Richard Simpson wrote:
I quote this from the TRF Code of Conduct:
"Carry your membership card with you when trail riding, so that you may identify yourself as a current member of the TRF - and display a current membership sticker."
So far as I know, the CoC is embedded in the Constitution of the TRF.
The TRF is therefore obliged to provide its members with a dated sticker and membership card, irrespective of anyone's personal opinion on the matter.
If anyone, a director or otherwise, thinks this provision of the CoC needs to be changed then my understanding is that the suggested change has to be put to members at a general meeting and approved before it can be implemented.
As pointed out above, the lack of a membership card could prevent members from accessing the full benefits of TRF membership. This matter should be rectified as soon as possible, otherwise we risk a 'storm in a teacup' that will deflect the directors' attenton from more important matters.
I would urge caution about reading things into the CoC that aren't there, or which are unclear.
The TRF does provide for members to "identify yourself" - this is the CoC
requirement that precedes the subsequent guidance as to how this may be achieved.
There is no requirement for a "dated" sticker or card.
TRF meets its obligations in respect of cards/stickers.
We can't change the requirement to carry a card and display a sticker because it is unclear as to whether this is an absolute requirement of the CoC. I very much doubt that compelling the displaying of stickers and carrying of TRF cards is what the membership had in mind when approving the CoC.
Given that TRF already meets its obligations in respect of cards/stickers, the CoC doesn't give additional leverage to those seeking to make the obligations more onerous on TRF (and its members) than they need to be.
The matter of reviewing the CoC has been put to the membership who approved its being reviewed at the Oct 2015 AGM. Our CoC is therefore under review as per the members wishes. The resolution approved a principle for review that the CoC should seek to provide rules that responsible trailriders want, as opposed to imposing rules that a minority think they should have.