getitorfyerchest.myfreeforum.org

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

Brown Owl
As I have stated elsewhere I have a friend who was a barrister specialising in compensation, employment law and insurance cases, now a recorder -I have invited him on several days shooting i had bought.
His opinion is that of Foxgun Tom - any payment makes the cover void.
Counsels opinion does not come cheap!!!
Yes I do have a beef with NOBS, they treat people like rubbish, take their money, promise to find them beating then fail.
They overstate their paid up membership by thousands, make false claims as to being the ONLY organisation linking shoots and people.
The fact that NOBS is a limited company is not made plain to their customers who actually pay fees but have no say in how the organisation is run or how the Board of Directors is composed and who is elected to it.
No accounts are published for the customers to read - maybe because their claims for paid up membership would then be shown as false.
No wonder that so many have not rejoined and their membership has lapsed- but apparently is still counted.
NOBS members have used bully boy tactics on other forums and organisations in the same arena.
Many promises have been made regarding a book of recipes, they published a rehash of a book on Picking up, when numerically one on beating would have a wider customer appeal, and that book had several inaccuracies and a breach of copyright, as well as depicting an llegal means of transport for beaters. It was sold by NOBS for £16.95 + P&P - I bought my copy from Amazon at half that price, which amazed me as it was a newly published book and to be discounted so heavily apparently would indicate the publisher dumped all his stocks sharpish. A book on recipes would appeal to a much wider section, not just shooting sports people, so be more commercially successful.
NOBS membership is necessary to post on their Forum, which also claims many thousands of members, but active posters are very few and usually the same small bunch of people - so that was a wonderful move wasnt it?
Some one presumably donated a beaters trailer, which they are raffling - how many beaters would want to win that prize?
Bet its on fleabay in no time!
Sometime soon the true state of NOBS will come to be known to the shooting media.
The concept was fantastic but has been diminished by poor person skills, bad administrative decisions and lack of business acumen.

_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

Brown Owl
Please feel free to post any further amendments on getit re this thread, it will save me the time and effort continually scanning forums to see what else is happening.
_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

If fellow guns will allow me to make a few points clear from my perspective as the former "Development Officer" for "THE SCOTTISH ASSOCIATON FOR COUNTRYSPORTS" (SACS) I have major concerns that NOBS as an organisation and its members may be misled in relation to the insurance cover!! and that its members may be put at risk?? This alliance is more beneficial to SACS than NOBS? If NOBS membership numbers are to be believed? NOBS have a far larger membership than SACS? A member of SACS (Mrs F Booth) contacted office admin last year enquiring about total no: of membership she was informed the total was just over 4,000 plus!, I was totally taken aback by the statement and when I asked for the truth in relation to membership no's, I was informed by the office admin, that number was a true reflection of the membership (I was speaking to the admin when the call came through) The office admin was rebuked for this and next time told to say by Ian Clark "We have had over 10,000 members, I was also told to say the same to potential advertisers seeking adverts in the magazine, if they asked the same question!!

The insurance cover is for sporting purposes only!! If an individual is picking up, beating and receives finanancial reward or any other renumeration, thats a commercial enterprise, in my opinion!! as I was always told that repeatedly by Ian Clark!!!! for over five years, while involved in recruitment and that the insurance would be void, full stop!

Ian Clark also say's "I try to explain things clearly, in plain english - if anyone needs clarification of anything I say, I am always happy to do that - it just means that my english wasn't plain enough, not that there is anything being concealed or twisted."

I have asked him to clarify a number of things whilst Development Officer and since leaving!! and so have members? the result was we were all ignored!! Its, the strategy of the Director to bluff and ignore when a difficult question is put!! especially one he does'nt want to or can't answer He's done this to members for years while I've been there and he's recently done it to me!! This paragraph is'nt a personal attack (I've shared rooms with him, socialiised with him and for a long time regarded him as a close friend! I even tried to heal the rift and build bridges recently and was ignored!) its just the way Ian runs SACS??

As this is an issue about the integrity of the insurance!! and that was one of the reasons I left the association, eg: unqualified coaches on clay stands teaching members of the public?. What would the insurers reaction be if a member of the public was injured while being taught by an unqualified coach?? There were unqualified coaches on the SACS try gun stand at the Dumfries and Galloway show this year again??, despite me voicing concerns last year!! One of whom was a young lad who lost an eye in a shooting accident a couple of years ago and he was teaching a child despite having no qualification to do so??, there was also no police disclosure checks to allay fears that these coaches were fit and proper persons to inter-act with children? That was another concern I raised!! Are police disclosure checks an element of the insurance?

Part of my remit as the former Development Officer with SACS was promotion and recruitment and explaining the benefits and pitfalls of the insurance cover to potential members

My understanding is that Ian Clark may have recruited NOBS as members simply to boost numbers for the benefit of the management committee and to keep secure his own posistion as Director? without discussing the full implications of the insurance cover?. I am fully aware that membership has been affected since I left?, many clubs and single members simply have not renewed!! I am personally still getting at least between 15/20 enquiries a month re: membership to SAC's I normally direct these potential members elsewhere!!

Another point re: NOBS relationship with SACS should also be of some concern to Nobs members? NOBS is a UK nation wide organisation!! SACS was formed and exists to protect and preserve fieldsports Scotland and Northern Ireland only!!, It cannot lobby, protect promote or secure any fieldsport in England or Wales and that includes shooting!! this is all outside of SACS remit
Monies raised through SACS membership is used in Scotland and Northern Ireland, "it is not for the benefit of England and Wales!! I wonder if thes points were made clear to NOBS members?? The only benefit to members south of the border is cheap insurance they do not share the other benefits secured if your a member in Scotland and Northern Ireland, my posistion on that matter is that its always been unfair and should have been change a long time ago!!!!!!!!

Tom

Ps: This post is not written with any malice in mind!! its fact based on my experience and knowledge as the former Development Officer of SACS and what still appears on the SACS website and mission statement to this very day!!

Below is some extracts from the SACS website:

http://www.sacs.org.uk/Sacs/Mission%20Statement.htm

WELCOME to the SACS WEBSITE

We exist to promote and protect the future of country sports in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the environment on which they depend, and the interests of those people who are involved or employed in managing, conserving, and enjoying Scotland's and Northern Ireland's unique sporting heritage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.sacs.org.uk/

Background

The Association was formed in 1994, in response to a growing belief by country sportsmen in Scotland that their best interests were not being served by existing countryside organisations, which were based in England.

Scotland, with its different countryside, separate legal system and cultural differences from the rest of the UK did not fit conveniently into the "English" pattern.

It was felt strongly that Scottish members of these organisations were being treated unfairly by comparison with the English members, who formed the greater part of the membership of these organisations.

SACS is based in Scotland, run by people living in Scotland for people living or taking part in country sports here. It is not restricted to shooting sports – we represent all who use the country for sport, whether you hunt, shoot, fish, fly hawks, work terriers – the list is endless.

This post has been edited by Foxgun Tom: Yesterday, 05:50 PM

Obviously Brown Owl means this version!!
Please pass this to your friends in NOBS
_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

brown owl · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 7

You are always going on about NOBs being a LTD company as is countryside alliance, BASC and CPSA i am sure other organisations are as well, so why dont you have a dig at them all? you are NOBs obsessed!!

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

Because all those organisations are open and frank with their membership regarding the organisations status - NOBS is not, many believe it is a charity or association.
All those organisations send to members, or post on line, their accounts - NOBS dont.
Anyone raising queries or comments not deemed acceptable by NOBS management is dleted.
Paid up mmembership figures are far below the claimed 9,500 so NOBS is LYING when it states that figure.
Do advertiser or sponsors realise that the membership is much lower?
Perhaps their support would waver if they realised how much they are being misled?
NOBS Newsletter was circulated, and I presume publshed,by Archant, and advertising sold therein presumably on the basis of a maildrop of at least 9,500. Would those advvertisers feel happy to have paid up o that basis when the actual numbers were far less?
In fact many people seem to have received several copies, even those who had long since terminated any involvement with NOBS go a copy.
Those advertisers were DECEIVED as to the potential market.
Ill think of more as the day goes on!!
_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

Poll on another forum, latest result indicates that 76% would not renew their membership, small sample, but a devastating indictment of their management surely?
_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

Well Brown Owl have you a response?
Seems even more things happening on NOBS re the photo competition with posts and probably the posters deleted because valid but uncomfortable questions are asked by members wih concerns.
The run a photo competition, charge people money to enter it, then take months to get the results out- and blame that on the Judge!!, promise to put the pic results up soon, days later they do, then find that several of the winners have disappeared!!! - did they not take contact addresses from the entrants?
What will happen to the unclaimed prizes? No doubt they will be "absorbed" into the NOBS hierarchy like a lot of other things which were donated but never seen again.
Symptomatic of the way NOBS run everything they do, and if you are charging people money for anything then there is a responsibility to do the job properly- the excuse of being volunteers no longer is valid.
_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

brown owl · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 7

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 427

BROWN OWL
As you are obviously a NOB supporter, sadly a diminishing number, you would be welcome to stay.
Latest news is that Neil Dale CEO of NOBS has failed to deliver on a promised prize for their 2008 Photographic Competition, nearly nine months after the closure date!!!!
Posts asking about the whereabouts were deleted, so same old cobwebs and tumbleweed same old NOBS - when will they learn if you treat people like that they walk away!!
When NOBS change then getit can die peacefully sadly I feel it may drag on.
_________________
NickCordery
Administrative Big Noise of Getitorfyerchest
Grand Panjandrum aka Chief Executive Officer
Moderator in Chief
Regional Officer
Local Representative, County Representative
Im still awaiting my knighthood and peerage so cant put those in ere
Prat First Class, level 23

Stoatly Different · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject:

Even though I can see that "admin." may be just a tad biased against NOBS but if you disregard his venom and hatred of the organisation or individuals concerned in running it then it still appears they cannot get very much right.
How hard can it be to run a photo comp for goodness sake???
It is sad if they are back to their old habits of deleteing awkward posts and failing to deliver then worming out of answering members/customers queries.
admin. has a point that if they were open and honest possibly even admitting to having screwed up a few times then getit would not be required. As it is former mebmers who were stifled and gagged then deleted do still like to have a say from time to time although most have given up as NOBS are too up their own butts to listen respond or change.

_________________
What do you call an animal thats does not run away from or fight with its enemies???

Lunch!!