Club Direction

[squirrelciv]

From your last reply it seems that what is most important to you from your original post was the issue of a committee structure, is that right?
GC

Matey, most definately NO!

Lets remember where this debate started from. It was born as a split topic over buying some advertising material to use at shows. All I've tried to do all along is hold up a mirror and ask... is this what we want to do?? Is there the support and organisation available to make a success of this sort of venture within the club?? And My gut tells me no with the evidence to support this of the lack of any sort of formal committee.

Like I've tried to say (and I apologise if this has been lost in translation) I like, no love, the casual hap-hazard way we are thankyouverymuch. I like the fact that we come on line and have a blather and I like the informal meet-ups like Llanthoney, the Dragon and Uttoxeter. What I'm trying to get across is why should we bother with show displays and formal, self organised rallies when we can hitch on the back of someone elses PLI, hang out and talk bollocks??? WHY??
Same goes for the paper newsletter. Nobody wants to write for it and we can't seem to organise it to flow dispite the best efforts of all who have tried. I applaud all the work that's gone into the club so far, I just think it might be an idea to let it evolve naturally into an internet club and save all the ball ache.

To recap so we're completely clear. If you want to spend club funds on show material, make sure you've got the people resourses and organisation to utilise it. If you haven't, save the clubs money for other things.

I shall not be volunteering for any committee as I'm far too busy playing in my shed or chillin' out or working or busy with my family. I reckon most everyone else here is the same (and judging by some not too distant posts, this statement might fit yourself) That means no committee/volunteer base = no organisation = no show stands = save our money. Result.


Finally. I LOVE THE CLUB JUST AS IS, ALL CASUAL AND INTERNETTY with the odd meet-up chucked in for good measure

[themoudie]

Finally. I LOVE THE CLUB JUST AS IS, ALL CASUAL AND INTERNETTY with the odd meet-up chucked in for good measure

Aye  [X]

[Andy M]

+2

Why am I getting the impression there are almost two TC's and GC is the contact point? Pure guess, but I think I've met maybe 40 TC members in person (and that's a charitable guess seeing as XT/BMW/Norton/Ural/Sidecar/Moto Guzzi guys and so on come along as guests), all of whom have at least had a look at the site even if they don't say much day to day. Where are the other 100 bodies? What do they get out of their membership? GC, are they telling you?

Andy

[guest27]

IMHO data from current members who are prepared to be active is what we need.

Andy

Can we have soem agreed Operational Definitions please?

Current Members - People who have paid membership in the last round of membership payments? People who post on here?  People who turn up at events?  Are all in this or some? What defines a member and as importantly what defines a non-member?

Active:- Visit and read here? Post on here?  Attend events?  Pay membership and read mag? What counts as active?

What about potential members?  What are people looking for?

What is the outcome we are seeking in defining our data set?

R

[niblue]

What about potential members?  What are people looking for?

What I was looking for was a forum where I could share experience etc. with other thumper owners - and that's what I found here.

Most of the other "club" type stuff is of minor interest to me.

[Mark]

I as a potential member who has followed this forum for a few months as a lover of singles(and twins) has passed the odd post, met a couple of members in Uttoxeter even got a t-shirt am confused and at a loss to what this club/forums aim is.

Registering on the club forum is easy enough then you have to guess that there is another level of membership, a paying membership with no mention of how to join, cost, what the funds are used for, guidelines of the club etc.

The threads also seem to be more personal than general aimed at the core/active members on the internet although it has probably evolved this way, I am aware that anyone could leave their comments but it doesn't always seem appropriate.

This is just my view from the outside trying to get in(then possibly wondering if it'll be worth it)

I have filled in a form at the show so see what happens next.

Mark





 

[Andy M]

The threads also seem to be more personal than general aimed at the core/active members on the internet although it has probably evolved this way, I am aware that anyone could leave their comments but it doesn't always seem appropriate.

This is just my view from the outside trying to get in(then possibly wondering if it'll be worth it)

If no one's said it before: welcome to the nut house, and thanks for joining in.

I wouldn't worry about comments being appropriate, there seems to be a general liking for inappropriate ones 

You shouldn't have to try and get in, a point we can hopefully take on board (do we need an intro's section on the board?). The club has a recent history of not getting it's collective act together to collect the subs, get the mag out etc. that should now be on it's way to getting sorted, hence the chaos about paying the subs. We'd seem to have a communication issue on that score, we know it's free for now but I guess not everyone does, but this debate is hopefully part of the solution.

As to if it's worth it? I do wonder sometimes  , then someone makes me laugh  .

Rog: To me a member is someone who'd pay their subs given the chance. An active member is someone who'd pay their subs to do more than get the magazine, so come to a meet, get on the message board, write for the mag etc. Perhaps we should also include subscribers (or a better description) who really only want to read the mag. The difference is people on the current list as members may simply have a quick scan of the mag but wouldn't pay for it again when asked, and if we don't have the paper mag we'd loose the subscriber type members who could well grow into more active ones.

This is as always only my take on things.

Andy

[squirrelciv]

Welcome Mark and thanks for your very interesting comments.

Do I need anymore proof that we need to sort out the little things before we embark on any showground advertisement/recruitment programme?? We can't get the people who come on line to join up (on account there is no joining up stuff ie set fee/list of benefits/MAG pack/who to send money to details/firm calendar of events blah blah blah blah)!!

Not hiding in the shed today... sulking with a bloody silly bolt that won't come out

[guest27]

Welcome Mark and thanks for your very interesting comments.

Do I need anymore proof that we need to sort out the little things before we embark on any showground advertisement/recruitment programme?....../firm calendar of events blah blah blah blah)!!

Hummm chicken and egg ?

Not sure on the head thing - I have two seized in jobbies on an alternator I want to move, all wiring etc so no heat for that one.  Maybe would should have a support group - I know some nice meeting rooms.  The Swan, The Tun ...

R

[jules]

Rog wrote

     I have two seized in jobbies           

Rog,
try some Fairy liquid on your little finger

[themoudie]

Do I need anymore proof that we need to sort out the little things before we embark on any showground advertisement/recruitment programme?? We can't get the people who come on line to join up (on account there is no joining up stuff ie set fee/list of benefits/MAG pack/who to send money to details/firm calendar of events blah blah blah blah)!!

Not hiding in the shed today... sulking with a bloody silly bolt that won't come out

Greetings Mark and Aye Pat,

These things have a loooooooonnnnnnng gestation!

It's the comfort factor, either you do or you don't feel it, find it or acquire it. You can also loose it. It is similar to walking into a bar in an unfamiliar, neigh foriegn land and by the end of the evening you are still there and enjoying it. Or you walked out after downing the drink in a hurry, if you even got that far!

As a forum of banter (careful), erudite blethering, mutual social support and mechanical mayhem, it takes some beating. The only people I've met face to face on this forum were at Stafford, when 3 sheds took the top prize. Also Smudge, who lives a wee way away and 'cause we liaised over an ill fated canter in these parts.

It's that regimentation of 'Club' activities that really, gets up my nose ( & why I put a line through the final item in Pat's list). If you commit, say so and don't welch on the commitment. If you have doubts about being able to deliver, due to other commitments, maybe you shouldn't! That is not a criticism, just an opinion and you can get shot for having those in some countries. At least this forum is BIG enough not to go there.

If you prefer to put this into 'Rants', please do. I have no quarrel with the Moderation.

Yours aye, Bill.

[robG]

I as a potential member who has followed this forum for a few months as a lover of singles(and twins) has passed the odd post, met a couple of members in Uttoxeter even got a t-shirt am confused and at a loss to what this club/forums aim is.
Registering on the club forum is easy enough then you have to guess that there is another level of membership, a paying membership with no mention of how to join, cost, what the funds are used for, guidelines of the club etc.
The threads also seem to be more personal than general aimed at the core/active members on the internet although it has probably evolved this way, I am aware that anyone could leave their comments but it doesn't always seem appropriate.
This is just my view from the outside trying to get in(then possibly wondering if it'll be worth it)
I have filled in a form at the show so see what happens next.
Mark

These comments from a recent addition to our ranks should sum things up quite nicely . They should serve as a wake up call . Are we alienating prospective members due to the farting about ?
If we are , leave things as they are . Previous debates show that nothing changes ,people remain quietly disatisfied with things and make the best of it ,which is what will happen now ,ultimately. Mark , thank you for speaking up . Any contribution that you wish to make , appropriate or otherwise is welcome.I have been told that some exchanges are viewed as being ' too cluby ', questions having being raised by other members . There are people on this forum who have known each other for over twenty years and predate the forum . Yes we are going to be familiar . Don't let this put you off . Simply by taking the trouble to post on this subject speaks volumes for you Mark .Thumper club is what you make of it .Some make of it more than others.
You're right . The membership thing is laughable . We have been unable to resolve this for what seems years { it probably is !} . The inability to resolve membership / rallies/ newsletters is legendary and sadly ongoing with no sign of resolution.
My understanding was that the thumper club is a riders club devoted to the use, ownership and a liking of the single cylinder four stroke motorcycle , regardless of their country of origin . It is a site for enthusiasts to debate , seek advice and generally discuss all things thumper in whatever manner they see fit .

This is not a perfect club , it never will be . There are elements that really annoy me , however let's get on with it.I simply cannot be bothered raising any more issues .I have made some fine friends through this club , people I meet up with once a year as if we've seen each other last week .If all that remains of this club is this forum , then so be it . Let's keep it that way .

Right 'nuff said , where's my port ?

Rob .

[Richard 003]

Like I've tried to say (and I apologise if this has been lost in translation) I like, no love, the casual hap-hazard way we are thankyouverymuch. I like the fact that we come on line and have a blather and I like the informal meet-ups like Llanthoney, the Dragon and Uttoxeter. What I'm trying to get across is why should we bother with show displays and formal, self organised rallies when we can hitch on the back of someone elses PLI, hang out and talk bollocks??? WHY??
Same goes for the paper newsletter. Nobody wants to write for it and we can't seem to organise it to flow dispite the best efforts of all who have tried. I applaud all the work that's gone into the club so far, I just think it might be an idea to let it evolve naturally into an internet club and save all the ball ache.

To recap so we're completely clear. If you want to spend club funds on show material, make sure you've got the people resourses and organisation to utilise it. If you haven't, save the clubs money for other things.

I shall not be volunteering for any committee as I'm far too busy playing in my shed or chillin' out or working or busy with my family. I reckon most everyone else here is the same (and judging by some not too distant posts, this statement might fit yourself) That means no committee/volunteer base = no organisation = no show stands = save our money. Result.


Finally. I LOVE THE CLUB JUST AS IS, ALL CASUAL AND INTERNETTY with the odd meet-up chucked in for good measure

This is "for what it's worth", as I don't feel I've contributed much to the club in its "traditional" sense. However ...  I agree wholeheartedly with Pat. I don't think a club loses anything by way of identity, activity, friendship or membership by becoming an informal entity piggy-backed on a web forum. By way of a parallel, both NiBlue and I "belong" to an old-established mailing list (Graham will know which one I mean!), which has no formal membership, no subs, no committee. Its core "members", who probably number over a hundred, have developed loyalty to one another without any of the formal club stuff, and are always meeting up in groups, big and small, up and down the country - for the hell of it, at other people's events, and at our own. OK, we tend to prefer hotels to camping, but we always had a September event in the Dales at a pub that has both - an event in the sense that we all book in to the same place at once, and more or less take it over. No PLI involved. Occasionally the currently-responsible person orders some merchandise, for which people who want it pay.

The TC ran in a "traditional" format and eventually ran into difficulty. Time to try something else? If it has trouble attracting or keeping members, maybe it's because people either don't know what to expect, or expect something and don't get it. If, on the other hand, it were clearly a community (as someone said) with a forum to communicate on, and people knew they could be members of it simply by participating, no red tape, no pack drill, then I bet you'd have TC members meeting up and down the country, as TC members, without anyone considering whether it was a "proper" TC event that should be billed as such.

I bet this approach would be successful.

Cheers
Richard

[Steve H]

Having been involved in the club in one for or another over the years this thread has been interesting to follow. Over the years I've annoyed more than a few people, so these days I'm inclined to keep my head down and see where things go rather than get actively involved.
Most of the input to this has been pretty constructive, it could easily have dissolved into something more appropriate to the rants section so that speaks volumes for the type of people here.
I'm inclined to agree with the relaxed approach to everything, it seems to work and everyone is comfortable with it. The only issue that hasnt really been resolved is the need for Public Liability insurance, how do the other internet/non paid membership based clubs cope with this ?.
I'm no expert here, but PLI is supposed to protect the membership against claims, so if for example lets take the Annual Rally this year, lets assume a bike on the stand falls over and breaks someones leg, chances are the injured person will claim against the club for damages. Who is going to pay ?, chances are they will go after the organiser which is Graham. No PLI insurance and chances are just defending the action would mean the loss of his house !. This is just one example and anything that is organised through the club site is subject to the same issues.
My feeling is that simply making things 'informal' fools no-one, especially insurance companies, so if a claim is made against the club for whatever reason, someone will have to pay.
I'm no expert in this area, so if anyone knows better than please correct me, but its an area where mistakes could be very expensive.

Assumming we need PLI we need to find a way of paying for it, subscriptions are the only way I can see of doing this. This then brings in a load more questions about what constitutes a member and what do they get for their subscription

[Andy M]

The GS club I believe are the prime example. Web only and no "fee" followed by an incident and they were in house-at-risk territory. They now have a message board/info area that is unlocked when you pay up. No idea about been able to read-only if you are not a member.

Horizons Unlimited and ADVrider are just message boards, they make their money to cover the net stuff by adverts and voluntary contributions. The members meet ad Hoc with the exception of some organised events, the fee's for which must cover the PLI.

Isn't PLI a flat rate per member to MAG? Does it matter if we are an internet club of 50 or a sub-sectioned, commiteed, weekly meetings in the local leisure centre club of 10,000?

Andy