| Author | Message | ||
     Julia Crockford |
Hi Georgina, The WHHC membership has remained about level from last year, what we have noticed is that entires are well up this year at both inside-out events and 2 day events...hope it follows through with the indoor season of events and we will be very happy 'financially' going into 2008. | ||
| Georgina Frith |
I really must stop using this site in the middle of the night - i think i must have pressed preview and then not post.....The jist of what i was saying is that our club whilst it attracts big numbers to its major events eg south of england carriage driving fair and Borde Hill has actually seen a huge (50%) reduction in membership. This we assume is because where many people used to belong to more than one club they now select their favourite and elect to pay the non member price for offerings of the several local clubs that attract them. I aggree that we all predicted this but i was wondering how it had affected the exchequer and what rises we were likely to see next year. Or indeed if other clubs have suffered the same way? | ||
| Julia Crockford |
Hi Georgina, yes I was referring to your message of 4/9 and the fact that we all got nowhere last year with our discussions and therefore the majority of us have lost faith and can't see the point in further discussions as the rift between the Club's and the BHDTA is now wider than it was 12 months ago........ | ||
| Georgina Frith |
Hi Julia - I posted a note last night, which you seem to be replying to, but it does not show......or were you just following the thread from 4/9/o7? | ||
| Julia Crockford |
Hi Georgina, for all of 2006 I competed on the National circuit and took part in the club liason meetings - 3 as I recall and at each all Club committee members made their thoughts, vierws, opinions and ideas very clear, but not once were they taken into consideration or acted upon, so basically I think the Club committee members have gone back to their respective groups and got on with their 'club' events and it will be unlikely that they will feel they need to contribute or visit these meetings as it has clearly been shown that they are a waste of both our time and effort - very sad but that is what I think you will find the majoity of us feel. We predicted exactly what would happen if these changes went ahead for 2007 and as you can clearly see by the number (or rather the lack of)competitors in the National classes it hasn't worked and will no doubt lead to a financial deficit at year end causing the prices of entry/start fee to rise again! | ||
| Ruth Auton |
Georgina, I have been a member of Midlands DTG for over 15 years and enjoyed competing with other clubs as a guest too in previous years. I used to be a member of BHDTA and enjoyed competing at the Natioanl Championships as a novice a few years ago too. I am no longer a member of BHDTA for 2 reasons really, a] I don't intned to drive at Nationals due to personal commitments that do not allow me to afford the finances or time to do so, and b] I don't like the politics of the BHDTA. - I have supported events [Nationals]in the past be stewarding and used to represent MDTG at conferences when I had the pleasure of being club secretary but I feel the BHDTA are no longer supportive or encouraging of clubs per se. I now support MDTG to the best of my ability due to work / family / equine commitments and enjoy assisting at Scroption Driving Centre during the winter where the fun and support of club atmosphere is overtly expressed. I feel the way forward is for the BHDTA to engage and encourage clubs to do what they are best at - working with memebrs to run club events at various 'levels' and styles that suit local people within the clubs and not that is dictated to by people who very rarely visit a club as a competitor, judge or committee member. Clubs also need to support and communicate with each other more efficiently and effectively. If clubs do not do this they end up in direct competition with each other of the few weekends that fit between the Nationals and the pool of competitors select competitions that suit thier needs and both clubs end up running with fewer entries than could have been available to them if there had been greater communication and planning. Hope that starts the debate Georgina! Ruth | ||
| Wendy Wyatt |
I often read the site and sometimes contribute, its a great way to get help as a newcomer and it means you dont have to face people, feeling like new girl in school. This I believe is why maybe some people get a bit to heated in conversation on this site. But I think its a good tool to have for a beginner. I think it would be nice to have more contact with other clubs, because after doing my first event out of area, its funny how things are different and styles and preferences change so if people do plan to go national, they will need to adapt to others ways. If you want a topic, dare I say make dressage scoring more consistant and hey write some good points us novice need encouragement. Also whats with telling everyone no electric at meetings and when you get there it there!!!!! Great to have club with nationals gives us a chance to see how its done!!!! | ||
| Georgina Frith |
As a club liason officer i would like to stimulate some debate through this site to get a feel for how many of you who read and contribute to the forum are club members and if you have any suggestions for the future relationship between clubs and the BHDTA. We have a meeting on Wednesday 12th Sept at the Nationals so i can report any feedback from here or if you have a specific agenda item that you would like raised please email me at georginafrith@aol.com Many thanks! |