New year message from the FRA

[andy_kane]

Just thought I would reiterate my feelings from an earlier post

I am going to have an enjoyable year as a roboteer knowing that at this time that the event organisers are comfortable with each other for the first time, and that they and the FRA are also at ease with each other.

This should be a positive message to you all.

A lot of this thread is hot air, what is needed is an event to concentrate the mind.

Have not seen this lot going on as have been doing the FRA accounts today and yes they do balance.

I also have started on 2008 membership paperwork and would like to thank the following for their generous donations to our trophy fund.
Geoff Thorpe-Robot Rumble and Craig Colliass-Saint.

[stu]

Some people need to get off their high horse and stop stiring trouble... The FRA have worked very hard ... in past i have dissagreed and so have others with their ways but they have always had the roboteers interests at heart and further down the line i and others can say yes they were right/or on right track and happy with the outcome.

Im sorry but im shocked to see the kind of posts coming from Tim and Paul - 2 people i looked up at. The message im getting from Tim is your relaying messages and stiring from other memebesr which you have bascily said in your posts.... and Paul you have a problem in joining coz of a few rule changes... deal with it ? And join and move forward and help make the sport a better one than slagging it off?

????

IF Andy and Geoff are no longer in the FRA when they step down, then we kiss good bye to everything... the amount of work and stuff they do is just a joke and beyond call of duty.. and they take all the flake... no wonder some of their comments have been heatedd, i would now have been that much restrained..

Yes there has been bitchyness between some EOs.. but that has died down as everyone is coming to terms theres more than 1 and theres enough for everyone and were all palying nice so all should be fine to better our sport....

The people that caused the problems have now been found out and people have realised who they are..... and working towards making hobby/sport back on track.

I dont know.... stop trying to spoil it for everyone and join and try and fix the problems/issues you have...

I think it was Leo i had a beef about with him in my eyes just stiring things, but that was my view.. but hes a member and has been eccoing his concerns and things are getting better... he is classic example of doing it the right way maybe? Fair play.

Mr Stu

[grant_ploughbot]

The biggest problem thats causing most of this, and the same in most of the past disagreements is just down to questions that have been asked not being answered, or atleast not properly (the same as the arguements for the A123s for the UK champs). Thank god Kane Aston is actually talking some sense - but why doesnt anyone else?

[tim]

Stu

If you feel that way about my messages then I would suggest you re-read them all.

*I have never once in a single one of my messages criticised the FRA - at most I have expressed disappointment at the way the responses of individuals have been expressed
*I have honestly explained (when asked directly) why I am currently not a member of the FRA
*I have never said I am relaying messages or stiring on behalf of others - I quote to seek answers to some questions on behalf of a minority (a personal decision without consultation with others) - in other words I have asked questions that I believe effect a section of the community but have not spoken to anyone else in forumulating my opinion
*I have persisted in asking these specific questions and routinely tried to lead the conversation away from it becoming criticism of the FRA

For me, Grant is spot on in his assessment that the biggest problem is questions that have been asked not being answered.

Some people take the questions to mean something they are not and read far too much into them. Some people choose to believe there are deeper ulterior motives that are not there.

In my opinion it can only benefit us all if sensible questions can be asked and are answered in a constructive manner. Thus building a foundation of trust and understanding and avoiding all the suspicion and discord.

I asked a sensible question of the EOs, Jonno has answered in a constructive manner as has another EO privately. I thank them both for doing so - they have answered my questions and whilst I may still disagree with the decision I respect their views and abide by them.

[robotwars]

I just wonder why if you had a question to ask of the event organisors, why didnt you just email us... you know how to contact us all ???

And we would have responded with our reasons, and you could have relayed them to whoever you are representing.

Then we wouldnt be in this situation, and we would be all looking forward to the year.

I see it time after time where threads are created on this PUBLIC forum, when a simple email to someone in my opinion would have been a much better route to take.

John
http://www.RoamingRobots.co.ukwww.RoamingRobots.co.uk

P.s Ewan i am still waiting for a responce to my questions.


Oh one more thing.... going back to the original reason for this post... Happy New Year

[ewan]

Ive just been following the thread lightly, theres a number of thought provoking stances that have been taken, nothing that should be censored from discussion I think.

Re Jonno:


When did you last attend an event? - Last July

Have you ever been a member of the FRA? - For two or three years, wasnt last year

Is the reason you don€™t come to events because of the FRA? - No, not as a direct provocation, other issues of time and money are bigger players. That isnt to say that the bureaucratic madness that is often swirling above me isnt a contributing factor. Some particular players in the FRA take far too an aggressive and unwelcoming stance in my experience; I take particular issue with the current president

Do you see having the FRA over the last 3 years a waste of time? - No, but certain elements have proven needless, the focus of the organisation needs changing I think

What is the problem with the FRA in your opinion that stops you wanting to both join it, and also be part of it? The FRA needs to more clearly justify its main expense of insurance, I do not believe that a unified ruleset demands insurance aside from an EOs own - the FRA should be a medium for discussion and not actually a material holder of insurance (and rule cover) responsibilities. I am not convinced of its current performance in promoting the sport; improvements could be made in this area. I am most certainly not impressed with the current president - his recent claims in this thread, for example that we wouldnt have a forum without the FRA as a charging body (rubbish), that this forum is uncensored (haha) and that now all event organisers are now comfortable with each other (perhaps, at the expense of killing off Extreme Fighting Machines, one of the EOs with most potential as I saw it) seem like an unrealistic squirming to find quotable achievements by the organisation as it stands. He is one of the most unfriendly people I have met, whether he takes particular issue with me or not it doesnt seem like the best person to be heading our sports organisational and promotional body.


That took a bit of serious thinking. Back to the nitrous oxide I go

[kane]

that this forum is uncensored (haha)

Time and time again people are told the situation around the forum. Yet people like you continue to propigate rumours. Its offensive and I take that personnally.

If this was a censored forum you wouldnt hold an account here that is for sure.

[kane]

And to add, XFM killed themselves off... For an event organiser with most potential they failed to make a single step towards working to improve problem areas.

[anukhet]

....despite their demanding that something had to be done to improve arena safety after an incident at Wickstead.

[leorcc]

Kane, that a forum should be moderated to me is a no brainer. It is a public forum and there is no place for name calling and rude behaviour.

However, in the past has been the case where messages were posted, then disappeared without trace, and once asked where they went somehow reappeared again at a later date. Now you know this happened, and I know this happened. Only the fact that they reappeared is the soul reason I say the forum is not censored. But it came very close.

If a move like that is done again on the forum I want to be sure that who ever does it makes it very clear to everyone what happened and why. Because I dont mind telling you I was very upset when postings I made with great care to get my point accross without being out of line was suddenly dropped without a single email or posting about the reason. That you moved the messages back eventually helped a little but still...