 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| philwig wrote: |
How many votes does it take to get someone elected? Maybe "SnowHeads" should plan a coup?  |
That's a danger for any club having such an apathetic membership. Only a few handfuls turn up to the AGM and only a few hundred voting by post. So it would take a really low number of memberships and some stealth to engineer a situation whereby the board of the club was eventually snowHead-heavy. But there again, why would anyone be ar5ed to go to such lengths. And I don't believe CG wants back in - sounds to me like he just wants answers to the questions he's posed while he was a member.
This thread will be celebrating it's first birthday soon. Perhaps Megamum could bake a cake.
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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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philwig, am I confused or is it you? Stoat is not the SCGB. Don't think he did any throwing out. Though I can't vouch for the cleanliness of his laundry 
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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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Masque, why does UK recreational skiing need any representation at all?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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philwig, errr. As I have said. I'm not a member now. Haven't been for ages.
The club didn't provide anything I need at the moment. The mag has sucked for years, the discounts are available elsewhere etc etc. I may rejoin in the future, maybe not. I have no idea why DG was thrown out.
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achilles, because the retail industry needs to know where to point its advertising and where they can get feedback . . . I'm sure that there are many ski industry analysts reading snowHeads. At the same time, we recreational skiers need a reliable source of information that has the respect of the whole industry. Libertarian anarchy isn't really an option for a recreational sport . . . or even a professional one 
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| achilles wrote: |
| Masque, why does UK recreational skiing need any representation at all? |
A fine question. It doesn't and the numbers participating would barely budge if all "governing body" types disappeared overnight.
One of the CEO's statements in the Ski Club's annual report is interesting:
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| However, the fundamental purpose of the Ski Club stays the same - we continue to be responsible for promoting, developing and growing participation in skiing and snowboarding, and spearheading the social snowsports revolution! |
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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| Masque wrote: |
| ... Libertarian anarchy isn't really an option for a recreational sport . . . or even a professional one |
Works fairly well for snowHeads.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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achilles, well they're attempting to pound my bollux to mush over in benzebullschitz . . . 
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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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Masque, you post in BZK? 
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achilles, post as in euphemism for placing my balls on an anvil and offering a hammer to strangers?
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You know it makes sense.
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Masque, it's a very very strange place, even for snowHeads. I wouldn't go there unless Gandalf were around.
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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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achilles, Occasionally they have to be reminded that they are not Warlocks and we're not Orcs . . . the funniest thing is to see them twist themselves into paroxysms of rage to prove me right 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Masque, sigh.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| philwig wrote: |
| stoat of the dead wrote: |
| ... Then - if he had not been voted on to the council - he could have asked himself if he really had a mandate for his crusade. If he had been, he could have actually had some influence. |
To the outsider that looks rather different. If you'd not thrown him out, you could have claimed he had no mandate. Instead you left him no choice other than to hang your dirty washing out in public, where you have no control over it at all.
For £24 I'd certainly join and second Mr CG just to watch the sport. How many votes does it take to get someone elected? Maybe "SnowHeads" should plan a coup? |
CG as a Martin Luther figure? Nailing his 95 questions to the door of the White House in Wimbledon. An ancient, powerful and autocratic institution then decides to excommunicate a former high ranking member of their clergy. 'Salvation by snow sports alone!' says he. 'We do not need Leaders.'
The Hundred Year War then ensues.
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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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| Quote: |
The Hundred page thread then ensues.
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FIFY
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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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^I took some liberties with history anyway. 1066 and all that.
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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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stoat of the dead second person plural. My understanding is that CG wasn't "thrown out" by any individual person; the "dirty washing" is not your own pair of smelly socks; it's not you personally who's trying to control the debate. On the other hand I apologise for providing you with a way to avoid my point, and for any unintended implication that you were personally connected with them.
"Representation" is an interesting concept. I'd say this place is probably more "representative" than that particular ski club ever was or will be. The very start of this thread makes that point in spades.
Fun as it may be, you don't need a coup. Why would you want to pick up all that baggage, when you're already way ahead right here?
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 26-11-13 18:31; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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philwig, well said - endorse paras 2 & 3 100%
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Another insight into 'The World of Gerry Aitken'.
This should greatly advance the SCGB cause.
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He has obviously never been to Meribel, braying is the first language, followed closely by sarf londonish.
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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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Filthyphil30k, Meribel is very much in second place to Val d'Isere for braying. Still, doesn't help that certain bars in Meribel such as the Rondpoint seem to have a minimum quota for staff who must be recruited from Sherbourne.
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What about guffawing? And roistering?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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albinomountainbadger, no doubt, but have no personal experience of Val.
roistering, excellent very skeeb. Surprised by the building site admission, maybe that's where he gets his choice language.
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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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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| And roasting? |
Yep, I bet there's a lot of that too. What, what?
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albinomountainbadger,
Oi, leave Sherbourne out of this. We know what to do with badgers down here.
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You know it makes sense.
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Mount them
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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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| Comedy Goldsmith wrote: |
Another insight into 'The World of Gerry Aitken'.
This should greatly advance the SCGB cause.
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Millwall Mafia . . . explains everything
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Poster: A snowHead
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He must be the only one who skis, the rest have ASBOs
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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But they might be boarders I suppose.
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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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philwig, I don't think that any club can represent all skiers. It would be hard enough just to represent the racers, and the SCGB gave that up years ago. Of course the chief exec bigs up his own organisation, and they try and pimp themselves to advertisers and resorts. Same old BS, but we'd all do the same in his place.
Skiing doesn't need representation. Not from the SCGB or snowHeads. For most of us it is a leisure activity, a pastime, a passion.
This is why I don't get DGs obsession. He was on the council, he left. He was on some sort of environmental working group, and I've no idea if he ever achieved anything there. The SCGB shot themselves in the foot, again, with the pathetic starting of this thread. But since then he has just hit the same nail over the head again and again with the same hammer. I don't think this is journalism. I don't think this is impartial. And it has sometimes been done rather nastily.
But at least in this identity, this time round, DG hasn't started on snowHeads the way he has done before on a few occasions.
I'm not sure what future there is for the club. I've had about 10 good holidays with them and about 7 with the snowHeads, and seen at least one person on both. But it really is no more than a club, open to anyone. A consumer choice, that's all. I just don't get the chipiness from some over here, and the stupidity of the actions of some over there.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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"Do I actually belong in the Ski Club?" asks SCGB director Gerry Aitken above. Presumably he's answered that question himself, having joined it, become 'Rep of the Year', done countless weeks of repping and holiday-leading, and stood for election to the board of directors on two occasions.
Hopefully, the Ski Club of Great Britain is open to anyone ... as a (quoting Gerry again) "inclusive community of like-minded individuals".
Others would say that Gerry Aitken certainly belongs in the Ski Club if his presence is a positive one - contributing to membership expansion, improved services, membership satisfaction and so on. Recruiting new members from Millwall supporters and building sites might indeed help, but I guess the principal role of SCGB leaders (reps) is to recruit where the skiers are concentrated ... in the resorts.
How is the SCGB doing, recruitment-wise? Sadly, it's impossible to tell from the 2013 annual report ... because all the data has been omitted! Despite the fact that the annual report is published electronically, and can therefore accommodate unlimited pages of data and diagrams, it contains far less information than before.
Over the past decade there were clear indications - particularly SCGB annual reports from 2004 onwards - that the Club was being more transparent and open about its affairs. But we seem to be back to the bad old days of 'keeping things under wraps'.
It's not a private company - it's a member-owned organisation!
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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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SCGB 2013 Annual Report: third nibble
The Chairman's Report
SCGB chairman Rob Crowder leads an organisation which has described its mission, in 1995 and 2008, as "spokesbody of British skiers" and "voice of UK snowsports". He has the following to report to SCGB members, and perhaps British skiers generally, for 2013 ...
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
It is a pleasure to present my first report since taking over as Chairman of our Club at the AGM in November 2012. My predecessor, Neil Britten, completed five years as Chairman, four of which were during the toughest and longest recession in living memory. I would like to record my thanks, on behalf of all members, to Neil for steering the Club so diligently through this difficult period.
The decline in membership, which was inevitable during such a recession, is now slowing and we have new initiatives in place for member retention and recruitment. Our Chief Executive, Frank McCusker, started with the Club in June 2012 and we are already seeing the benefits of his fresh approach and marketing expertise. He has re-organised the management structure and the team are enjoying a renewed energy and enthusiasm under his leadership.
The Club’s longest serving employee, Paul White, left his post as IT manager after 17 years with us. We wish him well in his new employment.
2012/13 was a vintage year for snow in Europe and our Leaders enjoyed fabulous conditions for giving members a great on-snow experience. Freshtracks had a record year in terms of numbers of members enjoying the holiday programme and I would like to express our gratitude, on behalf of all members, for the hard work and long hours of the team that made this possible.
Our Leader service is a unique product and a highly valued member benefit. It is a service that I am determined to protect despite the increasingly litigious environment in which we operate. I am pleased to report that the incident in Verbier in 2007, which resulted in one of our Leaders being prosecuted, is now finally behind us. At an appeal hearing in Martigny in January 2013 the original verdict of not guilty was upheld. The Club supported the Leader throughout this case and has now received a refund of all costs.
In France it has been well publicised that British Tour Operator ski hosts have been prevented from performing their ski-hosting services by the authorities. We are very keen to continue with our service in France and are currently able to maintain it by virtue of the fact that our Leaders are volunteers and receive no remuneration. We have sought legal advice on our position from specialist lawyers in both Paris and Chambery, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Over the last two years we have invested heavily in our website and we will continue to maintain it as the leading online snowsports resource in the UK. Online joins are now
our primary source of new members and we have recently added a call to action “join now” button on the snow reports page, which is the most visited. We expect to see a further increase in online joins as a result.
Many thanks to Frank Gardner OBE, our President, who has found time in his very busy schedule to host receptions, attend award ceremonies, take an active role and maintain a genuine interest in the Club’s affairs.
I would like to thank all our volunteer Leaders who are the heart and soul of the Club and provide a unique on-snow experience for our members. I also want to record my gratitude to all Council members who give their time voluntarily to oversee the affairs of our Club and set the strategy and direction, and monitor performance. Special thanks to Steven Brabbs, who has completed a five year term as treasurer, and to Chris Glynne who has completed his four year term as a Council member.
Your Club is financially sound and well governed by the enthusiasm and commitment of elected Council members. I look forward to building on these firm foundations and 110 year history to keep the Club relevant and once again grow our membership base so that we can continue to expand and improve member benefits.
It is an honour to be the Chairman of a fantastic Club of members sharing a common passion for snowsports.
Rob Crowder, Chairman |
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Comedy Goldsmith, Any idea how long is left on the lease at Wimbledon HQ?
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George Jones, the White House - SCGB HQ - is a freehold property which the Ski Club moved into in 1997.
The then treasurer Fred Irish stated in the 1997 annual report "Disposal of the Club's lease of 118 Eaton Square was completed on 4th April 1997. The net proceeds of £1,343,883 have been transferred to property reserve. Council is of the opinion that no capital gains tax will be due."
The value of the White House was given as £1,444,392 in the 1997 accounts.
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Comedy Goldsmith, How do they get permission for snipers and AA missiles in Wimbledon?
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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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| Comedy Goldsmith wrote: |
Another insight into 'The World of Gerry Aitken'.
This should greatly advance the SCGB cause.
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I suspect Gerry has read the trip report from Monday's undercover investigation. http://www.snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=104685
FFS it was a bit of lighthearted satire with a SCGB-positive message at the end of it.
For reference, braying is the excessively loud harping on about all kinds of irrelevant posh drivel, presumably as some form of grandstanding, or perhaps as part of an upper class mating ritual, and to us commoners (evidently Gerry included) it sounds an awful lot like a restless horse.
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Apologies for photo above - a clerical error. This is the real White House. Re. George Jones's property enquiry above, the freehold value of the White House is stated in the 2013 accounts to be £2,266,174 (1997 valuation, as above, £1,444,392).
The lease of the SCGB's previous clubhouse at 118 Eaton Square (net proceeds on sale in 1997: £1,343,883) had an expiry date of 25 May 2024. The Grosvenor Estates hold the freehold of that property. After the SCGB moved out, it reverted to residential use - I'll see if Clouseau can obtain its most recent sale price/valuation.
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FAQ
