West Somerset Railway General Discussion

AIUI the issue of 'temporary IDs ' has been a feature of WSR Plc practice for many years now, designed specifically for those who will only be 'working' for perhaps 2 or 3 occasions in a year. So this is not really a 'one-off event'.

Having said that, taken in extremis then someone who only goes to the WSR once a year and only 'works' for a few hours - say someone who goes to help a group at a Gala for a couple of hours one afternoon - is supposed to have a temporary ID for the duration (or so I was informed when I had cause to enquire about this a few years ago). I can understand the 'bureaucratic' reason, but the administrative overhead just to get this ID for a couple of hours always struck me as rather excessive and likely to put people off bothering.

 

Should a group of volunteers consider that the charity controlling the organisation they volunteer for is acting in a way of which they disapprove, then they still have the option to join the charity if they wish to make changes.

 

Is this another case where the WSR (and to be fair one major railway I can think of) is marching to the beat and every other line in the country is out of step?

 

I am sorry, singing hymns is currently forbidden under the Government's Covid guidelines!

 

It seems to work well enough on the GWSR, Ian - and we get sufficient volunteers to keep the paid staff down to single figure numbers.

 

I note a problem with a fast moving thread such as this one.

In post 31691 I said. "As required, the WSRA then had to ask all donors if they wanted their money back or if they would put it to a different cause in support of the railway."

This did not stop at least 2 members then speculating about what might have happened to 4110 donations to the WSRA.

I do wonder if folks wish to spend more time typing (speaking) than they do reading (listening)?

Can I also record a note of sympathy for Barrie. Those prepared to stand up and work for the good of the railway as directors or trustees are in short supply. Can we all at least agree that:

No directors = no railway
No charity trustees = no railway (Yes really - for the reasons Lineisclear has articulated.)

OK - as you were - listening out.

 

This highlights another bit of non-conformity within the WSR movement. All the four heritage railways that I have been involved with (Middleton, NYMR, TR & KESR) have required society membership to be in place before volunteering. I well remember a conversation I had with a WSR volunteer a good many years ago (well before the turn of the century) when the subject cropped up. He was very vociferous about not needing to have to be a member of any society to volunteer and was very uncomplimentary about the WSRA. The 'them and us' mentality has been around for a long time in Somerset and I suspect that it is still common amongst the railway's volunteer workforce.

Having said that, if the WSR's SMS allows for casual volunteers and the system for it is robust, then I can see nothing wrong with it.

 

I would be happy to help! Sign me up!

 

What REALLY needs to be achieved is that all associated with the Railway WANT to be members of the single charity.

 

Mel,

Thanks for that welcome news. Is this the specially convened meeting for the Railway Family to have preliminary discussions about the Bailey Report, or a general PDG meeting? As it will be 123 days since publication of JB's report I'm rather hoping the former.

Kind regards,

Barrie

 

Well not, me, that's for certain, as I haven't actually got around to joining yet and now there will no doubt be a short delay. Anyone got any small lemon-soaked paper napkins?

I suspect the difference is between those who work "on site" and those who work "off site", but I may be wrong.

Was it not once the case that all volunteers had to be members of the WSRA? I'm sure my membership of the WSRA dates from my volunteering days, but whether it was voluntary

As one of the two mentioned, I apologise, however, although I try to read every post on this thread, I still see replies to posts I've not seen before. I suspect I'm not very good at starting again where I left off. At least, with Nat Pres, replies go at the end, not next to the post replied to.

 

Ian,

Family membership is the answer to your situation, something WSSRT don't currently offer. Existing members would migrate to the new sole charity (WSRT?) if we eventually resolve to go that way.

As regards WSSRT member processing. I note our treasurer handles membership currently. As the Trust grows it would surely be prudent to appoint a membership secretary. In the event I am elected as a trustee I should like to volunteer to undertake that role.

Throughout the 1980s I served as membership secretary to the Vauxhall Cresta Club. Membership grew to almost 600 during that period. The database was maintained on my Amstrad PCW8256 (later upgraded to an 8512!)

I would propose early introduction of membership cards, membership numbers, application forms and some new membership categories to streamline the system. In my Vauxhall days I prided myself in processing new applications same day whenever possible, although my self-employed business demands inevitably took precedence.

 

Surely the answer to this is to have a list of names, addresses, dbs checks where necessary, next of kin. Along with particular interests/abilities etc, with no cost, or very low admin fee to join. Call it "WSR Volunteers", simply for accountability, and to satisfy HSE/ORR insurance requirements.
Your railway membership charity can be a separate, fund raising/dispersing organisation.
Some might argue that one who volunteers ought to deserve a vote on things, but in fact they have more of a vote simply by exercising their human right to work for nothing, or not work, as they see fit.
Lets face it, a million in dedicated funds won't force a project to happen unless people are actually prepared to do the work

 

All true, but I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of railways that rely on volunteers are all wrong in requiring membership of the supporting organisation as a precondition of volunteering.

That doing so on the WSR may cause challenges during a transition period is not a reason not to do so; it not difficult to come up with ways of achieving that end without charging existing volunteers a sum they don’t currently pay.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Well, it works on my railway, and I've never known anyone seriously question it.

It feels to me that there are two issues which are being conflated. One is around insurance and induction, which has been dealt with. But the other, more fundamental, question is why would anyone wish to work for an organisation that they didn't wish to join? I have never understood that.

As for price - is that really an issue, or a smokescreen? Most volunteers will spend considerably more than their subs each year on travel, clothing etc. But if really the only argument is price, give a discount each year to any member who can demonstrate having done a certain number of days the previous year.

The benefits of having the railway controlled by a single membership body, and having that membership body itself strongly influenced by a strong volunteer body seems so self-evident to me that I can't believe that it is even a matter of debate.

Tom