Should AIUK Actively Lobby GNAS To Change Colours

[English Bowman]

I know we were asked to start a new thread, but one last post here, if you are quoting dress reg rules, please quote them all, the first one is important

(a) Members of the Society shooting and officiating at tournaments granted National or
World Record Status by GNAS are required to wear the accepted dress of the society
as detailed below.

So you can wear what you want, unless at a National or World Record Status shoot, unless I am missreading that rule.

Daniel

[Yew Selfbow]

I for one would like to see forums like AIUK becoming a voice to effect positive change within G.N.A.S. or any other archery organisation, but as someone else has mentioned with only 500 members, AIUK represents the opinion of a small number of the total G.N.A.S. membership.
Lobbying is a relatively simple process providing you understand the structure and procedures of the organisation you are lobbying. The difficulty with any governing body is that it can come to a point where it becomes out of touch with the membership it is there to represent. I don't think for a moment that G.N.A.S has reached that point yet, but, if anecdotal evidence is any thing to go by, responding quickly and effectivly to the concensus wishes of it's members is not one of our sports governing bodies strong points.

B.T.W. Hasn't the question of clothing colour been addressed by clubs being able to register their own club colours ?

[Max]

For what it is worth, my view is that any representative group within Archery should be able to lobby the National governing body, without invoking a political backlash. Not cry out in opposition when it does not get what it wants, or seeks to undermine it, but to get its views heard openly and honestly. Under thise circumstnages the lobbying group should deserve to get an open and honest answer, not be ignored or denounced as heretics. I personally would like to see the club colour scheme widened to cover the whole outfit, rather than limiting its scope to the top only - that might give people the scope to purchase matching outfits, rather than ending up colour combinations like something out of the "what Not to Wear" TV program.

I don't know Max, your all white setup certainly turns heads in the local pub on the way home. The Randall & Hopkirk ( Deceased) look may be a new trend.

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by English Bowman

So you can wear what you want, unless at a National or World Record Status shoot, unless I am missreading that rule.

Daniel

True. However, non-record status shoots often make it a condition that GNAS dress regulations apply.

I make a point of never wearing GNAS colours at friendly shoots with other clubs, but the bottom line at the moment is that I either follow the rules or leave the society.

As for changing the rules, clearly the odds are stacked against any such moves because of the rather undemocratic way in which the GNAS is structured. However, if someone were to set up an online petition on a separate site I'd sign up to it like a shot.

Can I suggest the following wording as a first draft:

"We the undersigned believe that the current GNAS Dress Regulations are outdated and have a detrimental effect on encouraging new members to join and participate in our sport. It should be replaced with a simple and unambiguous code, with a wider range in choice of colours for all garments."

Just a first draft, you understand. Feel free to kick it around a bit.

[Thunk]

As I have posted elsewhere, as Dave asked us so to do, I am in favour of the dress code being scrapped and replaced with something else (see new thread "Does GNAS need to reconsider the dress code?").

However, I have reservations about AIUK being used as platform from which to campaign for a change. As someone has already pointed out, we have (nearly) 500 members against GNAS stated membership of 28,500. Even if all AIUK member were of the same mind (which I doubt - there will be a range of opinion here as much as anywhere else), that is a very small proportion which of itself will not be sufficient to change anything. We would have to make the case to the wider community of archers, and in the process would 1) alienate any who disagreed with us, and 2) gain a reputation as 'that bunch on the internet who want to change the dress code', and be dismissed as such when there is so much more to this forum and it's members.

That's my view on AIUK participation. Further comments? See you on the other thread!

[English Bowman]

Originally Posted by JohnK

True. However, non-record status shoots often make it a condition that GNAS dress regulations apply.

I make a point of never wearing GNAS colours at friendly shoots with other tournaments, but the bottom line at the moment is that I either follow the rules or leave the society.

As for changing the rules, clearly the odds are stacked against any such moves because of the rather undemocratic way in which the GNAS is structured. However, if someone were to set up an online petition on a separate site I'd sign up to it like a shot.

Can I suggest the following wording as a first draft:

"We the undersigned believe that the current GNAS Dress Regulations are outdated and have a detrimental effect on encouraging new members to join and participate in our sport. It should be replaced with a simple and unambiguous code, with a wider range in choice of colours for all garments."

Just a first draft, you understand. Feel free to kick it around a bit.

What we need to do is not lobby GNAS to change the rules, but get club tournament officers to apply the rules correctly. If the rules were applied as they are clearly written then no one would be forced to wear anything that they didn't want to. How is GNAS changing a rule to scrap dress regs at record status shoots going to affect other shoots? If I felt strongly about colours, I'd turn up in normal clothes armed with a copy of the rule book.

Daniel

[Sponge]

GNAS may have a membership of 28500, but how many of those actively and openly discuss issues at meetings and AGMs? How many are discussing this here? Probably about the same number, which is a sad thing to say.

AIUK will always show a biased side of the sport becuase it is full of people who are more internet aware and willing to post. But then most regional boards are going to be similarily set to a more traditional style.

Any views do not have to associated with AUIK; they are the views of those that vote or petition. If 100 people from here agree with a point and give their GNAS numbers, that is 100 GNAS members stating a view, not the view of 500 AUIK members. This is a forum, just like an AGM, where discussion can be held by anyone who is happy to drop in.

The only way that AIUK should be used would be in a statement like "120 people voted X against 80 people voting Y on a vote held on the leading UK Archery forum, AIUK"

Sponge.

Sponge.

[Shirt]

Rules are rules, you agreed when you signed up. They're fairly flexible at the moment, and a pair of white jeans isn't too hard to get your hands on (although you do look like a chav). Why bother trying to change it further?

[morphymick]

No.

Mick