OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: firko on April 15, 2011, 01:07:18 pm
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Three separate people have sent this to me over the last couple of days. The Superbike v Extreme political shitfight is interesting but the Supercross revelation is really interesting. I'll post Trevor Hedges piece without further comment. You make your own assumptions ::).
"The perilous state of Australian motorcycle racing revealed" By Trevor Hedge of 'Motorcycle News'
Those of you familiar with my www.mcnews.com.au musings over the past 12 years know that overwhelmingly this site has supported - and continues to promote - all facets of Australian motorcycle racing, bigger and better than any other web or print publication. This is an indisputable fact.
So it is with quite a heavy heart that I report on some matters covered in the most recent meeting of the Motorcycling Australia board, the governing body for motorcycle sport in this country. However, I am a motorcycle scribe so it is my duty to bring you the news without any undue favour or fear.
I came across the minutes from the Board of Directors meeting on the Motorcycling Australia website. Clearly, it is a matter of course for minutes such as these to be available on the MA website; they have an index page titled ‘MA Reports & Meeting Minutes’ for such correspondence and, although no entries have yet been made in that index for 2011, this document was still publicly available on the MA website. After conferring with some members of the industry and providing them with the link to the relevant document, the PDF containing the minutes was removed, obviously at their request.
There are many concerning items raised in the minutes, such as the current perilous state of the Australian SX Championship, including details that the promoter is severing ties with main drawcard Chad Reed and that the series promoter owes Motorcycling Australia a considerable amount of money.
Of further concern is that on further investigation myself I discovered that the Australian Securities & Investments Commission currently lists Super X Australasia PTY Ltd as ‘Under External Administration and/or Controller Appointed’. Dated March 25th, ASIC also report a ‘Notice of Creditor’s meeting to Consider Voluntary Winding’ and a ‘Notification of Resolution Winding Up The Company’. Clearly, the sport of Australian Supercross is in dire trouble. (Download ASIC PDF including debtors and creditors)
The minutes state Motorcycling Australia’s budget deficit is currently $334,000 and the insurance arm of MA made a loss in 2010. This is a first and should be seen in the light of the GFC etc. as of little concern.
Issues with track usage clearly continue to be a matter of review. Currently, ASBK is unable to run events at Winton Motor Raceway or Eastern Creek as those circuits will not accept their bookings. I have reported before that most suspect this is most likely the result of some tactical bastardry on the part of the recently-formed Australian Road & Track Rider Promotions Pty Ltd, which runs the rival Formula Xtreme road race series and a separate race licensing program. Both circuits are in partnership with the rival series and thus, putting two-and-two together, it makes sense that they would play their hand strategically, preventing ASBK gaining access to these key markets.
The minutes of the MA board meeting note that MA Director David White is to write to the current Minister for Sport and Recreation in NSW, concerning access to Eastern Creek. Again, this is not ground breaking stuff as most involved in the sport know this state of affairs only too well, rather it is provided to the uninitiated as background to what follows next.
Stated in black and white in the MA Board minutes is the following admission; ‘D. White stated that Y. Konsky is meeting with John Tetley to try and prevent Formula Xtreme going to Queensland Raceway.’ (Yarrive Konsky is the promoter of the Australian Superbike Championship and John Tetley manages Queensland Raceway.)
Now, while we have all suspected that such shenanigans have long been played by the other side, they have been smart enough not to admit such tactics. I pressed Australian Road & Track Rider Promotions Pty Ltd Director, Terry O’Neill, on the matter of Eastern Creek and Winton Motor Raceways deliberately putting barriers in the way of ASBK in their quest to run events at those complexes in an interview I conducted last year, but my thrusts were skillfully parried by Mr O’Neill.
Other matters raised in the document also infer that the ASBK is struggling for funding and has asked Motorcycling Australia for more funding. In the current economic climate that would hardly come as a surprise to anyone.
I spoke with Yarrive Konsky, Director of IEG, the promoter of the ASBK Championship, and he assures me that the discussions he was having with MA in regards to funding were with a view to 2012 and beyond. He said that there is absolutely no threat to this year’s ASBK Championship and funding is secured to fulfill the complete 2011 calendar. Mr Konsky also swore that he has had no discussions with Queensland Raceway concerning Formula Xtreme, and that his discussions with Mr Tetley only concerned future ASBK events scheduled at Queensland Raceway.
The real clanger in this document, however, is the following: ‘D. White stated that industry representatives are stating that if IEG are not successful, there will be no option but to move over to Formula Xtreme.’
Honda and Suzuki are the primary supporters of the Australian Superbike Championship and at the moment it must be said that these two companies currently underwrite the series and are almost solely responsible for its survival, something that the MA Board minutes infer is in a particularly tenuous situation.
I spoke to Suzuki General Manager, Perry Morison, concerning the statement noted in the minutes and the long time Suzuki head honcho had absolutely no hesitation in labeling the statement contained in the MA document a complete misrepresentation of any discussions that he had undertaken with them. He also firmly stated that Suzuki Australia has absolutely no intention - or wish - to compete in the rival Formula Xtreme series.
I certainly believe Mr Morison's protestations that Suzuki has not indicated any desire to take his company’s racing efforts over to Formula Extreme. It is a position entirely consistent with every discussion I have ever had with him on the matter, thus his apparently being attributed as making a comment to the contrary in this MA document has the normally quite reserved Suzuki man none too pleased.
Honda Motorcycles General Manager Tony Hinton was perhaps not quite as dismissive of the option as his counterpart at Suzuki but still reinforced Honda’s support for the ASBK in the following statement.
“I have regular meetings in conjunction with Motorcycling Australia and other key industry representatives to discuss the state of various championships. At the World Superbike event in February, we took the opportunity to discuss the Australian Superbike Championship.
“From time to time, as industry representatives, we put our view forward of what we think is in the best interests of the championship. Whether it be a two-day meeting or one bike per rider, as per the British Superbikes, those ideas should be put on the table and considered.
“While we are fully committed to the Australian Superbike Series, Honda Australia does have contractual obligations to its supplier of road race services which is, of course, Motologic Pty. Ltd.
“If the Australian Road Racing Championship, for whatever reason, failed to run in some way, we acknowledge that contractually we would have no option but to move to an alternative race series.
"We will address that situation only when and if the need arises.”
As I declared in my opening paragraph, it gives me absolutely no pleasure to report on the matters in this article, but it is my duty to report the news, even when some of that news is clearly unpalatable for any enthusiast that holds motorcycle racing dear to their heart. Make of it what you will.
-- Addendum. As we published Motorcycling Australia issued a statement that we were alerted to by an MA press officer, who referred us to their website where we retrieved the following: Motorcycling Australia (MA) CEO David White would like to release the following statement regarding the release of Board Minutes from the February 2011 MA Board Meeting:
...Starts
"It has come to my attention that the minutes from the February MA Board Meeting were incorrectly placed on the MA website on Monday 28 March.
"The minutes contain minimal notation of issues discussed at Board level, and are completed for internal use to formulate reports for general dissemination – this is normal operating procedure.
"These minutes, though final, were not for general distribution and should not have been made publically available as they do not provide the necessary level of context and could potentially be wrongly interpreted – they have since been removed from the website.
"MA is currently investigating how this occurred, and will undertake a review of its internal processes and procedures immediately to ensure formal structures are adhered to.
"I would like to personally apologise to all parties affected, assuring them that the issue is of the upmost importance and MA is currently dealing with the situation.
"The finalised February 2011 MA Board Report will be released shortly, and will be made available on the MA Website.
"In light of the situation I would urge media to consider the context of the information when reporting.
"I would encourage any affected parties to contact MA directly with their concerns so they can be addressed and once again I would like to apologise on behalf of MA."
...Ends
And in other news....
Supercross Australasia Pty Ltd resolution notice winding up Company;
Motorcycling Aust a $63,000 creditor, asked to wipe debt;
Newcastle Stadium and Brisbane’s QE2 owed money;
Aust Superbike Championship (Yarriv Konski) asks for further MA funds to stay afloat;
Chad Reed quietly withdraws from Supercross promotion.
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So how does a promoter get to owe MA money-every one else has to pay their fees up front or there is no meeting/event.
This also answers why they were very recalcitrant when I asked for some assistance to build sidecar cross up with some encouragement funds. They told me in no uncertain terms that no such funds would be available despite advertising that similar such ammounts were there for junior m/cycle sports in other areas.
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Name one single positive thing David White has done during his tenure at MA?
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And your surprised MA are now coving themselves over with leaves and branches.............
there funding out directions always have a lot of questions to be answered. AND EML your right how can the grass roots clubs get away with not payig a track permit, when other big fish who can cover it...owe it after its been run and won.
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It was pretty obvious the Supercross series was in trouble, Reed only rode the first round then split for the US leaving the series without their main drawcard. The crowd at last years Brisbane round was pathetic and so was the track and the racing compared to the previous years race.
After the 2010 Farleigh Castle Vets des Nations event David White offered to send a shipping container to the UK with all the riders bikes for the 2011 event and now that seems to have fallen in a heap leaving about 12 riders to try and find bikes in the UK to ride.
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MA is forked and has been forked for years they even tried the old riders club BS trying to milk more money to pay for sorry asses, bullshit statements and trying to move into the politics of motorcycleing buy telling huge lies about members numbers etc, like mini bikes kids vote.
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Name one single positive thing David White has done during his tenure at MA?
But you have to love Dave's attitude on the minutes getting posted, my interpretation is something like 'shit we accidently had our dark dealings and cock ups exposed to you mugs, oops members, but don't worry we are making sure you never find out whats going on again in the future'.
I am assume David White is a volunteer who does it for the good of the sport and therefore can not be expected to perform as for example a company executive who is racking up debts does.
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I think you'll find he is paid.
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I know it is a hell of a read...and it made my head spin the first time thru...but...where does it say that the promoters haven't paid for track permits...?? Having seen the amount of (inpaid) work that goes on at Board level....I wouldn't take DW's job on for twice the money he is getting... I would encorage anyone to get involved at SCB Board level and see what goes on...I did it here for 5 years..
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I know it is a hell of a read...and it made my head spin the first time thru...but...where does it say that the promoters haven't paid for track permits...?? Having seen the amount of (inpaid) work that goes on at Board level....I wouldn't take DW's job on for twice the money he is getting... I would encorage anyone to get involved at SCB Board level and see what goes on...I did it here for 5 years..
Very good point Watto
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...I wouldn't take DW's job on for twice the money he is getting... I would encorage anyone to get involved at SCB Board level and see what goes on...I did it here for 5 years..
How much is he getting paid and I will tell you if i am interested. Sorry all execs to unpaid work, it is part of the deal.
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What does all this mean at grass roots level?
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Name one single positive thing David White has done during his tenure at MA?
I am assume David White is a volunteer who does it for the good of the sport and therefore can not be expected to perform as for example a company executive who is racking up debts does.
Like almost all execs at a high level, they get paid too much and don't answer to anyone when the shit hits the fan.
They will bow out quietly and leave us in the shit.
How does this leave us for insurance when we race-not that we get f all anyway unless we loose a leg - or worse.
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and.......who is complaining about DW...we all voted him in...Yes we did....SCB's are given direction to vote in a particular way when election time comes around at MA....that direction comes from the Clubs ( or should do....)...That is how (we) got RK to move along ..not vote for him... Sounds like some people would like to get rid of DW....simple...offer up an alternative ...propose it at club level to your SCB ....That is how a democracy works ....
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Sounds like the same old same old, nobody votes but everybody says' why dont THEY do something about it'.
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CAMS Mk2.
Same mistakes, same secrecy, same overblown administration, same disconnect between the lingers and the decision makers.
To be fair, MA haven't forgotten about their core function and don't appear to be anywhere near as corrupt.
The AASA is/will be offering much simpler, cheaper event permits (inc comparable insurance) for bike events. They've made huge inroads into four wheeled motorsport, while CAMS buries its head further into sand.
The nature of bike racing will make it easier for punters to swap between insurance providers, but MA's better track record means there's less reason to avoid them.
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Forgive my ignorance Nathan :-[ but what is "AASA"?
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Australian Auto Sport Alliance.
Basically, they tie back into Bob Jane, Benalla Auto Club (and therefore Winton ;)) - but the real reason it exists is because CAMS moved so far away from its original structure and goals. Virtually all of the tarmac rallies in this country are sanctioned by them now, and about 50% of circuit races.
Ironically, gravel rallying has been the slowest to move over, even though its the branch that is treated most poorly by CAMS.
Anyhow, Google is your friend if you want to know more.
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Would AASA work in NSW? My understanding is that the Motor Sports Act only recognizes MA and CAMS as the Sanctioning Body (is that the phrase?) in NSW.
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Must do going off the article as it seems they have a tie in with eastern creek
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AASA is tied with Eastern Creek , Wakefield Pk and Winton tracks, Formula Extreme runs under AASA sanctioning, you can run at a AASA meeting with a MA licence but not the other way round. AASA has effectively 'locked out' MA from running the Superbike championship in NSW. The Eastern Creek/AASA/Formula Extreme allience isn't squeaky clean either, my spy told me that allegedly ARDC (Eastern Creek operators) were pro-actively campaigning to stop ANY development applications for new greenfield circuits being approved in NSW. While at the same time applying for funds to extend Eastern Creek to make 2 circuits.
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Same ol same ol,i bet the executives travel to all events while screwing the punter yet again. VMX in Unzud runs on its own after years of giving money to NZ body. Find a paddock (know NSW cant do this) peg it out,take 3rd party insurance,give the farmer a bottle of Rum for paddock = Same old bikes sameold fun. but then its tuff living in the Shang re La of the pacific if your into VMX.....lol
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AASA is tied with Eastern Creek , Wakefield Pk and Winton tracks, Formula Extreme runs under AASA sanctioning, you can run at a AASA meeting with a MA licence but not the other way round. AASA has effectively 'locked out' MA from running the Superbike championship in NSW. The Eastern Creek/AASA/Formula Extreme allience isn't squeaky clean either, my spy told me that allegedly ARDC (Eastern Creek operators) were pro-actively campaigning to stop ANY development applications for new greenfield circuits being approved in NSW. While at the same time applying for funds to extend Eastern Creek to make 2 circuits.
The ARDC is the real issue there. I can tell you stories that would make you cringe...
The Benalla Auto Club have 'engouraged' clubs to use AASA insurance at Wakefield (and I assume Winton), but there's no compulsion.
The other point is that as a track owner, they are no longer compelled to pay the outrageous CAMS track licencing fees... Its a business decision that might not suit everyone, but it's their decision.
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So where does Warwick m/cycle club fit into all of this?
I have heard that they have told MA/MQ to take a flying fig and have set off on their own and are going from strength to strength.
Club numbers are up and all is supposed to be going well. Time will tell I suppose.
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mmmm.....Interesting day today....at MX
Too many chiefs uptop and they are making more money out of us country small fry as we seem to have the right formula...
Do we have to continue doing this,for them to sit high and make the ching ching $$ !!
cheers A
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What is it that stops some people from representing an organisation without fanfare or fuss. All that is required is humility, good old fashioned integrity and hard work;.......for the organisation, not yourself. :-\ :-\
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and they rely on that ,for us to do just that :P
cheers A
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What is it that stops some people from representing an organisation without fanfare or fuss. All that is required is humility, good old fashioned integrity and hard work;.......for the organisation, not yourself. :-\ :-\
Its a combination of things, but I reckon the main thing is that its all about politics. Basically, to get to the top of the ladder, you have to be the kind of person who will push other people off to get there.
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Its a combination of things, but I reckon the main thing is that its all about politics. Basically, to get to the top of the ladder, you have to be the kind of person who will push other people off to get there.
You've hit the nail on the head , there Nathan , after serving twice on the MNSW Dirt Track committee , we both gave up because of all the mindless politicking and egotism, one criticism levelled at EA and I was that we were,
" too close to the riders "
Bloody hell, thats who it all is supposed to be about , isn't it ?
Foss
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So here goes, if I have paid MQ to have an event in Qld that is open to riders(and passengers) from anywhere
in Aust to attend and race at, why dont either MA or MQ include it in there web site/magazine calender???
Do they truly want us to pull our 50.000 odd grand in open licence fees out of their organisation and go elsewhere or is it what they wish for?--you tell me, 'cause that's about where we are right now!!
I would have thought that from the report they might just need that money!!
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Egotism is dangerous, greed along with it, is deadly.
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News
Following the recent posting in error of draft Board Minutes on the Motorcycling Australia website which touched on a number of issues relating to Super X, Global Action Sports have released the following statement regarding the, what they refer to as, the exciting future of the Monster Energy Super X series.
In just three years, Global Action Sports is proud that it has created a world class supercross series that in many ways is setting a new standard around the globe, the statement starts.
Super X introduced live television coverage of every round, which was a first for any series in the world, revolutionary new race formats, world class tracks at premiere venues around Australia and New Zealand as well as the biggest supercross crowds and international riders ever seen in Australasia.
Last year's series was no exception and fans and industry were unanimous in heralding the series as a huge success with exceptional racing and high quality television coverage.
The Global Action Sports team was always aware that to achieve its vision for the sport in this country would require substantial investment and that part of this would include ups and downs in ticket sales as the series develops. The company has invested very significant sums in Super X to date and will continue to do so to ensure the growth of supercross in Australia.
2010 was a challenging year financially for the series due to a number of factors beyond Global Action Sports' control, including rain at every round, and as a result Global Action Sports has undertaken an internal restructuring including voluntarily liquidating one of its companies within the Super X division. This is not uncommon in the sports and entertainment business and the Super X division remains in good health and committed to continuing the development of the series over the long term.
Super X continues to enjoy good relations with its partners including venues, suppliers and sponsors including Monster Energy as well as Motorcycling Australia, and has been working closely with them in recent months in connection with the calendar for the 2011 series.
New Super X General Manager, Kevin Williams, is very excited about this year's calendar which will be announced shortly.
"I am so pleased with the venues we have lined up for the series this year and I have no doubt it is going to be the best one yet. I am so proud to be involved in this championship and I am really looking forward to working with Global Action Sports and Monster Energy to deliver an amazing series that is sure to produce some great racing for fans."
In the meantime, the partnership between Super X and Chad Reed in the Super X series has concluded allowing Chad to focus on his racing career and team in the USA where he is currently a championship contender in the AMA World Supercross Series. Chad's goals in becoming involved with the Super X series were to help raise the profile of the sport of supercross in Australia and help to establish a series which was world class and he feels that has been accomplished.
"As a group we set our goals for the series very high. Our new initiatives were world class - live television, quality venues, unique formats – and brought the sport of Supercross a whole new public profile in Australia.
"I look forward to watching the series moving forward and hope to return home and race in the future if my AMA SX and Outdoor series commitments permit."
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and.......who is complaining about DW...we all voted him in...Yes we did....SCB's are given direction to vote in a particular way when election time comes around at MA....that direction comes from the Clubs ( or should do....)...That is how (we) got RK to move along ..not vote for him... Sounds like some people would like to get rid of DW....simple...offer up an alternative ...propose it at club level to your SCB ....That is how a democracy works ....
Does the CEO ie David White get voted into his position ??? i thought his was a appointed position , and a position he has held since the early 90s :-\ I think you will find its hard to get rid of somone who wrote their OWN employment contract and job description ;)
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are we all just suffering" Tall Poppy syndrome" ?
there will allways be someone at the top.
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There will always be someone at the top.
But that someone should do there job.
I was there when White was picked , I didn't like the reason's why he was chosen then and I still don't like him now.
Like I've asked anyone who listen.
Name just one good thing he has done in his tenure at MA?
His job is to promote motorcycle racing ( or at least that why he hired back then ) Look at the state of racing in this country now compared to early 90's, Outside sponsors have left in droves the state of racing is complete mess, less places than ever to race, costs out of control with insurance etc.
I call that a failure. >:(
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Is it fair to say that the 'strategic managers' never achieve anything worthwhile?
It happens at my work, its happened at previous places of employment, it happens at CAMS, it happens everywhere...
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Slakewell-I can't concentrate with that avatar of yours looking at me.
But YES to all of the above. Why do we always end up with these sorts of people running the show?
At grass roots level it would be hard to find a better, hard working, like minded bunch of people, but at the top they just turn into block heads.
STAND ASIDE I say
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Slakewell-I can't concentrate with that avatar of yours looking at me.
But YES to all of the above. Why do we always end up with these sorts of people running the show?
At grass roots level it would be hard to find a better, hard working, like minded bunch of people, but at the top they just turn into block heads.
STAND ASIDE I say
Its Human nature , its already been said in another post that to get to the top you have to be the sort of person who will push others off to get there.
I think in everybody there is an element of greed and self serving that surfaces when the volenteer role becomes a paid role. I have always believed that in any sport having people with a passion for that sport running it at the top level is also a negative thing .
A buisness example is a bloke here ran one of the most succsessfull motorcycle shops in the country (selling mainly farm ATVs and accessories )
he had absoulutley no interest in Motorcycles outside of work to him they were just a saleable commodity and he was a good buisnessman . He didn't get bogged down with local club politics or sponsoring wannabees , he just sold bikes , atvs and gave great service to his punters .
Outside of work his interest were elsewhere so he was able to concentrate on his buisness witch was selling bikes and atvs his competitors critisized him for not getting involved in the sport but he ignored them and kept on selling more bikes than them ;)
Over here in the last 10 yrs our governing body MNZ has gone from completly vollenteer (save 3 paid office staff ) to semi professional (and i use the term laughingly ) with a CEO and board . The old vollenteer system was flawed and drawn out but it worked and the organisation was self sufficent , since changing we have had 3 different CEOs (each one forking usless and with their own agendas )various shit fights and law suits , general dissention amoungst the members and a negative bank balance .
However what really put a bug up my arse was that individuals on the board (some mates of mine ) who are very very sucsessfull buisness people brought none of that buisness acumen to the MNZ table , it was like fork it this is just a game >:(
there was no way they would have run their buisnesses the way they wanted to run MNZ .
They were very passionate motorcyclist and thats what they brought to the table , but we already have a sea of passionate vollenteers what we needed was buisness and marketing brains to run the show .
As it is MNZ is fast dissapeering up its own arse (not fast enough for me ) fortunatley VMX runs outside of MNZ so we do it our way.
Compared to MA MNZ is a very small fish but i think the problems are simillar .
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Slakewell-I can't concentrate with that avatar of yours looking at me.
But YES to all of the above. Why do we always end up with these sorts of people running the show?
At grass roots level it would be hard to find a better, hard working, like minded bunch of people, but at the top they just turn into block heads.
STAND ASIDE I say
fortunatley VMX runs outside of MNZ so we do it our way.
And there-in lies the answer!!!! END OF STORY