It's all gone a bit quiet on the BRS front

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
05/06/2010 23:02

After all the talk on this forum about the need to reform the BRS and the EGM today



What happened?

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
05/06/2010 23:06

Maybe you had to be there!!!

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 00:25

It was an honest question given the vitriol from some forum members.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 00:28

perhaps they voted themselves back on by proxy , no need to turn up until the next mayors banquet ,free food and drink ,and wear the best togs to sqeeze into the front for the photo shoot guffaw .

cypgab


Joined: 09/01/2010
Posts: 338

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 00:46

rowlo: Qhat a constructive and interesting comment that is!! Did it take long to work out?

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 07:11

The meeting I think can be said to have fallen into two distinct camps.



Those who wanted the BRS to reform (the BRS committee didn't want to)



And those who trust the BRS Committee explicitly and don't see what all the fuss was about.



Unfortunately incorrect wording of the resolution led to polarised stances being adopted.



The resolution hinged on the judgement that funds had been incorrectly used. Unfortunately (given that legal advice was sought) the phrase used was misappropriated which is a bit strong when none of the individual committee members involved is actually accused of benefiting from the fiasco that shall be called 'SMS-gate'



They should have worded them to reflect the 'inappropriate allocation of society funds due to errors of judgement'. Then apologies could have been made (we are all human and mistakes happen) and this could of have been handled more amicably.



As it is, those raising the issues were given short shrift from a committee closing ranks.

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 07:17

Grouch

Message 6.

So no change then.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 07:19

cont...



I found John Wenborn to be a credible witness and I'm sorry to say I did not get the same feeling from the committee members involved. He tried to make a difference and identified where society funds were being frittered away and was stymied at each turn by 'executive decisions' being made by those in positions of power. Decisions that made his tenure nigh impossible, as he would not be able to keep his mandated election promises.



What good has come from all this?



Well the committee have put forward some changes that will effect some real transparency in their dealings. This will enable the members to know what decisions their committee are making, what's being agreed and what's being rejected.



Would these changes have been forthcoming without all this 'breast beating'? I guess not.

Grinderman


Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 33

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 08:17

It's all perfectly simple. A bunch of pathetic malcontents got on their high horse. The meeting gave them the bums rush. A waste of my (and everybody else's) time and the BRS was put to the expense of an EGM, solely for the purpose of stroking the egos of a gang of losers. Just pathetic.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 08:26

So, all in all no incentive for future members to join.



Other than to get their 10% off vouchers at various outlets which when I ask is the only reason all give for joining.



I think the comment "pathetic malcontents" just about sums up the issue. THE RAJ WILL NOT CHANGE!!!!!!

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 08:57

Rowlo



I always enjoy your reasoned comments on every subject under the sun.



Did the lobotomy hurt much?



AJ;



Pithy and constructive as ever, I guess the BRS will have to get along without you for another year or so.



cyprusishome;



Throwing the toys out of the pram comes to mind.

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 08:58

other than to get their 10% off vouchers at various outlets which when I ask is the only reason all give for joining



How many did you ask? I joined 6 years ago and wasn't aware of the discounts until I received the welcome pack. I have never used the "vouchers", never seen any "vouchers". There was a list of establishments that offered the discount to BRS members but I don't think I've ever used them, certainly have never claimed a discount. I just pay the fee as insurance in case I ever need them. A bit like life insurance, everyone pays it but nobody wants to make a claim.



Tony

japeal



Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 1052

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 09:04

Do the BRS actually do anything? Cannot recall seeing anything i the news where they have helped anyone, only thing that I recall them doing is planning annual trips. Would willingly join if there was some point to it, but whenever I ask any existing members that I know, I never get told about what if anything they do.

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 09:35

So they don't fund health clinics in the Karpaz.

Japeal

Give masses of dosh to Girne hospital including paying for the accident and emergency clinic and ward

Also fund projects at Lefkosa state hospital

Help out Brits with probs some who are not even members including the poor woman who was in a huge crash and ran up over 25 grands worth of hospital bills which the BRS persuaded the health ministry to set aside so she could go to the UK for treatment.



Many other things that aren't in the public domain.



So apart from all that what have the BRS ever done for us?

itfc1978


Joined: 31/03/2009
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 09:39

Contrary to the comments on this forum the BRS, apart from orgainising the Blood Donor Days,do many good things to aid the British Community on the Island



This link may help



http://www.brstrnc.com/Information%20Page.htm



Beyond me why residents do not join.



The British seem to take great delight in moaning about orgainisations that are set up to help.



The BRS and KAR seem to be the victims here.



As always there are a set of hard working volunteers doing and the majority moaning.

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 10:23

itfc;



Careful; sensible comments are at a premium on this thread.

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 10:24

itfc



Warning!



Sensible comments are to be discouraged.

ang1706


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 570

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 10:52

I have read the above comments and I have to say that I am a little dismayed at what I have read.



The BRS does do a lot of good that is not widely publicised, perhaps it might be an idea to become more public and might help to aid in being more transparent.

We all read everyweek somewhere that X Bar, X Group rises this and that for various excellent causes, so why cant the BRS become more in the public eye.

I joined when the base was at the Pegasus and believed then as I still do that it has the potential to be an excellent organisation to assist the EXPAT Community. Ok change, nobody likes change(well we had an unpopular government for 13 years and still could not completely oust them without a coalition) the committee is there for a reason as voted in by the members but I do think , after reading the above, that they do need to be more public friendly.

There are some well intentioned officials there, please start thinking about the majority WHO ARE NOT Members and woo them!!

CarrieRBag



Joined: 23/12/2008
Posts: 1374

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 11:56

We went to the meeting and I came away wondering "what happened there?" I am not sure what was resolved, what was not or where we go from here.... bewildered of Bahceli!

Poodledog


Joined: 20/11/2009
Posts: 158

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 12:43

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the meeting due to a previous engagement, but in general, I support the committee and the BRS in everything they do. There are always the moaners who are not prepared to put words into actions and criticise those who are prepared to work hard on a voluntary basis for the good of the community and if they get a little quodos on the side for what they do, so be it.

I speak with some authority having been the Chairman of a local community project group for almost four years prior to moving here in January this year. We achieved a lot but didn't always bleat about it and there were always those who criticised but weren't prepared to get involved themselves and perhaps make even more of a difference.

As to the BRS: I was alerted to the organisation and their website some 12 months ago when I was first planning to move here. I found both the information on the website and my personal contact via email for advice to be invaluable and still is now

TopTen


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 1246

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 13:26

Msg 9 Grinderman

totally agree

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 13:53

If the BRS were more open, honest and welcoming then there membership would rise from 1,200 to 12,000 very quickly and be a force to reckon with.



Where were they in helping the folks before the auction today???? Mr Day et al should have been actively fighting for these people. Then they would get universal respect.



I am stating the facts unlike others on here he just criticise the person and the posting.

Grinderman


Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 33

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 13:59

Msg 22

I am sure that te BRS would have been able to do much more in respect of the auction, had they not been distracted by the idiots I referred to above (Msg 9)

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 14:00

msg 13: John, which "existing members" have you asked. We must have known each other for 40 years before we came to TRNC. I don't recall you ever asking me what BRS do.

All you said when I asked, just the once, if you were joining, and this at Pegasus one Friday was along the lines of "if they can show where I get more out than I put in, I'll join".



Tony

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 16:03

Tony,there's nowt wrong with that,a common trait associated with being a Yorkshireman.

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 16:15

I looked at the BRS website link and there was nothing about the Akfinans Bank auction of British Residents' homes today, and for that reason alone - I'm out

japeal



Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 1052

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 17:02

re mess 24:



Tony, Not meant to be criticising BRS, merely trying to know what they do?. They could maybe promote more in the public domain what they do, the title 'British Residents Society' suggests that they do things for brits, if they do it is not often promoted. Malsancak says in Mess 26 suggests that they appeared not to be helping re the auction today. If not why not? If yes why not say so? As stated earlier, when I can see what they are doing for brits then I will join. When I have spoken before about them, I was trying to find what they do for us if we were members? To be honest 'discounts in certain shops doesn't really matter as you can always haggle in most shops if needed for the price if you want to! As to what we would get out of them info on what they do for the Brits would be good to know.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 17:59

Japeal,

I am with you on this one - if you don't publish what you do then don't complain when people can't find out about you. It always worry's me when a cloak of secrecy is draped across any society that proports to have no secrets!



The BRS web site is the tool to promote the BRS yet it never appears to work that way - sad as all publicity, even bad, is good in the end as it lets people know about what is happening.



The answer is not - join and find out - that is not acceptable at all.

mamachina


Joined: 22/11/2008
Posts: 730

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 18:13

The acting chairman did ask for volunteers who could/may be co-opted on to the committee to help it work until the next AGM. Why not volunteer if you feel you could do something to make it more as "you" want it? This is not aimed at anyone in particular, just some of the posters who are members but feel their input isnt getting anywhere as an ordinary member. After all its only til the next AGM, and then they could decide if they wanted to stand for election and continue the good work.

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 19:50

gooligan, msg 25, I know, that's why we're mates, although John isn't a proper Yorkie, being born in 'ull 0.



Tony

scruffdog


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 742

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 20:08

girderman and topten, you both agree then that if the BRS put on a function and the hotel is charging 30tl, the BRS are in order to charge 25tl and take the loss out of registrations. It is ok for the chairman to lie about giving authorisation for the text messages. It is ok for committee members to have a meeting, and then 2 members hold their own meeting and authorise the text messages? 1200 members were they at the funeral, why weren't just friends sent a text, and I know if a friend of mine died, I would get in touch myself to see what the funeral arrangements were. Except for last year, funds had been raised very well. Just like the British Government, no money in the cofers so go on a spending spree. John Wenborn was probably the best member to have on the committee, but he was not one of the clan, he was too upfront and honest, I remember another member being ousted because he was too outspoken.

nilmoney


Joined: 29/12/2008
Posts: 122

Message Posted:
06/06/2010 21:51

exactly what do they do were they supported today at the auction?