Very Quiet...

I didn't mean to start a war of words here...

Just a point, but could we not have a section in the magazine advertising the website and the forum ? I'm sure that the majority of people do have internet access, and would be keen to use the site for advice / meets. Im not being funny, but a lot of the members of the club probably dont know what a forum is let alone the benefits it can bring.

I will be willing to write something for the East Anglia region if required.

Thanks

James

Edited by jamesrose

If the email list cannot be used why not just make sure that any pub meets being organised are posted on the forum.

I don't know about other buy I occasionally viewed the EAR forum but haven't posted questions etc because I didn't think many were watching As I have an M3 I use the M forum the most which is very active.

Let's see if data protection rules can be sorted out.

Nearly as quiet as Central Region!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Guys,

Firstly, I would like to thank all who is involved with this forum. I have found it an excellent tool in contacting like minded enthusiasts. I have a little knowledge in cars and helping enthusiasts is very rewarding.

Secondly, although I am based in East Sussex. My parents are based in Norfolk: when i visit them i like things to do so.....

I used to belong to another owners club for another type of car. I joined the club one year and the second i didn't bother. I am going to join you guys because you all seem really nice blokes.

Here it comes BUT..... We are all either on this forum to help or just to talk.It does look kind of bad on the club if members and organisers are arguing.

I'm not being judgemental at all and once again thank you to every body who helps.

 

Laters

 

jonp

I agree with Webdunk.

The Irish section have a couple of Hundred members as well. When orgainsing meets its always the same 5/6 that turn up.

One suggesttion I put forward was to get a the Irish section members list from head ofice and contact people accordingly as we werent reaching everyone.

But apparently head office wont make available the list. They will send out labels with members addresses but thats not exactly workable.

I think to help better promote the club and meetings (for whatever region or section) it would be great if head office could make available a member list for each region.

If I am incorrect or have been mis-informed about any of my points above I apologise.

Kevin

I appreciate your comments but the forum should not be a place for complaining about what people do or do not do, but a constructive media for moving things forward

My only comment in all this is that for the best part of 14 years running the region we put on up to 12 events per year and met monthly in Bury St Edmunds and later near Diss at the Oaksmere/Corwallis Arms on the first or third week of each month. In addition we held annual AGM's so that new members could met us and let have their ideas for the regional events

I regret that no one bar the usual 12 or so stalwarts who support our events ever turned up to these pub meets whch encompassed both the opportunity to have a chat and a meal/drink with fellow enthusiasts and also plan events and determine the region's direction

Since the people that supported our events over the years wanted days out, touring weekends, social meetings over lunch and visits to interesting places (eg stately homes)    we responded to these people and ran these events very successfully.

We sent out quarterly newsletters to over 300 members complete with full costings and booking forms, maps accommodation etc to make it as easy for people to respond and book for events. Unfortunately 90% of the regional members just seem to want a magazine!

The trouble is with Pub meets people look out the window and if its wet, dark or the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, think. Oh! I can't be bothered and the poor bugger who has arranged it travels 60 miles to drink a coke on his own a lot of the time !

If you and James can help rejuvinate the "regular meetings" event and suggest a venue then i am sure that there will be many who will join in. Unfortunately i do not have the time to organise all this any longer

Likewise it is very important that members help contribute to the magazine with ANY form of story photo or snippet about their interests. Otherwise all I can do is to write up my own events and place articles in which I think people may be interested in. (ie the people who went to them) As, in the past 10 years, I have NEVER received a single bit of information to go into the Club magazine from anyone not either at an event or on the committee , you will appreciate why things may appear slightly one sided from newcomers point of view. How can we write about something we have no knowledge of ?

The region has often been accused of been "cliquey" and snobbish and not welcoming to new members .However it is up to new members to make themselves known to us. We all have telephones and some of us have e-mail addresses which are in the mag. We really are keen to meet new members but we are unfortunately not clairvoyant or telepathic! so if they don't tell us what they want we can't accommodate their requirements.

EAR regularly still runs the best Better Driving day in the UK and ran almost monthly events for the past 5 years so it is a bit galling to keep hearing the complain about nothing ever happens in East Anglia.... It did! you just weren't there or didn't want to do what we did! Or maybe you weren't a member then ?

Just so you know East Anglia were one of the first Regions to be "active"
Started Better Driving days long before the national new what they were and held Night Navigation Scatter rally's and all sorts of groovy events..... We even managed to get 50 + cars at a concours.... are well times evidently move on.

I for one will be happy to offer any support to any member who takes the iniative to DO something other than just moan about what isn't being done so      "go to it my son"....... may the force of EAR be with you!

PS mines also the 160mph 'shopping trolley" you may see flashing past your M3 occasionally! The only proper grand tourer BMW made!

Edited by Webdunk

Hi there Kevin McNally,
     I'm one of the power mad guys who have to make the hard decisions. Just finishing the web work for today. Usually spend around 40 hours a week working for the club. And subsidise it to the tune of around £600 a year by paying my own expenses when I have to do a round trip of 240 miles six times a year to help make these decisions. Plus lots of trips to head office to sort out staff and computers. Not counting days spent setting up at car shows, thirty weekends a year suporting regional events from Ireland to Scotland and to Southampton. Many weekends in Europe representing the club at BCE Meets.

Its easy to read a posting which only gives part of the story, and come out with comments like 'power mad and want to control everything'.

There is one answer that I always give to club members (I assume that you are one) who criticise the volunteers who are running the club. Its this:

If you can do any better then do it yourself.


I just added a rude comment, but decided that if I did I would be descending to your level, so I crossed it out.

Glad you like the forum. I was the one who came up with the idea!

Have a great day.

Kevin,

Is your M3 silver with yellow headlights. I have a M3 Roberto Ravaglia with Evo sport spoilers and several weeks ago i followed a silver on out of Asda at Ipswich.

I Live in Stowmarket so i'm pretty local to you.Give us a shout and we'll meet up.

Mike,

Sorry to hear about the grumbles with the club, but I am not surprised. When people get elected to a board or other position be it local councillor or chairwoman of WI etc, they can go power mad and want to control everything!

The organisations then become unwieldy and run not for the benefit of the members but for their ego's. Believe me in my business life I have met too many people like this.

Still with this wonderful invention called email and the forum we can overcome these problems and sort ourselves out.

As you say Mike, maybe sort into little regional centres depending on numbers. My email if you don't already have it is on it's way.

Look forward to swapping stories and advice etc soon over a pint.

Regards

Kevin McNally

If you all can't agree on a central venue then why don't you pick local ones and i will e-mail them to everyone on my list I now have over 70 addresses but i am sure that there are more than 70 East Anglia members who are on e-mail so lets have those addresses please so I can keep you informed.

Members are welcolm in Diss anytime...... and I gladly show off my new polish! (www.thepolishingcompany.com)