Consultation

There are a number of mechanisms we use to elicit views.

Members write, ring [up to 1000/day] and email us - constantly.

Our council currently has 12 people representing the personal members, they are available to listen and bring points forward.

We organise seminars and forums for our diverse interest groups.

Members are invited to write into the forum provided in the magazine.

Students on our courses give feedback to their instructors, who then tell us.

Over 400 volunteer committee members in the RYA regions, home country associations and central committees act as the eyes and ears of the Association...listening to their fellow boaters concerns so that a wide variety of perspectives can be brought to bear when important policy decisions are made.

We have experimented with using the web to elicit views but are wary about being able to properly manage a forum type approach.

The difference between us and the Cruising Association is that they have many
less members than us, with a single pastime. Their forum type approach is therefore more useful and manageable.

We will look at this again. It goes without saying that all the readers of this piece will think forums are a good idea!

We also keep an eye on this and other forums on a regular basis and would rather that IPC pay Kim, than for us to employ a moderator/supervisor.