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I agree with Mike, having a rep from each EO would be a better option. Remember we do not have a sport without the support of the EOs. Plus it stops the possibility of corruption where an event organiser gets to vote on something which would only benefit themselves and not other EOs (and Im not saying that this happens but it could)
In spite of the constitution, it has been my experience that, if there is a matter in a meeting that involves the EOs, they have all been invited.
How unconstitutional! :)
Edit: I dont know if there is a photo of me in the pink mini:wink:
(Message edited by anukhet on January 05, 2009)
Have just come back after a two week holiday and thought I would comment on a few points on this thread.
1, I am pleased that there is a debate on the need for new whipping boys and girls in the FRA.
As with all organisations people drop by the wayside as time goes on. There used to be 13 of us 5 years ago and we are now probably down to 8.
I welcome Shane Swan throwing his hat into the ring as it should make an interesting election.
2. Dave Langs comment- As someone who apologised 3 times to the governing body and resigned from office twice before even attending a first FRA meeting I would respectively suggest Mr Lang explain to you the reasons behind his apologies and resignations.
Mr Lang does not understand how a democracy works and makes his comments without a foundation or understanding the barest minimum of the facts.
To put the record straight, Robots Live have not been banned from puting their events on this forum, merely delayed subject to the democratic wish of the whole governing body.
3. To Mike - When dealing with safety complaints we normally receive them in writing and cannot ever recall receiving any written communication from you on any safety subject. If you have any thing in your sent box please forward so that we can deal with you concerns in our normal way.
4. To John(RR)It is refreshing to see an event organiser come clean on safety matters and the connection to the FRA. It is very easy to deal with Roaming Robots on these issues as communication channels are excellant.
For the record there has been more issues on safety with RR than any other event organiser.
RR have been going longer than any body else and so automatically have had more issues.
RR effectively were the guinea pig for the safety manuals that the FRA hold on your behalf.
Happy New Year to all
You know what, I cant be bothered to comment on that Andy because I know whatever I say will get beaten down by you or one of your cronies and twisted to distort the facts. Myself and many other people know the real reason why I resigned and I am not going to go into it on here as it is a public forum. Maybe on the Backroom of the robotforum as that is only open to roboteers
dave you cant rant on about things if you wont even tell people your side, how can you expect people to back you. Ive not had any problems with the FRA or Andy in years and so cant see the light in any of these public rants.
Dave,
Actually, this is the ideal forum for this as everyone is listening and watching, and you have been given the stage. None of the moderators, I would say now, should moderate your post - just respond to it with a post of their own if they have anything to say. We would know for sure that the current FRA was a bit corrupt if it did start adjusting the words that you write in your forthcoming explanation. If your arguments are valid, they can stand up to twisting and distortion - your original post will be there for everyone to see.
So - go ahead.
Andy - To put the record straight, Robots Live have not been banned from puting their events on this forum, merely delayed subject to the democratic wish of the whole governing body.
This is euphemistic non-speak of the first order. What kind of delay, and subject to what kind of wishes, and what is the justification for those wishes?
It may not look like it but I dont like ranting on about things. All this came up because I mentioned that RobotsLive cannot post their events on the forum. It is Andy who is dragging up the past, things which should be long forgotten, but if you want to know the gory details then here goes...
Its been a long time since all this happened so I will go over it as I remember it. There is a long discussion thread on the Robotforum website about the time I originally resigned from the FRA and it is on this link [removed]. Its too much to retype or copy in here so please take a look. The second (and last) time I resigned was either for this (see link http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/discus/messages/59/9701.htmlhttp://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/disc...s/59/9701.html) where I was threatened by legal action because of the Robotforum which I setup, or because of the way XFM (or Ed, cant really remember) was booted off the forum.
Its been a long time since all this happened (Nov 2007 and onwards) so if I forgot something or gave you the wrong information then I apologise.
Dave
[Link removed due to forum policy]
(Message edited by kane on January 19, 2009)
Im not much to do with the FRA, but after chairing a whole load of organisations over the last 15 years Id say that a good chair is one who can listen, convince, delegate, and chair a meeting without too much waffle; in other words a communicator.
Being opinionated is fine, but its very important that a chair listens to what is being said.
All the best
Simon
To the forum moderators.
I object to the links used by Dave Lang to explain to us all why he resigned from the governing body before he actually attended a meeting.
The website that is owned by Mr lang and was created to provide a forum for free speach as Mr Lang deemed that this FRA forum was heavily moderated which it is not.
Mr Lang resigned when the FRA governing body took great exception to having its meeting agenda discussed openly and seemly heading towards policy decisions before the meeting had taken place.
Simply put a new governing body member was trying to railroad policy without actually attending a meeting and learning how things in the FRA work and then wondering what he has done wrong.
(Yesterdays governing body meeting was attended by 13.4% of member teams)(15% is about the norm and it is a democratic organisation)
Mr Langs forum with its free speech ethic and subsequenty Mr Lang being threatened with lawsuits for potential libel and slander has resorted to a closed forum so that it may be possible to slag off anybody without foundation of any facts whatsoever.
I believe that Bi Polar approach on free speech taken by Mr Lang should be treated with the contempt that it deserves.
I call upon the moderators and FRA governing body to remove all references to Mr Langs website to protect the young and vunerable from the conspiricy theorists dark hole.
Furthermore I can only come to the conclusion that Mr Langs participation in this thread is to assist his teams sponser.
Mr Lang has stated to me in the past that his team would not attend a Roaming Robots event because they did not get paid expences etc this leads me to the conclusion that team Kronic only attend events that they are being paid to attend.
I sincerly hope that teams such as Team Toon and others who have to travel just as far are given the same respect in this matter.
Its about time you actually stood up and stuck up for yourself Andy. Hat of to you mate. Welcome back to roboteering. :)
Just to clarify regarding Dave Lang being paid expenses. As most people are aware, including Andy, Dave and his dad, John, both attend our events as crew and help setup from Friday night to late Sunday night and normally includes them both have 2 days off work. Therefore they are paid for their time, this is just the same that other event organisers operate.
Alan
Alan,I am pleased that you have cleared that matter up.
It does however confirm that Mr langs original post was knowingly as an employee of yours.
While I would be satisfied that Robots Live probably had no knowledge of the post, I would respectively suggest that Robots Live keep a leash on on employees statements on Robots Live business.
Swanny,You got it in one.
I do not have much time left in FRA office, but having been effectively gagged for nearly six years I will be having my say openly as I will not have the burden of the FRA democratic process.
If you get a minute could you phone me please?
credit on my phone forces me not to ring unless you are on 02 but you are welcome to ring me
Response to Mr K.
FRA governing body took great exception to having its meeting agenda discussed openly.
My God, I have never known an organisation to protest so much about what is going to be discussed in a meeting. Surely the members deserve the right to know what is being discussed in their organisation so they can comment before the meetings?
Furthermore I can only come to the conclusion that Mr Langs participation in this thread is to assist his teams sponser..
Team Kronic do have a few sponsors, but Robots Live are not one of them. I do not (and never will) talk on their behalf. That is a job for the Young family as it is their business. I only comment on things which may affect them because they are my friends. Friends, look it up in the dictionary Andy as you might be lucky enough to have some one day.
I call upon the moderators and FRA governing body to remove all references to Mr Langs website to protect the young and vunerable.
WTF? IT IS JUST A FORUM, nothing bad in it, its not a grooming site for paedophiles or anything like that, only a discussion site for robots. Get a life man!
his team would not attend a Roaming Robots event because they did not get paid expences etc.
I dont remember saying this. I did mention that I liked the fact that RL paid travel expenses (which I believe they only did for one or two events), but I never said I will not attend RR events because of this, in fact Im sure I never said that I would not attend RR events any more. Regarding expenses (not that its any of your business anyway), but we (Team Kronic) help put up and take down the arena. Thanks for clarrifying this Alan.
I do not have much time left in FRA office.
There is a God!
Dave