Assessment Panel delays

[davidmichael]

I submitted an application for elevation to QM-U twelve months ago. Since that time I have received no acknowledgement nor any other response at all from ACU&S. There have been two "holding" emails from my Regional Examinations Officer, in effect saying: "Shut up and be patient", but even he has given up since early this year. The Chairman has issued two statements, in January and August, both of which have been less than informative. Neither inspires any great confidence in the willingness or the ability of ACU&S to sort out the situation. The serious illness and subsequent continuing ill-health of the Panel Secretary is, as we know, a major factor, but the Association really cannot continue to allow this situation to continue indefinitely, and there is little evidence of any determination on the part of the Chairman or other executive members to set up arrangements to deal with the backlog.

By submitting this application I have in effect entered into a contract with the Association that it [the Association] will exercise due diligence in dealing with the matter. It is my view that the Association has failed to do so.

I wonder what a solicitor might think?

[gooders]

The question which I would have thought begs asking is; to what extent has this delay prevented your umpires' secretary, who I assume is one of your referees, from allocating your matches at the relevant level to your abilities? I would suggest that it hasn't, and since we are classed as recreational officials, we are unpaid except our expenses, then you can hardly claim loss of potential earnings, and since in that case it would appear that it is only a status symbol, what would he hope to achieve for you in taking a case against the association?

[nompere]

Please ask your Regional Councillor to take this matter up. At the last regular GC meeting, we were told that everything was under control and the backlog had been resolved with most applications now being handled quickly by electronic virtual meetings.

[fedump]

I suspect you would be advised that as the Association is an unincorporated body, it would be necessary to pursue individual officers, and seek to demonstrate negligence on their part.

As Gooders rightly points out, it is difficult to see what could be achieved by taking such action. However, I can understand your frustration at not receivng recognition for the work you have put in. Perhaps you need to flag up the prospect of your purchasing all that Qualifed Member-only kit as an incentive for processing your application!

At least you have had some response, however inadequate, from the Association. That is more than I have received from ECBOA or the local County Board, regarding the establishment of a local network, a year after County Boards were given the responsiblity for their establishment by the ECB!

[jrbp]

This issue highlights for me the reason that I became so disillusioned with ACU&S – the organisation takes a 1950’s approach in a 21st century environment and seems to be incapable of change.

Here is how to get people to the Fully Qualified level of membership in less than a month:

1. Decide what information is needed to “elevate” them, I suggest that we need to know:
a) Are they who they say they are?
b) Are they CRB cleared?
c) Have they passed the required examinations?
d) Have they stood in the games that they claim they have?

2. Receive their application:
a) Check the CRB data base – if they have a certificate we have addressed 1. a) and b) above
b) Check the examinations data base – establish that they have passed the required examinations
c) Send a standard form to the person / people responsible for appointing them to the games they claim to have stood in.
d) When a reply to 2. c) arrives, if it confirms the candidates claims, confirm their Full Membership.

3. If there are questions raised in stage two, investigate. This should only apply in 10 – 15 % of applications at most and will, in the main, be due to clerical errors rather than good reasons for not “elevating” the candidate.

There is no need for an Assessment Panel, it is a simple business process that any clerical worker could undertake. I have ignored references as I have never seen a well argued justification for them.

Finally, Gooders argues that it is only a status symbol – if that were the case we could get rid of membership levels altogether. It is also worth noting that in the area where I umpire we are paid: £8 – 10 for an evening game, and £17 – 25 for a day time game. Expenses are paid at 25p per mile. My season started 15/4/07, ended 1/9/07; potential earnings would not be inconsiderable for anyone willing to do five or six games per week.

[gooders]

I think you'll find, if you care to re-read my earlier post, I said that, and I quote, since in that case it would appear that it is only a status symbol.
You will note that I never actually argued that it was such. There, it was used to emphasise the point that to bring a case against ACU&S would be fruitless, as it would achieve little or nothing.