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Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:11 pm
by kennyc
ovenpaa wrote:I do not have last years invoice to hand however I do remember the figure as it was GBP144.00 all in for three days.
This year for us it would have been GBP525.00 for the same period, plus the inclusion of clause
4) No residential use permitted on trade sites. See website http://www.nra.org.uk /Accommodation Bookings for any requirements. meant we would have to effectively empty the stand of all products and firearms in the absence of local security (Me sleeping in the stand) Find storage for the firearms and separate accommodation. All of a sudden the event was just not financially viable for us and let me stress that the Imperial is certainly not an event to make money for us.
Also consider the plight of the larger long term exhibitors such as Norman Clarke, as opposed to paying somewhere around GBP1,000 they would have been looking at closer to GBP6-7,000 and I have no idea how they would have protected their stock if they were not allowed to stop with the stand.
Yes the NRA did change the terms to 2013 costs + 20% at the last moment however it was just too late which is why I attended as a guest of Actionclear.
Am I bitter about the whole affair? Actually not really, in fact I am quite philosophical about the whole thing. The part that really grates is being told by a senior NRA member of staff words to the effect
'If you cannot afford the fees maybe it is time to find a new career' closely followed by the promise to find us over the weekend to discuss future trade events plus some other stuff. Disappointing.
One final thing, I have been PM'd about my NRA bashing, I really thought I was a staunch supporter of the NRA which has always been well documented so to those that think differently I can only apologise.
Trade Site Booking Form 2014.docx
the only "NRA bashing " I've seen is letting everybody know why you weren't going to be running a solo stand this year, if thats considered "bashing" then I suggest someone needs to toughen up a little bit!
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:26 pm
by Dougan
ovenpaa wrote:One final thing, I have been PM'd about my NRA bashing, I really thought I was a staunch supporter of the NRA which has always been well documented so to those that think differently I can only apologise.
I've never thought you've been bashing the NRA - I think you're just relating your experience honestly...and with the amount of traders we have on the forum I think that this is a very valid topic - it gives an insight into important matters that members like myself would otherwise be mainly unaware of...
...like yourself, I'm all for supporting NRA as they try to sort out what is a historical mess...but the issue of their management of the trade fairs and rents is one thing they didn't get right this year; but it sounds like that has at least been acknowledged...
...you shouldn't say THE SHED won't be ever be there again...see how it goes...
Btw: About no one coming to see you as promised - It could be that after the incident being discussed here happened, NRA staff and representatives are a bit shy of traders...?
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:35 pm
by Dougan
Just looking at all possibilities...
...as we all know in currently society, the slightest thing can be used by an accuser to imply thread or assault...could it be that the trader was out of order...
...I find it hard to believe that the head of the NRA would behave in such a way that the police 'genuinely' needed calling...?
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:52 pm
by the running man
I've been pmd by both current and former nra staff confirming the incident as being accurate....funny how nobody from the NRA has commented....
I think it might be a good idea for mercer to make a statement before the sun news desk gets ahold of this...
If it is true,I can't see how the NRA can keep mercer in office.if it's not true then again how about some official clarification?
Mercer moniters this forum,so be in no doubt he's reading this....Mr mercer is this story about you true or not?
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:30 am
by dromia
Why on earth would Mercer be monitoring this forum, we have been told by the NRA that this forum and therefore our members are insignificant and of no importance.
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:54 am
by the running man
dromia wrote:Why on earth would Mercer be monitoring this forum, we have been told by the NRA that this forum and therefore our members are insignificant and of no importance.
His staff have told me.....
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:56 am
by dromia
Seems that there is no consistent policy or someone is not conveying the truth.
On the other hand it could just be honest to goodness paranoia of Mr Mercers part.
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:06 am
by the running man
Who knows,I'm not an nra member and don't attend Bisley,I rarely shoot at club level anymore so I'm not fussed either way...
Ide just like there to be a little honesty in the body that's supposed to represent shooters in the uk,a body that is supposed to be respected,responsible...that is my reasoning behind this original post..
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:09 am
by dromia
I think we would all like that from the NRA but after nigh on 30 years of membership I'm still waiting.
Re: NRA chief taken away by police
Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:31 am
by Chapuis
the running man wrote:Who knows,I'm not an nra member and don't attend Bisley,I rarely shoot at club level anymore so I'm not fussed either way...
Ide just like there to be a little honesty in the body that's supposed to represent shooters in the uk,a body that is supposed to be respected,responsible...that is my reasoning behind this original post..
Perhaps you are expecting just a bit too much there running man. The NRA represents itself and it's members on occasion. It is quite a relatively small organisation when compared to other shooting organisations and only really represents a small part of the shooting community in general, so don't go expecting too much from it.