|
Post by nompere on Mar 15, 2007 6:51:39 GMT
www.acus.org.uk/forms/March_9_Statement_V3.docand static.ecb.co.uk/files/joint-statement-from-ecb-and-acus-1525.docboth give the identical statement which includes:- “Senior officers from the ECB and the ACU&S met at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday 9th March 2007. Both parties recognised the benefits and desirability of working more closely together in the interests of the development of cricket and cricket officials and have agreed to set up a small working party to explore the best ways of achieving this. As evidence of their desire to work more closely together, both parties have agreed that the ECB would actively work with the ACU&S in developing new training and examination resources that could achieve external validation and be internationally recognised as world class.”
|
|
|
Post by johnfgolding on May 10, 2007 10:37:35 GMT
At last
|
|
|
Post by umpire50 on May 16, 2007 14:01:43 GMT
I have no problem with ACU&S co-operating with ECB. What concerns me, and many, many other loyal ACU&S members, is that ECB OA actually want to take over ACU&S.
After all, Frank Kemp stated at a meeting not long ago that he wanted 'to control the umpires'. Heavens above, look at the mess that the ICC made of the Darrell Hair incident, the World Cup final etc because they want to control the umpires.
Frank Kemp missed the boat a couple of years ago when the £25K annual grant to the ACU&S was withdrawn. He should have made the continuation of the grant contingent upon ECB representation on the ACU&S General Council and its Finance Board. The ACU&S membership would have accepted that quite happily. That way the the ECB could have exerted influence - and we would have avoided umpires and scorers being split into three separate camps as they appear to be now.
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on May 16, 2007 23:14:23 GMT
I presume camp 3 is ICUS. How many umpires and scorers do they have?
|
|
|
Post by umpire50 on May 17, 2007 7:37:01 GMT
I don't know and, as a loyal ACU&S member, I don't really care. I'd be more interested to learn how many members ECB OA have at present and, more importantly,will keep when those who have signed up find that they have not been given the appointments they had hoped for. I really cannot see that the ECB will continue to be able to fund ECB OA if its membership stays around the 1000 or so. This is why Frank Kemp is so desperate to take over ACU&S.
Mind you, it is quite interesting to observe how many of the suggestions contained in the so-called 'Renaissance' document are now being put forward by the Association as part of the Next Steps initiative. As time goes on, I'm really beginning to wonder whether the split between ACU&S and ICUS was actually deliberately engineered by the ECB to further weaken an organisation in financial disarray as a result of the complete lack of financial nous of its former chairman. After all, less members in the Association equals less subscription income, a position that would aid Frank Kemp's ill-fated prediction that the ACU&S would not last until the end of its financial year in October 2006.
|
|
|
Post by fatpunter on May 17, 2007 18:37:20 GMT
I really don't know what the answer is. While the ECB want to rule all aspects of the game I really don't see how things can progress. ACU still has a large loyal following but no central funding. ECBOA has a smaller, but increasing, band of brothers and all the funding. I am sure that there are other schismatic offshoots calling themselves who knows what but really, who cares.
I am afraid that as long as ACU retains it's healthy membership then there is no way forward.
At grass roots level leagues and clubs are only too pleased to see any umpire, they don't care what the colour of his tie is and which organisation he belongs to. Ultimately, the huge majority of club games can be officiated by an umpire who belongs to no organisation at all and has never been on a course. Also, if he wants to go on a course who should he contact, ECB or ACU? Probably he would do nothing because until all of the toys are replaced in their boxes I am afraid that the umpiring officialdom has become a laughing stock and most of cricket is laughing, but ultimately not caring.
It's only a game. Isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on May 17, 2007 21:18:21 GMT
The latest newsletter from ECBOA, received today, states the membership is now 1400.
The document hasn't yet been published to the internet, but I'll post a link to it when it is.
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on May 18, 2007 18:17:23 GMT
|
|
|
Post by nompere on May 20, 2007 10:20:01 GMT
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on Jun 24, 2007 21:37:33 GMT
I think it's worth repeating my post in the ACU&S Forum: The ACU&S website has two new items dated 16th June: acus.org.uk/news.aspThe first is about the clothing questionnaire votes to date, but the second gives news of a special GC meeting. The contents are most interesting, as they talk of a possible merger with ECBOA.
|
|
|
Post by nompere on Jun 25, 2007 9:38:05 GMT
This would only appear to be obtaining permission for a postal vote on emerging proposals. I think these proposals will have to be extremely attractive before the membership will support the abolition of an independent ACU&S.
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on Jun 25, 2007 10:26:01 GMT
Yes, I agree, but it's a step in the right direction.
|
|
|
Post by wisden17 on Jun 25, 2007 11:44:36 GMT
What really? The "Right" direction. Surely you think having 3 separate organisations all doing the same thing is the best policy don't you!
|
|
|
Post by johnfgolding on Jun 25, 2007 12:20:14 GMT
I hope this is the beginning of the end of this squabble. It seems to detract from our main task - umpiring.
Lets hope that the process is democratic and open and everyone excepts the outcome.
|
|
|
Post by rjones on Jun 25, 2007 14:54:48 GMT
I don't know if this helps at all, but I'll try to give you my perspective.
In talks both the ACU&S and the ECB recognised the need for one organisation that caters for the needs of umpires, scorers, and other cricket officials in the game.
Both the ACU&S and the ECB recognised that this organisation should be independent.
I believe that the ACU&S officials recognised that "standing alone" we would be unable to access the type and quantity of funding that the ECB are able to access, and I believe also that the ECB officials recognised that the work the ACU&S have carried out in the last 54 years in the areas of training and recruitment of umpires and scorers had been to the benefit of the game. We have the experience. The ECB have access to the money.
The desirability of having an independent organisation, with officials elected and constitution produced by the members was, to me, pretty obvious. I believe it is in the best interests of the members, but the process must go first through General Council, and then, if approved, to the membership of the two organisations (ACU&S and ECBOA) for their final say.
Rest assured, there is still much for members to learn yet, and there is still much work to do before the two organisations are in a position to re-unify. I think that for the majority of members, there will be little change. They will still get a magazine, still have a web site, still have their insurance, still have their say. For those that want to progress in their careers, I believe that there will be a clear pathway for them to follow.
I am fully of the opinion that the ECB are not taking over the ACU&S, nor are the ACU&S taking over the ECBOA. This is two like minded organisations, doing essentially the same job, already working together to produce the same training and examination material, and now preparing to get married, for the benefit of all their members.
Richard Jones Elected Councillor ACU&S
|
|