So irritated!!

[FlightyRachel]

Just got my copy of Archery UK, and have read the usual rather provocative intro by Anne Shepherd. Am I think only Club Sec to be thinking up rude replies after being berated for not hand writng 168 names and addresses onto a stupid bit of pink paper? Is it not bad enough that we have to handwrite names and numbers onto illegible carbon copy forms, the like of which Noah probably thought a bit out of date for cataloguing contents of the Ark? Grrrr. (My current thought is to stick the said pink paper up in the storage container and let anyone who can be bothered fill it in themselves).

But there is a good picture of Jonah on page 43.

[simon m]

Congratulate the boy on his picture....

[FlightyRachel]

Fame at last, eh? It's a really good one too!

[simon m]

Tis funny I thought "flowing locks, scythian bow....looks like jonah"......then I read the caption!!!!

[mattieb]

Your club secretary should be sending in your contact details ... This is where I think the problem might lie and I would appeal to all secretaries to double check your practises when it comes to registering your members.

I sent GNAS my name and address on a pink form, along with last years subscription returns (what, 11 months ago?) and still haven't received a single issue of AUK through the post. I just rely on getting the club copy.

[Furface]

Sorry, but I'm with Ann here. If the office don't know a member's address, how can they send them anything? Or do you want 168 copies of Archery UK delivered to the Secretary? (There was actually a letter in a very early edition from a Secretary complaining about this - they had put c/o Secretary as everyone's address, and then had difficulty getting into their house after the post had been).
What I do is send a print out of new members' addresses from my database and that seems to work - they don't insist on it being pink!

[mattieb]

Originally Posted by Furface

Sorry, but I'm with Ann here. If the office don't know a member's address, how can they send them anything?

Anne said, in the editorial "the number of copies that the Office ordered of the last edition was a lot lower than usual and a lot lower than the total membership numbers, and we have been trying to find out why".

I'm suggesting, on the basis of my personal experience, that the subscription lists might be unnaturally low because "the Office" has decided to file the pink subscription forms straight into the waste-paper basket.

Or, otherwise, that they were just as slow, last year, at updating the AUK subscription lists as they were at printing and sending out new GNAS cards.

[Whitehart]

Well if you will run massive beginners courses, then get them all to join you only have yourself to blame

Perhaps the system could be steamlined to a tick in a box somewhere with the original GNAS membership or renewal or just default the whole system to send out the magazines. However I guess there is a big difference between whats sent out and the number that could actually be sent out and looking at the accounts from last year they only have £100 to play with.

[clickerati]

Any chance of getting GNAS/AGB to set up a secure online system? As I've mentioned before, I know several database and web specialists who are GNAS/AGB members, coaches, etc. who would be willing to give up their time...

[Thunk]

Originally Posted by clickerati

Any chance of getting GNAS/AGB to set up a secure online system? As I've mentioned before, I know several database and web specialists who are GNAS/AGB members, coaches, etc. who would be willing to give up their time...

It's been suggested often enough, and they haven't bitten on it. I'm amazed that they need expertise in various fields and still don't have enough regard for the membership to realise that they probably have it all on tap!

So far as membership renewals, magazine despatch etc is concerned, it's hardly difficult. All they need to do is put an Excel template on their website. After a club secretary fills it in and files it, they could import the data in any form they like. The word '.csv' comes to mind...but of course, if they still think of their membership as 30,000 planks they won't think us capable of managing any of that.

[Hidden Hippo]

They do need to do something to move into the current decade in terms of membership. Even the BFA (British Fencing Association) are able to have a system set up where you fill out a form and then get moved onto a Paypal system to pay the membership fee (not that much more than GNAS if I remember correctly).

The details were taken one day, I got an email the next saying that they were being processed and recieved my membership card about a week after. I can also go along and edit my membership details whenever I want to if I move address etc - nice and simple.

[moley101]

I think one of the problems is (as I understand it) is the way in which things have to go through the county association etc first before ending up with GNAS. It does seem like an incredible amount of unnecessary paperwork. I guess I'm lucky in that our club treasurer deals with all the GNAS paperwork as it ultimately involves money. I like the idea of the fencing membership system, seems very sensible.

[phillc]

A past club secretary set up an electronic copy of the form so that new members information can be transfered from the club database. all of the existing members details are on the returns form already (just address changes if needed also you can print it on any colour paper) and probably much easier for the office to sort ( if others writing is as bad as mine)

[Grum]

I must admit as a newby - the whole thing appear to be quite buearacratic. In the canoeing I world I join a club - the club may be affiliated (most clubs are) to the British Canoe Union which will give the club members insurance cover. If I want to coach, compete or have a higher level of personal insurance I go to the BCU website and pay my cash (by credit card) or send them a cheque and membership form. I can renew on their website too.

Much less messing around then pay club, which gets routed through regions, counties etc etc...

[mk1]

Originally Posted by Thunk

It's been suggested often enough, and they haven't bitten on it. I'm amazed that they need expertise in various fields and still don't have enough regard for the membership to realise that they probably have it all on tap!

That's a bit harsh Thunk. Perhaps they think if people can't manage to process a simple paper system, goodness knows what they'd do when let loose with an Excel file sheet. !!