Dial-a-Cab Offer
By now you should all we aware of the results of the questionnaire from a letter dated April 16 that was sent to all shareholders / members.
   The return was fairly good and almost 73% of the votes returned cast that vote to look closer at the situation. However, if you take into account the votes from members that returned after the closing date, the percentage falls to just below 72%.
   Whilst I think you will all agree that there is a mandate to gather more information, it is not as clear-cut as a first glance would suggest as almost 300 members / shareholders chose not to vote at all. This does cloud the situation somewhat, but the BoM have decided that we will gather more information to present to you at a later date.
   However, of one thing I am certain; we will not incur any substantial costs in order to pursue the majority of members wishes. If any company is interested in Dial-a-Cab, then it is up to them to make the running and pick up any costs, because if Dial-a-Cab were to do so then it would have a bearing on our financial standing - something the BoM are not prepared to tolerate.

How Truthful Are The Press
I have read the press coverage regarding the takeover of Dial-a-Cab in the Evening Standard and their figures are just pure speculation and guesswork, so that does make me wonder just how much truth there is in what we read in the press. When you know what the facts are and then you read what the press report, you begin to realise how little substance there is in what we read - DaC Chairman's Report excluded from that comment of course!
   The above also applies to the different posters that have sprung up over London with various insults directed at me. What I find is quite strange is that a simple 'Bungalow', did you mean there was nothing upstairs, or as some

 might believe, that all the
telephone call to me would clear up his misconceptions. Yes, I did say "his", although there are a couple of others in his circle, because I am led to believe that just one person is erecting them. And how do I know? Well, he picked up one of our account clients and the conversation got on to DaC and our driver was very proud of his achievements in erecting posters at night and also printing literature - not particularly good or correct of course!  Consequently, he was bragging to the account client of his achievements and yes, you can guess what happened. The account client rang me and relayed the above information - our member is obviously a bright boy!
   Anyway, getting back to Dial-a-Cab and the story so far; an initial approach was made to Dial-a-Cab before last Christmas and an offer was made in a letter dated 7 March 2002 which I received on 9 March 2002. I then called a BoM meeting where the contents of the letter were discussed and I wrote to you all on 15 March with the questionnaire. From conversations I've had with members and the various inaccuracies passing back and forth on Internet lists, it would appear that some of you believe that I am totally in favour of the offer. That is incorrect, as we have not yet received enough information or indeed future intent regarding our Society for me to form an opinion. When I have enough information, I will then pass that information onto you and form an opinion of my own, as indeed the remainder of the BoM and members alike will also do.
   

We are in the process of having our building valued and are seeking an independent valuation of our business, when I have that information I will write to you regarding the findings together with the offer that has been received. In the meantime, I will look forward to more posters and speculation and keeping the name of Dial-a-Cab on everyone's lips. If there are any budding screenwriters out there, Dial-a-Cab has the makings of an excellent "soap!"

Tom Whitbread And Taxi Newspaper
In the last issue of 'Taxi Newspaper', I read a report from Steve McNamara where he makes a personal attack on DaC Board member Tom Whitbread, making derogatory remarks and referring to him as 'Bungalow.'  This was brought about following "complaints" by Dial-a-Cab members to Steve McNamara following the article.
   Come on Steve, come clean! There were no complaints and you can admit that you read it in Call Sign, which in my view is the best publication in the cab trade.  And by the way, it is uncensored and members are not prompted to write in. And what was Tom's crime? Well, he dared to voice a personal opinion about the increased night tariff and whether Steve agrees with Tom or not is irrelevant, he has no right to make derogatory remarks in print about an elected member of Dial-a-Cab. Just as Steve is elected by members of the LTDA and should be able to put his views to his members without personal attacks, Tom has every right to voice his concerns to our members.
   I'm told Steve, that you do a good job for the LTDA and in fact, dealings that I have had with you support that view, but it does appear that you consider everyone is entitled to an opinion - but only if they agree with you.  When you referred to Tom as  equipment was downstairs...?
Brian Rice
Chairman of Dial-a-Cab