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There’s a lot in this one, with a lot of implications for the future of the site as well as for you guys so I would like to see as much input here as possible, be that positive, negative or simple comment.
From the minutes;
UK Whitegoods – The Future
There was a unanimous vote to setup some funding for UKW to provide better support and services to its members in the future.
KW explained that a sole trader account had been set up for UKW as this was the only way to do it in light of new banking regulations but access to this account would be given to Dave Conway, Kevin Heath and Jason Huby so no one person has total control and it is transparent. The funds generated from the Google Adsense program and Amazon would be paid into this account.
After some conversation on this subject it was agreed that we would set up the ability for any member to pay £5 per calendar month into the UKW account irrespective of the size of company to generate funds.
A separate “Paid Members” forum would be set up for use by UKW members that requested assistance and/or use of the funds. The funds could also be utilised to fund meetings etc and we would remain flexible in their use for different projects.
Further discussion on the financial matters will be continued on the website and at a future meeting.
It was generally agreed to form a limited company for UKW to limit any liabilities.
KW, Dave Conway, Sean Delaney to sort out the company and money matters in conjunction with Kevin and Jason.
This led to a conversation where UKW could kill off DASA, raised by Jason, which was generally agreed that whilst it could happen it was not a certainty. This led to Ian Dales pointing out that one of the biggest failings of DASA that it offered little or no return for the money paid to it. The topic was dropped.
John Fitzgerald suggested that a trade show could be held to try to boost interest in the industry on the whole, this was unanimously agreed as being a reasonable idea.
Re: UK Whitegoods – The Future
kwatt wrote: and Jason.
This led to a conversation where UKW could kill off DASA, raised by Jason, which was generally agreed that whilst it could happen it was not a certainty. This led to Ian Dales pointing out that one of the biggest failings of DASA that it offered little or no return for the money paid to it. The topic was dropped.
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May I point you all to the DASA forum on the site.
I make no aoplogies for my views and am not expecting endorsement from any readers. These are my sentiments and I stick by them.
I’m voting with my feet.
Alex
Re: UK Whitegoods – The Future
After some conversation on this subject it was agreed that we would set up the ability for any member to pay £5 per calendar month into the UKW account irrespective of the size of company to generate funds.
hi kwatt,
did we not say members who are repairers only would be eligable?
ted
Yes that is 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} correct and what was agreed at the meeting as the initial step in being able to provide member services and to get the ball rolling as it were for a very minimal amount.
I have spoken with the bank this afternoon and the whole thing should be online and good to go in the next day or so. Standing order forms will be available for download from the site in the next few days once I get them through and sorted out in a format that will be acceptable to the bank.
K.
Re: UK Whitegoods – The Future
As long as it doesn’t exclude all members from playing a part. I should hate it to be a ‘Members only’ clique.
Martin
That is exactly as it was discussed at the meeting Martin. UKW will stay as it is now, there will be no change at all to the format in any way and the trade section will remain a free and open forum.
There may be a need for a “members only” section if you like, but that will be decided at a later date and not arbitrarily by me.
All it basically means is that it gives us some funding to provide members services and to fund meeting etc., it was put at the meeting that those that did not contribute would not be able to access the paid-for services, that was all and I think that’s fair enough.
K.
Hi Guys,
I have no objection whatsoever to chipping in a few bob to the site to build a trade resource and lobbying body – the former would be of more interest to me as a sole trader than the latter – BUT we do need to consider just who we are admitting to our circle. It’s quite astonishing that in the few posts in this thread already we are looking at posts in the DASA site (which I can’t get into – not a member – looked at it early on and couldn’t see what it offered for the money – sorry) and on another thread saying we should shout the word loud and far.
If we are looking at creating a “members” site within the site we are riding for a fall. We allow the public into their help forum (Very interesting – they’re not as daft as we like to think – look at that dishwasher forum..), but so far we are not making any attempt to select our members, or layout minimum standards we should be working to. This is surely nudging into DASA territory…….
As for a trade show, what are we going to represent ourselves as? A bunch of people prepared to help the public at 2am? It’s very satisfying to get a message back saying thanks, but my business is out there from 10am until I get home.
I really think we need to sit back and develop this for a while, then go in with a plan, the results will be so much better. And we have to get past “YELL”; who claim to offer access to local tradesmen; Fairtrades (I was a member for years – they’ve really lost the plot) and the Guild of Craftsmen whoever the heck they are. Personally, I’ve never felt like a craftsman as I take a 6lb lump hammer to a set of bearings…..Lots more to do before we can go with this, surely?
Regards,
Penguin.Re: UK Whitegoods – The Future
Heya Penguin,
The idea is not to create a rival to DASA the idea is to put funding in place to basically pay for meetings, provide legal services and stuf like that which DASA does not do. And, the objective is to accomplish that at a low cost.
Whilst DASA deals with much of the legislative issues and, quality controls insofar as they can, we tend to deal far more with commercial issues on UKW as well as the implications commercially of the legislation imposed upon us.
Sadly as regards the quality of service issue, it’s one I’ve restled with for months on end and my thoughts on it are pretty non-conclusive as yet. The only way we can guarantee a standard of service is to somehow police it internally as a trade and this is, at best, difficult and takes a lot of resources to accomplish. If you don’t do that then all you have is the company in question’s word that they will adhere to any code of practice irrespective of how stringent it is. Without verification any standard set is pretty much useless in real terms, which is why CORGI membership costs a fortune as they do police it actively. That would never happen in this industry without legislation and, even then, there woudl still be a rogue element of so called “cowboys” out there as is proved by CORGI as there is still that element in the gas industry, albeit reduced somewhat.
We are not creating a “Members Site” merely a members area within the forums, as I said UKW will continue as is and I doubt you’ll even notice the change in all honesty.
However, with a bit of funding there’s more than one way to skin a cat. 😉
K.
Re: UK Whitegoods – The Future
I would like to agree with Martin in what he says about the intention of the fund, its not a members fee, its upto the individual to contribute if they so chose. I think the idea is sound and the use it could be put to excellent.
Ukw could never be like Dasa (perish the thought) and nor would any of us wish it to be.
The future is surely here in UKW, with it allowing everyone an equal voice completely free of charge.
ted
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