Our GOBA - Everyone's River!

Welcome to a new forum for GOBA members to discuss the future direction of the organisation. We are not an offical part of GOBA, but we are all members and are pround to be.

New Free Pump-Out For the Huntingdon Ouse Announced

You wish!
That had you going didn't it?
But we can make it happen. At a time of ever increasing boating costs, we must get the most out of our licence money by making sure "They" (Their acronym shall not besmirch this forum) spend it on us.
We demand (ok- ask very politely if absolutely necessary) a new, free public pump out between Huntingdon and St Neot's.

Big Trouble - No Problem

Sue and Vic are a couple spending their retirement after a lifetime of work, cruising the waterways of the UK. Recently not only did their diesel tank get drained by theives but their gearbox blew up. As GOBA members in good standing, what did GOBA do for them in their time of need? Well, your can read the sorry tale of the behaviour of two GOBA committee members on Sue's blog here and here on the widely read Canal World forum.

Residential Moorings Campaign

GOBA should seek to encourage greater provison of affordable residential moorings. We should encourage all riparian owners to make the most of their land rights by helping guide them through the planning process, and support them to make the necessary investment in infrastructure to make the moorings possible. GOBA should seek to encourage a vibrant and lively full-time presence on the river.

More Than Moorings

GOBA does so much more than provide moorings and we should emphesize the breadth of our work to our members and the wider community under the "More Than Moorings" banner.

Water Safely

There have been many drowings on the Great Ouse over the last three years - most recently a boat owner died near Buckden Marina. This was the second death in less than a year, on the Huntingdon Ouse. Let's make it the last! GOBA should have an active, on-going water saftey campaign. This should be as much a part of GOBA as the moorings are. "Think GOBA! - Think Safety!"

Encouraging Visitors From the Canals

GOBA should encourage and support visitors from the canals by expanding our work to the Middle Levels and River Nene. GOBA should found daughter groups - The Middle Levels and River Nene Boating Associations to assist boaters make the long and sometimes difficult journey to the Ouse.

Budget Boating

GOBA should seek out and facilitate a greater use of our river by the poorer members of society. We should encourage Time Share boating by helping people with the legalities of boat share agreements and actively seek ways to keep the cost down.

Black & Ethnic Minority Boaters.

No one can fail to notice that the river is used almost exclusively by white people. GOBA should encourage Black and Ethnic Minority boaters by making sure all such visitors are made to feel welcome and secure. GOBA should stage events to co-inside with the various water festivals that dot the Sikh, Hindu and Moslem calenders. Black boaters should be encouraged with reference to the Island Heritages we all have in common.

Our GOBA - Everyone's River

This should replace the current GOBA slogan to remind us that the river is for all.

GOBA - Accountability and Openness

We want to see all meetings between GOBA and outside agencies such as the Environment Agency, carefully minuted and these minutes to be published on the GOBA website within 7 days. There should be monthly reports (fortnightly during summer), of activities by committee members including copies of communications they've sent as GOBA officers, and minutes and summaries of discussions they've had.