Hi John
I agree, due to one influencing individual in the early days of the PWCA, that everything was kept top secret. But after certain people left the original committee, things changed and the APWC was born. Since its formation in February, allot of information has been kept from the public eye, because if all the information was released, other associations would have put into action the APWC ideas, before the APWC even open its doors. For example the plastic ID card the fed now does.
Why do I want to be a member of both? Well two things really, both the associations offer different things at present, so overall I am getting slightly more benefits from being a member of both than just one. However, the main factor is, two months ago I spent £500 on new leaflets which have the FWC logo on, if I am not a member, I cannot use them. So I would prefer to spend £85 on being a member for another year, than throwing £500 down the toilet. Plus, there are other costs involved! Re-designing letterheads, comp slips, business cards, flyers.
If there was a forum just for the FWC, the posts would be on there however, they do not have their own forum. Due to this, the only real way of informing their members is to announce publicly on the forums to get the FWC members attention.
It is also like you have said John, no member of the FWC was aware of what is going on and if I did not post on the forums, they would not know until it had happened and then all the true details would not have come to light.
Also, I will stress this point and I am sure one of their committee members will confirm this. Prior to announcing this whole episode on the forums, the FWC refused to answer my questions on this matter and I was also informed, by a committee member that my membership would not be renewed. I then showed the committee the website etc, 24 hours prior to going public, in a hope to get my membership renewed and questions answered. But they failed to respond, hence why all this has started.
Philip, I take my hat off to you, you have said what I have failed to say and I am in total agreement with the comments you have made. However, if the membership was to stand together, I know that the committee can be removed regardless off how many seats they sit on and it can be done prior to an AGM. There are several people on the committee, that have tried so hard to change things, but they are blocked each time. Oh, this is only hearsay, but from the information I received, it was not a committee decision that revoked your membership, rather one or two individuals decided it themselves. Just like what has happened to me. One or two individuals have made the decision. Two committee members have already come forward on the other forum stating they where not asked to vote.
Andrew