Mailshot is your chance to tell the subscribers of
Dial-a-Cab exactly what you think. Complaints, compliments or just to write about Call
Sign.
This is YOUR paper within your magazine....
You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.com
THANK YOU FOR THE TV
On the 31st August my television packed up. The following day,
the Call Sign competition to win a 25 inch Pro-Logic TV
began. As I have always been a heavy account worker, I thought that I would be in with a
good chance of winning and I must admit to being really up for this competition.
Towards the last few weeks, L75, P89 and T48
fought me very hard and I found myself doing more and more account work. The system rarely
let me down and the work was outstanding. For this I really must congratulate the BOM for
all their hard work. It has paid off tremendously.
My wife and I are delighted with the TV. Thank you very much.
Tony Hizer (E63)
PS. Sorry it took so long to write, been busy watching TV!
DISGUST
I was disgusted at the way the BOM and Brian Rice were treated by some of the drivers at
the EGM. Some of the accusations were spiteful to say the least. I don’t think the
drivers realise what a great Chairman we have.
M.Madden Y97
FLOTATION
Brian Rice won’t remember me, but he dealt with my
application to join DAC from Com Cab some 15 months ago. I remember thinking that he was
one of the most straight-forward people in a position of power and influence within the
cab trade that I had ever come across.
I was in favour of the move to flotation as recommended by the BOM.I was convinced, not
only for the obvious benefits of raising capital and giving us members a stake in the
business, but for an even more important reason.
I feel strongly that the way forward for DAC is for the key decisions on our future
business strategy to be made by a BOM in tune with the needs of our customers in
particular and the market place in general. We should trust those elected to the BOM to
make whatever decisions they feel necessary, unencumbered |
by the need to
have to constantly consult the membership, but at all times with the long term well-being
of the members being paramount.
Sunday 16th November was my first experience of the DAC ‘democracy’
in action and I was not impressed. Most of the speakers from
the floor made contributions which were either insignificant, irrelevant, vindictive or
just plain malicious.
If this is the ‘body’ which will make the decisions on the future of DAC, then I
am not optimistic for our long term prospects. The climate in which the taxi trade now
operates is changing all the time and tough decisions will need to be made. I don’t
feel that our ‘democratic’ process will deliver these decisions. Too many
members, dare I say typical of many cab drivers, can’t see beyond their own personal
agenda.
Anyway, I would like to thank the BOM for trying to drag us out of the past. Keep up the
good work!
Mike Holleyoake (M06)
THOUGHTS ON THE EGM
I’m sorry things didn't pan out too well for Brian Rice at the EGM, I know how
confident he was when I spoke to him about the subject.
For me personally, it was a great opportunity missed. I was amazed at the
short-sightedness of my fellow cab drivers. I've never heard so much garble in my life and
I fear for the future of Dial a Cab. Just where do we go from here?
Having had time to reflect to on the days events, I hope the Chairman is not going to do
anything rash. I want him to remain as Chairman for many years to come.
When I entered the Marriott on Sunday, I couldn't help but feel a negative atmosphere
spreading amongst our ranks, and of course, not having the Board united did nothing to
help.
It seemed like it was the Chairman’s word others against a hundred others! I’m
sorry I didn’t have the guts to speak in favour, I only turned up to vote, not to
make a name for myself.
I believe that Brian Rice is an honest and sincere man and I trust his integrity.
Unfortunately, for too many others, that and common-sense was not enough.
T.Peacock (C21)
CREDIT CARDS
I am sure that many of us have had the experience where a passenger at the
end of their journey has decided to pay their fare by credit card - sometimes at a very
inconvenient |
spot often causing frustrating
traffic delays. While I welcome this mode of payment, could the BOM please look into a way
of upgrading the system. Is there any possibility of introducing smaller paper transaction
slips which would fit into a flat-bed credit card machine. Furthermore, is there any
possibility of introducing, for a small fee, a credit card imprinter which would speed the
transaction, making the system more user friendly. I am sure there are many credit card
imprinters on the market which could be obtained at reasonable price if purchased in bulk.
Dave Cohen (E94)
PS. Congratulations on an excellent AGM.
Tom Whitbread replies: I read with great interest your letter and found that you
were thinking on the same lines as myself as to what extras should be asked for in the new
terminal. Brian Rice and I have asked for a printer to be put into the new terminal with
one of the functions to be a credit card receipt. As far as a flat bed credit card
machine, we did have a deal with American Express to supply us with them but at the
last moment it fell through. I have now asked the Company Secretary to approach our
Manager at the Nat West Bank to see if he can do some type deal for us to acquire a number
of these machines.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
On behalf of the Chairman and the Committee of the London Taxi Drivers Fund
for Underprivileged Children, we would like to wish everybody affiliated to the licensed
cab trade, a very happy new year.
Lawrence Berkoff
Committee Member
DIAL A CAB MASONIC LODGE?
Precedents exist in the Owner Drivers Radio Taxi Service for the
affiliation of clubs and societies to the circuit. Two that come easily to mind are golf
and photography.
There are, I believe, many members of the Masonic fraternity on Dial a Cab. I wondered if
they would consider forming themselves into a Lodge?
Should anyone think the idea worthy of consideration, please forward your names to me via
the Editor and I will collate them. If the response is encouraging, a meeting will be
convened to examine the feasibility of such a venture.
Allan Simons (F66) |
