Have just received this e-mail from the Steam Packet:

Dear Chris

Good News for TT Marshalls.  Please read the attached document carefully.
Kind regards
Reservations Team.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited


The attached document essentially says marshals who marshalled 5 or more sessions in 2014 can book early for TT 2016


Thoughts?

I received it earlier also, hopefully may encourage more people to marshal.

My only concern is people will now say they are going to marshal, and don't turn up, big headache come practice and races  days,. Another concern is those who will try it on despite not meeting the criteria, hopefully not that many to make it too much of an overhead to weed out, so they don't spoil it for the rest of us.

But as on the whole good news and very welcomed.
Don't often say it, but  to steam packet for working with the TTMA. 

Brilliant. But it will require careful policing. At some of the busy areas it would be very easy to sign on, turn up and then clear off without doing a stroke.

This is to encourage those who marshal to continue to do so and tempt new ones. Only problem being that these early bookings will be at full price were many marshals look for cheaper fares.
This as well as half price refunds (up to £100) for those who marshal at the TT and Manx GP is some reward.

A good move I feel as it will assist regular marshals to get there in time for the early sessions and stay for the last sessions that they because of work commitments and booked up crossings can't either get over in time for , or if they stay for the last race cant get home in time for work again , so has to be a good thing ,

as for the people not turning up thing , that is easy to sort out, they have or should have the info as to who was at what post if the DSM's fill in the register they are supposed to fill in each shift , within 10 mins of roads close they should know what no shows they have and then all they have to do is pass that info on to HQ and they can then discipline the culprits , but up to press they have fought shy of doing it incase they upset some one ??
I say upset them !! if they are abusing the system , we don't need them , don't want them , end of , rant over

.

I think its a positive move and congratulations to Terry for arranging it. The fact that to be eligible you have had to marshal 5 sessions in 2014 should eliminate the worst opportunists as its only open to people who've already shown a commitment. That said I'm sure there will be some who try to abuse the privilege and would wholeheartedly support any moves on the part of the TTMA / Steam Packet to stamp opportunist behaviour. 

I saw the e-mail whilst on my lunch break from work and waited until returning home to complete the form and return it. Having completed the form, scanned it and emailed the form to the Steam Packet I got the following reply:'


"RE: Marshal's Priority Booking Form
Thank you for your email.

 

Unfortunately we are currently experiencing high volume of email enquiries and would anticipate 48 hours to reply.

 

If your enquiry is urgent please contact our reservations team on 08702 992 992 or 01624 661661.

 
We thank you for your patience during this time."



'Two steps forward, one step back'! However we should be glad that positive moves are being made.

Was told at the weekend that just under 500 marshals will be receiving e-mails about priority booking.

The wife and myslef done every day of race week and the IMC in 2014 and havent recieved anything?Do you need to phone up to get registred for this?


Cheers
P

The IMC doesnt count, but there was no pre-registering either.
I'd call the office to check they had you down for at least 5 sessions last year, if they did ask them to send you the form, don't suppose you have you changed your email address or anything?

I think Terry said on FB that for those that they don't have a Email address for they will receive a letter in due course , but not sure so may be worth ringing our dear Muriel for confirmation ,

.

Hmm...
So the marshals get priority booking after all these years.
And what is happening to the TT soon?
Going out to tender/privatisation.
Coincidence??

(17-04-2015, 01:30 PM)c iom tt Wrote: Hmm...
So the marshals get priority booking after all these years.
And what is happening to the TT soon?
Going out to tender/privatisation.
Coincidence??

Hmmm. So who's initiative was this? Solely the IOMTTMA or at the hand of the IoM Gov (DED)?

Conspiracy theories arise again. Whose ever idea it is I for one will be taking advantage of it.

Has anyone had a reply re their booking forms, other than the we're very busy email?

Dropped them a line and got this reply;

Good afternoon,

We have received your request and it was added to the Marshal’s priority booking list, once the sailings are have been released we will contact you.

Kind Regards.

IOM Reservations

I returned my form immediately and called the day after receiving the auto reply email.

Received verbal confirmation that my email had arrived and it was put with the other marshals' applications.

I was assured I would get my booking before the TT once the sailing times were finalised.

The guy I spoke to was very helpful and seemed well briefed on the scheme.

If we're looking for an ulterior motive, he did mention the scheme may reduce the initial demand when bookings open in June.

I hve phoned the Marshals office twice but the lady is snowed under but will get to it at some point so just a wait and see why ours hass not been sent out.......................





p

How many none Island based Marshals are there? 2/300? that wont make much of a difference to the booking system.
I will bet as the build up to the selling off of the TT gathers pace, the Marshalls goody bags/ freebys will start to increase.

(27-04-2015, 02:36 PM)c iom tt Wrote: How many none Island based Marshals are there? 2/300? that wont make much of a difference to the booking system.
I will bet as the build up to the selling off of the TT gathers pace, the Marshalls goody bags/ freebys will start to increase.

Yes, it will be interesting to see what effect paying someone to recruit and organise marshals will have, a few I have spoken to who have always been happy to give their time (and at times been messed about/ treated badly by the organisers) to support the event, are taking the view that now its going to be a fully commercialised event with the promoters out to make profit they are not as keen to directly fund it by paying for the privilege of giving up the family holiday, braving the steam racket, being reamed out by the appointed accomodation providers, eating overpriced rubbish food and then standing in the wet and cold watching 'vips' flash by in subarus.

Someone within DED has obviously cottoned on and decided to play the long game and make marshalling more attractive with some perks - and lets face it priority booking costs nowt. Personally I haven't booked more than a couple of weeks in advance since the Hailwood years and the start of Manxline.

I wonder where the marshals assc and its leading lights will fit into the new profit driven model?, paid jobs for the boys?, course not, that sort of thing could never happen on the Island, really hope the CoC survives.

I also know a few Island employers who reluctantly give time off to marshal at the moment that are less likely to take a hit to improve DEcclesdorna ltd's profits

A very interesting time approaches I feel , but have to say that the priority booking initiative will be without doubt  the most appreciated thing that has been offered to non resident Marshals in all the years of needing them ,

I have said for years and still feel it is relevant, that the aim should be to provide as many marshals as possible from Island  residents , I would love to see the figures for the last 15 years that show the ratio of locals then to now that marshal , I fear it will not make good reading , and if as I suspect there is a big fall , I bet the reasons would not be complementary to the people at the top , which is sad for if that dissatisfaction is echoed in to the Islanders willingness to have the TT at all , how long before it struggles to continue

to run something like the TT you have to have the goodwill of the people , and goodwill once lost will  be very hard to replace ,


.