owzat
Junior Contributor
Posts: 3
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Post by owzat on Oct 5, 2006 20:01:41 GMT
So at long last we get the report on finances in this edition. Whilst it is definitely good to have a new professional treasurer and auditors, I am left with the strong feeling that the ACU&S will not survive. The insolvent position is owned up to but the outlook for 2007 looks dire. The assumption is that all members will renew and that allows the ship to be kept afloat. But eg it wouldn't take many to leave for the insolvency to continue, financed by overdraft (in the absence of sponsors) and interest cost thereon. I'd like to have much more openness and honesty, facing up to financial positions than the one portrayed. Eg what action can be taken to cut back costs even More if subs do fall off substantially? Also I'd like to have seen projections for the next few years - not enough just to say that 2008 should be better. That's what all failing organisations promise, jam tomorrow.
Also I'm most unhappy in ACU&S allowing the relationship with ECB to have got to where it is. Why not let them "inspect the books"? What have we got to hide? It seems to me and I hope I'm wrong that the same complacent/poor management that has got us into this mess is continuing and the best solution is to come to terms with ECB.
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Post by fatpunter on Oct 5, 2006 20:53:29 GMT
Indeed, it would seem that the good old ACU has gone belly up. I for one am not paying the increased subs of £30. Let's face it, value for money? I think not.
I'm not throwing £30 of my own hard earned at a lame duck. It's just a matter of time. An absolute disgrace that it has come to this.
It's only a game and we are only a small part of it.
RIP ACU
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fedump
Junior Contributor
Posts: 7 
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Post by fedump on Oct 6, 2006 9:59:23 GMT
Having come back to cricket and umpiring some four years ago, after a long break, I have received much help and encouragement from ACUS colleagues in progressing to Qualified Member, and cannot bring myself to pull the plug at this stage.
That said, I can only draw the same conclusion as owzat as to the future of the Association, and, like an increasing number of colleagues on my County panel, am applying for membership of the ECBOA.
Yes, that means that I will have to pay two subscriptions for next season - I suspect that in the following year, I won't need to.
I am convinced that if the ACUS had acted sensibly, and changed itself to a Company Limited by Guarantee with a separate commercial trading arm, it could have contracted with the ECB as a training organisation from a position of strength, and much of the recent bile and unpleasantness could have been avoided. It's too late now.
I do wonder what a disinterested onlooker would make of the machinations of the last two years. I suspect that they would form an unfavourable view of all the protagonists!
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johnump
Regular Contributor
Posts: 18
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Post by johnump on Oct 6, 2006 20:46:18 GMT
More of the usual trivial rubbish in Howsthat. Nothing in there that will help any of us develop as Umpires. Can't really see ACU&S competing with an ECB Umpire program.
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Post by nompere on Oct 7, 2006 13:01:36 GMT
You have only to look at www.acus.org.uk/forms/ATR.docto realise that ACU&S is far from dead in many parts of the country - meetings, courses, exams and other events. Unfortunately we still hide many of our lights under bushells! |
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owzat
Junior Contributor
Posts: 3
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Post by owzat on Oct 7, 2006 19:24:16 GMT
Yes, the finances were hidden under a bushel too. We are insolvent at present evidently, we have many vacant posts, an organisation down the road is offering discounted prices. But we have lots of activity up and down the country so that's OK then.
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Post by swerveman on Oct 8, 2006 13:20:01 GMT
It's important to note that the "organisation down the road" hasn't actually come up with the goods, yet, whereas ACU&S courses and exams are happening now.
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Post by grump on Oct 8, 2006 14:37:33 GMT
It comes down to money in the end. Either enough ACU&S members pay their subs and it carries on, or they don't and it doesn't. Without enough funding from subs, those in charge would be negligent if they carried on and deepened the insolvency by doing so.
Is there a date when it might be announced what the subscription income received has been?
Assuming the worst for the moment, what would be the procedure for winding-up? What would happen to the laptops? Would the members be responsible for any remaining debts?
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fedump
Junior Contributor
Posts: 7
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Post by fedump on Oct 8, 2006 15:43:45 GMT
The ACUS constitution provides for dissolution by a 2/3 majority at a Member's meeting called at minimum 21 day's notice
My non-authoritative understanding is that ACUS falls into the category of "unincorporated entity" and is outside the application of insolvency legislation. I believe that such bodies can' t contract directly with third parties, and that an unsatisfied creditor would have to pursue those officers who had e.g. signed the contract, and would have to demonstrate negligence and/or bad faith to succeed.
Again, based on understanding rather than first hand knowledge, the title to the laptops remains with the provider. Presumably ACUS has a record of their whereabouts. I wonder what their face value is! - much less than the outstanding liability, I suspect!
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sclasec
Junior Contributor
Posts: 6
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Post by sclasec on Oct 8, 2006 15:48:36 GMT
"Owzat" has got it absolutely right in his final paragraph. An almost total lack of control coupled with a quite astonishing reluctance to face facts. And the Association's "managers", such as they are, are still living in the past. They have to accept that antagonism towards the ECB and constant refences to the "independence" of the ACU&S are unhelpful, to put it mildly. A collaboration is obviously what the ECB is looking for, and the ACU&S should get on and collaborate!
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johnump
Regular Contributor
Posts: 18
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Post by johnump on Oct 8, 2006 19:21:16 GMT
But what did this edition offer in relation to helping qualified umpires improve and progress??? Its mostly full of articles about trivial law questions that will hardly ever occur.
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Post by John McGregor on Oct 16, 2006 20:53:32 GMT
In my capacity as REO Scotland I attended the Exam Board meeting on Saturday 7th October. It was pretty clear from this that it is business as usual for ACU&S , so I think its demise has been greatly exaggerated . Whilst many able people have defected , many others have stepped in to fill the gaps .
ACU&S Training courses are scheduled for Glasgow and Edinburgh commencing January and my Examination team are standing by to conduct examinations in both centres in late March and early April at the conclusion of these courses .
John McGregor
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Post by swerveman on Oct 16, 2006 21:00:48 GMT
John, perhaps you could post full details in the "Forthcoming Events" forum.
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Post by raykps on Oct 24, 2006 18:32:12 GMT
It seems like some of us are assuming the demise of ACU&S, We all are now because of ACU&S, instead supporting we are leaving the ship, which has not sunk yet, yes due to bad management ACU&S is in deep waters, but we elected those who failed us, ask yourself why did we do that? As the human nature is, some people are looking for status and only few are genuine go getters. those genuine hard workers were not given the chance to serve us members with dignity and honesty, lesson here for us vote for genuine people and not the glory catchers in the future for any organization you may wish to join.
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