Re: [Fsfe-uk] Activity

[MJ Ray]

Alex Hudson <address@hidden> wrote: [...]
> The reason I say end of life isn't much to do with the AFFS or people 
> itself; we still have issues with the bank account which have never 
> really been sorted out properly despite efforts of a number of us 
> (indeed, MJ kicked that off way back when).

I often meet a regional manager (or something like that) of the bank.
If you want, I'll ask him to manage whatever change to the account is
wanted, but I really don't understand why this account is such trouble
when I've done similar signatory and address changes on other accounts
at the same bank without problem.

> I would love to see interest in this type of work pick up again. FSFE 
> has started showing more interest in the UK again, we still have 
> software patents work to do, the Govt. is still interested in policy and 
> things - there's plenty of scope, the problem has been simply lack of 
> manpower I think. [...]

As you know, I felt the problem was an unwillingness of the committee
members to inform and involve (both committee and the wider
membership) and to delegate, or rather a willingness to lay down rules
to prevent unapproved acts and to try to stick tightly to the letter
of the incomplete interim rules, so it simply became easier to work
outside AFFS.  (Amusingly, while looking for the above quote, I found
some guy called MJ Ray writing in February 2001 "if the exec are
muppets, they *will* drive the association onto a sand-bank."  I guess
we turned out to be muppets.  Waka waka!)

I feel that the best plan for AFFS would be to appoint someone as
short-term dictator to reshape the organisation and release it back to
member democracy.  If you could interest him, someone who knows AFFS
history, has experience of other non-profit groups and isn't afraid to
break a few eggs like Andrew Savory would probably be a good bet.

However, I'm no longer a member (I think I stopped paying when I
changed bank account), so it's not up to me!  Other than John Seago,
are there any members?

Best wishes,
-- 
MJ Ray (slef)
Webmaster for hire, statistician and online shop builder for a small
worker cooperative http://www.ttllp.co.uk/ http://mjr.towers.org.uk/
(Notice http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html) tel:+44-844-4437-237