As you will have seen Charles has chosen to use the OOLS WattsApp group to make a series of unfounded accusations of mismangement of club funds. The accusation seems to include Chris, Nigel, Eric and Nick.
In line with club policy these matters should have been raised on the Committee forum so I have extracted the relevant WhatsApp posts
Charles
Nick ole chum. I’m trying to protect our lively club for insolvency . Chris and Nigel have been reckless with our OOLSC finances. For gos sake ole mate get real. I spoke to Eric before he went on his travels. There are no new postings up for posting on the committee accessed ? Re Financial statements. However Eric did say that he had recently consented to a substantially large spares package with your, the Shop. In not prepared to watch our clubs decline any further. Big decisions ahead . Charles
Charles
Yes it’s about time everyone realises what’s going on , Huge financial outlays ( without any reference to the committee , on Chris and Nigel’s Say so on Loco purchase. We once had a total 21 k in club funds. Not sure anyone on the committee is able to view the latest financial updates . Chris keeps the website to an inner circle if only need to know 4 persons. 1 A guy he promoted to a mystical role in the inner circle 2 Chris himself with total control of the website and all email info ( which should be accessed by everyone on the committee ) so precisely no one other than Chris is aware of anything ongoing on the website other than Chris. Not good. Thousands upon thousands of pounds of OOLSC funds have been simply nodded thro for Loco purchases without any reference to the committee membership. ( ha ha . Chris has asked you to vote in a pissy 350?w yield. For the website membership fee ) Unfirtunately he seemed to overlook the thousands of pounds he or Nigel have simply nodded thro for Loco purchases. The worst is yet to come . So for r the next AGM . Should be interesting. In the meantime it seems we have a two tier club. Tier one for aresoles like myself working their but off spending hundreds of hours to secure our future Events.y try o the wider public and the simple enjoyement of our lively club or tier two. “ THE BUSINESS” who’s only intent is to secure the lucrative business side of so called Live Steam servicing . Etc. When Maurice started to purchase locos and perhaps( very ( doddegly ) embarked on servicing. He undertook the venture as a wealthy individual it was a hobby which cost the club Mk more than the original purchase cost Wd benefitted with the end profits, However.,after Maurice . We as a club now finance every reckless purchase with our precious Upfront capital . Iwe have been reduced to pen from club funds of around 22 k to around a lucky 5 k with Two RoadShow events still to go. Just whoever agreed to give you Guys without an ounce of business nounce between you to exercise such a perverse control over our club. You have totally negated all the financial protocol set out in the original banking treasury arrangements As our club Chair I will asking difficult questions . First thin g on the agenda will be setting up a totally transparent website with total access to the harddrive and email by all the committee . A totally accessible membership site with total access ti the OOLSC Committee .,.A total stop to all furthrr Loco purchases and review of the role of Loco purchasing . An answer to who owns the Locos currently purchased And where are these Locos being stored. How much each individual Loco purchased . ? Precisely How many sincex Sept 2022 have been purchased and how many sold.. Who precisely is going to be responsible to from make up the incredible shortfall in club funds from 21 000 . 0 0 since Our last AGM.
For the benefit of any committee members who may not be aware Charles has not been happy with me as Club Secretarysince before the last AGM but seems to have finally decided to go public (to the committee) with his concerns.
As many will not be aware of these issues the first thing to do is respond to each of the accusations. The accusations or questions made by Charles are in italics.
We once had a total 21 k in club funds
Current status
Bank Account £7,298.84 (with a further £1,173 to be paid in tomorrow – not included in any following figures – please add on at the end)
Locos in stock (buy in price) £10,254.74 – Conservative profit estimate of £50 per loco (32 locos) will add £1600 – Total stock vale £11,854.74
Shop Stock (buy in price) £14,930.40 - (selling price) £22,394.85
Current club funding status - Using buy in price £32,483.98 – Using expected sold price £41,548.43
Chris keeps the website to an inner circle if only need to know 4 persons – not true
All members can access the ools.com website
All committee members can access the committee site
The club google drive is where we keep the working files used for the day to day management of the club. In order to ensure that some very complex files are not damaged access currently restricted to the three administrators, Chris Nick and Norman and those who generate or work on the files, Eric and Nigel.
Following persistent demands as club chairman, Charles has now been granted view only access to the Google drive.
The whole committee are able to view the relevant working files via links on the reports menu on the committee website.
Chris himself with total control of the website and all email info (which should be accessed by everyone on the committee) – not true
I dont understand this one. Emails have no connection to the website and I have no control over them
So precisely no one other than Chris is aware of anything ongoing on the website – not true
In addition to myself Nick and Norman (as administrators) have full overview of the WiX website
All members can access and view content of the the ools.com website
All committee members can access and view the content of the committee site
Thousands of pounds of OOLSC funds have been simply nodded thro for Loco purchases – not true
Purchases made, initially by Chris, and latterly by Nigel have been made whist in the position of Loco Sales Manager. Every single purchase and sale is recorded in the Engine She Loco & Equipment sales spreadsheet – viewable at any time by all committee members via the Reports menu .
“ THE BUSINESS” who’s only intent is to secure the lucrative business side of so called Live Steam servicing
This demonstrates a complete lack of understanding on the amount of work involved in fully servicing a loco. Anyone who thinks that a £40 commission payment for three to five days’ work (sometimes more) on a loco is lucrative is welcome to have a try.
We as a club now finance every reckless purchase with our precious upfront capital
In 2023 the Loco & Equipment sales have generated a profit of £3,348.87. How is that a risk?
Just whoever agreed to give you Guys without an ounce of business nounce between you to exercise such a perverse control over our club.
You and the rest of the committee/AGM attendee’s when you voted first Chris then Nigel into the post of OOLS Club Loco Sales Manager.
You have totally negated all the financial protocol set out in the original banking treasury arrangements – not true
We have complied with all the club financial rules and have published all the transactions for all the committee to view in the Reports section of the menu. We have published a clear ethos on the way that the process operates (https://membership284.wixsite.com/ools-com/forum/policy-discussions-decisions/ools-loco-sales-policy/p-1~o) and as stated are in the process of putting together a Loco Sales Policy
Setting up a totally transparent website with total access to the harddrive and email by all the committee
This just demonstrates your total lack of understanding on how the IT behind websites works. What you are asking for is just not possible.
There are no emails as you understand them on the website. There is a messaging section which allows communication with the members who contact us with a question or request but these are not general purpose emails as you understand them and none of the committee would be responding to them. The requests relate to the shop, the Service and Repair Scheme, the Loco sales scheme and log in issues and are dealt with by the person most suited to respond to the request.
A totally accessible membership site with total access to the OOLSC Committee
You already have it. Every committee member can access all parts of the membership site. If you are referring to access to the workings and back end of the site again you demonstrate a complete lack of understanding about how these thing work.
A total stop to all further Loco purchases and review of the role of Loco purchasing – why?
The current system complies with the club rules, is overseen by several people, is visible to all the committee members who wish to look and is making money for the club. If you have an issue raise it for further discussion on the committee forum as all others do.
We do not control how and when locos become avaialable for purchase. The last big deal was from the Bluebell railway, months ago. I am aware that the backlog of locos waiting for servicing has slowed the process dowm but we are now beging to make progress.
We have just been contacted by a member with five locos to sell
If we don't take a deal (at the right price) we may be a lomg time waiting for another.
An answer to who owns the Locos currently purchased
These belong to the club. However, as an Unincorporated Association the club cannot actually own any items. Therefore the people who are looking after the items effectively become trustees of the club and are responsible for the items.
And where are these Locos being stored?
Some are with Chris, Some are with Nigel and some are with Eric
How much each individual Loco purchased.
The price of each individual loco is readily available on the Engine Shed, Locos & Equipment Sales Report
Precisely how many since Sept 2022 have been purchased and how many sold.
The Engine Shed, Locos & Equipment Sales Report has a series of year tables across the bottom. The information you request is readily available. To make thing easier I have done a quick count. This is items (inc controllers etc.) not just loco’s
2022 Bought 40 – Sold 22
2023 Bought 64 – Sold 40
Currently we still have 42 items in stock
Who precisely is going to be responsible to from make up the incredible shortfall in club funds?
What shortfall? According to Charles we started with £21,000 and after a successful year have increased that amount to:
Money and actual stock £32,483.98
Money and expected profits from sales £41,548.43