tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post8746840146250560086..comments2024-03-29T11:18:07.045+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Democracy Under ThreatJim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86243952303037355692013-08-26T11:55:55.002+01:002013-08-26T11:55:55.002+01:00I agree that many criticisms of Napo seem valid, b...I agree that many criticisms of Napo seem valid, but everything to do with Napo (apart from the behaviour of individuals) is the collective responsibility of all the members. If Napo officials and staff behave badly over an extended time - it might be connected with inadequate support and oversight from the rest of us.<br /><br />I know that on many times it has been difficult to find enough people willing to serve Napo at a branch and national level - yet we the members did not amend the constitution to change what we collectively attempt to do.<br /><br />As for the subscription amount - it is set either by the general meeting or the National Executive Committee(made up of people elected by the whole membership - who bother to vote)<br /><br />I fear too many of us have paid too little attention for too long a period. <br /><br />I have some sympathy for the current incumbents of positions of responsibility in Napo as this really is the biggest crisis - as far as I am concerned Napo and Probation have ever faced, certainly since I became a member in 1974.<br /><br />I concede that I have not played a full part in Napo, despite having held branch positions on a number of occasions and attended a considerable number of annual meetings. I am now as a retired probation officer and associate member, no longer actively involved.<br /><br />Andrew Hatton.Andrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-40479142049548115732013-08-25T16:28:44.486+01:002013-08-25T16:28:44.486+01:00Service and leadership thats exactly what membersh...Service and leadership thats exactly what membership pay for. I don't think we get value for money though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-27285800874740766972013-08-25T16:04:05.108+01:002013-08-25T16:04:05.108+01:00Yes but members pay for a General Secretary and st...Yes but members pay for a General Secretary and staff and for their pay the members expect both a service and leadership! Napo have been short-changed for quite some time and dare I say since the departure of Judy McKnight! We still await the verdict of the Employment Tribunal into the shenanigans at Chivalry Road, a time during which I think Tom Rendon was sharing leadership, and he hopes to be re-elected? Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-91046206545550735182013-08-25T15:23:33.879+01:002013-08-25T15:23:33.879+01:00Napo are the organisation their full members make ...Napo are the organisation their full members make it.<br /><br />EVERY member is entitled to attend all national General meetings which is the supreme policy making body of the organisation and also to attend to EVERY local branch meeting.<br /><br />Every member is entitled to vote in ballots to elect national and local officials and the General Secretary.<br /><br />Every member is entitled to instigate policy by way of a motion to their local branch or national general meeting. The constitution also allows for members (I think - it is a while since I checked ) to collectively instigate the convention of a national and probably also branch meeting(I don't recall that bit)<br /><br />Every member is entitled to seek nomination to serve as a branch or national officer and/or committee member.<br /><br />http://naponewsonline.org/2013/07/23/how-to-construct-a-motion/<br /><br />I cannot quickly locate a copy of the national Napo constitution on line, but one should be available on request from the Napo headquarters office in Chivalry Road, Battersea, London and probably local branch offices as well.Andrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-35728494038269556792013-08-23T21:31:05.907+01:002013-08-23T21:31:05.907+01:00Does any know what napo are procuring? Or failing ...Does any know what napo are procuring? Or failing that can someone please tell me what purpose they serveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-19275901704696876432013-08-23T19:14:12.162+01:002013-08-23T19:14:12.162+01:00Do they know what they are procuring yet?Do they know what they are procuring yet?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-11486462300246787132013-08-23T16:58:24.546+01:002013-08-23T16:58:24.546+01:00Oh no - looks like I've got to agree with that...Oh no - looks like I've got to agree with that arse on this then! lolJim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-42010846931301993772013-08-23T16:06:31.985+01:002013-08-23T16:06:31.985+01:00Bubb doesn't seem to like it either.Bubb doesn't seem to like it either.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-91356692272021252842013-08-23T11:02:11.216+01:002013-08-23T11:02:11.216+01:00So typical of this Government....I have been compl...So typical of this Government....I have been completely bemused this week at the reporting of the GCSE issues - Mr Gove wanted them tests to be harder, so they were made harder, we presume, and he must be ringing his hands in glee, as there has been a second year reduction in grades A-C. Then, schools, because they are bright and creative people find a way for 'every child to matter' whereby they allow children to enter the examine early, and if they pass great, as they can then concentrate on other subjects which require their attention; if they don't they can always try again in the spring/summer. Oh the elite glasses are now up in arms, suggesting people should not be sitting multiple exams, in their efforts to increase their chances of achieving A-C. As a ex-school Govenror, everything about a school and everything about a student is measured against A-C grades; so it is hardly surprising that schools have found a way to assist their students...cos that's what they are paid to do. Now Mr Goove (as it is pronounced I think) is now looking for a way to demean those students who needed more than one chance, or perhaps just took the first exam when feeling extremely ill or stressed. He, like Mr Failing are both prize pricks - both out to keep people of a certain class - above the rest of us. Today's post is just another example of knee jerk reaction politics - in their far right and self serving way, they don't believe people can see them for what they are and play them at their own game; consequently, you get the 'Transparency of Lobbying, non-Party Campaigning, and Trade Union Administration Bill' - Bollocks and I am just about to pen my letter to my own MP and Ms Smith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-76264088456409492362013-08-23T10:41:39.071+01:002013-08-23T10:41:39.071+01:00Todays Civil Society on line.
"GOVERNMENT TO...Todays Civil Society on line.<br /><br />"GOVERNMENT TO START PROCURING PROBATION SERVICES IN JUST 4 WEEKS".scalagousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07962107613759204960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-19848214925110384902013-08-23T09:53:20.608+01:002013-08-23T09:53:20.608+01:00Excellent blog post - I'll say no more - I don...Excellent blog post - I'll say no more - I don't want to frighten anyone else into silence!Andrew_S_Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115192522317353139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-27212314982933070992013-08-23T09:17:26.482+01:002013-08-23T09:17:26.482+01:00Yes I think you're right - could even affect t...Yes I think you're right - could even affect the likes of Policy Exchange lol Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-86168291602292643932013-08-23T08:34:30.224+01:002013-08-23T08:34:30.224+01:00This is a genuine question, as I can't recall ...This is a genuine question, as I can't recall it being discussed anywhere - but wouldn't this bill regulate activity that is in favour of Government policy as well? So wouldn't all those right-wing think tanks like Policy Exchange, and the rabid small-staters at the Tax Payer's Alliance, be limited by it too?<br /><br />I'm not suggesting that's a good thing, by the way, since this seems to be an appallingly bad piece of legislation - but it does, hopefully, raise hopes of a very odd coalition to oppose it.Timnoreply@blogger.com