You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.com

Sovereign
The Chairman dismissed my fears of a possible change in our working terms/conditions as a "worst-case scenario". Surely, it would be naive to think it couldn't happen under Sovereign, who ultimately will be looking to make a profit. I'm sure the members would prefer better protection of their interests than "walking away." If Sovereign can't make a surplus (or a big enough profit) under the present terms / conditions, they will either change things or sell to someone else - maybe even a management buyout!
   With regard to your comments "Going to the AGM" in January's Editorial, if the postal vote was held a short time after the AGM, Members might be able to make a more informed decision on issues before voting. The attendance at the meeting might even increase.
Mark White (B86)
As we're on the verge of holding forums to discuss the Sovereign issue, drivers will soon be able to make up their own minds on the subject. For my part Mark, I can see both sides of the argument that you and the Chairman make, but the problem is still that no one can really know what will happen if we sell, so asking Sovereign themselves for their view at the forums might help enlighten us.
As for your suggestion re postal voting being held after the AGM, I don't see how it can make a difference. I assume that you are not suggesting that I publish a verbatim version of the meeting - it would need a 100-page issue and then who would plough through it? Neither could drivers who were there be expected to pass on what they saw to those who weren't because 100 drivers would probably see 101 different versions. And if you are referring to just those who were there voting later, surely the time to vote is at the time of hearing discussion and views on the topic? But as they say in all the best mags, the topic is now in the public domain and up for discussion ...Ed

AGM and Apathy
I must say that after this year's AGM farcical turnout, I am left to feeling more dejected and
aghast than at any time during my 15 years as a cab driver. I ask you, how bad do things have to get? It is no wonder that everyone from the major, the private hire brigade and 'old Uncle Tom Cobbly' and all, sit back and laugh their socks off at our apathy. It really does sicken me. If cab drivers want to roll over, isn't it worth at least a fight first? Apparently not...
   At the AGM, why is it that only the Chairman is ever prepared to discuss issues and debate with the members? When members asked about accounts, fixed prices etc, the rest of the Board just sat in silence. Not even a nervous cough and an "...I'll take that one Brian!" Not a dickie bird! Come on gents, show us what you've got upstairs, you must have an opinion?
   Two points I made at the AGM, I feel need to be aired to the members who didn't attend.
   1. Although the staff get a £500 bonus at Xmas (which I agree with), we were told that as they were employees, it came under a different set of rules concerning the Society. Therefore bearing in mind that firms such as Taxi Media pay drivers to display adverts on their taxis, why cannot DaC pay drivers say £50 a month to display the door logos?  This £50 could be taken off our subscriptions. I say this because as we are a "non-profit making Friendly Society," there seems no reason to me that more cannot be done to help drivers with their escalating costs.
   2. Although Mr Rice accepted my view in principle concerning the newly formed "London Taxi Network" I do feel that as he professes to speak for and represent we, the drivers, there is no way that he should allow Mr Kaley to be involved in this alliance - let alone allow Mr Kaley to represent me / us.
   On his new circuit, Mr Kaley has minicabs on board, therefore he is sitting on both sides of the fence and this is not on. He cannot possibly be impartial. He has vested interests in his cars as well as taxis, so if push came to shove on an important issue involving a dispute with taxis and cars, what side would he take?
   Finally, to all the drivers who could not be bothered to discuss their futures (if they have one)
and attend the AGM, bear this in mind... "you reap what you sow!"
Grant Davis (L39)
Brian Rice replies: I think the first part of your letter Grant, is aimed at the Cab Trade in general and not DaC in particular, so probably it does not need any comment from me. Regarding me answering questions at the AGM, I believe that is the way it should be. If I did not answer the questions and passed them all to Board members, there could possibly be members asking if I knew what was going on in the business and why can't I answer the questions, so I think you will agree that there is a little bit of a double-edged sword there.
Regarding the staff getting a bonus at Christmas, the last one was for £300 and not £500, which they thoroughly deserved. Your idea about paying drivers to carry our logos has been in existence for some time. The full monthly subscription should be £160, however if you carry our logos, the subscription reduces to £123.50, which results in the member paying £438 per annum less for carrying our logo. Your point about LTN and Mr Kaley may not now be necessary, as you would have read in last month's issue.

LTFUC Mad Hatters Ball and the Police
Can I thank you for the photo of me and my police bike at the Mad Hatters Tea Party and also for the copy of Call Sign. We certainly enjoyed the day, it was a very professional occasion
and a joy to see so many happy children. Congratulations to all the organisers...
Charlie Hunt (98TD)
Met Police Traffic Division

Prejudice?
I must take issue with Sam Harris's letters in Call Sign's December and March Mailshot pages. People like Mr Harris seem to find it amusing to hide behind trite phrases like 'Politically Incorrect'. His comments on the BNP and asylum seekers are particularly upsetting, the more so given Call Sign's worldwide readership. Is he seriously suggesting that those immigrants who have nothing, put their lives into the hands of criminal gangs of people-smugglers who are tied to them while trying to earn a living and who are sadly, mainly unwelcome wherever they fetch up, that they are doing so for any reasons other than desperation?  Is the comment about the BNP meant to suggest that those who vote for it are right? That must be an anathema to many of your readership.
   I would like Mr Harris to know that my family has befriended an Iranian lady whose husband was tortured and killed in Iran and whose son still cannot sleep at night after ten years of living in this safe country. Also, my sister-in-law's ancestors came to this country from Eastern Europe in the 1800's to escape persecution and prior to landing at Dover, destroyed every document relating to their history, chose English Anglo-Saxon names and even became Christians in a desperate effort to "blend in and hopefully escape future persecution.
   One of those stories is about Moslems and one about Jews. Are some immigrants more acceptable than others to Mr Harris? Contrary to what Mr Harris says, this country has plenty of room for hard-working, decent immigrants. One has only to look at the successful integration of the Ugandan Asians since the 1970s. I am proud to be English, to be part of this mostly tolerant, just and fair-minded people who are seen worldwide as a model country to live in. Mr Harris would become a better human being if he examined the real reasons for his fears and prejudices and how he would feel if one day the position was reversed. But of course, he knows that is unlikely... doesn't he?
Lynda Young
Wife of David Young (G31)

Redbridge Tea Party?
Re your article in the February Call Sign on the huge increase of cash rides from Redbridge roundabout to the north side of Victoria Park and it's subsequent STC EC2, my friends and I feel rather peeved at your disclosure that the Esso garage on that roundabout serves cream teas. Now, when we want to avail ourselves of their crumpets and / or scones (depending on whether you go on a Wednesday or Friday), we have to book up four weeks in advance to get a table!
Alan Sullivan (F20)

Time Out Guidebook
Time Out, the popular weekly listings magazine for London, has released a new guidebook for 2003. The Timeout London Guidebook is published by Penguin and available at WH Smith and all good bookshops.  Time Out say that their guidebook is written by a thirty strong team of local experts and completely updated for 2003 and is honest, authoritative, encyclopaedic and incisive! In the guidebook they praise London taxis and their blue book knowledge. However, if you then turn to page 359 and I quote;
   "The cabbie must take you to your destination provided it is within 7 miles. In reality, some turn their noses up at South London or anywhere they don't fancy. Thanks to a huge price hike in 2001 aimed at getting more drivers out at night, you will pay 50% more after 8pm on weekdays and all weekend."
   With this misinformation and the April tariff increase for 2003, people will think we are even more expensive, when in fact we will be cheaper at night. Nightmayor Ken and his cronies at TfL will be dancing around their broomsticks, as more and more dejected faces join the already long queues at red bus stops. The trade must unite and contest these tariff charges, which have become a pantomime that no one understands - even Time Out's thirty local experts don't understand it! If we are stuffed and stitched up anymore, we will be flogging eiderdowns in Petticoat Lane on Sunday mornings.
David Heath (W27)

And Then Brian Rice in Playgirl!
Somehow you just knew it couldn't last! A cover boy and centre-fold on Call Sign for 4 months since October (maybe Playgirl next time!). Tony Arnold (F03) should've realised that
once he shared the cover with  Brian Rice, it wouldn't be long before the Chairman was back as the number one pin-up in February - was that QPR's new away kit?
   Never mind "Maradona," you'll just have to be content with millions of people greeting each other throughout the Far East, by asking: "How's it hanging...?"
Mark White (B86)
Actually, Tony "Maradona" Arnold now holds the record for the number of appearances on a Call Sign cover for non-Board members. As for "how's it hanging," I asked Tony and he says that he's not into flower baskets, but thanks anyway!
   And well spotted, Mark, that WAS QPR's new away kit. It's fleece-lined because it gets a bit cold outside of London ...Ed

Thanks to the Raja Brothers...
I have had an account with Dial-a-Cab for some time and the quality of service has been good. Last week I mislaid my Palm V Personal Organiser, which as you can appreciate is a real hassle and I planned to go out and buy a new one on the following Saturday. So you can imagine my delight when Mr Raja (S46J) dropped by my house on the  Friday evening and delivered it back to me - apparently I had left it in the back of his taxi when it was being driven by his brother.
   I would be very grateful if you could thank the two brothers (Mr Safed Raja and Mr Saleem Raja) for their assistance. They did not even ask for payment for delivering it to my house.
Many thanks...
Ian Crabb
London SW3
Message passed Mr Crabb and thanks for taking the time to write.
   The type of items left in the back of cabs by passengers never ceases amaze me - I once found a baby! However, it's umbrellas that make me smile. How can a passenger forget to take their brolly with them when it is still raining outside the taxi! If you have a story regarding an unusual object that your passenger left in the cab, let Call Sign's readers know ...Ed

John Saunders
Can I express my sorrow on reading in the December Call Sign of the death of John Saunders. He was a very good friend of mine, in fact our lives have followed a similar pattern.  We were both born in the Paddington area and played in the same football team as teenagers. We both went to Grammar school and went into National Service in the same regiment. After demob, we both went to work in the Post Office and again played in the same football team.
We then did the Knowledge together and got our "Bills" within months of each other. We trained

A New Driver's View of the AGM
This is the first letter I have written to Call Sign as I have only just celebrated my first anniversary as a DaC driver.  When I received notification of the AGM, I decided to attend in person rather than use the postal ballot option and I'm glad I did!  By turning up at The Brewery, I was able to gain a totally different perspective of the Society than the secular opinion I had formed of it from the solitude of my cab whilst waiting on EC5. I was impressed by nearly every person who spoke, particularly by the Chairman and the prospective  Board electoral candidates.  Many at the meeting expressed the opinion that actually attending the meeting in person should be mandatory for every member of the Society, reasoning that the character of electoral candidates could be better assessed when heard from the podium. It was explained by the Chairman that this would need a rule change voted for by a majority of Society members, a vote that would have to be determined by post but that as most members had chosen to vote by post, the rule change was unlikely to be adopted.
   Before becoming a London Taxi driver, I was for many years an Electrician in the Film and TV industry and attended quite a few union meetings. We had similar problems of attendance; everybody had an opinion, but very few could be bothered to turn up! However, when a postal ballot was needed, it was only after a meeting on the issue to be decided had been held. The minutes of that meeting would then be circulated among members and only then did the postal ballot take place. Because the postal ballot took place after the meeting, sometimes people who had not attended were influenced in their decisions by talking to people who were there. I wonder if this arrangement would need a rule change if it were applied to Dial-a-Cab?
   My opinion that I have been fortunate to join the best radio circuit in London was confirmed by my attendance of the AGM.
Nick Woollard (B92)
Brian Rice replies: I'm pleased that you enjoyed the AGM, Nick. Unfortunately it would appear that our rules are different to those of the TV and Film industry, so your suggestion cannot be implemented without the consent of the majority of the membership. I wrote in the last issue of my observations regarding the AGM and I do fully understand the sentiments of the members/shareholders who attended, but as I have stated before, it would be wrong to impose the will of the minority on the majority. You must remember that there were less than 6% of the membership present and that is a very easy statistic to forget when you are at the AGM and nearly everyone is of a like mind. Nevertheless, I would like to thank you for your kind letter...

An Old Driver's View of the AGM!
After attending this year's AGM and reading the coverage and letters in Call Sign, I would like to offer a suggestion. Hold the meeting a few weeks in advance of the postal vote and produce a comprehensive report on the proceeding in Call Sign. This would give non-attendees the chance to weigh up the arguments and base their decisions accordingly. Taking two examples, first the vote on the 'Going Home' procedure, I'm sure that if postal voters had been aware of the Board's and the member's total rejection of any change, the proposal would have been defeated.
   Secondly, the strong performance of Joe Brazil in the hall: Here was a candidate who clearly impressed the members, wouldn't it be fairer if postal voters had been aware of this?  Remember that one day the Society has got to find someone of the calibre of Brian Rice. The current system makes it almost impossible for a candidate to make an impact that would unseat an existing Board  Member. With the present arrangement, one feels ridiculous listening to debates and voting when everything has already been decided. I believe that my proposal would return some relevance to the AGM.
Mick Kennedy (M30)
Thanks for your interesting suggestion Mick. As it involves Call Sign, I'm going to answer it regardless of whether the suggestion is within the rules or not. Firstly, who would write this "comprehensive" report? Because as sure as eggs are eggs, someone will say that the version has errors in it. A shorter version is available prior to the next AGM, but to do an accurate verbatim version would take an enormous amount of time - not to mention most of the available space in the mag (see reply to Mark White). As for 'Going Home', the BoM made it clear in the DaC papers sent out prior to the meeting, that they were against it, but those not present still voted in favour totally contradicting the view of those present. When it comes down to it, those present represented a tiny piece of the total membership and the only satisfactory way to obtain a true democratic view is for those who don't want to attend, to make the effort for that one day in the year ...Ed

Baffled Bill's Answer
In the March Call Sign, "Baffled" Bill Kibble (K86) asked what the grey tower opposite Kings Cross Station was? If it helps, I remember it from my Knowledge days as a lighthouse.
Russell Simmons (ex-M50)

Thoughts on the Credit Union AGM
At the risk of repeating what has been explained on several occasions, I must point out that in
April 2002, the person who had been employed by the DaC Credit Union decided to leave.   To date, we have not received any explanation for his departure. Credit Unions are neither rare nor mysterious, however they do differ considerably. It will not surprise you to hear that in the London cab trade, all trade organisations pay so-called 'stand-down' money. An example is our own marshalling system whereby drivers who volunteer - please note the word volunteer - to help, are paid for their time.  Other Credit Unions eg Local  Authority, may have unpaid helpers. In the case of our CU, no member would expect a volunteer driver to go unpaid, it is our little difference. Now to the crunch... How much? Well, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a group of drivers who'd be prepared to help out for £12.50 pr hour. "What's that," I hear you say, "not on your nelly!" I wonder then, what would Credit Union members think an appropriate sum? Neither myself, nor any other volunteer, require any thanks. It is OUR Credit Union and we want its continued success. However, when reasonable 'stand-
   Down' money is bickered over, it does make one feel that people are taking the Michael. We have put ourselves out to prevent the Credit Union from going under. I make no apology for shouting ...... IF WE DID NOT WORK IN THE GAFF, THERE'D BE NO CREDIT UNION! More volunteers are needed now, so that the responsibility can be shared equally among all
interested members.
Brian Flanagan (T79)
Asst. Treasurer, DACCU

Tariff Revision
The tariff change due on April 5 is the worst we could possibly hope for. The flag fall is to be increased to £2 but every other rate is reduced. Charges per mile for T1, 2, 3 and over 6 miles, REDUCED. Waiting time on T1, 2, 3 and over 6 miles REDUCED. Extras for luggage and passengers ABOLISHED.  The rate between 8pm and 10pm downgraded to T2. Now I personally thought T3 after 8pm was too high on the basis that I would prefer to run most of the time with my meter on rather than meter off, but all those drivers who insisted the flag fall was too low are now having to make us all pay the price. The PCO say this is a 2.75% increase, but is based on a daytime 3.6-mile journey with one passenger.  Would it not have been so much better to keep the status quo with the exception of reducing the 8pm-10pm to T2, then instead of the Evening Standard reporting  "Taxi Fares up 40%" (based solely on the flag fall), it could have read: "Ken gets it wrong - taxi fares cheaper at night!" We now need to capitalise and make the public aware that we are now more competitive, despite newspaper reports.
Alan Nash (A095)
I don't believe that the Mayor increased the flag fall due to driver pressure. It was the trade reps who bombarded him with "£1.40 isn't enough." It has now cost us dearly and we earn nothing out of it anyway because of the extended distance travelled. I've said all along that T3 was too expensive and now we are paying the price. As a damage limitation exercise, all we needed do was to stay with the status quo and announce no increase this year...Ed

Thanks for the Votes
I would like to pass my grateful thanks to all of the Subscribers who voted for me in the last election. I would especially thank all those who attended the AGM, it was with great pride that I learned that I had received the highest vote in the room on that day, proving to me that we all have something worthy to say. I see this election as a positive experience and hope to repeat it in the future.
Thank you again, for your support and continued confidence.
Joe Brazil (K16)

Switch Card Taken in Error
If anyone can help on this matter, I'd appreciate it. Like some other drivers, I have mistakenly accepted a 'Switch' card and am now unable to recover the fare. It doesn't help that when you swipe the card, the terminal accepts it and gives you an authorisation reference. I have spoken to our office, my bank and 'Switch' without any success. Has any DaC driver taken 'Switch' in error and been successful in recovering their money? If so, how did you manage it?
John Able (M31)
Allan Evans will always try to help but cannot guarantee anything. There have been many warnings in Call Sign re accepting 'Switch', but if anyone has been lucky in getting their money, please let us know how ...Ed

Living in France...
What a pretty boy you are on the Call Sign website, Alan! I've just seen your website (www.dac-callsign.com) for the first time and it is quite informative and set up in a very professional manner. I am fine and can't believe I've been here almost 2 years now. I think I still have the Dial-a-Cab bug. I'm working on and off, mainly helping the English community over here. I came here to get away from them, but they are absolutely everywhere and I have started to lose my French accent again!
   The region I live is the Limousin, which is deep rural France just as it was many years ago. Its main city is Limoges, close to the Dordogne region with both regions being very green and hilly with castles everywhere! Richard the Lion Heart spent most of his time round here. A lot of the villages have empty properties because the young are not staying so the Brits are buying them. There are a few Dutch and Germans, but mainly Brits. Property prices are still cheap, but rising slowly due to the fact that this region is getting more and more popular and estate agents in Britain also have agencies here, so there is no language barrier when people buy. The British went first to the Dordogne, but it is now saturated with 250.000 Brits. There are now 100,000 Brits in the Limousin and a whole network of services to help the British here.  The majority of French people here are happy that the Brits are here because they have boosted the local economy in many ways.  The now defunct Buzz airline opened a Stanstead to Limoges line and Ryanair has now taken it over. The reason there are so many Brits here is that they want a better quality of life. Most of them say that they were fed up with high prices and the general quality of life in Britain. A lot of them are retired and with the money they get from selling their UK house, they were able to afford a nice house in the French countryside.
   There are more and more families coming here. Their kids go to the local schools and most kids speak fluent French within a year - unlike their parents who just struggle along with the language. People young enough to work usually set up B & Bs (chambres d'hotes) while others do building work. Some have bought cafés or restaurants and there are a lot of knees-
ups around here!
   It really is a small world we live in, because I have met someone who was born in the street I lived in London and who knows my friend's neighbours! Someone else used Dial-a-Cab every night, while a retired policeman from Shoreditch knows DaC well.  They are people from all walks of  life. I have the best of 

Tariff Increase
I'm surprised at your comment regarding the Tariff increase (March Call Sign): "I think it's about time we had fare negotiators who live in the real world." Please tell me, when is it ever a good time to put your price up? I'm sure we'd all like to be able to pay the price our grandfathers paid for goods and services, but things go up in price. That's life! And as we are only getting a cost of living increase (the current rate of inflation, the lowest increase for 20 years), it could be said that our price is staying the same. And don't forget the increase in the six-mile limit. Should we wait for another disaster/crisis before increasing our fares in the hope that no one notices?
   "I remember when you could take a young lady out to dinner, on to the cinema and home for a night-cap and still have change from a £1!" may've been true in Allen Togwell's day but I'm afraid it doesn't buy much now! The final paragraph in the piece from  The Standard read: "Mr Livingstone said the increased minimum fare would only affect 1.3% of journeys - almost all passengers already spend more than £2." That's 1 person in 100 - and he's the bloke that gets a cab because he can't find the address having been told it's near the tube station and it's under his nose!  Dial-a-Cab should be telling customers about the 13% price cut during the hours of 8-10pm and the cut in extras.
   It would be better if the licensed Taxi trade had proper P.R. representation than worrying about the E.S. It is therefore, very disappointing to read of the demise of The London Taxi Network. The Chairman should be commended for raising the company profile - even if it means another photo opportunity! Dial-a-Cab's position around the table in the Cab trade is long overdue. However, I hope Brian will get a proper mandate from the membership before committing to anything. Perhaps an invite to the four driver organisations to join the forum in
ComCab / DataCab's absence might ensure its continuation as a proper forum for Taxi trade matters and present the united front we need to take the trade forward.
Mark White (B86).
Mark, I'm sure that you know I was referring to the rather stupid (in my view) move of increasing the flag fall from £1.40 to £2 when it added nothing to the fare increase, yet looked as though it was pushing up the start of the ride by almost 50%. My belief was - and still is - that it would have been better to keep Tariff 3 and refuse any nighttime increase. By chopping it, we now look to have admitted that it was too high when given - which it was. As for your piece on the LTN, I have asked Brian Rice to write about your suggestion in his report. And by the way, Mark, congratulations on being the first and only person to ever have three letters in one issue! ...Ed

AGM Attendance
This is in response to Brian Rice comments and my own observation on the AGM attendance (March Call Sign). On the contrary Brian, you are there to represent all 100% of members not simply "94%". The 6% also pay their subscription and should have a voice? I for one no longer attend AGMs, not because of not wanting to or being uninterested, but because there are too few members present to participate in constructive debate pertaining to DaC issues. There are far too many members who are too apathetic or too mean to afford one day in 365 in order to debate issues surrounding our company and the source of their income. I am all for democracy and majority rule, but I for one do not see any harm in putting forward a rule change as suggested to Brian by those at the AGM. I remember when the postal ballot was first put to the members. I was against it then and still am now. Furthermore, I am cynical enough to believe that those who suggested it in the first place knew that we would arrive at the position we now find ourselves in, regarding attendance at AGMs.
   There is now very little point in attending the AGM, as any contribution made at the same, will be of little, if any, significance as the vote would have been decided by the postal ballot.
   Without wishing to get into Board knocking, as credit must be given when it's due, I have been to many an AGM where the Board has come under pressure to fully explain and justify their actions. I dare say the postal ballot system suits them, as they do not have to explain and justify matter in front of the majority of members?
   Yes I would attend AGMs in the future if they had more significance, but the only way this would be possible is to do away with the postal ballot.
Lou Christian (A48)
Thanks for the letter Lou. You may not like the answer given previously, but it isn't going to change so there is no point me asking Brian Rice to respond again. If a subscriber put forward a rule change, it would have to go to a postal ballot so why did no one put it forward at the AGM, yet so many ask the BoM to do it? Perhaps because everyone knows that it would fall heavily - even though both you and I would vote against postal balloting. One thing disappoints me about your letter though Lou, I've known you as a driver for many years and you are extremely articulate, yet you say you don't attend "because there are too few members present to participate in constructive debate." There were 165 present, but how many more didn't come because they had your attitude of it not being worth it? ...Ed

Call Sign and the Internet...
I was surprised that in your article 'Sickly Sweet Call Sign' (March issue) you did not mention that you had sought Mike Holland's permission to print the article. As you know printing private e-mails without permission is a breach of copyright and an infringement of the data protection act. A note that you had sought permission after you had read something improperly obtained would have shown you to be a responsible editor rather than looking like a tabloid hack.
   This is the second occasion within the last few months that Internet e-mail groups have been criticised in Call Sign. What is the problem with them? You make the group seem like a secret society of freemasons. The Yahoo group is open to any UK licensed taxi driver or anyone with a legitimate interest in the taxi trade. It is true that the membership contains both moderate and extreme points of view, together with some with vested interests. I, for one, enjoy open discussion and believe I am intelligent enough to distinguish between gossip, rumour, innuendo and fact and draw my own conclusions.
   I think it a shame that Dial-A-Cab, with all its superb technology, is unable or unwilling to provide a similar facility for its members. Even in the latest Call Sign, Tom Whitbread is asking for members e-mail addresses but only for one-way communication! Congratulations to Allen Togwell for publishing his e-mail address and asking for feedback. Other board members should follow his example.
   Perhaps you do not like open discussion? Perhaps, as you have stated, you think the status quo should be preserved, especially in the BoM? Do you think open discussion might affect this?  Certainly you managed to ensure an unfair election at the last AGM. Since the proposal of postal voting put forward by the BoM and adopted by the members, many members have chosen to take this choice. By not allowing candidates to publish an election address you provided an unfair bias to existing board members. The reason given that all candidates were not given time to submit one is not a credible excuse.
   What other election in the world are candidates not given the opportunity to publicise their views and make an election address until 85% of the electorate have already cast their votes!!!
   Existing Board members are given their own article every month in Call Sign and become known to members. It is only conjecture how this influenced the result, certainly the votes cast for Joe Brazil and Tom Whitbread were very different in the postal vote, compared with at the AGM meeting. Like most members, I do not know Joe Brazil and did not vote for him. Had I known his views I might have made a different decision.
   I am interested in his views on a Dial-a-Cab sell out, PLC status, Cars on the circuit, total ground transportation, tariff 3, quickie knowledge and how he sees the future of Dial-a-Cab. I do not care how long he has been a taxi driver, what charity work he does or whether he was a mechanical engineer or the queen's chauffeur prior to being a taxi driver.
   No Editor, your decision not to publish election addresses was not vindicated. I do not think it
reasonable that people should have to put up posters and give out flyers on ranks when they have a society magazine that should be publishing their views.  To suggest that if you are still Editor, you will decide what questions you think are relevant to ask the candidates is arrogance. I shall be proposing at the next AGM a rule change to ensure all candidates have the right to publish their address and voice their views and see what the membership decides - if, of course, there is another election!
George Wilson (Fox 17)
Well, George, I'm afraid you and I are going to have to disagree on 99.9% of your letter. I'll agree that your name is correct...
Starting at the beginning, what reason was there to tell Call Sign's readership that I had sought permission to reproduce a letter and had gained it? No George, you are upset because you put me on complaint for not getting permission from the email writer concerned, only to find out that I had in fact gained that permission and consequently your complaint was thrown out. You, George, should have asked me whether I had gained permission before you wasted the Society's time by saying that I hadn't. After all, you've emailed the above letter, you could have contacted me the same way to ask and
I'd have told you. To put it bluntly, George, you were wrong but can't admit it...
The second time email groups have been criticised in Call Sign? Improperly obtained? Tell me, how many times has Call Sign or DaC been criticised by this group? No George, I don't mind criticism - after all, witness your letter in this issue, hardly an example of censorship is it? What I dislike is when people do it behind my back with phrases such as "brown-nosed arse-licking." If they said they didn't like the mag, then fine, but this wasn't criticism, it bordered on abuse. Even then I didn't ask for an apology, all I demanded was the right to respond, the writer gave it and I responded. Why should I have to mention that I asked for permission? Why should you assume that I haven't?
You claim that I don't like open discussion. I helped Vince Chin set up the email group you belong to at a time when you probably thought the Internet was something you caught fish in! I belong to a similar group now and I guarantee you that they wouldn't make such a fuss about emails getting out. So no, George, from where I'm sitting it's YOU who doesn't seem to like the thought of open discussion, with this almost paranoiac concern against emails from your group getting out.
I gave my reasons for Call Sign's approach to election CV's in the last issue and I stand by them. Perhaps fairness doesn't come into your equation George, but I'm afraid that it has to come into mine and to allow a sudden change that would have put one candidate at a gross disadvantage was of concern to me. In addition, I am totally against your suggestion of allowing future candidates the freedom to say whatever they like in order to help their election to the BoM. One candidate standing in this year's election has already shown how that could be abused, whereas my suggestion of asking them all the same relevant questions - a suggestion that you consider makes me arrogant - seems logical to me. To be honest George, part of me would almost like to see your proposed rule change succeed just to see whether future candidates' election addresses match up to the reality should they be elected. I only know one example so far and his certainly wouldn't. And by the way George, please feel free to show my response to your group. I don't encourage secret societies here ...Ed

April 2003 Call Sign Home Page

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