182 replies to this topic

[pyroduck7]

im down in norfok, abbout 100miles away from london, near thetford and gt yarmoth

[rocketpro]

just found this post so sorry if im diigging up old news:)

did anything ever come of this, sounds like a great idea.

Sorry to put a dampener on this, but i think it died a death because people began to see that it`s totally impractical, and could never be realized.
A great idea, but sadly i don`t think it can ever happen.

[pyrotechnist]

The license fee is just to dam much money plus paying them for the time spent per hour writing it etc.

[digger]

Sorry to put a dampener on this, but i think it died a death because people began to see that it`s totally impractical, and could never be realized.
A great idea, but sadly i don`t think it can ever happen.

Not totally impractical. It is possible to do. Unfortunately in this instance there were some technical difficulties which made it impossible at this particular site, I can't comment further than this I am afraid. However don't rule it out completely there may be other options that come to the table in the fullness of time.

It is possible to do as an individual if you have a bit of money to throw around, OK well quite allot. The main problem comes with finding a suitable site on which you will get planning permission. The rest is prescriptive legislation and paying the money.

D

[phildunford]

I heard some interesting news about a possible alternative at the AGM on Saturday.

Not got time to follow it up at the moment, but as Digger says, don't give up hope - more news when I know the facts...

[digger]

I heard some interesting news about a possible alternative at the AGM on Saturday.

Not got time to follow it up at the moment, but as Digger says, don't give up hope - more news when I know the facts...

Yes very interesting I have to agree. It certainly offers some hope.

[crystal palace fireworks]

I have to agree with Digger`s and Phil D`s sentiments, a physical co-operative type club for manufacturing/creating experimental pyro devices legally will almost certainly happen at some point in the future,...its something we will not give up on pursuing.

Other than what has already been said, for this to happen, we have to also look at the practicalities from our current stand point of about 70 members who are spread around the UK.

Are there going to be enough members willing to travel more than 45 minutes from the homes regularly to warrent attending/paying for this club at weekends?.

I think we could get funding for this from EU and government level,...it could mean we may have to link up with either private companies, explosive testing establishments or science universties of some sort, but for this to happen,.... I think we should concentrate on trying to increase UKPS membership to 300 or 400 or more, then we could address the issues of having one up-north and one down south.

[digger]

I have to agree with Digger`s and Phil D`s sentiments, a physical co-operative type club for manufacturing/creating experimental pyro devices legally will almost certainly happen at some point in the future,...its something we will not give up on pursuing.

Other than what has already been said, for this to happen, we have to also look at the practicalities from our current stand point of about 70 members who are spread around the UK.

Are there going to be enough members willing to travel more than 45 minutes from the homes regularly to warrent attending/paying for this club at weekends?.

I think we could get funding for this from EU and government level,...it could mean we may have to link up with either private companies, explosive testing establishments or science universties of some sort, but for this to happen,.... I think we should concentrate on trying to increase UKPS membership to 300 or 400 or more, then we could address the issues of having one up-north and one down south.

Yes we do need more paying members. I agree one site would not suit all of the members, there will inevitably be some issues to say the least.

I have to say though it would be a great draw for people to become members if we could ever pull it off.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Yes we do need more paying members. I agree one site would not suit all of the members, there will inevitably be some issues to say the least.

I have to say though it would be a great draw for people to become members if we could ever pull it off.

Perhaps a way of alleviating the problem of getting members to travel distances to one club to begin with, is to site a base where there is a seperate field for camping (tents & campervans) to stay over night?,...individual members pay say £7.50 per night or £11.00 for the weekend, (special rates for families groups) non-members pay £15.00 per night and £30.00 for the weekend,..the idea being the UKPS makes say a small profit of around 20% from members to keep it going, but more from others,...this will give an incentive to join us! (hopefully).

We could have a portaloo/shower/workshops etc that is self contained from solar panel, ground source heating, and wind turbined powered (almost certain to get help on this from the green movement) , a portacabin to sleep in during the winter months,..... marques, barbeques & camp fires in the evening on a largish scale!

[Arthur Brown]

Among the most important things that individuals can do are- Join the society (not only the forum) and keep up with credible training.

A Society of people with accredited Cat3, cat4, Stage pyro, Film SFX, ADR, etc training starts to attract all the right sort of attention from government departments.

[CCH Concepts]

how about some advertising on youtube. pretty much every person interested in pryo finds youtube before a forum, what about posting on popular and choosen vids recomending people to join the site. espically the bad vids, advising people to lear the right way. (sorry for bad spelling cant spell check at work)

[Peret]

...our current stand point of about 70 members who are spread around the UK.

There are only 70 members? Shoot, I imagined they would have to cancel police leave and close Whitehall when UKPS went to London to lobby. I agree with Digger, you need a membership drive - there are more than 2000 people registered for the Forums.

You could start by making it a bit less inconvenient to apply - perhaps an "associate" category that can be completed online, instead of needing photos and documents submitted by mail.

[phildunford]

There are only 70 members? Shoot, I imagined they would have to cancel police leave and close Whitehall when UKPS went to London to lobby. I agree with Digger, you need a membership drive - there are more than 2000 people registered for the Forums.

You could start by making it a bit less inconvenient to apply - perhaps an "associate" category that can be completed online, instead of needing photos and documents submitted by mail.

We are trying to make it a bit easier, but the reasons for the way we do it are very valid. We need to know exactly who our members are - M. Mouse esquire need not apply! It shows the authorities we are serious. All our members are real people, traceable and commit to behave in a responsible way. If a member got into trouble, it is possible that the society would be liable, as we are a properly constituted company. In theory we have fixed liability, but none of the directors want to loose their houses because of an out of control member!

There seem to be two reasons to me why people do not join.

1) They are afraid to put their head above the parapet and give out their real names.
2) They are too mean to part with £20 - the price of a round of drinks.

Having said that, the membership is growing steadily - we are never going to be a huge organisation, we are just too specialist.

Edited by phildunford, 16 May 2010 - 07:57 PM.

[Peret]

We are trying to make it a bit easier, but the reasons for the way we do it are very valid. We need to know exactly who our members are - M. Mouse esquire need not apply!
<snip>
There seem to be two reasons to me why people do not join.

1) They are afraid to put their head above the parapet and give out their real names.
2) They are too mean to part with £20 - the price of a round of drinks.

I understand your position, but that's why I suggested an associate membership class, where the application is less stringent but can be completed online while the impulse lasts. Associates with a real interest could be encouraged to trade up, but in the meantime you would be able to say "Mr Minister, we have 70 full members and 700 associates". Plus you'd have more money. £1400 a year must hardly cover the expenses of (for example) representation on the ELR group.

In my case, it's not the cost or not wanting to be identifiable. I had the membership forms downloaded before I joined the forum, but I don't have a supply of photocopied documents and passport photos handy in my desk, so completing the process requires some effort to go out and get them - which I haven't done yet because it's not a priority. I suggest that this is more likely to be the main reason why people don't join.

But now I've said that, I feel like a lazy hypocrite so I'd better go out and do it this week