jan meermanns raised the point of risk and god forbid something goes wrong and someone gets hurt.

yes, exactly insurance is a big issue. its the insurers that have pushed virtually all OHS laws globally.

many wouldnt reliase that there is only about half a dozen insuranace underwriters around the world these are the companies that actually do the insuring all the others buy thier insurance from them, so if your nieve enough to think something that happens in america or the UK doesnt affect australia or vis versa you are sorely mistaken.

when there was that heritage steam boiler explosion at a public fair in the US a few years ago due to a faulty and tampered with safety relief valve that didnt operate when it should have, we now have a national heritage steam code of practice in response to that incident yes the australian government consulted the heritage steam community to form the policy but now there is stricter rules around heritage steam and pressure plant.

we dont want the various government departments dictating to us how we can enjoy our hobby we want to determine that ourselves. so we must be mindful of that.

does the club have its own safety code? if not we should. i can provide a copy of the code used by my club and many other Australian antique machinery clubs that would make a good starting point.

Resolution 212: Whereas, the club sponsors exhibits or shows of antique Caterpillar-related machinery for the edification and viewing pleasure of the general public; and Whereas, the operation of machinery may be hazardous to show attendees and other show exhibitors; and Whereas, the club has always been concerned with ensuring that all of its shows are conducted in a safe manner and that no accidents occur; and Whereas, at some time in the distant past, the board of directors had adopted a written show safety policy; and Whereas, the Shows and Advertising Committee has reviewed the old written policy and has recommended a new policy; Now therefore, it is resolved:

1. All prior policies of the club concerning safety measures to be observed at club-sponsored shows are repealed.
2. Effective immediately, the following constitutes the club's policy on show safety.

"Disclaimer: ACMOC is not responsible for personal injury or property damage incurred during a show or event or during the loading and unloading of equipment. Loading and unloading is the responsibility of the equipment owner/operator.

The following is what was delivered to the chapters years ago to use for ACMOC safety rules:

• Do not climb on the machines unless the owner is present and you have his/her permission.
• Stay back a minimum of 15 feet from any operating equipment.
• Operate a machine only if:
• You are 16 years of age or older.
• You are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• You have attended a safety training class within the last 5 days.
• You have the permission of the owner.
• You know how to operate the specific piece of equipment and you can do it safely.
• Riders are permitted on equipment only if the machine has a seat designed specifically for a passenger other than the operator.
• Make sure all work tools have been lowered and are resting on the ground before leaving a machine. That includes buckets, blades, rippers, aprons, etc.
• Stay alert to machine movement as you walk around the show grounds.
• Maintain direct personal control of your children and pets. All pets must be on a leash.
• Exercise care when approaching a parked machine. Burns can occur if hot parts are touched even after the machine has been parked.
• Report any unsafe activity to show management.

Note: Control of ATV’s, golf carts, and automobiles on the show grounds, is left to the hosting club.

And if you are a show host the following is required:
 A. The host's safety rules must cover all aspects of the ACMOC safety rules, or ACMOC will require use of their rules during the event.
B. The ACMOC Show Committee will work with the host to determine which set of safety rules will prevail.
C. Safety rules will be enforced uniformly and fairly.
D. Either the host or ACMOC will conduct a safety training session for all operators of equipment daily and provide some form of identification for those operators who have completed the training. The ACMOC Show Committee will work with the host to determine whether ACMOC or the host will conduct the sessions.
E. Areas where equipment is operating must be clearly marked with yellow caution tape or security fencing to prevent spectators from entering the area.
F. A severe weather plan is required to identify the action/actions to be taken if a storm occurs during the show or event.
G. Show management reserves the right, at its discretion, to deny admission to any person or machine, or to require any person, vehicle, or machine to leave the site for safety reasons.
H. Anyone whose judgment is impaired by alcohol or drugs is not allowed on the show grounds.

 

Hi, chriscokid.
Thank you for the clarification. I know a couple of people who need to read that - - - - - and maybe read it again - - - and again - - until they UNDERSTAND it. And then follow it.

Just my 0.02.

Only seeing the letter (via copies shared in this thread). Always sad to see good people end up in organizational disagreements and brokenness. Mind you, I made my living from helping organizations sort things out. (www.onfootconsulting.com) People are people--usually well-intended, but not always wise. Be that as it may be, I am deeply grateful for ACMOC. Ever since becoming the happy owner of Hanna, my 1968 12F grader, ACMOC folks have been a faithful source of reliable and sometimes extraordinarily helpful advice and wisdom as I, an old fart and a rookie (sometimes clueless) grader operator, learn to operate and maintain Hanna. All that to say that I will happily and gratefully renew my online membership when it comes due. And I will pick up occasional merchandise and, fingers crossed, I very much hope to make it to an ACMOC event. I wish the Board wisdom and grace as they manage through this difficult conversation.

Hi, Onfoot.
Pleased to hear that you have received valuable help from this forum and that you plan to renew your membership. Quite aside from all the wise and experienced people who so freely share their knowledge, the club also needs the less experienced people to ask the questions that so often bring that knowledge to the surface.

Graders work on the law of the lever. If one front wheel goes over a rock a foot high, that movement is only 6" by the time it gets to the center of the front axle. It is halved again, to only 3", by the time it gets back to the center of the blade. And that is without ANY controls being touched. If you make another pass in the same tracks, you will encounter that 3" bump which will again be halved twice by the time it gets back to the blade. This does depend to some extent on the angle of your blade as you are working but holds sorta true any which way.

The 'art' of operating any earth moving machine is being able to set the machine's blade/bowl/bucket/cutting edge to take the material from where it needs to be taken to where it needs to be placed in the condition in which it needs to be when placed with the least number of passes.

Capiche??????

Just my 0.02.

You've been one of the very helpful folks, Deas. Much appreciated--including all the grader tips you pass along.

A few thoughts from the dust bowl in NW Kansas.

I sincerely hope the so called “coup party” will re-consider what their actions have and will do to the ACMOC. It is a very divisive action that makes members choose sides and sets up a situation where no one wins and will probably be the final coup de gras for the club. If the “coup party” is really serious about the continuation of the club, they will notify members that the November 19 meeting has been cancelled and the “coup party” signatories will assist the current board in leading our club, not destroying it. Considerable damage has already been done by the “coup party” and it is time to stop the bleeding while the patient is still alive.
As long as members of the “coup party” are naming and trashing current board members it must be appropriate to name past board members that are accomplices of the “coup party”.

Please take the time to read the last Jan 2019 postings by the past treasurer, Peter Bloom, on the discussion board. Just search for Garlic Pete and they are the last two postings he made in 2019. They give a thumbnail sketch of the past problems that had been occurring within ACMOC for years during the period the “coup party” led the club. I find it highly ironic that Mr. Bloom freely admits the leadership shortcomings during his tenure along with his plea for future support for the Board and yet he now is a participant of the “coup party”. It is very disturbing that Mr. Bloom and others could not see the forest for the trees but now think they know how to run ACMOC and in the process devastate the very club they purport to care about.

If anyone should be unhappy, it should be the members that elected the ones that are now participants in the “coup party”. I fully understand that being a director is time consuming and voluntary so we as members cannot expect the same diligence as a full-time employee. However, those that have made the mistakes in the past do not deserve to be given the keys to the future, particularly in a radical takeover. It is evident from past financial statements (prior to 2019) that good judgement and perception were lacking, and little consideration was given to what was actually happening in most of the club operations.

The act of requesting a BOD recall in person to vote in Morton IL, is a slap in the face to our friends and members in AU, UK, NZ, CA and other countries. How many of them can travel to the US to participate in a meaningless vote? Their participation is invaluable to the operation of our club, and they contribute immensely to the success of ACMOC. I personally have shipped and received numerous manuals and parts from and to members in all the above-mentioned countries. We should be thanking the members from these countries, not cutting them out of the membership voting loop. What a despicable ploy by the “coup party”.

The “coup party” needs to cancel their nonsensical meeting for November 19 and channel their energy into supporting the current BOD and to make ACMOC better serve its members. An apology from the “coup party” is in order not because of their views but because of the way they tried to foist their agenda of a few malcontents upon the entire membership. The “coup party” behavior is unacceptable.

That's certainly a very gracious way of stating the issues. I can remember for years bringing the financial deficit status to the attention of members and to PB and was promptly "blown off" by the same.
Going by some previous statements it appears this is an "illegal" attempt at hostile take over and should be handled as a legal matter.

the board have the power to ask the members who have put their name to this farce to show cause why they shouldn't have their membership cancelled and be dismissed from the club. there is a proper process which would need to be followed.

they can also simply vote to not accept those persons renewals when they fall due. and they don't have to give a reason other than your renewal was not accepted.