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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Saint Austell

    Saint Austell New Member

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    Toe the line or you will be cast out.
     
  2. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Even a single exclusion indicates a deficiency in the D&I area.
     
  3. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    Why? Are you saying that people should never be excluded?
     
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  4. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I think if it were me I'd just keep quiet, above 2 posts aren't a great look. Seems to rather miss the point - exclusions, no matter how unfair, are ok as long as there aren't too many of them? Let's not relitigate whether they were or not here, I'm sure everyone made their minds up long ago. All it does is bring the issue to the surface again, which kind of defeats the supposed point of the exclusions in the first place.

    By the by, D&I is usually preceded by an E, for Equality - defined as 'providing equal opportunities to everyone and protecting people from being discriminated against'.
     
  5. Andy Norman

    Andy Norman Member

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    Seeing you asked Michael I'm another as you well know, I also know of allegedly at least 20 others who were proactively run out of town, however these are only the ones who stood up and said they didn't like what was happening openly to the management, more importantly judging by what others have told me and what I have seen allegedly around 100-200 other volunteers left, they just voted with their feet and walked away without making a fuss.

    Perhaps it would be more productive for you to state (seeing you seem to be an authority on the subject) how many volunteers are still actually volunteering, it was around 1,400 (quoted in official WSR figures given to Grant Funders in my time fund raising for the WSR), is it 1,000 now as you state or less, a true accurate number of active ID Cards should be easy to count ? Those of us who are gone don't count, we are gone, the future lay with those who stayed and accept the current set up, its those who will save the WSR not us.

    As has been said above perhaps this is a can of worms you should not have opened again, I'm happy to go back into my dark corner again and leave you all to it but please don't whitewash what happened and pretend those of us who tried and were removed for speaking our minds never existed !!!!!!
     
  6. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    While Mr Maunsell is totting up the number of current ID cards in circulation, could he also share another nugget of wisdom. I understand that he stood up at the PLC AGM and made a number of astute observations. For the benefit of those not present or do not have access to a recording of the meeting (cough cough), could he please share the details.

    As Andy says, the task of saving the line has been passed to those who were not expelled or have chosen to walk. Whoever remains will no doubt benefit from that advice and guidance.
     
  7. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Well, exclusions do tend to indicate a failure in management, especially in an organisation where the personnel are supposed to share a common interest. That's not to say that it isn't a common failure in management, especially in the UK, but it is a failure nonetheless.
     
  8. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    The issue in the WSR's case appears to be how it was done.
     
  9. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    a0b5c65dc43b6f1e3c9013e9c1358de4.jpg
     
  10. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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  11. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Indeed, it would appear so!!! I thought @flying scotsman123 gave good advice, which seemed to fall on deaf ears….
     
  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Nice one Robin.
     
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  13. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps they like to be thought of as exclusive.
     
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  14. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    Ian,

    The image you posted ignores the most important factor in all of this. How were the contents of the box created ? I include the awful treatment that you were subjected to. If everything is hidden away then what's left is a cycle of "do, deny, repeat".

    If you don't want a Pandora's box then the best course of action is to empty it and deal with the causes. Or we could all just pretend that it doesn't exist while it sits there on the shelf.
     
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  15. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    I am aware that you have previously requested I repeat on NP the comments I made from
    the floor at the recent WSR PLC AGM. These comments were addressed to the PLC Chair
    and his board of directors. Whether they subsequently elect to encompass them ( or
    part of ) in any subsequent meeting notes is their shout IMHO : similarly with respect to
    any subsequent action(s).
    I subscribe to the concept of cabinet responsibility, the regular election of directors and
    officers with the attendant responsibility this places inter alia upon shareholders.

    (Perhaps I should add that my comments did not appear to resonate with much of the
    AGM audience.)

    There has been considerable discussion on governance ( specifically ED&I) and
    whether the withdrawal of ID cards is acceptable. I would humbly suggest that any
    thoughts concerning these issues have to be engendered within the overall frame
    work of operating a safe Railway.

    I consider the need to withdraw an ID ( other than for health or dereliction of duty)
    probably represents a failure. The issue on the WSR, as I perceive it as an interested
    observer, is whether outright vocal opposition to the management constitutes a threat
    to the safe operation of the Railway.

    My original posting was motivated by the apparent growing NP legend that large
    numbers of WSR volunteers had had their IDs withdrawn. ( The reality is a
    handful)

    Concerning the number of WSR volunteers:
    In 2014/2015, when we produced the volunteer signatures to the Somerset County
    Council wrt concerns over the proposed sale of the Railway Freehold, there were
    1,030 volunteers. ( 374 signed the petition during the Winter non running period)
    The highest number ( I cannot remember whether before or after this time ) was
    c. 1100. Current number c.900

    Why did I open this current ‘can of worms’ ? For the same reason I posted (42512) the
    known financial position as of December 2019 ; i.e. to question a continuing false
    assumption on NP, in this current instance, that large numbers of WSR IDs had been
    withdrawn.

    Michael Rowe
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2022
  16. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    I suspect at some point D&I is likely to explode as a burning platform in the preservation movement . lip service is not an option . HRA need to giving strong leadership and setting an example
     
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  17. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Yes.
     
  18. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    HRA should, but I very much hope that it doesn't explode as an issue. Rows over ED&I matters have a nasty tendency to generate a lot more heat than light, and be highly destructive on the way.

    A good start would be focusing on taking a positive and inclusive attitude to volunteers, customers and staff, and treating them first & foremost as valued people. It won't deal with some of the wider aspects of ED&I, but will go a long way to making it practical to respond to ED&I matters when (and it is a when) they arise.
     
  19. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    And nor do I. What is ED&I please?
    Sorry but I am no good with Abbreviations.
     
  20. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
    (And I don’t know exactly what it means although I’m sure @Robin Moira White will explain)
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2022

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