CTC, Cycling UK.

[Blue Hills]

Never mind baffled it is just wrong. The magazine also gives the impression it is a foregone conclusion. This suggests to me a serious lack of respect for the members and their votes. I have voted against - we get 4 votes due to our household membership.

Yes, rather puts me in mind of one or two primary school exercises in democracy where teech had already decided that after we had had our little improving game we would then carry on as normal/do what he wanted anyway.
By the by, can someone educate me about the recent past row over the move to charitable status. Is it because the charity rules inhibit campaigning/being bolshie on behalf of cyclists?

 

[lane]

I think the move to charitable status has rather changed the nature of the "club". Previously it was a club run for the benefit of it's members. Now it must show that it is meeting it's charitable objectives which is a different thing. The charity rules don't prohibit campaigning, that is exactly the sort of things a charity does. It is also not really as democratic as it was, because previously members could decide what the club did but now they can't if it isn't in line with the charitable objectives. Members can only elect board members from a list approved by the board in the first place, as opposed to anybody being able to stand, which doesn't seem democratic. I think it is now really accountable to the charity commission rather than members. No idea why it changed to a charity or what the advantages were supposed to be - I wasn't paying any attention at that time.

I am happy to be a member because as well as the insurance I ride with the local group (or did prior to covid). I also don't think it does a bad job on the whole campaigning. I don't agree with the approach to changing the fee structure before the vote though - which is partly why I voted against.

 

[Blue Hills]

I also don't think it does a bad job on the whole campaigning.

Can you give examples?
If they were that good wouldn't I, as someone relatively in touch with current affairs, have been aware of their stance/representations on various issues. This lack of apparent visibility leads me to worry that the higher ups are concentrating on friendly clubbable chit-chats "behind the scenes" with our lords and masters/mistresses.

 

[lane]

Can you give examples?
If they were that good wouldn't I, as someone relatively in touch with current affairs, have been aware of their stance/representations on various issues. This lack of apparent visibility leads me to worry that the higher ups are concentrating on friendly clubbable chit-chats "behind the scenes" with our lords and masters/mistresses.

I quite often see them on TV for instance or on Facebook. They have been campaigning on the new version of the highway code a very recent example. I have seen them both on TV and Facebook recently with regard to both the highway code and the "pop up" cycle lanes. I would hope that behind the scenes conversations with Government go on as well - that is part of their role surely and how some things get done.

 

[matticus]

I'm sure there is stuff on their website - have you looked?

I don't need to - I get an email every week, plus Cycle mag.

 

[matticus]

Bear in mind that more "in your face" stuff requires cash spending on adverts etc, and is far less effective than networking with people who can actually change things.

 

[snorri]

I see a new Leader has been appointed, let's see what happens.
https://www.transportxtra.com/publi...-sarah-mitchell-as-n?etid=2391447&artid=66338

 

[lane]

I see a new Leader has been appointed, let's see what happens.
https://www.transportxtra.com/publi...-sarah-mitchell-as-n?etid=2391447&artid=66338

Yeah this is the sort of thing that concerns me. She is just another career person in charity sector. "She is a former chief executive of Carers Network and head of housing at the charity of homeless people Crisis." No background in cycling. Wants to tick all the charity boxes " experience working within social change, on environmental and sustainability issues, and working with underrepresented groups."

Will she understand or want to support the local groups?

 

[numbnuts]

I've voted, but it will be no good as they have all ready made up their minds.....bugger the OAPs

 

[PK99]

. No idea why it changed to a charity or what the advantages were supposed to be - I wasn't paying any attention at that time.

The ostensible reason was to get the benefit of Gift Aid tax refund on subs "....nothing else will change, it wills till be the club we have all known..."

 

[PK99]

Yeah this is the sort of thing that concerns me. She is just another career person in charity sector. "She is a former chief executive of Carers Network and head of housing at the charity of homeless people Crisis." No background in cycling. Wants to tick all the charity boxes " experience working within social change, on environmental and sustainability issues, and working with underrepresented groups."

Will she understand or want to support the local groups?

Paul Tuohy came to our local group AGM shortly after he was appointed - few if any were impressed. Charity careerist writ large was the apparent consensus view in the pub later. At the time I predicted he would move on and up in the charity world after 4 /5 years - hey ho, no pleasure in being right on that one!

I expect even less interest I'm members groups from the new CEO - at least he was able to big up on being an active cyclist - I see no mention of similar in the blub about Sarah Mitchell.

 

[lane]

Yes I read it twice to see if there was any mention of her being a cyclist but sadly no. I suspect you are right.

 

[matticus]

I think we need to remember that it's no longer a club of a couple of hundred people!

It needs different skills at the different levels - CEO should be a different person to an activist on the street.

Do you really want Reg (the expert derailleur fettler), or Pauline (the mistress of local routes) speaking to members of government on our behalf??

 

[PK99]

I think we need to remember that it's no longer a club of a couple of hundred people!

It needs different skills at the different levels - CEO should be a different person to an activist on the street.

Do you really want Reg (the expert derailleur fettler), or Pauline (the mistress of local routes) speaking to members of government on our behalf??

Without wishing to revisit the whole charity conversion debate, that was the point made at the time - what was a club with a focus on members became a charity with no obligations to its members.

 

[Blue Hills]

the "charity careerist" idea referred to upthread a fair few few times is an intriguing concept.
Nowt so queer as folk.