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The following article, first published on the ACU&S Forum, was submitted, unsolicited, by Richard Jones, an Elected Councillor, who gave us his permission to print it and publish his name.

name: Richard Jones

membership: ACUS

comments:
Having watched the recent postings, and some of the attempts at disinformation that have been made in them (you know who you are!) I have the following to contribute.

As one of your elected councillors, I have always served under the premise that whatever I did should be for the good of the members of the Association. EVEN if that might mean the end of the existing Association to form a better one.

As one who has had very close contact with the negotiations with the various bodies as they went on, I have seen an ECB change its stance from one where I felt that they thought 'one good kick and the whole rotten structure will come tumbling down' was the best stance to adopt; to a relationship where I believe that they genuinely want to come on board with us, and I believe, we need to come on board with them.

You see, we are a subscription based Association. Our only strength is the number of our members. Like the biblical Samson's hair, as our membership reduces, so does our strength.

It is an established fact that our Association loses 10% of its members each year, people decideing cricket is not for them, people who have passed their exams, people who are sick of the constant politics, and, shall we call it, natural wastage. So far, we have recruited the same number as we have lost, and the numbers have remained static. It doesn't need me to point out to you the ACU&S inherent weakness is in our potential next members. If they go elsewhere because they can get better games, examinations that are recognised world wide, a better kit, at a cheaper rate, with better training, then, they probaly will go there instead. How long do your sums allow for ACU&S to continue to exist? 10% equates to 900 members a year. That gives us 10 years, or maybe 5. It certainly isn't my recommended course of action for the good of the members, suggesting a course that will possibly see the ACU&S sidelined in 5-10 years.

You see, I don't believe that I have been listening to "soft siren voices (who) are offering ACU&S Officers and Committee Members the world within the ECB structure." As a member of General Council for the last four years, I have heard soft siren voices before...soft siren voices who said that "laptops and projectors were being paid for by sponsorship, at no cost to the Association", soft siren voices who said that we had "just received a large amount of money, here's the invoice!" Soft siren voices who said, "It's just a fallback option." So, I think that I know by now what soft siren voices sound like.

General Council took its time in deciding whether to ballot the members. From July through to October. GC voted unanimously to hold the ballot. This was no close run thing. This was 'let's get on with it'. Are there still concerns? Are there still parts to iron out? Yes, of course there are. But, they will be ironed out. Voting Yes does not immediately end the ACU&S any more than voting NO assures us a rosy new future. I have no intention of demanding that you vote one way or the other. I respect you too much to do that. Those of you who know me will, I believe, know that to be true. I hope, though, that you might be able to trust me enough to take this leap of faith with me.

I really do believe that it is in our associations members best interests, and I commend it to you.

Richard

At last! A member of General Council who both writes and makes sense! If only more of them did - and were prepared to go public with their views.