Late notice, but 2 for tonight please.
Jon & Diane
Jon & Diane
May Club Night PC Leeds from 7.00pm Wednesday May 2nd
- Thread starter supersport
- Start date
Just returned from the evening - my first club event I’ve attended!
Met some lovely folk in the queue for fish and chips, sorry didn’t catch all the names - couple from York with the Boxster, Gent from Woolley who has recently traded his 4S for a Boxster via Kendal Porsche - my feet are still thawing out it was that cold in the queue!
Also Simon who I spoke to about the LM Classic and Silverstone Classic too.
Looking forward to more club activities in the near future.
Mike
Met some lovely folk in the queue for fish and chips, sorry didn’t catch all the names - couple from York with the Boxster, Gent from Woolley who has recently traded his 4S for a Boxster via Kendal Porsche - my feet are still thawing out it was that cold in the queue!
Also Simon who I spoke to about the LM Classic and Silverstone Classic too.
Looking forward to more club activities in the near future.
Mike
headless
New member
First PCGB meet, my wife and I were not made welcome to be honest, we felt a bit out of it, everybody knowing each other and chatting amongst themselves, tried to engage in the chip queue but that did'nt work, stood in the showroom after having a look around the great cars but nobody came up to us, there was no meet and greeter or club ambassadors that made any effort to engage new members or welcome them.
I've been in many car clubs and I've even ran one and this is the worst meet I've ever been to, maybe the club should have a think about how they organise meets as I for one am thinking of not attending any more PCGB meets and sticking with TIPEC, went to one of their meets 2 weeks ago, they had a greeter at the entrance and people in yellow jackets to tell you where to park then have a chat with you, and people were a lot more friendly, I really enjoyed that meet, so that's why we are so disappointed with this one.
I really was'nt sure whether to say anything and have typed and deleted many times, but felt I had to say something as other new members may feel the same, and you need to know if people are not happy to try and do something about it and move forward!!
I've been in many car clubs and I've even ran one and this is the worst meet I've ever been to, maybe the club should have a think about how they organise meets as I for one am thinking of not attending any more PCGB meets and sticking with TIPEC, went to one of their meets 2 weeks ago, they had a greeter at the entrance and people in yellow jackets to tell you where to park then have a chat with you, and people were a lot more friendly, I really enjoyed that meet, so that's why we are so disappointed with this one.
I really was'nt sure whether to say anything and have typed and deleted many times, but felt I had to say something as other new members may feel the same, and you need to know if people are not happy to try and do something about it and move forward!!
headless said:
First of all I am sorry you had such a bad time and that you felt un-welcome. Our members are such a friendly bunch but I understand it can be hard to join a group that essentially knows each other.
I take on board your comments about having "greeters" and it's something to consider for future events like these. Myself and Carol spent the whole night talking to people, a great many of whom were first timers like yourselves, but with such a large group it was impossible to get round to everyone.
I hope you won't hold it against us and will come along to something else, we really are a friendly bunch.
I'd like to constructively join the debate if I may, as I had posted last night after the event.
I do agree about car parking and having 'wardens' would have been a benefit for sure, being my first time I ws paranoid about 'doing the wrong thing' but then other members parked on double yellows so I followed suit.
'Greeters' would be a brilliant idea as there was no easy way of identifying PCGB officials that you could say hello to - maybe a central point with a desk, or banner, as a 'meet and greet' type of affair???
Overall the event was a busy one, with clearly a great many folk already knowing each other, but at the end of the day we all need to take our own responsibility for talking to people when attending such events as we are all enthusiasts with common interests - to lay it completely on the organisers is a little unfair IMHO.
I will certainly try to attend more events and get myself known as those I did speak with were great people.
Mike
I do agree about car parking and having 'wardens' would have been a benefit for sure, being my first time I ws paranoid about 'doing the wrong thing' but then other members parked on double yellows so I followed suit.
'Greeters' would be a brilliant idea as there was no easy way of identifying PCGB officials that you could say hello to - maybe a central point with a desk, or banner, as a 'meet and greet' type of affair???
Overall the event was a busy one, with clearly a great many folk already knowing each other, but at the end of the day we all need to take our own responsibility for talking to people when attending such events as we are all enthusiasts with common interests - to lay it completely on the organisers is a little unfair IMHO.
I will certainly try to attend more events and get myself known as those I did speak with were great people.
Mike
Hi Headless, sorry to hear that your first meet didn't go too well. I have been a member for about 18 months and although I was a bit nervous about going to my first meeting, I have made some great friends and attended some brilliant events. Come and find me at the next one, I'd love to hear more about your car and would be happy to introduce to more of the members. My wife and I met GT4 Mike for the first time at this meet and had a good chat with Peter about his recent purchase of his Boxster from Kendall. Fingers crossed you have a better experience next time [
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headless said:
This sounds familiar and is something we experienced when coordinating a regional car club. We have not been to the Leeds meeting yet as we are new to the region and for us it is a four hour round trip, however now the evenings are drawing out we hope to attend. On that basis this view is purely from our time organising club meetings.
A lot of members only see each other at these events and it is easy to overlook newcomers whilst greeting everyone who is familiar with you, the fine balancing act of not being rude to either those you know or new faces is not an easy one, we tried our best but there were occasions when time and distractions did not permit contact with everyone.
Because of these constraints it is possible that people may have the wrong impression, feeling that a group is cliquey. I am sure your thoughts have been noted, the good ideas can be incorporated to make events more welcoming and inclusive. In our experience the volunteers who run regions work really hard to make the meeting run smoothly so hopefully you will give them another try, who knows, we may even see you there.
Hi Headless
My wife, Elaine and I have been members of PCGB for a little over 2 years. We’re also been or are members of several excellent car clubs since the 1970’s and I’ve been in many positions from natter leader to club director. In our experience PCGB, especially the Yorkshire Region is the most vibrant, friendly club we’ve been in and I cannot praise the club enough, it’s simply the best. The annual May meeting at Porsche Leeds is different to all others and is attended by a huge number of people, some who who aren’t regular attendees at club nights and it must be very difficult to identify who is who i.e.new members from long term members. Carol and Mark do a great job, are very popular and everyone wants to talk with them, thereby limiting their availability to circulate as much as they would like to. There are others, including me, of my own accord, who look out for new members but they too are in demand and may remain engaged in conversation with new members or those who are seldom seen. It was so cold in the queue for the delicious fish and chips that most of the chattering was of teeth! With respect I don’t think you can compare Wednesday with the TIPEC gathering at The Wellington where they and non members like us met for breakfast. People directing parking we’re wearing hi viz but nobody introduced themselves to us, other than our friends whom we had arranged to meet there; it was a similar situation at the Gmund, RPM, Reeps open day which wasn’t just a TIPEC gathering, it was a public open day. Nobody from TIPEC introduced themselves to us, not that we expected them to and I’ve no desire to join TIPEC since PCGB more than caters for all my Porsche needs and the cost of membership fees mounts up.
Please don’t be put off by your unfortunate disappointment on Wednesday, come to other events, make it known that you’re new to the club and maybe ask to be pointed in the direction of the regional organiser or perhaps someone with a similar car to yours and I’m sure you’ll very soon feel welcomed and be pleased you joined PCGB. Regular attendees at The Woodlands gatherings have been given name badges which help break down barriers when chatting with new people. Unfortunately we forgot ours last Wednesday as I think some others did, especially if they’d gone straight from work.
Appart from staff employed at club off, club officials are just members of the club who give of their time and expertise to organise events and gatherings, help at major events etc. in addition to having careers and family demands and us ordinary members should I think applaud them
With I believe, over a thousand members in the Yorhire Region alone, Carol and Mark devote a great deal of their time and energy into making PCGB in Yorkshire the fantastic, friendly and vibrant club that it is.
I hope we meet up at some event or gathering in the not too distant future.
Best wishes
Roger
My wife, Elaine and I have been members of PCGB for a little over 2 years. We’re also been or are members of several excellent car clubs since the 1970’s and I’ve been in many positions from natter leader to club director. In our experience PCGB, especially the Yorkshire Region is the most vibrant, friendly club we’ve been in and I cannot praise the club enough, it’s simply the best. The annual May meeting at Porsche Leeds is different to all others and is attended by a huge number of people, some who who aren’t regular attendees at club nights and it must be very difficult to identify who is who i.e.new members from long term members. Carol and Mark do a great job, are very popular and everyone wants to talk with them, thereby limiting their availability to circulate as much as they would like to. There are others, including me, of my own accord, who look out for new members but they too are in demand and may remain engaged in conversation with new members or those who are seldom seen. It was so cold in the queue for the delicious fish and chips that most of the chattering was of teeth! With respect I don’t think you can compare Wednesday with the TIPEC gathering at The Wellington where they and non members like us met for breakfast. People directing parking we’re wearing hi viz but nobody introduced themselves to us, other than our friends whom we had arranged to meet there; it was a similar situation at the Gmund, RPM, Reeps open day which wasn’t just a TIPEC gathering, it was a public open day. Nobody from TIPEC introduced themselves to us, not that we expected them to and I’ve no desire to join TIPEC since PCGB more than caters for all my Porsche needs and the cost of membership fees mounts up.
Please don’t be put off by your unfortunate disappointment on Wednesday, come to other events, make it known that you’re new to the club and maybe ask to be pointed in the direction of the regional organiser or perhaps someone with a similar car to yours and I’m sure you’ll very soon feel welcomed and be pleased you joined PCGB. Regular attendees at The Woodlands gatherings have been given name badges which help break down barriers when chatting with new people. Unfortunately we forgot ours last Wednesday as I think some others did, especially if they’d gone straight from work.
Appart from staff employed at club off, club officials are just members of the club who give of their time and expertise to organise events and gatherings, help at major events etc. in addition to having careers and family demands and us ordinary members should I think applaud them
With I believe, over a thousand members in the Yorhire Region alone, Carol and Mark devote a great deal of their time and energy into making PCGB in Yorkshire the fantastic, friendly and vibrant club that it is.
I hope we meet up at some event or gathering in the not too distant future.
Best wishes
Roger
Thank you for your lovely comments Dean and Roger. Thank you also to GT4Mike and Headless - it is always good to get constructive feedback. Please do come along to other events and I look forward to meeting you. I arrived with Mark and then met so many other people I didn't even see him again until the end of the night! Because of work we couldn't arrive early to sort out parking and greeting people. We really appreciated JCT600 hosting the night and providing the hospitality, it was really kind of them. It is such a good night that it is always busy and parking can be interesting but well worth it. If we are invited back next year we will see what we can do to make improvements.
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