Hi Everybody
First apologises for this post being nearly three weeks late, but despite having it all drafted out at the beginning of the month, as I am sure most of you who access the forum regularly are aware at that time there appeared to be some unrest in the Eastern Region camp, and as a result all that I intended to say at that time quickly became irrelevant.
Whilst the issues that were raised at that time have not been fully resolved, at least I feel that the picture is becoming a bit clearer and it is now possible to clarify the situation from the Eastern Region perspective.
In the week prior to my taking over as AC on the 1st August, the hoary old question of event clashes raised it's head again, which seems to have somewhat over shadowed Robbie's handover to me. As a result of the issues raised within the Norfolk section of the Region it was considered appropriate, after consultation with the club chairman, that the Norfolk members should be offered the opportunity to put forward a plan for a breakaway from the rest of the Eastern Region and create their own separate Area within the Owners Club. The new area suggested to be based on the NR post code, but of course, with an option to all existing NR post code Eastern Region members that they have the choice to opt to stay in the Eastern Region if they so wish. The details of this offer were conveyed to Steve Alleyne the Norfolk Meet Coordinator in an email from Martin Curtis the Club Area Coordinator Liaison Officer on the 6th August, and the details were made known to the Norfolk members at their monthly meeting at Tasburgh on Wednesday 15th August. It would appear from Steve Alleyne's forum post on Friday that the members at the meeting expressed support for the formation of a new area within the Owners Club (although Martin tells me he has had no formal feedback from Steve yet).
Hence, with this statement of intent I feel I can finally post on the forum as the new AC for the Eastern Region with some understanding of what the future holds for the Eastern Region.
I can assure you, it is not the future of the Eastern Region that I envisaged when I agreed to take on the AC role back in March. I am very disappointed that before I had chance to sit in the seat, the changes I have outlined above were set in motion, and consequently I had no opportunity to come in as a new face and try to resolve the issues that had clearly been creating a good deal of friction between a few members for along time.
However, we are now where we are, and the future could be somewhat different to that which I, and I am sure many other members would wish it to be. To make the best of the new situation we find ourselves in, I would very much welcome any input that Eastern Region members wish to give with regard to the plans for next year in the Region, before these are firmed up towards the end of the year, so that as far as possible no one feels excluded from the decision making process in future, and therefore we can have a more harmonious year in 2013.
David.