Call Sign January 2009 - Page 8 - ELECTION QUESTIONS

The last issue of Call Sign published CVs of those standing for election to the Dial-a-Cab Board of Management at the AGM on Sunday 8 February. The item also said that anyone wanting to ask a question of any candidate could do so. Just one driver, Steve Thomas (N10) took up the option. These are his questions together with the answers provided to us… Steve Thomas to Joe Brazil (K16): Q: How do you think our customers will react if we increase our minimum charge to Ł15 in these "extraordinary" times? A: Thank for your question Mr Thomas, regarding an increase of minimum fare from Ł8.00 to Ł15.00. You're right, the increase I am asking for will be greater than the last increase of 60%, but it is important in my view that in times which I have termed as extraordinary, to protect each and every subscriber to the maximum degree. I know, as well as you, that the waiting time between jobs will increase and you can be sure your costs will increase also. To expect a driver to wait for an unusually long time for increasingly reduced earnings will alienate drivers towards account trips, which in turn will reduce coverage and so reduce our effectiveness in completion of account work. I realise that increasing charges is a double-edged sword, but if we align ourselves as the cheapest carrier, guess what - that will be the only work that we see. If elected to the Board, I know more than anyone that you become part of a committee and this will be debated and voted on. My position is to protect the driver’s interests to the maximum extent. The balance struck will reflect your needs and those of our Society. I look forward to that debate. Steve Thomas to Allen Togwell (Q08): Q: You quite rightly state that we are not immune from the economic chaos currently being	ELECTION QUESTIONS
	experienced, and that we need an experienced BOM. Don't we also need the odd new face to gain experience for the future, before all growing too old together? A: Steve, by coincidence my article in this edition about this Society’s future more or less answers your question. You have been a member of DaC since 2004, so you may not be aware that in past years the only active Board members out of a board of eight were the Chairman, Treasurer and PRO. The remainder changed so frequently, they came and went making very little difference to the running of the Society. We have come a long way over the past 15 years from the days when the only prerequisite to join the Board was to be an ex-dispatcher. Technology alone is advancing at such a rate as to continually stretch the minds of those who have worked with it since its inception. What chance then of those with no experience at all? Would you trust your life’s savings with a financial advisor who is learning his trade and more to the point, during an economic crisis such as now? I doubt it. Your reference to age obviously wasn’t aimed at my younger colleagues on the Board, so I assume it was aimed at me. If you follow pro-football, Steve, would you advocate Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger being replaced because of age, or perhaps those in our trade losing their bill when they reach 65? Very few of those that make up the boards of top companies in the private sector are young and none, I would imagine, are inexperienced. Having the odd new face? Yes absolutely, but on a Board with the demands we now face at DaC, and assuming the manner in which we operate doesn’t change, then for the Society to be a continued success it needs any new face to possess at least a modicum of skills that would benefit the Society from day one. It would also eradicate the feeling of	inadequacy and being out of their depth, bearing in mind all take home pay per hour before tax is equal, irrespective of length of service or experience. I can speak only for myself and my role, which for many years has been Sales and Marketing. Recently during an interview with a prospective Dial-a-Cab member, I discovered he was a graphic designer prior to doing the Knowledge. So I showed him some of the work I had recently finished on a brochure and this year’s Annual Report and from the way he spoke, it was obvious he possessed similar skills. Now had this chap been standing for the Board, he could rightly claim to have skills that could save this Society thousands of pounds by producing artwork and design as I do in-house. There must be dozens amongst our 2500 members who have similar skills, ability and background to stand for the Board. Conversely, those coming onto the Board that have no skills at all, are really going to find it extremely difficult learning anything of any significance in the time allocated in the office, which could be - particularly during a recession - just a couple of days a month. Steve Thomas to Mike Son (V52): Q: You've had a difficult year, and understandably doubts as to whether you wanted to serve for a further term. Do you think you've got the appetite and energy for a further 2 years? A: Yes, it has been a very difficult year and yes, after my brother died I did have some doubts about what was important in life and whether I had the desire to continue as a Board Member. But it didn’t take me long to realise that I enjoy representing DaC, to further its cause with clients and the desire to be part of such a successful Board. With the current traumatic conditions out there, I sincerely believe that whilst there will be a time for new faces, that shouldn’t be at a time when experience is needed.

Call Sign Home Page

Page 13