FATG Website

[khooengtheng]

It has been a long long time.... still waiting....

[MITREMAN]

Are we there yet.........?

I was writing a post last night, it was taken me ages, then I lost the B.......... Lot.

I hate Computers

Tip Must Remember to work in word and cut and past it in.

Had a good walk round Blickling Hall lake today and I'am now enjoying an award winning ale, Fish and Chips for Dinner on Day


MITREMAN

[kev@frames]

I dont think so. John. Thats from another post and out of context. That was a post with regard to one business visting another, covertly, usually to steal ideas or leech off someone elses work, thats a completely different scenario to a framing organisation visiting framers with a view to assessing day to day standards or service so that they can help the business with feedback or constructive critiscism.
happy easter

[span2iels]

I have watched this posting and others regarding the Fine Art Trade Guild and find it difficult to respond because of the intensity of replies from those who are either disillusioned or have unresolved issues with the Guild. I would certainly not expect the Guild to answer these issues on this Forum but that does not suggest that the Guild are not aware of constructive criticism and should this be of benefit to members then taking the appropriate action; certainly, Mary Evans is stalwart in addressing those pertinent issues raised that are the responsibility of the Framer’s Committee and responding through her column in Art Business Today.

I am a committed member of the Guild and to mimic Tom Clancy: if asked if I was ‘’proud’’ to be a member I would reply NO I was ‘’very proud’’ and if asked if I was ‘’very proud’’ the answer would be NO I was ‘’extremely proud.’’ I know that my membership and GCF qualifications have generated business, in some cases from as far a field as France not bad for the flatlands of Lincolnshire. Recently I returned from visiting the NI Branch and both the North and South of Scotland Branches; I was made extremely welcome at all three by fellow framers and have received many notes of appreciation. I was most impressed by the camaraderie, friendliness and approach to helping solve each others framing problems; a similar situation exists in my own Branch. It is these attributes that provide for a strong membership to our Guild.

Lesson over; I will now await the tirade of replies – constructive criticism is good. I believe this Forum to be an excellent vehicle for discussion and without a doubt it helps framers of all levels; I might well be considered a ‘’lurker’’ and the reason is that I find the so called ‘’Guild Bashing’’ by what, to be quite frank, appears to be a vociferous minority - disagreeable. I have no intention in replying to those postings that this missive may raise and no matter what this may bring - I remain PROUD to be a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild.

Mal Reynolds

[Keith Hewitt]

Well said Mal Reynolds – aka span2iels

There are Forum members who are F.A.T.G. members, and there are those who choose not to be F.A.T.G. members. We live in a free society – thankfully

It’s impossible for the F.A.T.G. to please all of the people all of the time. They have a finite budget and finite staff. From what I have seen of them at NEC, SACA, German show, Annual Awards Dinner, the regional meetings, and their award winning mag ABT, they do their best and work hard.

If you want to change something at F.A.T.G. you can only do it by participating along with all the other members.

How they choose to spend their income IMHO should not be harshly criticized by outsiders. The F.A.T.G. does not tell non members how to spend their money.

[Jonny2morsos]

I too reply to this as an FATG member and while I feel they don't get everything right, as a member I have the option of attending meetings and making my views known should I choose to.

Those of you who choose not to belong or have relinquished membership are free to do as you wish but it is hardly fair to take a pop at an organisation to which you don't belong.

So if you would like to see a strong guild put your hands in your pocket and pay your membership fee and get involved.

I can't think of a more polite way of saying this but I think it is a case of "Put up or Shut up"

John.

[markw]

I can't think of a more polite way of saying this but I think it is a case of "Put up or Shut up"

John.

I know of many framers who put up and failed to get heard. But its nice to hear from the one or two members who think the FATG is a good organisation. Jon - could you possibly describe a discussion that you've had at branch level that lead to something changing. My experience of trying is well illustrated here

[Framerpicture]

I "put up" with being a member for 15 years before leaving over the demands for more money from members to build the new web site.

During my time as a member the most tangible benefit to myself and my company was to take the GCF.
This educated both myself and my staff to become better framers.

However, when the GCF was launched it was proposed by the Guild that there would be a PR campaign to raise public awareness of standards in framing . If this happened it passed me by and I see little evidence of it now.

While I was taking the decision to leave the Guild I showed my customers a copy of he Guild Logo with the words removed and not one person could identify what it was.

It's sad to say with their current guide lines anybody who pays the fee can become a member and frame to whatever standards they so wish. Surely this must dilute any benefit of being a member

I would willing pay to belong to a trade organisation that actively promoted quality framing to the general public. An organisation that was modern and belonged in the 21st century with a name and logo the public recognised due to the PR that was being continually run .

The executive are employed by the members to deliver. I feel that the paid staff of the Guild have taken an extrordinary amount of time to deliver the new website, especially with such a large budget.

It states in the 2007 year end accounts that the website would be up and running in the first half of 2008 here they are a year later without a website and only a proposed "go live" date. I don't believe this sort of time scale would be tolerated by share holders in a PLC

I have always said that if the Guild's new website is as good as their claiming I would rejoin. I hope it is, but guess I won't get to see all of it as I won't be a member!

[Roboframer]

There is to be a forum as part of that website - and I'd be tempted to join the guild again for that alone - but I think I may wait for some feedback first!

The PPFA in the US have a forum, and there is at least one other US one as well, but nothing the US has compares to the grumble.

Look what happened to the picture business' forum, even with Pete Bingham and Richard Clark as front men.

This site and TFG is also restricted to members - not to read, but to participate, and still only a small % participate on both forums. So for the FATG forum, you'd have to be a member of the guild AND be arsed to get stuck in to the forum.

I think they've missed the bert - a site like this - open to anyone to read (bar the bit you only see if registered of course) could have been part of the FATG site years ago.

I think that to succeed, that forum should be open, maybe with one sub forum only visible to FATG members - otherwise I can't see it.

[Bagpuss]

I agree Roboframer, I must admit I just assumed that they wouldn't have a forum at all, being a bit out of touch with the members actual requirements but that's encouraging if they are to have one. It will be interesting to see if it takes off just with Guild members, if not perhaps the Guild should be badgered by members to open it up to non-members.

[framemaker]

7 days to go!

[Cathy]

Hi all,
As far as I know the new "all singing & dancing" new website is still being tested By the guild masters etc & is being, I quote , "fine tuned as we speak" & we are assured it will be launched soon , The little i have seen of it looks pretty good & hopefully it will do what it is supposed to do