I was wondering?

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oldgit said:
If the rumours going around that certain established clubs and organisations are actively trying to prevent the participation of the TMBA in having an input in the running of the Thames, certainly reveals what sort of clubs they are if they feel threatend by a new and progressive participant on the scene.
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The rumours are, I am sad to say, not just rumours although I am reluctant to be drawn any further on this forum. I have informed all signed up members of the TMBA of the current situation and will continue to pursue matters through the appropriate channels.

I do, however, think this forum should be aware that the open and often outspoken views of members of the forum are being used as evidence that the TMBA is an undemocratic and irresponsible body, this forum being, apparently confused with the TMBA's own website.
 
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TMBA and TWYC (Windsor) as a bricks and mortar club. It's nice to cruise with other members and we have some great evenings in the club especially in Winter.

Windsor is friendly and there is a big mix of people, ages, backgrounds and boats.
 
Interesting.

Michael Shefras decided 'He was not happy with the inclusion of TMBA and joins with all the others who agree that this organisation should not be included until they are able to show that they are indeed democratically set up with a committed membership and proper elected officers'

My opinion is that the MEMBERSHIP of the TMBA are happy with the status quo, or they wouldn't be members, and indeed there would be information posted upon the TMBA website stating any objections.

The fact is, the TMBA members appear to wholeheartedly back the TMBA, which is not the case with the current ATYC situation, where there are plenty of unhappy members/ members of associated clubs.

Sounds like a bit of a jobsworth scenario, with the GREATEST respect to the ATYC.

The views above are my personal ones by the way, and nothing to do with any club I may be affiliated to.
 
Hmmm, there seems to be an assumption that this forum is the mouthpiece of the TMBA!

Clearly incorrect.

Reassuring also to note that opinions expressed here and elsewhere are considered to be "rubbish".

It appears that censorship is still thriving. You are entitled to express an opinion (but only if we agree!).

I am very disappointed in the EA allowing this kind of playground bullying to succeed.

:eek::eek::eek: :mad::mad::mad:
 
apollo said:
You mean this...
http://www.atyc.co.uk/cgi-bin/atyclibrary/wwg_meeting_notes_2012_sep_14.pdf

Page 11.
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Thanks for taking the trouble to post that link.
Cannot quite comprehend why any existing group on the Thames thinks they can have a VETO on any new group merely wishing to engage with others to ensure the well being of the navigation.
The long established groups will be in a considerable majority and cannot even begin to guess why they are so apprehensive,unless of course there is some personal animosity involved towards the TMBA.
 
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oldgit said:
Thanks for taking the trouble to post that link.
Cannot quite comprehend why any existing group on the Thames thinks they can have a VETO on any new group merely wishing to engage with others to ensure the well being of the navigation.
The long established groups will be in a considerable majority and cannot even begin to guess why they are so apprehensive,unless of course there is some personal animosity involved towards the TMBA.
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Probably a matter of "upstarts" / "new kid on the block".

The TMBA seeks to provide representation for Thames boaters who choose not to be a member of any other club, (although this is not a prerequisite) and it is independent of any group policy - which would not be the case if it was part of the ATYC.

However, to date I can't see any conflict of aims between TMBA and ATYC, so don't understand the furore.

The ATYC concept suffers from the disadvantage that any issue raised by a club member has to go through a chain of command (and possibly get lost in transit), whereas via TMBA it has a shorter path.

To say that members are anonymous is clearly incorrect as far as TMBA is concerned, which folk will know if they have signed up. BUT ATYC needs to come up to date with current internet fora practice where people are free to use an alias if they wish. It's not trying to hide, merely current electronic media practice.

Would it not be better if River users stopped all this infighting and focus on the overall challenge

which is

lack of funding

and all the problems attached thereto
 
Clubs

There are some excellent clubs on the Thames (most in fact) and benefits of membership will differ for different people.
During our 1st summer in Holland, one of the few things we missed from the Thames was the friendship of club members (not just ours) and other Thames users.
I am not a member of TMBA but please do not be influenced by a minority opinion expressed by various contributors to this thread.
ATYC have done a huge amount for Thames users (ATYC affiliates or not) and I am sure that TMBA will do similar. Shame that both can not pull in the same direction.
 
I am not sure how widespread this thing is but, I am wary of joining any club which insists I must attend a certain number of social events per year.
 
The strength of the TMBA is surely that it is not a 'buy into' club with no pecking order, no egos, no dressing up, no sail pasts but a single focussed group of likeminded river users who want to ensure through an 'association' that the utility and leisure facility of the River Thames is maintained and improved for all that use it.
Why are we not being welcomed with open arms:confused: I think we know;)
 
Bray Cruiser Club do not require attendance to our events. We hope our members will want to attend. We certainly would not complain if people chose not to do so.....
 
As most people know I am fortunate enough to be a member of RCC but am also happy to have joined the TMBA,each has its separate strengths.
At a bit of a loss as to any other route I could take to express views on the Thames without joining a club I will probably never visit or ever take part in its social events,basically its to far away..
If the TMBA is allowed a seat at the EA table at least somebody can express my views from a keyboard here in Kent.
As for this forum, my boating has become far more wide ranging,interesting and enjoyable purely because of people I have met via this website and I suspect it has done more to encourage boating in its short life ,than most of the existing clubs have done in years.
Many of them are suffering a long term decline in membership and the average age profile probably in the sixties if not older.
We need new blood and new thinking,the days of quill and parchment and diesel at 10p a litre are long gone.
 
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Now that the notes of the last WWG meeting (please note that these are not the official EA minutes of the meeting) have been openly published on the ATYC website, I feel more able to comment publicly.

3.3.1 Specifically referring to Tony Riley (TMBA) he advised that Tony had been invited to become an ATYC officer so that he could represent the few members he had on board. Tony declined as he wanted to completely control TMBA on his own terms.
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This is a gross distortion of the truth. The discussions between TMBA and ATYC failed because the ATYC were not prepared to give me an undertaking that they would not oppose the TMBA ambition to seek membership of consultative groups. Their sole objective appeared to be to bring the TMBA and myself within their own organisation, thus removing me from the playing field, and I made it clear that this was not even open for discussion

Forumites may also be interested to read the following extract from the minutes of the RTA management meeting on 11th October last year when the TMBA was accepted into membership of the RTA
The membership application from the Thames Motor Boaters Association (TMBA) was discussed.
Mike S expressed concern about the legitimacy of the TBMA’s association status, questioning if the group has a constitution and elected committee. Mike suggested TMBA members join the ATYC for representation on the RTA.
Others felt with 50+ members the TMBA had created a legitimate association, and carrying out its aim to act as a conduit, using social media to share info in real time was a good thing.
The committee agreed the membership application, but Mike S disagreed with majority decision, stating that it opened the door for every club and individual organisation to apply for membership.
It was suggested the TMBA are encouraged to work with other groups in the RTA in the future.
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My sole motivation for creating the TMBA was to provide an alternative voice for motor boaters on the Thames, particularly those who choose not to belong to more formalised clubs. At no time have I set out to disadvantage any other representative group. However, I will vigorously defend the TMBA's right to exist and seek representation for its members with the EA.
 
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Perhaps 'Mike S' who is quoted above, has nothing better to do (this is a personal impression as I don't know him).

He clearly feels threatened by such a simple organisation as the TMBA, which to me implies that progress is being made.

Democracy? It certainly appears that those who are using the established groups as a defence are absolutely undemocratic.

Keep up the great work, Tony.
 
miket said:
ATYC have done a huge amount for Thames users (ATYC affiliates or not) and I am sure that TMBA will do similar. Shame that both can not pull in the same direction.
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Mike, i think you are missing the point. TMBA wants to and always did.

As someone that has been to several ATYC rallies and dinners, i am very disappointed at grown men behaving like little children.
 
Worms, cans of:eek:

Humble apologies, I had no idea that all this was simmering below the surface!:o
 
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