Very Quiet...
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Regional & Specific Forums
Forum Name: East Anglia Area
Forum Discription: where East Anglian members can discuss upcoming events, etc.
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=4357
Printed Date: 16-May-2024 at 13:14
Topic: Very Quiet...
Posted By: jamesrose
Subject: Very Quiet...
Date Posted: 02-December-2003 at 09:11
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The East Anglia Region seems to be the quietest on here ?
Are there any upcoming events or meets, or is it time to arrange something ? ------------- 
1990 E30 M3 http://www.m3bmw.co.uk - www.m3bmw.co.uk |
Replies:
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 03-December-2003 at 09:46
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Hi James,
You are right, I can hear the wind whistling most of the time! Mind you I have only seen one other M3 around here. When I joined I hoped there would be informal pub meets etc aswell as highly organised do's. Maybe just needs a kick off. I'm on Norfolk Suffolk border with my 88 Evo2 Regards Kevin |
Posted By: B 7 VP
Date Posted: 03-December-2003 at 12:41
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SAFETYFAST |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 03-December-2003 at 13:19
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Too busy finishing up work before Christmas to go to the Christmas do unfortunately.
So then who lives within 30 miles of Diss? Maybe have a meet at the Old Ram on the A140 |
Posted By: jamesrose
Date Posted: 03-December-2003 at 15:56
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Trouble is that is going to be quite a drive from Essex. The East Anglia region is pretty huge. We will have to find somewhere in the middle of the whole region !
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1990 E30 M3 http://www.m3bmw.co.uk - www.m3bmw.co.uk |
Posted By: bmwear
Date Posted: 03-December-2003 at 19:26
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Hi guys
Sorry that we can't organise events every week or month in EAR but we have had a full calendar this year I have now stepped down as Regional organiser for 2004 and due to work pressures don't have much time to keep looking at the forum or more frequent events one every other month took huge amounts of time. I do still get e-mails of any posts so have noted your comments...... If you wish to organise pub meets and the like this would be great We are always on the look out for members willing to lend a hand. However perhaps I could ask you to run things by Chris Wadsley who is in charge for the next year so he can fit things in with his own calendar of regional events next year. You can contact him on 01553 810467 I am sure he would be interested in recruting such willing helpers! Also don't forget we need plenty of notice if you want to publish in the magazine as deadline is month prior to publication date soend December is deadline for Feb edition . I am still doing the pages so you can e-mail EAR if you have any contributions about your cars etc. We used to all meet for monthly committee meetings at the Cornwallis and also the Highwayman is nice on the A14/A140 junction. But as you are finding out E.A.R. is a BIG region and finding a centrepoint between Cromer, King's Lynn Cambridge and all of Essex for Regular meets is a problem. The Norfolk Suffolk Border is about 1hr or so from most members hence we tended to use Diss ! Ipswich or Bury are also possibilities but parking is a hassle in town. yes its a long way from Essex but so is Essex from Cambridge or North Norfolk ! If you do organise something let me have the details by e-mail and I will mail out to the e-list I have of regional members and try and come along Mike Milbourne PS I have an M3 in Diss which is probably the one you have seen Kevin ? |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 11:46
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Hello Mike, good to hear from you.
The M3 I saw was a shiny red one with Sport Evo spoilers one Saturday on A14 near Ipswich, I don't think it was a Sport Evo. Sometimes you just want an informal meet at a pub and when you start running it through committes etc it can get unwieldy and take too much organising to know numbers. It's far easier to post a message on here, see who is around and where they are then say OK I'll be at so and so pub on Sunday lunchtime if you fancy coming and see who turns up. No big deal if only a couple come. I run up and down to Chelmsford way at least once a week which is only an hour. Some people want everything on their doorstep. |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 12:12
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OK chaps where are you all
If you fancy a meet post your location and we'll find somewhere centralish. I'm Suffolk side of Diss |
Posted By: jamesrose
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 13:25
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Apologies if that comment about the doorstep was aimed at me ! I was not implying that I am not willing to travel, because after all that it was I bought the car for - to drive ! Mike, thanks for the reply, again apologies if I made it sound like there was a lack of organised events. Unfortunately I have not had my car for long, and therefore didn't attend any of the events in 2003, I am just keen to make up for lost time ! I am in Brentwood in Essex, and eager to meet the rest of the people from the region ! Does anyone have any idea of the number of members there are in this region ? Hope to see you all soon Cheers
James
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1990 E30 M3 http://www.m3bmw.co.uk - www.m3bmw.co.uk |
Posted By: bmwear
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 15:27
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James
There are nearly 300 members in EAR at the last count I had. i should explain perhaps that prior to Mid 2003 i used to send out quarterly event fliers to all EAR members complete with booking forms etc However National vetoed this and despite having the regional funds to do it we now have to do everything through Straight six and the Mag. Personally I think it sucks and this is one reason why I resigned and why members do not get to know about events. (its a rather longer story actually) We had real autonomy in the region with our own funds to spend as we liked and we were completely self supporting. However this was deemed not to be in 'the spirit of the Club" and we now have to requisition National to spend over £50!. In addition the money which was generated by 'the few' was deemed to belong to 'everyone" and cannot be spent on those who generated it....... ie our fund suddenly was made unavailable to us! I have been a member of the BMW Ccar Club for over 25 years and run the region with help from others, who shared the duties equally, since its inception in 1984. To say that i was a liitle peeved would be an understatement . It is however very encouraging to see some new interest as normally we are supported by the dozen or so stalwarts who turn up for the various lunches. Chris has some great events planned for 2004 and i hope to get some of our members to organise a lunch once a month (or two) at a local pub throughout the region. We have (supporting) members in Cromer Brentwood Huntingdon, Near Stanstead, Hemel Hempstead , London Wisbech King's Lynn and of course DISS! If you would like to pick a Sunday and suggest a suitable watering hole we can park at and have lunch, a chinwag and perhaps a short drive to something interesting then this would be great and I can e-mail all the people who would actually turn up ! One of the problems of "impromptue" pub meets is that you may drive 60 miles to a meeting to find yourself on your own. Previously we have felt booking and getting people to pay was the best way otherwise we not only end up with no one but look complete pratts if we "book" meals at a pub and no one turns up. It is obvious you and Kevin are keen, so pick a spot that suits you and we can advertise it from there. We should be able to get 10-20 people from the "stalwarts" mailing list Unfortunately the National office is as yet unable to supply us with a 'regional e-mail list' quoting data protection etc etc... I have to confess i haven't used the forums much so if there are lots of you out there that want to get together in EAR then let me have your e-mail address by mailing me at bmwcarclub@east-anglia-region.co.uk and I will add you to the e-mail list I have. It is then a simple job of e-mailing you a short event flier. |
Posted By: B 7 VP
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 18:34
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SAFETYFAST |
Posted By: Darren
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 18:46
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I would be interested in meets. I`ll send you my email address if you could kindly add me. Darren Cambridgeshire
------------- BMW 735i Sports 
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Posted By: bmwear
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 19:54
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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) ------------- M Milbourne BMW Car Club East Anglia Region |
Posted By: Nigel
Date Posted: 04-December-2003 at 20:44
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I wonder if you are thinkng of doing another french run like the one to chateau tilques you did before.
That was very good, I travelled from the central region to go on that one. ------------- Best Wishes Nigel |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 05-December-2003 at 10:12
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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 |
Posted By: paul325i
Date Posted: 09-December-2003 at 13:14
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Whoa something was posted in this section!! Thats the first time in months. This does seem to be a quiet section but sure its not to the fault of anybody. If any E30 guys are about and fancy a meet there is one this saturday in thurrock again after good one we had at the start of november. http://com2.runboard.com/be30zoneforum.fmeets.t58 - http://com2.runboard.com/be30zoneforum.fmeets.t58
Nothing to do with the BMWCC i must add, so i hope nobody minds it being posted here ------------- 
Visit http://www.geocities.com/paulav325i/ - My BMW Got an E30? Visit http://www.e30zone.co.uk - The E30 Zone |
Posted By: Chidge
Date Posted: 10-December-2003 at 13:40
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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. ------------- ron |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 10-December-2003 at 17:38
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Chidge,
Guilty as charged! That was my Evo2 It was your car I mentioned as being the only other one I've seen around here. Your car looked very clean, obviously a well loved second or third car. Mine no longer has the yellow lights ,they were not very bright, they were French! I'd love to meet up for a chin wag, send me a pm and we'll organise something, pub, house whatever Regards Kevin |
Posted By: Howard
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 07:01
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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. ------------- 1963 700 LS 1988 635 CSi 1990 M635 CSi no longer! 2001 E38 728i Individual http://www.tyneships.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.tyneships.co.uk |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 11:18
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Very nice of you to say so Howard,
If you want to get anything else off your chest then why don't you PM me. Oh and by the way, I was not criticising the organised meets, my family thoroughly enjoyed Gaydon. It has been commented on having to go through a centralised committee with no local autonomy. I was disappointed that no informal pub meets were arranged so I am arranging one myself. Oh and well done on it being your idea for the forum, why didn't you patent it because you could have made a mint from scoobynet, S14.de and numberous other worldwide forums for using your idea. If it is such a chore for you Howard then why don't you resign and stop moaning. No you do it because you enjoy it, as would anyone who runs a local/ county football league. I think it is sad that when a member who has paid his subscriptions cannot make a genuine comment on what he feels his club could be doing without getting a defensive rant from a committee member. All organisations should be willing to take on board honest criticism from it's members. Happy Christmas Mr Pachyderm. Any others prepared to make a comment? |
Posted By: bmwear
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 13:28
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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! ------------- M Milbourne BMW Car Club East Anglia Region |
Posted By: Webdunk
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 13:53
There's an interesting point in there about communication / perception. It's one the Scottish committee have wrestled with (and, I suspect, will continue to  wrestle with)
We're very active online when it comes to sorting many of our activities and for a time our presence in the mag didn't really reflect how much we were getting up to. We think we've sorted that now with one of our number regularly submitting content to the mag. We are however also aware that there are upwards of 150 members we've neither heard from nor met in our area  we'd love to get them involved but don't really know how.
Some regions / registers are the other way around - loads of mentions / communication among the stalwarts (I think every region has a core of regular attendees) and in the mag but nothing online. There is also the fact that many forum users are not BMWCC members and so do not get the mag - that can easily lead to the conclusion that nothing is going on. PS bmwear - I edited your post to put in a bit of spacing - I was having trouble reading it in 1 block  ------------- 
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Posted By: Eamo
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 14:50
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: Webdunk
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 16:02
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Yup, regional member lists would be cool. Specially in electronic format to help with mail merges and the like.
AIUI we should be OK from the Data Protection point of view as folk have joined the club and willingly given their contact details for Club related use. As long as we are clear when taking information in that we may use it to contact members AND give members the chance to opt out of communications then we are OK. -------------
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Posted By: jonp
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 16:50
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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 ------------- Autos are easy. Its the steering thats hard. |
Posted By: B 7 VP
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 18:57
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SafetyFast
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Howard , Mike , Duncan and ALL the DO-ers of this Club say it, Like it is!!. If 5%-7% of each regions members, turn up to an event, THEY said THEY wanted, its a good turnout!!!.This Forum is a Club Thought, Organised, and Paid for happening, so that BMW fans can learn-communicate-and enjoy what they wish to take part in.The Members who participate in the events organised, are the winners.THEY-are the reason why, Duncan, Mike, Howard spend part of their Life , working for US.SO!!!!, click disconnect-shut down-and GO. A good Racing term is "When the Flag drops-The Bullsh-t stops"lets hope it will be the same on this theme.If the same energy was put in to attending club event,s YOU are all Winners!!Posted By: Philrose
Date Posted: 12-December-2003 at 19:53
| Nearly as quiet as Central Region!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: Stone-IslandV8
Date Posted: 15-December-2003 at 09:41
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If its any help or consolation then 3 months ago I decided, independant of the Central Region or the Club, to try and get regular pub meets sorted.
Our 1st meet in Milton Keynes had 20 people saying they'd go-it was a blisteringly hot day and we got a total of 2 people turn up. Now we (for a laugh) decided to make this a once a month do at the same place to see if there was any interest. "nd meet had the 2 of us again + families (made it look more of a crowd!!!!!  ). The third was 2 again then the 4th kicked in-approx 7-8 people and 4 BMs. We had another meet yesterday and got 4 cars and 5 people with Ratbark travelling up from Aylesbury on two of those occasions.
Things start small but can be pushed/pulled in the right direction if there's the interest. John ------------- Gentlemen I may not have a brain but I do have an idea Past; E39 540T/E46 328CI/ E39 535/ E39 520/ E36 M3/ E36 318iS jet black Mtech/ E46 320d/ E36 318iS diamond black/ E36 318iS blue Mtech kit |
Posted By: M3Nally
Date Posted: 15-December-2003 at 10:07
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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. |
Posted By: Eamo
Date Posted: 15-December-2003 at 11:40
Kevin The only problem there is that not all members use the forum/are not aware of it/do not have internet access. We really do need list from head office. ------------- |
M3Nally wrote:Posted By: jamesrose
Date Posted: 15-December-2003 at 14:14
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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 -------------
1990 E30 M3 http://www.m3bmw.co.uk - www.m3bmw.co.uk |