Our Secretary's response to Forum notes

Head Office has provided Chapters with a copy of the Notes from the Chapter Forum meeting at the Port Macquarie rally. A copy has been put on our website and members can find it under the “What’s new” section.

Having attended the forum and read the notes I would like to give you my comments on what has been recorded in the notes.  As you may know I had written a letter to the Board and Head Office regarding a number of issues and the letter was to be openly discussed at the meeting. 

After a number of presentations I was asked to come to the front of the meeting to talk through the issues raised. There was no way that the content of the letter was going to be fairly dealt with and as I thought the attendees fell into their respective and expected camps.

(1)    Members  who believe everything is fine and don’t like criticism or constructive comment.

(2)    Members who had not read the letter and don’t want to rock the boat.

(3)    Members  who are prepared to make comment and query policies.

Rather than go through each of the issues raised in my letter in order,  the discussion moved from one issue to another without, in my view,  achieving an outcome.  I had raised 10 different issues in my letter and this is what was recorded in the Forum notes.

The first subject of “communication” was discussed at length and John Osborne asked the meeting if they were satisfied with the current level of communication. The vast majority of the delegates present indicated they were satisfied.  

Other issues from his letter were addressed:‐

LNT Scheme not strong enough:‐

It is not practical to make the scheme more difficult. Its continuing voracity will always depend on the calibre of participants and rogues will never be properly contained.

Further exclusive CMCA Member Benefits:‐

Whilst it is important that the Club continues to seek improved facilities that will be available to all self contained RVers, the Club was continually working towards also improving Member exclusive benefits.

Inadequate signage:‐

The Club makes considerable efforts to ensure proper signage is used, but in most incidences this matter is beyond Club control. Phil Chadd pointed out that despite various possible interpretations, “No Camping” signs mean NO CAMPING and there is little point in trying to dispute that fact.

John Osborne thanked Chris for his letter and spoke to several other issues:   

The first subject (communication), which was actually the last subject in my letter, ended up being a discussion between Vince Moran and myself with no acknowledgement that communication with members could be improved.

In the first part of the forum Vince Moran had said

“He (Vincent Moran) also spoke of the need to maintain communications with Members. The main means of communications are a) The Wanderer, monthly, which always contains articles from the Board, the CEO, and Phil Berry, Member Benefits and RVFTs etc.; b) this Chapter Forum, twice a year: c) these notes after each forum; d) two special Chapter Newsletters per year; and e) the Club web site. He maintains that the Club is extraordinarily prolific in its efforts to keep Members informed and up to date with their knowledge of Club activities.”

The first subject of “communication” was discussed at length and John Osborne asked the meeting if they were satisfied with the current level of communication. The vast majority of the delegates present indicated they were satisfied.  

Very few of the matters raised in the last part of my letter which covered communications were discussed and it seems that the Club is very happy with its level of communication. Vince Moran maintains that the Club is extraordinarily prolific in its efforts to keep Members informed and up to date with their knowledge of Club activities. I can only say that if the Club is “extraordinarily prolific” in its efforts to keep members informed then obviously there is not much happening.  On a positive note I have been advised that one of my suggestions to improve communications with Chapters via email is being taken up and I look forward to seeing that implemented.

This is my recollection of what happened with regard to the other issues raised in my letter together with some further commentary.

RV Friendly Towns:

Very little discussion regarding the points raised. Mostly the response from the Board and Head Office representatives was that the RVFT program is working well with few problems.  Not much I can say other than continuing to push for discussion with regard to the points raised in my letter. My personal view is that the RVFT scheme has become one of quantity being more important than quality.    

Dump Points:

No discussion recorded in the notes however there was comment that siting of dump points was often decided by the local authority and it was frustrating that CMCA was not able to supervise placement.

Signage:

Little discussion on this important topic with the only comment from the Board and HO being that various authorities will do what they will do and there is no way of changing that situation.

Inadequate signage:‐

The Club makes considerable efforts to ensure proper signage is used, but in most incidences this matter is beyond Club control. Phil Chadd pointed out that despite various possible interpretations, “No Camping” signs mean NO CAMPING and there is little point in trying to dispute that fact.

With the utmost respect for Phil Chadd and his view that “No camping” means No Camping, I still maintain as citizens we are entitled to be made aware of exactly what the lawmakers and bureaucrats mean when they put up a sign. Without being too flippant does the No Camping sign mean beyond the sign, in front of the sign or around the sign. Surely it should also state by whose authority. We are conditioned to recognise that a speed limit sign relates to the section of the road beyond the sign and that most other signage will indicate where and when the activity is allowed or disallowed.  Inadequate, confusing and misleading signage is one of the major contributors to problems caused by travellers. People talk about the legal principle of “ignorance of the law is no excuse” but there is another legal option the “reasonable person test”  which I would like to raise in defending a contravention of situations where there are no signs or signs are inadequate, confusing and misleading.  Most of the Local Government Acts require the local shire or council to provide access to local laws on their website. From my little bit of research it becomes apparent that the average non legal person would find it

(1)    Almost impossible to find the specific legislation or local laws

(2)    And, if they do access the laws then interpreting them would often mean employing a lawyer.

It seems to me that the “ignorance of the law is no excuse”  test should only be relied on if the law is easily accessed and interpreted. For instance if a “reasonable person” is conditioned to interpret the meaning of a speed sign as being beyond the sign then isn’t it reasonable for that to apply to a No Camping sign.

I believe a useful CMCA benefit would be a handbook or manual that documents the relevant sections of Local Government Acts and Local laws with regard to camping, parking, standing, resting and other terms that we are expected to understand. We have a duty to comply with local rules and laws but what are the Local authorities duties in respect of disclosure and advice to travellers. Seeking professional advice with regards to Federal, State and Local Laws regarding these matters would, in my view, be member’s money well spent.  Head Office appears to have developed a very good knowledge bank when it comes to OH & S matters so why can’t the same be done with regard to laws, local or otherwise that impact on motorhomers.

Free camping:

The Board indicated that they refrain from using the term free camping and do use terms like  “low cost” or “no cost”.

Existing Caravan Parks:

No discussion regarding this point other than the fact that the Caravan lobby was a powerful and wealthy group and a formidable opponent in discussions with authorities. My little bit of research into local laws also made me aware of some interesting requirements for caravan parks which would be very useful to know about especially when some CP’s owners complain about motorhomers contravening local laws. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Self Containment Scheme:

LNT Scheme not strong enough:‐

It is not practical to make the scheme more difficult. Its continuing voracity will always depend on the calibre of participants and rogues will never be properly contained.

It was never an issue of making the LNT scheme more difficult but rather giving it some “teeth”. In its current form anyone with a decent size bucket for grey water retention can join and display the LNT sticker.  Rogues will never be properly contained and neither will their grey water.  

POP’s:

POP’s (Park over  Property) were discussed and it was encouraging to hear about the positive activities by Keith Moxham in Victoria. The fact that the concept has been in existence in New Zealand for 20 years and was raised in a meeting of Highway Wanderers in 1994 simply means that good things will come to those that wait long enough. The minutes of that HW meeting in 1994 are on the HW website.

CMCA Parks:

This concept is well and truly in the “too hard” basket. We are apparently not in the business of buying or leasing property unless it is a new Head Office.

CMCA Member Benefits:

Further exclusive CMCA Member Benefits:‐

Whilst it is important that the Club continues to seek improved facilities that will be available to all self contained RVers, the Club was continually working towards also improving Member exclusive benefits.

Predictably there was very little discussion on this issue. If as stated the Club is continually working towards improving Member exclusive benefits then it would be nice to hear what is deemed to be a member exclusive benefit.    

Cheers

Chris Wilson – Secretary   Highway Wanderers