further clarification from Ian himself.
Do we yet know if the 3 ‘new’ Trustees have yet been ‘inducted’ and are now able to participate fully in Association business?
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Purely speculation, but I wonder if the person who made the original complaint is no longer involved with the WSRA, thus enabling both sides to “agree to disagree”. Whatever the reason, this is excellent news.
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The articles would need to describe any induction process. I do not recall ever seeing it. Perhaps someone could post the details here.
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