Re: An important message to all members

[Noel Mc Laughlin]

I read Steve Pallott’s post on the former 3/4 site with great interest – it resonated deeply with me.
I admire his candour. I emailed him with a response which included matters set out below – unfortunately the email address on the former contact list bounced back – 3 times out of 3. I modified it and sent a response to the 3/4 site and lo and behold, some hours later, I found it had gone offline for unscheduled maintenance. My thinking at that time was that the IT member was creating the new and very much awaited Free Forum.

The haemorrhaging of membership of the Assn is a major cause for concern.

Everyone would agree with that - given that in my personal estimation, membership is now down to approx 29.
That places the Assn in a very parlous situation in respect of maintaining a decent level of viability and a decent revenue base (membership fees & merchandising sales).

I resigned from the Committee in June and from the Assn in Sept. My reasons were not dissimilar to Steve’s. I again applaud his candour.

John Coe has hit the ground running and he appears to have a vision for the Assn - that is a refreshing approach. Once Mike Kennedy also hits his stride hopefully between them things will start to turn around.

Both men bring a breath of fresh air to the leadership of the Assn and now that there have been further resignations, the weight on their shoulders will be even greater.

I wish them both well and hope they receive the support and guidance for members to drive the Assn forward.

I wish Bones every good fortune and best wishes in his future endeavours.

Access to engage in debate became no longer possible as my access to all the Discussion Fora - the main ones - was barred as was Rip Riley's and any other person who resigned their membership. My attempt post-resignation to post on the Visitors' site had been completely unsuccessful leading me to form the opinion that my posts were being censored and deleted.

Notwithstanding that, I believed that the current set-up enforced selective postings to be allowed on the Visitors site or for that matter, probably on any other forum on there.

To my mind, that was censorship of the worst kind and the fact it was happening on an Ex-service Organisation's website was particularly insulting.

Regardless of whether anyone served on operational service or not, they all enlisted fully prepared to put their life on the line to serve to preserve a way of life in a democracy. That includes freedom of expression. I think people would agree with that contention.

The current situation led me to postulate not unreasonably, that a policy of excluding and marginalising any person - financial or otherwise - in respect of free comment and constructive criticism, was in place. Sparra commented online only the other day about the website being a "closed shop". Point well taken.

Mick Andrews remarked on people being able to post “without fear” of their comments being deleted.

Such conduct and course of action on the former site, gave rise to the not unreasonable proposition that such action clearly demonstrated that the management of the website constituted an abuse of power and was in fact, the exercise of a power and function carried out in bad faith and in such a way that did not even remotely resemble management of the website in open and unbiased manner.

Additionally, it struck directly at the heart of a democratic ESO’s raison d’être – transparency.

On any view, the lock-out of members (or for that matter former members or non-members) of an ESO from joining debate in a particular form in a particular topic as interested onlookers, just because they have resigned, was beyond the Pale and in my personal opinion, smacked of meanness and vindictiveness by the Assn. I have not seen the like in 40 years experience with ESOs.

It forced me to ask myself the following questions:

• Does this occur on the Black Berets site? No
• Does this occur on the 3 Cav Assn's site? No
• Does this occur on the 1 AR Assn's site? No
• Does this occur on the VVF site? No

Steve Pallott was entirely correct in his assessment that the website was contributing to the Assn's downfall.

Steve’s contention that the 41 Club is open to every Black Hat regardless of unit is supported 100% - the hint was there writ large for the web administrator and Assn management to see. In a nutshell - have the site open to all
ex-RAAC members and visitors.

Now that the sites have been extended to Gavan’s and Trevor’s sites, there is an excellent chance of people coming back in from the cold. I commend both gentlemen for their kindness in supporting the Assn at this difficult time.

The issues I posted on the site pre-resignation and pre-closure, were in my respectful opinion, vital and critical in respect of discussing the Assn's survival. It is after all, a free society and the Assn needs to know that its grass-roots members need to be listened to.

That includes the capacity to be able to accept comments made in good faith that were written with frankness, honesty and candour. If that also includes less than supportive but constructive critiquing - then so be it.

Hopefully, people will sit up and take heed of what Steve Pallott said. To date there had been no debate – it appeared to have been completely suffocated.

There was pure dead air, no squelch and no side tone. I really despaired.

Let the haemorrhaging cease and let open and free debate commence.

Support the new management committee in their endeavours to steady the ship.

Regards,

Noel
(Sunray 43)

[Michael Andrews]

Gentlemen.
I agree with Hans and Silverfox's emails. I stand behind the Association 100% and am willing to do what it takes to save it. Lets not loose it now. Stand up and be counted.
John Coe, I will assist in anyway that I can. Let me know if I can help.

[Barrie W]

G'day again John

I have no idea what my password is etc. I hope that I am still a member. I would throw my hat into the ring, but would not be able to give 100%. You have my support to keep the "show" on the road.

Regards to you and your team of helpers...............Barrie Wade

[John Coe (AJ)]

G'Day Barrie,
Unfortunately the outcome as seen by members is the result of a series of problems that have been occuring over a fairly long period of time.
Those that have resigned have not done so flipantly but have given much thought and in most cases agonised over their decisions.
We the remaining management would welcome back any of the members who have resigned but in the end realise that this is simply not going to happen.
Regardless of the management issues the association had reached a stumbling point where there was disquiet in the ranks for a variety of reasons.
John Coe

[Michael Andrews]

The Association is worth the battle. Come on members let us save it. Do not give up on it just because a few people have done what was necessary and resigned. We can now grow and become a better organization

[Barrie W]

For John Coe

G'day John

Thanks for your words. The old story "use it or lose it." I am not in the picture about the collapse of the senior management team structure, but it would seem to me that there has some intolerance and no compromising in the decision making processes. Could I suggest some sort of moratorium be put in place where the existing committee members get together and sort out any differences. They took on the role to head up the organisation and as such they have a responsibility to all the members to ensure that a collapse does not occur through personality clashes.

Regards..................Barrie Wade

[John Coe (AJ)]

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS

As with all groups’ interpersonal differences and rivalries can have a devastating effect on the day to day running of an organisation and as a direct result of this it is with sadness and regret that I notify all members of the resignations of our President Bill Kearney and our RSM Leslie Riley from the management committee along with Rick Gross our Vice President from 2008.
Rodger Henry our IT Manager has also decided to step down from both the committee and his role as IT Manager for other reasons.
To complete the list of resignations Noel McLaughlin and George Rant tendered their resignations last month.

This has left the association in a position of flux and as soon as it can be arranged a special general meeting will have to be called to seek guidance from you the members as to the associations’ future.
As the membership of the association you will have to decide upon several issues which initially will have one of two outcomes, that is do we stand or do we fold.

If it is the will of the members to continue then a new President as well as several other positions vacated will have to be addressed.

If the decision to fold is taken then a great disservice will have been done to the founding members of this association and all participants of the 3rd and 4th and 3/4 Cavalry Regiments.

So I ask that all members and interested parties enter into discussion in the forums kindly provided by Gavan at http://3cav.asn.au and TrevOr at http://black-berets.forumandco.com/3-4-cavalry-message-board-f5/ and make good use of the time prior to the upcoming special general meeting.

Remember for each member who leaves the discussion and decision up to somebody else they drive a nail into the coffin and in turn allow this association to be buried.

Out for now, more to follow
Your secretary
John Coe
secretary3-4cav@optusnet.com.au