I find it difficult to believe, but the issue of Call Sign that
you are reading now completes my first year as Editor. It seems only yesterday that I took
the position and it means that I can no longer use ‘inexperience’ as an excuse.
Compared to established editors such as Al Fresco, Dave Allen, Rodney Lewis and Stuart
Pessok, then I shall always be an amateur, but I’m slowly learning and I hope that
you are enjoying Call Sign.
Perhaps - as it is my birthday so to speak - you will allow me some thoughts about the
magazine and that hopefully, you will be so kind as to let me know your views on them.
Drivers are continually telling me that they enjoy Call Sign and especially the Mailshot
page that I promised would maintain the freedom my predecessor Jery Craig valued so
highly. I believe that I have carried out that pledge because, in my first year, I have
only refused to publish two and a half letters from well over thirty pages of
incoming driver’s views. One of those letters failed because the driver refused to
give his name and my policy is no name - no letter. Another brief statement and a half of
a letter (the first half was published) I cannot discuss for legal reasons.
MAILSHOT
But it is Mailshot that I would like to speak to you about. Contrary to
what some would have you believe, I AM the Editor and other
than for legal reasons, it is up to me to decide what goes in and what doesn’t. I
generally have so many letters that I made an editorial decision very early on to avoid
paragraphs whenever possible so that an extra letter or two could be squeezed in!
Last week I was reading the opposition’s magazines.
Both of them are very well produced and interesting. They are also extremely sanitised.
There wasn’t one driver’s letter in either and both are very management
orientated.
Then I look at Call Sign and I am proud to say that it is very driver orientated. No one
can claim that they do not have a vehicle in which to express their views. But the
question is: Do we have too much freedom? I can’t help wondering at times, due to the
nature of some letters that I receive.
HAVING A GO AT THE BOM
Some seem sent purely to have a go at the BoM. That is not what Mailshot is
for. It is to give your view on a particular situation, to comment on Call Sign or just to
pass on some information or a funny story. If you are criticising, then make it
constructive criticism.
Nothing is perfect and everything is open to improvement, but Radio Taxis’
(Mountview) AGM two weeks ago revealed a very successful year for them, yet they
couldn’t hold a candle to our bottom line! Neither could Com Cab in their last
Balance Sheet. Both companies are doing extremely well and I am
delighted, because it is vital that we all do well.
However, neither can touch us for a successful operation. Yet there are some who would
rather commit hara-kiri than say something nice about the Board.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not making it compulsory to be nice to those at the top, but
let’s try to keep in perspective our success and not continually complain unless
there is something to moan about. And if you like something, then say so! Telling me in
the street that you like the mag is a great compliment but saying that you are happy with
the work or you would like a small change in some procedure or other, is of no use unless
it is written on paper. Then it gets seen and possibly acted on.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON PAPER
We have an abundance of intelligent drivers who are more than capable of
putting their thoughts onto paper. Please try to make my second year a time when criticism
becomes constructive and when no one is afraid to be seen offering praise!
I have been accused by some of becoming a Board member by the back entrance. That is
absolute rubbish. I am just doing my job in the best way that I can. There is no law that
forbids drivers being happy; and at this moment, I am happy with DAC and will never be
afraid to say so….
