Perth, Australia

[helix]

I am currently starting the Perth chapter of
Locksports International and would like to hear
from Perth people or those that frequent Perth.

http://locksport.com/

Expressions of interest for a Perth picking group
should be posted here.

WHY POST NOW, INSTEAD OF WAITING 'TIL IT'S ESTABLISHED?

* Because Perth is a big place and a meeting
place will be closer to your house if you are in it
from the start.... think about it...

* Because you have already subconciously decided that this
post sparks an interest and so you clicked on it
and still, you read on for information..

COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT.

Post here, PM or email/msn me.
Email is in my profile.

[Chrispy]

We can have interstate meetings. I'll wait for db before I say more.

[digital_blue]

If you can get pickers together who wish to meet under the LSI banner, then go ahead and meet. I don't really care where they come from. The whole idea of regions is for the convenience of people and to help you attract people in your area once a regular meeting schedule is maintained. While we are in this early stage, any meet is a good meet in our books.

db

[Luke]

With cheap virgin and jet star flights even i could afford to go to Perth for a weekend

[helix]

Just a post to get this topic back on the boards in view of newbies
and others who missed it last time around.

If I'm breaking any Lp101 rules, sorry.

(posted less constructive things than this, though, hehe.)

[digital_blue]

Yeah, we have a way of doing that around here. I'll show you....



... bump ....

That'll do it every time. But since we're on topic, I'll let all of you know that I did get a message back from the Public Affairs Dept of the Western Australia Police, but the note just mentioned the following:

I have referred your request to our Crime Portfolio for advice. We will contact you shortly.

So... I'm pleased to see that they have not just blown us off, but are actually reviewing the material I sent. I'll keep you all posted.

db

[Chrispy]

You still haven't told us what that was about either.

[digital_blue]

You still haven't told us what that was about either.

Oh... ok.

I have put together a Public Relations Kit with the intention of sending it to the local Police authority in areas where LSI chapters may otherwise be challenging or questionable. We decided to test the waters with the WA Police Dept. I originally sent off a hard copy PR Kit about 5 weeks ago or so, but after waiting about 3 weeks I sent a follow-up email and the contact person there indicated he had not received anything. So, I resent the info in PDF format and got the above mentioned response back.

For those interested, here's the content of the cover letter I put together:

Members of our organization in your area have expressed an interest in forming a local chapter of Locksport International. It is our wish that our association and its sanctioned chapters be in compliance at all times with local and federal laws. For this reason, I would like to introduce our organization to you, and discuss any potential legal ramifications involved with the operation of our sport club in your jurisdiction.

Locksport International is a not-for-profit organization that is intended to act as a governing body over local chapters of lock-picking enthusiasts, termed “locksports” within our community. Lock picking is a fast growing hobby that offers its participants a never-ending challenge very much like that of a jigsaw puzzle or Rubik’s Cube. Members enjoy meeting to discuss techniques, share locks and equipment, and participate in competitions that lead to rankings and recognition within the locksport community.

Locksport International and its members take great care to ensure that activities are at all times moral, ethical, and legal. Due to the nature of the craft we practice, we uphold a zero tolerance for illegal or immoral activities. Our organization has taken great strides to maintain a level of control over club meetings and keep unwanted individuals out of our ranks. These initiatives include:

• The issuance of a photo Member ID card that includes the contact information of the chapter President. This is done to allow for easy recognition of our official members as a means of distinction from other people who might have, in their possession, lock picking tools or other equipment. As well, if a member were ever found to be in violation of the law, it would provide an easy method for law enforcement agents to contact a representative of our organization to ensure the termination of membership of the offending member.
• A screening process for new member applicants which requires the endorsement of the chapter President as well as one additional member in good standing. This is done to ensure that new members are known to conduct themselves in accordance with our Members Rules of Conduct and in the spirit of our Charter.
• A strictly enforced Members Rules of Conduct which is intended to make clear to all members our zero tolerance attitude and maintain a culture that leaves little room for misuse of the skills we practice.

In a normal club meeting, members would have in their possession tools intended for the purpose of picking locks. A credo of the locksport community is that participants are only ever allowed to pick locks that they own, or those to which they have been given expressed permission to pick by the legal owner. This stringent standard is in place to ensure that members never find themselves in a legal “grey area”, or worse, in the course of practicing their hobby. Since the practice of picking locks involves the possession of appropriate tools, I would like to be sure that our members would not be in violation of the law simply by possessing these tools during the course of a meeting, or while traveling to or from the event.

I have enclosed with this letter a copy of our corporate Charter, Members Rules of Conduct, and Member Application form for your review. You can find out more about our organization at www.locksport.org. It is my hope that we can operate a chapter within your jurisdiction without violating local or federal law. If you have any concerns with our organization or the operation of a chapter in your area, please feel free to contact me directly. I will be in touch with you within the next two weeks to discuss this further.

Thank you for taking the time to review the material I have sent you. I look forward to speaking with you soon.



Sincerely,

Josh Nekrep
Administrative Director
Locksport International

db

[Chrispy]

Cool. Keep us posted.

[helix]

BUMP!! ...oops

[digital_blue]

Well, since I just tripped over this thread (wonder how that happened? ) I suppose I should give you guys an update. I've been keeping helix in the loop all along, but there's really not much to share.

I sent a follow-up email to the head of Public Affairs with the Western Australia Police. I just politely nudged him a bit to remind him that I was still waiting for a response, and that we had members who were eager to get going with their club. He responded very quickly thanking me for my reminder and telling me that he'd follow up with their Crimes Portfolio. That was a couple weeks ago and still no further response. I've told helix that as far as I'm concerned, we've taken the appropriate measures and I think we should just roll on. I figure if nothing else, if the police ever decided to take issue with it I have documented the attempts to work with them and can show that the loose ends were on their side of the sweater, not ours.

So...

ANNOUNCING THE OFFICIAL CREATION OF ALSI/P - Australian Locksport International - Perth

I am pleased to officially announce the creation of a Perth Chapter of LSI, though I know this is not a big surpirse to anyone. Anyway.. .at least now it's official.

Cheers!

db

[helix]

YAY!! woo hoo! haha, thanks, DB.

Oh hang on, that is old news to me



...yay.

[Chrispy]

Yay for Perth, yay for helix! Yay for LSI! YAY!

[skold]

I wish there was enough interest in adelaide for a LSI chapter.

congrats perth LSI and to Helix.

[awol74]

is there a group that gets together in adeliade?
if so i would attend