 Poster: A snowHead
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...on the other hand comparison sites were necessary when the tech became available because insurers had previously got used to legging over consumers based on inertia and the ballache that ringing round to get alternate quotes would entail. AIUI the main comparison sites are effectively insurers themselves.
Do you have any evidence that claims handling for the SCGB gives much more "benefit of the doubt" to customers than it does for say Boots policies. I would have thought the staff were one and the same. Are you suggesting that whether a claim is accepted or rejected is directly linked to the price paid for the policy, in a macro sense it must be but do claims handlers directly refer to premium paid when deciding on a claim?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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V good question, above.
In the meantime, I am starting to wonder which branded ski insurance isn't provided via TIF. A very quick search shows that, in addition to SCGB, they do wintersports insurance for: Post Office (premium policies), Towergate, World First, Holidaysafe, Covered2Go, Alpha Travel, TopDog and Citybond.
They are particularly proud of the commercial benefits they have brought to SCGB, see:
https://www.tifgroup.co.uk/ski-club-case-study/
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| Do you have any evidence that claims handling for the SCGB gives much more "benefit of the doubt" to customers than it does for say Boots policies. I would have thought the staff were one and the same. Are you suggesting that whether a claim is accepted or rejected is directly linked to the price paid for the policy, in a macro sense it must be but do claims handlers directly refer to premium paid when deciding on a claim? |
Whether a claim is accepted or rejected will be down to the policy terms and conditions the customer signed up to. It's a contract. Top tip - read your policy. If a dispute ever gets to the FOS (Ombudsman) they will probably rule on what the policy says and each of the many brands managed by TIF will likely have policy terms unique to that brand. Insurers don't like things to get as far as the FOS. If they do it means that the insurer is certain of their ground.
How it all works depends on how it is set up. This is a best guess based on how I have seen other types of schemes set up. Each brand will negotiate their own terms with their insurer and TPA (third party administrator - call handling, claims, assistance). Not always the same but TIF appear to be 'full service'. They will look at existing claims experience, what selling points they need to hit, how much commission they want, what cover levels and excesses, etc etc etc and there will also be an SLA concerning the TPA element. The SLA will outline lots of factors including how fast they pick the phone up and answer emails and ,yes, probably how fast they pay claims and maybe what burden of proof required for a claim to be valid - to give you an example, some home contents policies will pay out only if all the doors and windows were locked and the alarm set, other 'high net worth' policies allow you to leave the place wide open and still get paid out in full. Some car insurers will give you a hire car, others won't. Understandably, the cheap no-frills policies will have tighter terms than the more specialist pricier end.
Generally.......... YGWYPF
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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So right Pruman!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I do not normally ever post on this thread, but for once the SCGB has done something I agree with. The new SCGB Safety Officer has finally changed the rules for any off piste skiing and made it complusory for all members any SCGB off piste group whether with a leader, Instructor or Guide to carry full avalanche safety gear if they wish to participate in any off piste activities in resorts on Leader off piste days, on Fresh Tracks holidays or on Off piste courses. I find it amazing it has taken so many years for the Safety Officer to do this, but I for one am very pleased to read yesterday that the NEW safety officer has now done this. I know my friends that still ski with SCGB groups always carry their full gear. I am sure they will be pleased that all others in the group must now do the same! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@snowcrazy, yes, that's being discussed here.
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Hi @Alastair, yes i just saw that post. Thanks for pointing it out. Best we keep the debate over on the Off Piste thread. I do not want to join the debate so I shall just leave my comment here. I am just pleased that sense has become policy. I do wonder if it is in preparation for the start of SCGB Fr. Basically falling in line with what French clubs must already do. Anyway enough from me until next time something catches my eye.
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A couple of updates at the SCGB ...
Membership numbers
A recent article about the SCGB in the Parliamentary Review ...
... "A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Ski Club of Great Britain's best practice article" ...
https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/organisations/ski-club-of-great-britain
... gives a membership figure of 30,000. This compares with 27,789 (2017 annual report) and 26,692 (2018 annual report).
The club committed (last November) to doubling its membership in the next 3 years.
Chairman Malcolm Bentley stated, in the 2018 annual report that the SCGB will "... become relevant to many more skiers and snowboarders." There is a new plan "approved ... in September". He amplified this ... thus ...
| Quote: |
| "The strategic plan ... identifies a large number of initiatives across all our activities to achieve these objectives. They are designed to deliver a doubling of membership and subscriptions, holidays numbers, revenue, insurance policies and commission over the next three years. Benefits, services and products to members and non members will be expanded commensurate with, and to support, these targets." |
Treasurer Ian Holt expanded on this, with a new strategy for France ...
| Quote: |
| "We are about to establish ‘Ski Club of Great Britain – France’ which will provide us with a formal presence in France. We believe it is incumbent on us to fully engage with the French resorts, including the people and organisations that live and work there. A properly constituted French club will benefit and provide a focus for members, particularly seasonal residents, skiing in France. It will also protect the Club’s operations against any potential ‘Brexit’ impact." |
The Club's magazine 'Ski+Board'
A major change in the SCGB's publishing strategy has emerged (also last November) initially via a leaked email ...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/325182624251298/permalink/165109591832622/
In essence, the Club has switched to contract publishing of its magazine, after a 114-year history of independent publishing and independent editorial control.
[end of updates]
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yes, my understanding is that the Fall Line team are editing and publishing 'Ski and Board' for the immediate future.
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| Davina Goldballs wrote: |
The Club's magazine 'Ski+Board'
A major change in the SCGB's publishing strategy has emerged (also last November) initially via a leaked email ...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/325182624251298/permalink/165109591832622/
In essence, the Club has switched to contract publishing of its magazine, after a 114-year history of independent publishing and independent editorial control.
[end of updates] |
FB message - This post has been removed or could not be loaded.
Whats up?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Try ...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/325182624251298/search/?query=Ski%20%2B%20Board&epa=SEARCH_BOX
https://www.facebook.com/groups/325182624251298/permalink/1651095918326622/
But this is the report in full, as posted to WTF Ski Club on 20 Feb ...
| Quote: |
David Goldsmith
February 20 at 3:36 PM
SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN DITCHES 114-YEAR PUBLISHING STRATEGY
The news is not new: in essence it is 3 months old. Back in mid-November 2018, a leaked email revealed that Colin Nicholson, editor of the SCGB's magazine 'Ski+Board', had suddenly left the publication. Given that ski magazines are at the peak of their annual production schedule every November, this was unusual timing,.
The Ski Club - which also said last November that it is planning to double its membership over the next 3 years - made no public announcement of this development. It soon emerged that a competing ski magazine - 'Fall-Line' (based in Peterborough) - was taking over production. The SCGB website currently states ...
... "Co-editors: Yolanda Carslaw & Nicola Iseard. Managing Editor: Harriet Johnston"
Link:
https://www.skiclub.co.uk/news-and-e…/ski-and-board-magazine
------------------------------------
The 'Ski+Board' page no longer links to electronic versions of the magazine. The last edition to appear in print and web form was April 2018 (cover shown below).
------------------------------------
Background: the SCGB (est. 1903) has maintained independent editorial and publishing control of its yearbooks and magazines since 1905.
------------------------------------
Fall-Line Media Ltd. / Companies House information:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/…/04777530/filing-history
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| snowcrazy wrote: |
| Hi @Alastair, yes i just saw that post. Thanks for pointing it out. Best we keep the debate over on the Off Piste thread. I do not want to join the debate so I shall just leave my comment here. I am just pleased that sense has become policy. I do wonder if it is in preparation for the start of SCGB Fr. Basically falling in line with what French clubs must already do. Anyway enough from me until next time something catches my eye. |
And just like that, you've resurrected a thread that was dead since November and here comes David to throw in his tuppence.
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Been trying to get on the Ski Club website since yesterday morning.
All it says is:
| Quote: |
SITE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
Unfortunately, we are experiencing technical difficulties with the website at the moment and are working to fix this.
If you need to contact us urgently we are available on 020 8410 2015 or skiers@skiclub.co.uk
We are very sorry for the inconvenience and will be back up and running soon.
- The Ski Club Team |
I don't know about where you guys work but here if a site falls over the IT people have it back up and running sweetly in just a few minutes. Two days (so far) out of action must be some kind of calamity!
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You know it makes sense.
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@Pruman, Wasn't the multi billion pound Facebook off line for 10 hours the other day?? How many weeks couldn't (insert bank of choice) customers access their accounts?? A small club probably can't justify having multiple backups and on call IT technicians and frankly if its off for a couple of days is it really a crisis?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Pruman, Your IT guys sound amazing. Shame they weren't able to help out Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram the other day when they were down for 14 hours.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The forum is down too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Is it?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@sethpistol, actually as I made that comment on 3 January after the news of the policy change was just told to me and not being aware of any other thread. As your post is on March 4. It is you that is keeping this going for no real reason other than to try and stir things up again! AS for David, he needs know help from me to keep posting. He does whatever he wants all by himself. Time for me to go back to sleep!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@chocksaway, @Rosey44, are you serious? Comparing multi-territory database-driven behemoths with a simple magazine website from south west London? I just found it surprising that's all.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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24 hours later ...
The SCGB's home page of skiclub.co.uk continues to offer the Chat Forum but it's seemingly impossible to get in and use it. The page promises ...
| Quote: |
Ski Club Chat Forum
Chat Forum
Join the conversation on Ski Club online community & chat forum |
... but the Chat Forum pages remain hidden from view.
Anyone know what's happening at the 'Chat Services' department at Connect House?
There seems to be a bit of activity on the SCGB's Facebook groups, linked to specific resorts, which is some degree of 'chat commitment' ... but of course this is very different to the Skeeb hosting social media itself ...
Murren: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SCGBMurren/
Wengen: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SCGBWengen/
And here's a name much linked to SCGB media in recent decades, ripping it in Davos ...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SCGBDavos/permalink/547544792404871/
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@Pruman, Yes, I was serious you seem to find it a calamity that a small club on a small budget, probably without a dedicated IT department had an IT failure on a Thursday and it wasn't resurrected in less than a day. Multi billion pound businesses have IT failures which really are a calamity.
@Davina Goldballs, Are you being mischievous again David. All Club members know that the Forum was migrated from the old platform to the new, ahead of a promised revamp. As part of whatever minor hiccup happened it clearly hasn't been reconnected. A nuisance but hardly life changing.....
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@Davina Goldballs, You're right - just get this error mssg now - This site can’t be reached. When I did last look, prob a couple of months ago, there had been no new postings for some time... so not too surprised, really...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Chat service still down - hopefully we are finally migrating to the new platform where we don't have to log in twice, although when we do get in we find a site like a graveyard.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| @Davina Goldballs, Are you being mischievous again David. |
That appears to be a question, but it's not punctuated with a question mark. Please explain how the adjective "mischievous" fits with honest, factual and truthful reportage? If one respects the right of ruling elites to do what the fuck they like, spend money how they like and run things how they like ... with complete disregard to the founding values and objectives of ski club (Ski Club of Great Britain, est. 1903, and highly successful until the late 1950s) ... then obviously one regards my activities as "mischievous". If the SCGB was being run in the interests of its membership we would not be having this conversation.
| chocksaway wrote: |
| All Club members know that the Forum was migrated from the old platform to the new, ahead of a promised revamp. As part of whatever minor hiccup happened it clearly hasn't been reconnected. A nuisance but hardly life changing..... |
Pure incompetence, as far as I can see. How long has the New Ski Club of Great Britain Chat Forum been unavailable now? A week?
With 114 years experience of publishing and media, the SCGB should be the authoritative source and the host of the best social media on skiing in the UK. This is not an acceptable situation.
Part of the demographic crisis of the Ski Club was supposed to be solved by 'Line-S':
https://www.line-s.co.uk/
This was established in 2015 and continues to claim to have "over 20,000 members, we are the the largest student snowsports club in the UK."
Are those members on a database, and are they still - after 4 years - still students? I think we should be told.
David Goldsmith
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Dear David,
I humbly apologise for not punctuating my question correctly. I have thrown my smartphone device against a wall and have reverted to a computer that more resembles a typewriter, reminiscent of the age when the SCGB was founded. At least I do not revert to the language of the gutter, as you have done in your reply.
I am unsure as to whether you are still a member of the Ski Club of Great Britain and I fail to understand your tendentious approach to its activities; neither do I understand why you seem to experience schadenfreude when the Club suffers a minor hiccup.
The Club may not reflect the ideals set at its inception in 1903, but most of the current membership that live in the 21st Century that I speak to are entirely happy with its direction.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@chocksaway,
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lol you forgot to sign that off with "Yours Faithfully/Sincerely", and omitted signing it off with a true and legal name 
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You know it makes sense.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| I am unsure as to whether you are still a member of the Ski Club of Great Britain |
Probably the best way to answer that is to reproduce SCGB membership confirmations, in response to SCGB official invitations to re-join the Club. From November 2015 ...
| Quote: |
Dear David,
Thank you for joining the Ski Club of Great Britain.
Your payment receipt
Name
David Goldsmith
Membership number
Your membership number will be emailed to you on the next working day
Payment for
Ski Club Membership: Individual
Payment ref
SCM-PDD20930
Amount
£64.00
Date
08 November 2015
Direct Debit
The Ski Club membership team will email you with confirmation of your Direct Debit within 3 working days |
From February 2018 ...
| Quote: |
members@skiclub.co.uk via sendgrid.net
15 Feb 2018, 17:48
to me
Dear David,
Thank you for joining the Ski Club of Great Britain.
Your payment receipt
Name
Mr David Goldsmith
Membership number
You will receive your membership number on the next working day
Payment for
Ski Club Membership: Individual
Payment ref
SCMU-PDD26158
Amount
£33.00
Date
15 February 2018
The Ski Club membership team will email you with confirmation of your Direct Debit within 3 working days |
The most recent SCGB AGM I attended was in November 2017 ...
https://www.facebook.com/notes/wtf-ski-club/ski-club-of-great-britaingets-radical-but-secretive-at-2017-agm/1149262008510018/
Maybe see you at the 2019 AGM?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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So your membership has expired.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry old boy but need to disagree with you on a technicality
| Davina Goldballs wrote: |
| chocksaway wrote: |
| I am unsure as to whether you are still a member of the Ski Club of Great Britain |
Probably the best way to answer that is to say "no" |
The emails are great testimony to your ongoing efforts to sneak in when you think your face has been forgotten. It takes real determination to keep knocking on the door for so long when you're so clearly unwanted. Impressively thick skin.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Post-breakfast breaking news, Sunday, 09.45
The New Ski Club of Great Britain chat forum ...
... seems to be in another breakdown scenario.
http://www2.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/forum/
https://www.skiclub.co.uk/
[end of breaking news]
----------------------------------
| adithorp wrote: |
| So your membership has expired. |
Believe what you wish to believe - I'm sure you will. My SCGB membership number is 5021. I was expelled from the Club in 2013, without reference to the very long-standing Rules of the Ski Club of Great Britain. If that's what you believe to be an 'expiry' then I suggest you gaze out of the window for any flying pigs in nearby airspace.
I've simply quoted, verbatim, the SCGB's membership confirmations since that time.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Davina Goldballs wrote: |
| adithorp wrote: |
| So your membership has expired. |
Believe what you wish to believe - I'm sure you will. My SCGB membership number is 5021. I was expelled from the Club in 2013, without reference to the very long-standing Rules of the Ski Club of Great Britain. If that's what you believe to be an 'expiry' then I suggest you gaze out of the window for any flying pigs in nearby airspace.
I've simply quoted, verbatim, the SCGB's membership confirmations since that time. |
Fact check: these 'long-standing Rules' had been replaced with new ones in 2002ish. By renewing your membership under the new terms and conditions you accepted these new terms and conditions. Of course, you demanded to be dealt with under the old rules when it came to your expulsion. Your objections were noted and passed on to the Club's legal advisors who came back with the opinion that you didn't have a valid objection.
David, you're an idiot and a coward. When did you last actually go skiing?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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This thread is such a waste of space and time.
If you are not a SCGB member, you can't access the forum.
If you are a member, you know about it anyway.
Either way it doesn't need discussing here.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Ray Zorro wrote: |
If you are not a SCGB member, you can't access the forum.
If you are a member, you know about it anyway.
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Actually, at the moment:
If you are not a SCGB member, you can't access the forum.
If you are a SCGB member, you can't access the forum.
So this thread might (just for a short while) be useful to SCGB members who can't get their fix over there.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Ray Zorro wrote: |
This thread is such a waste of space and time.
If you are not a SCGB member, you can't access the forum.
If you are a member, you know about it anyway.
Either way it doesn't need discussing here. |
Delete the whole thing then. You were super quick to delete tax related comments about your leader, yet you allow the same person to BS about the Ski Club in here. Any right thinking person would think you were inconsistent to the point of deliberate bias.
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First, the good news: the ever-active New Ski Club of Great Britain chat forum is up and running again.
Gerry [Aitken], who's served as a SCGB director for two terms totalling 7 years, has this to say about the Club's decision to 'expel' me in 2013:
| Gerry wrote: |
Fact check: these 'long-standing Rules' had been replaced with new ones in 2002ish. By renewing your membership under the new terms and conditions you accepted these new terms and conditions. Of course, you demanded to be dealt with under the old rules when it came to your expulsion. Your objections were noted and passed on to the Club's legal advisors who came back with the opinion that you didn't have a valid objection. |
Other opinions are available ...
Here's an authoritative legal opinion [that I made up myself, without going to the unnecessary expense of hiring people in wigs etc.] ...
1. The Ski Club of Great Britain was founded in 1903 and ran to very high standards for over 50 years, acquiring a prestigious corner property in Eaton Square. It operated to a set of fair, clearly understood democratic Rules which its members wrote and respected. It had a very high membership, relative to the UK ski population, until the development of Scottish skiing, package tour skiing, charter flights and other factors which led to 'popular skiing' beyond the concern of the 'ruling classes' (for whom Gerry continues to pontificate, trying to act as some form of self-appointed gatekeeper/bouncer).
2. Those SCGB Rules require that the Club's council, when considering the expulsion of a member, have to (a) invite that member to face his/her accusers and make their case in person, prioor to the Council's decision - as in any natural or formal execution of justice (b) form a two-thirds quorum.
3. Since neither (a) nor (b) were complied with, the expulsion has no validity. It's little more than the decision one might expect from a kangaroo court in a banana republic. Since Great Britain is not a banana republic, and we have very established legal standards, there's no reason not to emulate them.
4. As Gerry points out, the Club formed a new operating company early this century, with its own Memorandum and Articles of Association. The package was obtained 'off the shelf' by a former SCGB treasurer, with no consultation of members. The package was railroaded through an AGM with no discussion. The original Rules of the Ski Club of Great Britain continue to apply, in any case. The 'new SCGB' continues to struggle to present any modern relevance to the UK's ski community.
| Gerry wrote: |
| David, you're an idiot and a coward. When did you last actually go skiing? |
April 2018, Nevis Range, Scotland
| Ray Zorro wrote: |
| This thread is such a waste of space and time. |
This thread has had an average hit rate, over 7 years, of approximately 80 views per posting [c. 400,000 views for c.5000 posts].
Compare that with the 'Brexit' thread: around 10 views per posting [c.510,000 views for c.43,000 posts]
If this thread is a "waste of space and time", then that's just an insult of anyone reading its content. Such as Ray Zorro himself.
| Gerry wrote: |
Delete the whole thing then. |
Obviously that's not being seriously proposed.
There's been quite enough censorship of snowHeads over the past 15 years already. Freedom of expression should be upheld and celebrated, provided that snowHeads postings conform with UK law and this site's terms and conditions.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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"Yawn"
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FAQ
