Standing for Canal and River Trust Council.

[alan_fincher]

The Canal and River Trust Council election process limits candidates strictly to a 150 word election statement. The problem I see with this is that there will be a lot of candidates, (as it is relatively easy to find 10 sponsors), and hence there will be a lot of 150 word election statements that may actually say rather similar things. I think these will often prove inadequate to allow anyone who doesn’t actually know the candidates to make informed decisions and to sensibly choose one above another.

 

Whilst I hope for a lot of support from those who do already know about me, my boats and my love of the waterways, clearly as an “independent” candidate I need to attract votes from people who will not necessarily know who I am, or anything about me, if I am to win against candidates sponsored by big associations or clubs.

 

So if anyone wants to know more about me, this is my fuller boating CV, and why I would like to serve you.

 

I am 59, married, with 2 adult sons, and was offered and took early retirement almost exactly 7 years ago now. Most of my working life was in computing and information systems, the last 24 years of which were with a large multinational where I specialised in the technical side of computing, and for many of the later years heading teams supporting databases world-wide or in related consultancy roles.

 

I first came to canal boating in the early 1970s, initially through hire boating, then with family owned boats and eventually my own converted ex-BCN day boat, which, apart from the hull, I had to rebuild from scratch, including the wooden cabin top. However this was in the years when major structures on the canal could remain unusable for years, and long term tunnel closures on the Grand Union cut off easy access to most of the system. Family boats got sold at this time, and it was to be some years before I came back to boat ownership, although we did hire on occasions, and I was a regular canal visitor, even when not a boat owner.

 

It was the opportunity to take early retirement that convinced me that the time was right to buy another boat. My wife Cath would carry on teaching for a while, but at least we now had the benefit of school holidays to actually use one, and really put in the miles, and we haven’t looked back.

 

“Chalice” is a 50 foot boat that has served us well for 7 years, although much has been done in that time to make her more suited to our needs. Alongside that I have never lost a love of the more historic boats, so when “Sickle”, (a 1936 working boat converted in the war years to 40 foot icebreaker tug), came on the market last year we jumped at an opportunity to own her in alongside “Chalice”. Currently “Chalice” is used for the longer trips, and certainly when more than two need to be on board, but the plan is that whenever we are able “Sickle” will visit the galas, festivals and historic boat events. It also means we get to understand the issues of the more deep draughted boats on the canals!

 

In 2011 we reckon we covered just under 1,200 miles, went through over 900 locks, and boated on about 90 days of the year, visiting up to 20 different waterways, (depending on exactly how you define “different”).

 

So I consider myself very much both “boat owner” and “boater”, even though we are not currently full time live-aboards. We now have a large network of friends around the system that we regularly meet up with, and these come from a wide range of different boating and boat owning backgrounds, many of them being permanently on the move.

 

I am coming to this election just as a very committed and experienced boater - not as a member of any particular organisation or society. I believe that anybody elected as a boater representative to the council is going to need to be able to represent all boat owners, irrespective of the many reasons they may have for boat ownership, or their boating backgrounds. I think that for only four council members to represent all boaters it is best if they are truly independent, rather than nominated by any of the large associations or societies.

 

There is already much debate about what will make a good Council member, of course. I come from a work background where I was very used to listening to what people actually wanted and brokering the best solutions for them, even when faced with some decisions that already looked in danger of getting finalised when they really were not the best that could be negotiated. I am comfortable operating in an environment with large meetings or committee work, but as a safe pair of hands that can win over support by negotiation, rather than by coming to it with any dogma about how things must be done.

 

However, once I am convinced that something has not been thought through properly and is being handled badly, I will certainly be amongst the first to try very hard to get that remedied. Too many bad decisions have happened under British Waterways that there has never been a mechanism to challenge, and the CaRT council should be exercised wherever necessary to ensure that there is far more accountability about how things are run in future.

 

If you are happy for me to represent you, please not only cast your vote for me in the election, but please draw me to the attention of other boaters who might consider supporting me as well. There will be some very heavy competition for these Council places, some of which I feel is not in the best interests of boaters generally – I would like to be your representative if I can, and ask for your support.

 

Thanks,

 

Alan

[Rebotco]

Thanks Alan.

 

You are quite right and wise to add this fuller personal "manifesto" which I find very helpful. It gives me sufficient detail to make an informed choice when the election takes place in a few weeks time.

 

If there are any other independent candidates from this forum, I hope they will follow your lead.

 

As a relative newbie, others will remain just "names" to me, unless they can provide a similar outline.

 

At present, Alan, you are the only one I have enough information to vote for.

 

Good luck.

 

Brian

Edited January 4, 2012 by Rebotco

[Morpheus]

Hi Alan,

Very well worded and informative resume/CV. I'm sure that you would represent the best interests of the "ordinary" boater- you have my vote!

 

-Chris

[Guest wanted]

 

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[FadeToScarlet]

Yes, but where do you stand on the pump-out vs cassette debate? We need to know all the facts

[Smelly]

Yes, but where do you stand on the pump-out vs cassette debate? We need to know all the facts

 

you're not the NBluckyduck being held to account on twitter then?

[alan_fincher]

 

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I'm sure my advisers might tell me not to say it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice of colour.

 

I'll avoid any controversy by assuming that it is simply "Sickle blue" rather than the alternative choice of "Chalice red".

[Guest wanted]

I'm sure my advisers might tell me not to say it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice of colour.

 

I'll avoid any controversy by assuming that it is simply "Sickle blue" rather than the alternative choice of "Chalice red".

You wouldn't believe the actual time I spent looking for a red one! but yes. sickle Blue it is!

Edited January 5, 2012 by wanted

[FadeToScarlet]

you're not the NBluckyduck being held to account on twitter then?

 

My boat, yes, but my OH twitters. I'm guessing that this is about the Andy Tidy mention? If so, OH just spotted the link and posted it, and will do the same for others she comes across.

 

Although we're interested we can't vote as we don't have a BW licence.

[Postcode]

We had the pleasure of spending several days this year cruising with you and Cath.

 

It was a great pleasure to spend time with people who genuinly care about the canal system we all love.

 

I am sure when you are elected you will represent with aplomb the needs of all ordinary boat owners

[station tug]

your so kind and helpful on the forum,i couldnt think of anyone more suitable

[Smelly]

My boat, yes, but my OH twitters. I'm guessing that this is about the Andy Tidy mention? If so, OH just spotted the link and posted it, and will do the same for others she comes across.

 

Although we're interested we can't vote as we don't have a BW licence.

 

Peter Underwood seemed to be calling you out recently... "if you are to represent us you'll need to use social media" seemed to be the gist although it was over in a flash.

[Allan(nb Albert)]

Peter Underwood seemed to be calling you out recently... "if you are to represent us you'll need to use social media" seemed to be the gist although it was over in a flash.

 

Perhaps somebody should be calling Peter out with regard to what took place at the meeting between Boaters Manifesto and CART trustees before Christmas.

 

Apart from a vague reference to some common ground on funding and one of the delegates inviting a trustee to meet boaters in the Oxford area it seems that we are being left in the dark.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Allan(nb Albert)

[CV32]

Alan,

 

If you need a 12 month licensed / home addressed person to be a proposer then please let me know - i am in Warwickshire but would be willing to drive down to Hertfordshire (my home county) to sign on the line.

 

regards

 

Peter

[Phoenix_V]

Just to add, Alan's appearances on this forum (and Dave) indicate that he is willing and able to explain himself and account to his boating constituency

even if in the future not necessarilly here. I have seen no evidence of that from any of the official candidates.

[Athy]

Those of us who know and enjoy Candidate Fincher's posts on here will realise that he couldn't limit himself to 150 words to save his life. I bet he uses more words than that when asking for his morning paper at the local shop.

[David Schweizer]

My boat, yes, but my OH twitters. I'm guessing that this is about the Andy Tidy mention? If so, OH just spotted the link and posted it, and will do the same for others she comes across.

 

Although we're interested we can't vote as we don't have a BW licence.

 

 

Peter Underwood seemed to be calling you out recently... "if you are to represent us you'll need to use social media" seemed to be the gist although it was over in a flash.

I know I do not keep in touch with as much as I probably should, but who are Andy Tidy and Peter Underwood? and what is their relationship with BW and CaRT if any?

[alan_fincher]

Those of us who know and enjoy Candidate Fincher's posts on here will realise that he couldn't limit himself to 150 words to save his life. I bet he uses more words than that when asking for his morning paper at the local shop.

Tres drole!

 

How hard is it to say "The Sun, please!".

 

Seriously though, I think there is a real dilemma here.

 

At this stage, any candidate has almost no idea who they may be competing with for votes, or indeed the vaguest idea of how many candidates there will be in total. Nor, except as some of us have done by "publishing" them in advance, even what their 150 word statements may say.

 

In exactly the way David says he is unlikely to vote for a candidate he doesn't know, I have people approaching me that I do not know, saying basically "I might vote for you, but I need to know more" - hence why I am trying to make details about myself more public to those who don't know me.

 

My guess is that candidates endorsed by the IWA, the RBOA, (or even surprisingly both, given that in some of its recent dealings the IWA has hardly appeared to be best ally of the residential boater!), will attract substantial votes, simply because of who is doing the endorsement.

 

Admittedly in some cases the reverse will happen - long established IWA members have in some cases told me they are unhappy with a slate all of whom are "high ranking" within that organisation, rather than just "ordinary boaters".

 

There will undoubtedly be other very good independent candidates. For example, "Captain Ahab", (Andy Tidy), who has posted on here, has a much read and much linked to blog, and it is not hard to see that he has gained widespread support from (particularly) many of the other continuous cruiser fraternity. He is well up there if you use Google to look for likely contenders. I have seen nothing to suggest he will not do well, and, when the final list is published, he could well end up as a high preference on my own voting paper.

 

Many will of course simply choose to vote for those endorsed by the "establishment", perhaps simply on the basis that if they come recommended, they can't be a bad choice. Others clearly feel there is scope for some new blood in a Council that will be there to oversee an all new Trust. At least myself, Dave, Andy (and others) are providing people with an alternative independent voice that a growing number of people seem to show a lot of support for.

[Black Ibis]

Peter Underwood seemed to be calling you out recently... "if you are to represent us you'll need to use social media" seemed to be the gist although it was over in a flash.

 

No, he wasn't calling me out, he was saying if *Andy* wants to represent us, he should use Twitter. I have no plans to represent anyone! Andy doesn't use Twitter, saying he prefers the blog.

[David Schweizer]

Well thanks to Alan's last post i now know who Andy Tidy is, but I still have no idea who Peter (Heather??) Underwood is, apart from someone who seems to want to tell everyone else how they should canvas support.

[alan_fincher]

Well thanks to Alan's last post i now know who Andy Tidy is, but I still have no idea who Peter (Heather??) Underwood is, apart from someone who seems to want to tell everyone else how they should canvas support.

Peter Heather Underwood is one of the main names behind "The Boaters Manifesto"

 

He has just thrown down this challenge elsewhere.......

 

Can we issue an open invitation to all candidates for the 4 'boater' positions on CRT council to join the Boaters' Manifesto group on FB and tell us where they stand in the manifesto? If you know any of them please point them towards the group.

 

Allan Richards has commented on this in another thread.

 

Rather than let this issue get lost in a thread where people may not see it, I'll (almost) imediately start a new thread on the topic.

 

EDITED TO ADD:

 

Here is a link to a new thread to allow discussion around CaRT and "The Boaters Manifesto" in a more obvious location.

Edited January 5, 2012 by alan_fincher

[muddywaters]

Alan as I have a few boater followers on twitter would you like me to post a link to this thread on there

[magpie patrick]

Alan as I have a few boater followers on twitter would you like me to post a link to this thread on there

 

A far more sensible approach than trying to dictate to the candidates how they present themselves

[Higgs]

A far more sensible approach than trying to dictate to the candidates how they present themselves

 

I was under the impression that candidates were supposed to be appealing to the boaters. It does no harm to spread themselves around. Facebook and Twitter maybe flavour of the month, but there's plenty of room for them on here, on a canal forum. Using Facebook and Twitter only maybe dictating to lots of boaters who never use these networking sites.

 

Transparency and clarity.

[soldthehouse]

Call me stupid but where and how do we vote Ive been on the Sickle blog and on facebook but didnt get to any where near knowing how or when to vote. [i sometimes need leading by the hand]