Angling Trust in Trouble: So how many of you have joined?

[904_cannon]

In a word Peter, yes.
I know many anglers who are asking, probably selfishly, whats in it (AT) for me. Please don't shoot the messenger though

Not wishing to divulge CSG business, I had a job persuading members at our AGM that we should join, in fact had our Treasurer not already paid when the ACA subs became due I have doubts whether members would have voted in favour at that time.
I don't really know just how many of the former SAA groups/syndicates are currently in membership, (the SAA site used to list all member groups) except of course for those on the last SACC attendance list/meeting minutes, which do not account for many.

That's another thing, just how many SA's outside of the former SAA groups even know there is a Specialist Angling Consultative Committee (SACC) within the AT, the web site certainly makes no mention. I have had assurance after assurance from ML that Specialist Angling would be featured on the web site but to date not one word has appeared.

Its all well and good getting more into fishing, young and old, but please lets start by attracting those already in fishing, otherwise there wont be any money to do anything.
I'm not sure what the eventual costs now are for the current AT web site but when I first saw the original costings they were nothing short of horrendous
Even its on-line forms/resource applications cant be completed on-line

 

[Graham Whatmore]

I joined when the AT (Angling Times) was first put up on FM (frequency modulation) but I must admit it is a bit confusing for anglers when the letters AT are a longstanding way of referring to Angling Times.

How about A.C.T. Anglers Conservation Trust, it rolls off the tongue much nicer and the letters ACT can be used in a lot of ways for media promotion.

 

[Dave Lumb]

As the amateur who built the SAA website I was told that all the material on there was intended to go up on the AT site and that their webmaster would be in touch. The SAA site would remain live in the interim and then the domain name would be altered to direct to the AT site.

I have been waiting to hear from whoever runs the AT site since it went live.

I do get lots of e-mail news from the AT - mostly about match results...

 

[904_cannon]

And very informative it is too Dave...STILL
It seems we 'amateurs' don't have a clue though. I thad hoped that Dave B who set up the NAFAC site would get involved but that is now history and a great opportunity lost.

Appologies to any one for the CSG site as some of the update links appear not to be working, but thats amateurs for you

A great deal of SA information can also be found at Barbel Now There I've done it for you Dave.

You forgot Amplitude Modulation Graham

 

[Ruth Lockwood]

Your frustrations are widely shared, and despite remaining a staunch supporter of the Angling Trust in principal, I am looking for the board to embrace many important changes in the next few weeks in addition to cutting their overheads. They need to downscale thier expectations for AT and get back in touch with the ground roots of angling.
This situation are often indicative of many emerging groups, as the process itself tends to swallow up the very intention for forming in the first place.
I am not looking for a "supergroup" with unachievable asprirations, I am looking for an effective and transparent one that works on a local level, and undoubtably this will require huge support from the voluntary sector, certainly in the short term.
With this in mind, ECHO has gathered together some influential members of the coarse angling community who feel the same, including John Wilson, Martin Bowler, Keith Arthur and Danny Fairbrass amongst others, and have invited the AT board to meet with us to offer guidance and our services (without charge) to assist in re-structuring and start to develop a single unified voice for anglers, together.
I am pleased to say that the AT board accept this position and appear to welcome our invitation, and have agreed to meet with us on Mon 24th.
Our main aim will be to establish a clear framework of communication within the AT to direct anglers concerns effectively and allow the membership to shape the organisation and drive the agenda in the future.
Until then, please keep posting your thoughts and views...as they are TRULY valued by all at this time.
Kindest regards

 

[904_cannon]

What the AT needs is a strong Chair Ruth, which to date it hasn't had. The Chair of the Board AND CEO coming from the same 'cosy' organisation was never going to work.

"I am not looking for a "supergroup" with unachievable aspirations, I am looking for an effective and transparent one that works on a local level, and undoubtedly this will require huge support from the voluntary sector, certainly in the short term."

My sentiments exactly, with the emphasis on 'local' I was saying the same thing only last evening to a Board Director? of AT
But please Ruth, do not go down the web site forum route. The EA tried that approach in the NE with its idea of a R Wear fisheies scheme...and apart from shoot all the cormorants they got '0' response!

I'll do my very best to get to the next SACC meeting, weak body and even weaker finances permitting.

 

[Nobby C (ACA)]

Very good post that Ruth. Good to hear that the AT will meet and talk.

 

[klik2change]

... sounds extremely good to me. I wish you all good luck!

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

That's another thing, just how many SA's outside of the former SAA groups even know there is a Specialist Angling Consultative Committee (SACC) within the AT, the web site certainly makes no mention.

There's little mention of the fisheries consultatives (other than askign then to cough up £50) who put in a lot of work when they were part of NAFAC. It seems to be assumed that they will continue as part of AT although ours is not financed by AT, nor was it by NAFAC, and we don't know quite what it will be called in future.

How about A.C.T. Anglers Conservation Trust, it rolls off the tongue much nicer and the letters ACT can be used in a lot of ways for media promotion.

I like that a lot Graham. Of course there is some software (used by the FM office) called ACT! (the exclamation mark is important), but it does have a ring about it. Maybe in time..... but don't hold your breath.