Fakin' AFRA Forum

I imagine its a permissions thing. Drop Karl (evio wiggins) a PM on this forum - although he is away until 2nd May. There isn't anything much on the forum though, a post a day maybe, so don't think you are missing out on anything! Alternatively, PD may be able to sort it out.

Just had a PM from Sgt Ash about the fact that he never received anything from AFRA, not a card, nor permission to get on the website.

WTF is Dalby et al up to? They don't seem to be the most organised bunch.

S

He has got permission to get on the website - I've been sending him his risk assessments so I know he has!
Looks like he hasn't had his card so I'll chase that up although it is out of date now.

I'll get him to send his renewal off so start afresh for 2010.

Yes, well I think it's a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other.

He hasn't done anything with the membership this year and hasn't really kept us informed about it apart from a couple of PMs throughout the year. I thought it was sorted TBH.

Well, Steve just hasn't got his card, that's all. He has had his equipment insured and been personally covered by PLI, had risk assessments done. Everything except a piece of cardboard - it was a total waste of money is factually incorrect (although why he hasn't got his card I don't know - it wasn't for the wont of trying on my part!).

I'll be bringing all these issues up at the next AGM and attempt to get AFRA to be a bit more professional about procedures. I wish Dalby would get off the forums and do some admin! Still, much like CiA, it is all voluntary and punters pay a paltry amount so there is only so far one can complain!

Had a moan with Paul outlining various problems, his reply:

I know Dave
The ball has become rather large and a little unwieldy - Karl (copied in) carries more or less ALL the IT/Admin component of this and it is a task and a half. we are constantly trying to improve it and sometimes it's retrograde.......
As for your particular circumstance - I have recieved your application today and will action it of course.... What happens is membership runs from Jan to Dec. It then resets and we have to reactivate people as they rejoin....... so it's simply a matter of making your account active (current) for 2010. Reallyw e should recieve the payment etc. nut I feel sure your remuneration is in this pile yet to open (4 new today) It's hotting up - karl is building a new forum - he will explain better than I but the tie in between the website log in and the forum simply buggered everything up.
We are striving to make it more user friendly and indeed explanatory...... Karl's reasons for being a little "distracted" recently are his own to explain should he feel the need - Mine? Simply put - being very displaced still since my daughter's death - it's taking some sinking in and I feel no stigma in explaining (as opposed to using it as an excuse) that I have neglected many important things as a result.
I am getting back on the ball - I have to - many are relying on us...... we are arranging the AGM for the same venue to co-incide with Stoneleigh again - and the Exec are due to meet informally to draw up the War Plan for 2010......... hopefully next weekend.....
We are on it Dave - We DO appreciate very much constructive criticism as outlined by your good self - we need it to be able to improve....... Thanks and apologise in equal measure - Job in hand.
Paul

I could have said stop wasting time posting on the PST and other forums and get your admin sorted - but that would have been a tad churlish

When did his daughter die? That sucks.

Twas earlier on last year, that was when there were big delays in the AFRA admin. His son is in Afganistan too so I imagine things must be tough emotionally.

I was just going through the bank account and I also note that they still haven't bank a cheque I sent them on 16th October for Dean Armistead's membership.

I've contacted Dean (lipton) to find out if he's heard from them.

S

PD's reply to Yith on the AFRA renewal thread:

Yith - you really are a special child aren't you? Along with 50 or so other cards yours is here - done with Choms and Jays and ready to go - I need to get away from the PC and go bank money, draw funds on a cheque, buy stationary and stamps and address mondo envelopes then go back out and post........ Despair away - it will mean the arrival of the card brings a much needed ray of sunshine into your otherwise bleak existence.

That's the best laugh I've had today!

The thing is (and I've told PD this already) is that their customer-facing isn't good at all. No feedback on web site errors (or even if everything is OK), rarely answer PMs or emails, don't keep customers appraised of application progress, don't send out cards promptly.

The thing is that the only tangible thing people have is the card in their hand so have a disproportionate focus on this. And quite why PD is trotting back and forth to the post office I have no idea - I switched to computer generated postage three years ago!

And being publically rude to a member on a forum ain't a good idea, no matter how deserved.

No, I did think that. PD does make himself look like a twat quite a lot.

I've been tempted to say 'stop posting on feckin forums and get some admin done!' but I save that for face to face next week!

Given that it was Yith being a petulant little sod, i'd have been much ruder to him than PD was...

Taffpara - is bugging PD about membership on the open forum, yet he's not a member of CiA. Will just check with PD that he's not citing that as his reason for joining.

AFAIK he's never been to any of our events.

Nothing to do with us, he is a reenactor not an airsofter.

I've never seen Taffpara. He just uses the forum to buy and sell as far as I can see.

Nothing to do with us, he is a reenactor not an airsofter.

Not sure if he is though.

Just a little due diligence to make sure he's not using CiA as his reason for membership.