Do you think Australian Karting needs a Drivers Association? So as actual karters have more of a say in the running of australian karting, on an individual bacis, Rather than just a vote at a club commitee meeting. Also to have a say at open meetings if the need arises.
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Hate to be a party pooper, but theoretically the AKA itself IS the drivers association! All drivers get their licence through their club, they get a vote at their club, their club votes at state level, their state votes at national level... we know the system doesn't work, but do we need a NEW association, or simply to modify the existing one to give you the vote you're entitled to?
See my blog about the nationals in Darwin for more on my point of view...
Col.
Sorry Guys the topic was writen by Ben, Isabella s Father. ( should have put my name to it). I was more thinking along the lines of having a drivers rep at meetings to raise concerns with officials. A group that drivers could aprouch.
Go to your Club meetings........thats exactly what they are for.
There has just recently been one set up. At this point in time I know that they have elected office bearers but I am unsure of the details as to how to join. It was kept a little quiet whilst in the forming stages. I will contact a person and post any information I can obtain
I think this is a very good idea, Col, you say that in effect the AKA is the "drivers" - but I respectfully disagree, before I go any further, I have no probs with AKA here people, but I think the AKA is more directly for the "clubs" - I know that you may think that this means the drivers as they are the clubs - but it quite often doesn't work that way. Majority rules - people get swayed at meetings and so forth. I don't blame anybody for this, maybe all the information doesn't filter through until the meeting??
But a "committee" of drivers to represent "drivers" is what's required. They way I see it at the moment - the AKA (clubs) then Industry (some) get a voice. I believe it's time that the "drivers" had a say - without going through 5 different levels to get your voice heard - The way i've found it too work, is that if your president or committee don't think it will go anywhere - then they won't present it - unless you get a bunch of members to go the the club meetings - something that's always been difficult to maintain, it's like working bee's at the tracks, you see the same people all the time - the ones that show an interest or have something to say, turn up to the track and club meetings and can't get heard as they don't get a quorom. I know this stops the higher officials from having to deal with the day to day crap, but still . . .
In saying that - i've had to call Karen at AKANSW a couple of times over the past week - she has been excellent in both her treatment and knowledge of my requests - and when she didn't know, she found out and rang me back on a Saturday!!
I'm not saying anything negative about the AKA or Industry here - far from it - all my dealings with them have been handled well. But I think it's time the drivers had some representation as well.
End of Rant!!!
Cheers
Phil
Hi Phil,
I pretty much agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said (and I too have had cause to deal with Karen at AKANSW too and ALSO found her to be very helpful!).
My point was really that, for all of the reasons you just explained, the current system (of member-to-club-to-SKC-to-NKC) is not working and needs to be changed. In this day and age, with communication as easy as it is (see KartBook itself for a reasonable guide) I can't see a reason why we can't ALL have our say directly!! It's as simple as setting up a site that requires a login and password to enter (which comes with your licence), then have polls listed for all the current agenda items, and people each get one vote... simple!
And we would ALL have a chance to have a say, and we would all have an EQUAL say, which as I've bashed on about for a while now, is not currently the case...
Cheers,
Col.
I have contacted a person over the weekend and the formation of the drivers association is almost complete. There will be one more meeting to, as I understand it, ratify the constitution they have had drawn up by a solicitor, and shortly after that they will be calling for members to join. This is not an adhoc group, it has had much planning and they have sought advice from the right people in setting it up. At this point it would my opinion that once a drivers association is formed, they should be represented on the committee of the AKA, so that the drivers get a true voice in the running of our sport. Again as I understand it, the membership of this association is not limited to drivers only, as we know there are midgets etc in our sport and it would in the interests of their parents to be a part of this organization, however I do believe that membership will not be an automatic right or consideration to every person wishing to join.
Hi Neville,
Can you give us any more information on how this drivers association will be structured?
Neville Scullion said:I have contacted a person over the weekend and the formation of the drivers association is almost complete. There will be one more meeting to, as I understand it, ratify the constitution they have had drawn up by a solicitor, and shortly after that they will be calling for members to join. This is not an adhoc group, it has had much planning and they have sought advice from the right people in setting it up. At this point it would my opinion that once a drivers association is formed, they should be represented on the committee of the AKA, so that the drivers get a true voice in the running of our sport. Again as I understand it, the membership of this association is not limited to drivers only, as we know there are midgets etc in our sport and it would in the interests of their parents to be a part of this organization, however I do believe that membership will not be an automatic right or consideration to every person wishing to join.
Neville Scullion said:membership will not be an automatic right or consideration to every person wishing to join.
And YET AGAIN, isn't this just creating a grey area where "someone" gets to decide if you have a say or not!?
Why can't someone just create something transparent, logical, and FAIR? On paper, democracy looks great, but in practice (with these sorts of systems) it's just fascism with a different name...
Well I think its a great step forward.......so just call me Mussolini if you like . If it give the likes of me to make a little difference for the better then I guess i'm a facsisti member too . hehehe.
I get your drift tho Col.....your saying that we shouldn't try to change Idi Amin with the new model Sadaam Hussein as the end result will be much the same,just different colored grenades>is that right or am I dribbling again? lol.
Col Fink said:Neville Scullion said:membership will not be an automatic right or consideration to every person wishing to join.
And YET AGAIN, isn't this just creating a grey area where "someone" gets to decide if you have a say or not!?Why can't someone just create something transparent, logical, and FAIR? On paper, democracy looks great, but in practice (with these sorts of systems) it's just fascism with a different name...
Hi Truey,
I guess my point was that we're complaining about a system where we don't seem to get a fair say, and the idea is to replace it with a system run by "a person" where "membership will not be an automatic right". Now, fair enough I'm jumping the gun and being a bit unfair on the people who have decided to set up this association by being critical before they've even started, but... the solution is as easy as the AKA taking the following steps:
1. Start website.
2. Distribute a log-in and password for each paid up member (that's a licence holder, pure and simple. No "secret boys clubs" or any of that, you're either a paid up member or you're not).
3. Any time an agenda item is raised, it's put on the website with a poll, and a comments section, and we all vote and let rip with comments.
4. Votes tallied, decision made, onward we go.
Total cost to set up and administer per year...? Couldn't be more than ten grand including paying someone to look after it part time.
Seems pretty easy to me :)
Col.
Col - wouldn't take even 10 g per year, 3 at most...