GNAS...Maximum wait to received...

[solitarywoman]

GNAS....Maximum wait to receive membership number?

My lad has been a member of his junior archery club for three years, soon membership to be renewed for a fourth year. And he still has not received a number. He is now at an age where he is thinking competitions, fine if hes at home events, problem for away events.

So, if anyone out there who has a junior member club, how difficult or easy is it for your members to get a GNAS number.

[Craig P]

I think you should speak to his Membership Secretary a permanent no is usually issued a few months after a temporary one.
He should have had the same permanent no for the last 4 years renewed each year with a sticker from GNAS once his fee's have been paid.

[Thunk]

GNAS may be slow, but even they are not that slow! Which club is he with?

It's your club secretary's job to ensure that club members are properly registered with GNAS. Chase him/her and ascertain that he has included your son in the return to GNAS. If that is the case, then speak to the GNAS office yourself and give them a hairdryer!

I can't really see it myself, but it may be that there is some club policy of not registering junior members, or something of the like. If the problem is something like that then it would cause more problems for the club than it would ever solve, but I really can see no reason other than something outlandish like that which would have have prevented your son from getting his registration ages ago.

[not dead yet]

go direct to your county secretary as they are responsible for the fee's to GNAS.

you could also phone GNAS to check that he has or hasn't already got a number that just wasn't ever passed on.

[solitarywoman]

Thank you for your responses. Further to this topic. Last year, there was a problem finding my lads registration and fees. I had to provide proof of payment, thank goodness Im an hoader of paperwork. When that problem was resolved, it was just a case of waiting for a number - No he has never been provided with a number. I do know the person who assists with the Junior coaching has been never ending in trying to get these numbers issued. The last excuse he received was 'GNAS were having problems with software'. Its not only my lad, but a few other junior members in the group.
I did send an email to GNAS...No response. I have made contact with others, via email, promises made to chase it up that was a while ago.
I am now going to contact GNAS, thank you for that information. And will keep you informed.
Afterall this my lad still enjoys his archery and going to the club meeting the other juniors. But I do feel that, and Im not the only one, the junior members are invisible to the adult committee.

And may I just say, May bank holiday weekend at the organized shoot, all the junior members, whatever club they represented, stuck it out.Throughout all that lousy weather they were a credit. A lot of the adults quit before half the day was through.

[Trunkles]

You have got a GNAS card with a temporary membership sticker haven't you. If not your club is not doing the membership correctly. That should be issued when you first pay your GNAS fees. The sticker should be valid for 6 months until the sticker with the GNAS number arrives from Lilleshall to go over the top. That card will allow you to enter any competition. (For you read your son).

[Thunk]

[quote=solitarywoman;251357] But I do feel that, and Im not the only one, the junior members are invisible to the adult committee.
QUOTE]

Hmm...where have we heard that before?

[cornish george]

Originally Posted by solitarywoman

But I do feel that, and Im not the only one, the junior members are invisible to the adult committee.

This is beyond sad, it is positively disgraceful, can they not see that the juniors are the future of the club?

[Jungle]

Its not just juniors I am afraid, students are so excellently treated by GNAS as well. As the club coach is also the county secretary so I know our affiliations left her mid october, we received our membership stickers at the end of June just after the academic year had finished. So I have had to post stickers to members who want to shoot at home clubs over the summer. Not to mention that some have been claiming FITA target awards on out of date temporary numbers.

[solitarywoman]

Hello again

Just to update you...I phoned GNAS today, informed the person need to speak to was out of the office and to phone back later. So, instead I have sent a email detailing the problem, then first thing tomorrow I will do a follow up phone call.

With regard to membership card.. My lad passed his course, and upon production of his certificate I paid for the years Junior membership by cheque.

The second time I paid his membership fees, when reminder came through the post, by cheque. Still no card given.

Last year, I paid again as before.
Some time after this upon attending one of his training sessions I was asked if he was a member. I assured him he was and did provide all documentry payment evidence. When that was resolved, he was then issued with a membership card for the first time....no number. Even if he did have some sticker on it it would be well out of date now.

I will give credit where credit is due, the people who coach these youngsters no matter what the weather, are doing their hardest for the kids. They volunteer their time each and every week. They organize in-house (as I call it) practice sessions on a theme, with rewards.

If these handful of volunteers were to ever stop. The junior practice nights would fold I am sure, I have never seen anyone from the older members attend to assist with the juniors, its the parents who have junior members that are there.

I will keep you informed