As Moose says below, to a certain extent I've voted with my feet but the entry charge was only one of several reasons why I'm not at St. Ives as a volunteer
First I've heard that the system was being abused as a reason - AFAIK, it all stems from the change from providing two wristands inclusive with a boat or camping entry to charging seperately for the pitch/mooring and entry The argument is that we were always paying for our wristbands, we just didn't know it :-/ The bottom line for me is that it wasn't the £12 that stopped me in my tracks, it was the £600 plus that it cost me to put the three of us on site in blue shirts (plus a teenager who couldn't do anything for insurance reasons) for 7 days at Beale Park. That's a months mortgage payment and getting on for half our monthly income. This is something which is not appreciated by the IWA "fat cats" who have retired from well paid jobs in the city with decent pensions (grumble grouse bitch .... Yeah, I *am* jealous!) I should also, if I am being honest, confess that I wasn't really at Burton, Preston Brook or Beale Park as a result of a raging desire to support the IWA etc. (10 years on a branch committee and 3 years on Council, I've done my bit I reckon!). Truth is, I was there at Burton 'cos a mate needed help with the PA, had a hoot, did it again, got the hump (Preston Brook was hassle, hassle, hassle) and only did Beale Park 'cos we had some awesome kit to play with! Anyway, the upshot is that with the way life these days is for middle aged middle class folks like us few of us have either the time or the money to indulge in altruistic volunteer endeavours. It's noticeable that when we first started boating etc. nigh on 20 years ago we were amongst the youngest people around on the cut and we're still amongst the youngest. Who, I wonder, is going to be running IWA in 20 years time? (Not me, that's for sure!) Bru > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of dave hearnden > Sent: 23 July 2007 20:55 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [canals-list] Re: Re: Charging volunteers at the National > > > > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes > > ><..> > > > > > >> I think Saul said 2 hrs work for a free pass, but I am not 100% > > >> sure on that > > > > > >2 'shifts' I believe each of which apparently will be 2 to 4 hours > > > > > >Too difficult to manage at the National apparently. Not convinced. > > > > > >Bru > > Guy comments > > >Nor me! If they can't manage it for themselves they could > subcontract > >volunteer management to Cotswold Canal society!! > > > > > My turn for twopennyworth. > > People abused the system, it come to the notice the IWA (F) > something had to > be done. Perhaps sledgehammer for a nut !!! maybe but > somethng had to be > done. > > Last year at Beale Park all IWA (blue Shirts) paid, to have > their boat or > caravan at the site and for a wrist band. That included three > week workers, > to committee members who turned up just for the day. > > This year I believe it has changed again, and don't quote me > but the people > who are three week workers might not be paying for wrist band? > > Yes some people have voted with their feet (Bru?) but some > not happy but > carry on. > > Perhaps next year it will change again? > > Moose > NBWrgcampleadernationalatStIves > > _________________________________________________________________ > The next generation of Hotmail is here! http://www.newhotmail.co.uk > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
