To Renew or, Not Renew.....

[supersport]

You shouldn't be paying for trophies out of your pocket and the Region should have banners. Just the RO, they cost about £30 each.
My Region is one of those that is capped but it doesn't matter as I have all we need and don't spend it all.

I don't think that the club is 911 based. I don't think it favours one model over another. Realistically it only organises one or two events national and they are open to all. I don't think Regions organise model specific events as it would cut attendance.

Some times it seems like owners of some models feel aggrieved that there is not enough for them, the answer is to organise something.

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: supersport


I don't think that the club is 911 based. I don't think it favours one model over another.

Really? -

944 - 30th Anniversary a car park at the back of the National Event, when we tried to organise the cars into a display we were told that the area was the overflow parking area for others and told to move back and park in the hotel car parking spaces!

911 - 50th Anniversary Say no more!

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL:

Some times it seems like owners of some models feel aggrieved that there is not enough for them, the answer is to organise something.

We have, and there have been several well attended events this year

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

Hi all

In reply to Paul Mc, I think Martins point was that R18 is split North/South , it is effectively , IMO , two separate groups under one regions banner. They do their thing in the South of R18 and the Cumbrian part do theirs moving the monthly club night around the county to accommodate the terrain !!

However all the above are classed as R18 and the funds are controlled in South of R18, I don't know the ins and outs but I do know a fair few who want Cumbria as its own region, we have a very good turnout at club nights and are a very active group, compared to other car clubs I have been a member of.

Again I don't profess to know the in's and outs of the club rules regarding regional finances but I do know we pay our own way more often than not.

Could you also explain how you come to the conclusion that costs are so much cheaper in the North, I assure you the flat cap and whippet days are behind us, quite a few of us even have electricity now, I think you will find that in general costs oop Norf can often be higher due to geographic location meaning higher delivery costs plus less competition on the high street.

If I stretched this point back to the original topic , to rejoin or not, I would have had no hesitation in rejoining a 'Cumbrian' region.

All the best, Paul

 

[MartinRS2K]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

But I don't see any money being spent on our North Members as it is controlled by the South. I am not suggesting anything untoward, but it does feel like a them and us financially. We organised a small concours at our Show in Dalmain in the Summer and around 10 of us put money in to buy a trophy and some prizes out of our own pocket. We are also looking at getting some banners made at our own cost!!

Is there any information regarding membership numbers in Cumbria for R18 so we know how many we have and what contribution we should receive?

Hi Martin,

As the regions all get the same money allocated per member they have, it can't possibly be biased to the South? If anything, the benefit is to the Northern regions where costs are so much less!

It seems a very fair system. If I choose to move to another region as they do the job better, the money follows me. In reality, the money makes prety much zero difference to regions, as the volunteers are just so bloody good at making local events pay for themselves, or even turn a profit. The only time the Club really has to invest massive amounts of money is in the National events that seem fantastic when you speak to people who were there, but in reality cost hundreds of thousands to stage. Brands Hatch, the 50th at the RAC, those sort of events.

Why are you buying your own trophies and banners? Who spoke to the Region Director about it, as we've often been told there is money available for things like that? It's also a perfect opportunity for a local business to get VERY cheap advertising by sponsoring the odd trophy. No region needs to be worrying about money, there is plenty available if the request is put forward with a decent plan.

I'm confused why you ask about numbers in the Region. The RO will have all that info updated monthly. [8|]

Hi Paul

As Paul Ruddy has said above, I am talking about our Region (R18) where we are 2 separate groups split North/South and again as Paul has highlighted above we are happy to put our hands in our pocket for things required to make our shows more enjoyable for those attending.

We do feel like the forgotten people and my question which should maybe have been directed to somewhere else but was brought up here in reply to Geoff Ives as he is an ex Register and Events Director was to highlight our situation and if there was a way to find out how many Members there are in Cumbria and if this is feasible to justify Cumbria being a Region in its own right with its own RO and fund?

Having a more local Region I think in turn would attract more Members to join the Club as it is 1 1/2 hours for me to travel to our main Regional night. Cumbria is one of the most remote counties which is why we move our meeting around to try to accommodate everyone, but it is difficult especially for those of us with work and families that take priority.

 

[MartinRS2K]

ORIGINAL: supersport

You shouldn't be paying for trophies out of your pocket and the Region should have banners. Just the RO, they cost about £30 each.
My Region is one of those that is capped but it doesn't matter as I have all we need and don't spend it all.

Agree Mark, but when the purse strings are controlled by the South of our Region it does feel like we have to go with the begging bowl to get anything unless they are involved.

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

Gents, just as an indication of area covered by R18, if we were simply R18 with one monthly meet at Garstang GC as displayed in the club mag my 'round trip' journey to attend each month would be 5 hours driving, assuming clear roads and no incidents, too much.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Eldavo]

You'd be coming across the A69 to Region 3 in that case I hope

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

ORIGINAL: Eldavo

You'd be coming across the A69 to Region 3 in that case I hope

Nice try but I think the point is Cumbria is big enough and has enough local members to now justify its own region, this takes nothing away from the national club and it may even add as we may attract more local members. I cannot see that it will harm the South R18 as in my opinion they run as a separate region anyway.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Eldavo]

Every £2 helps, lol

You do realise that if you push for it to happen then you will be first in line to be the RO?

 

[vitesse]

Well even I have a 1hr each way trip to Garstang from Formby & it would be the same if I elected to be in R5.

As to funds,I can't think there is anything deliberate about this-David Baker is the man to speak to but I agree,it could make sense to be a separate region.

But how does Scotland cope-some people must have the same geographic problems-& lets face it each hours journey costs around £10 these days so with personal budgets as well as corporate ones under pressure,it is a problem.

 

[MartinRS2K]

ORIGINAL: Eldavo

You'd be coming across the A69 to Region 3 in that case I hope

Newcastle is quicker for me to get to from Gretna via the A69 rather than travelling to Garstang []

 

[MartinRS2K]

As we have separate meetings and are having a separate Christmas Party does that not imply that apart from all being in R18 we are in fact 2 separate groups?

Christmas Lunch North : 1st December at Armathwaite Hall, Keswick
Christmas Lunch South : 8th December at Garstang

Meetings North : We use a few locations - Sportsman Inn, A66 near Penrith : Castle Inn, Keswick : Stoneybeck Inn, Penrith : Greyhound Inn, Bothel : Greenhills Hotel, Wigton
Meeting South : Garstang Golf Club

This is not trying to force a split for the sake of it as some may think, as were are already running as 2 separate groups under one banner there is nothing to split!!

 

[tref]

I believe that one of the outcomes of the workers conference was that Derek Sharp was going to be reviewing regional boundaries for further discussion - his interest I believe was the Cotswolds, but the implication was it would encompass other areas where the effectiveness of the region as they are is debateable - it might be worth bringing it to his aattention, as well as, of course, our regional director. I feel that smaller regions are likely to work better, and transport links are far more important than county borders.

 

[Ex Skyline]

Look, I only said that i'd give it some thought. I said I wouldn't mind helping out with whatever, using up my very limited free time in the process, However, I've given it some thought and have decided I just can't be bothered[8|]! I can't be bothered with all the petty bull5h1t, politics and, bollox []!! So, that,as they say, appears to be that!
Andy Watson, Totally agree with you mate, 100%! Defo' 911 biased. Anyway, as you so rightfully say, us transaxle lot organise our own events which are always very well attended [8D][].
"Supersport" Mark Jessop. I did! I had a load of "Brighton Hoon on the 9th of Joon" aluminium plaques made for the first and second annual gatherings and, paid for them out of my own pocket. All the breakfast's at both gathering's were paid for by me, out of my own pocket! And, what's more, I will continue to do so for as long as I can keep the show going [8D][]. So there. Geoff Ives take note! Ex Skyline is NOT a robber or a Ponce [][].

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

ORIGINAL: Ex Skyline

"Supersport" Mark Jessop. I did! I had a load of "Brighton Hoon on the 9th of Joon" aluminium plaques made for the first and second annual gatherings and, paid for them out of my own pocket. All the breakfast's at both gathering's were paid for by me, out of my own pocket! And, what's more, I will continue to do so for as long as I can keep the show going [8D][]. So there. Geoff Ives take note! Ex Skyline is NOT a robber or a Ponce [][].

Pete, that's commendable and shows commitment to the cause, I also have organised things at my own cost over the years, I recently had a batch of calendars made which I mailed out to some good friends, photos were taken on this years trip, a couple of the recipients have recently bought 944's to come with us in 2014.

Cheers, Paul

 

[supersport]

Whilst it is true that there is a lot of petty bullshit around, you can simply ignore it and get on with doing the job, but you shouldn't take it on if you don't have the time to commit, that just leads to the problems you are experiencing locally.

The thing is though, you don't need to be RO to organise events, but you shouldn't ge paying for things out of your pocket. All it takes in each Region is for a couple of people to put a couple of things together and you have a decent set of events. If the Region is pretty quiet though, it can take some time to get a head of steam up.

I still disagree that the club is biased towards any particular model, but that's only my opinion. If you ask the early boys some of them complain that there is nothing for them either. The great thing is that the 944 sections is probably the most active area of the club and there is great knowledge on the forum, to the point that to my mind it provides a great reference the anyone considering buying one these great cars.

 

[Ex Skyline]

Mark, I haven't taken on any job yet and, probably won't now [8|]. If I want to pay for stuff to ensure a good meet, I will. At least I know it is going to happen! I aim to organise a "Brighton Bash" annually from now on, maybe even two a year although, i'd need to give that one more thought as I know a lot of people put their 944's to bed for the winter (me included). The way around that would be to have a meet in Brighton on a Saturday for a meal/curry etc and, loads of alcohol [8D][]. Travel down by train, stay the night in a nice hotel or, my gaff. You get the picture? Just a real nice social weekend [][8D]. It would be nice to gauge people's interest on this one. After all, the "Party Season" is almost upon us []!!
Paul, that looks to be a lovely calendar mate []. Hat's off to you Sir!
Pete'.

 

[Frenchy]

Check out January in Paul's Dinslaken calender [] also check out PCGB calender 2014, July i think, the boys at the Nurburgring.

I did not renew my subscripion for membership a few years ago due to percieved 911 elitism and various other things that narked me, one being the R18 set up "Cumbria and Lancashire"

I have since renewed my membership but still harbour my believe that Cumbria should be it's own region, we are the second biggest county in the country, Cumbria is a big county end to end, should i wish to attend my local region "club night" would see me leaving home at 16.40 and getting home at 12.00 am as an average plus around £50 in fuel to travel to Lancashire.

Yet our R18 "social meets" are never more than an hour away usually 30-45 mins we have a good turnout and are a very active "sub region" as already posted we should not be going "cap in hand" to beg for coffers to represent the club at our local activities along with funding things ourselves, we already contribute to this with our subscriptions.

Simply daft the way our "region" is delegated at the moment, the common sense way would be to merge North West R5 as Lancashire and Cheshire which is all within an hours drive of anywhere in those regions.

Simples ! [8|]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Hi all,

Sorry for misunderstanding the North/South thing Martin: I didn't realise it was an internal divide!

All I can say is have you taken it officially to the RO, then to the region director, and copied the rest of the Board? So often things are complained about, but never taken further. In my experience things usually get sorted when there's a decent argument for changes.

I'd take the discussion off this thread, though. Why is it specific to 944s, and I guess people could conveniently "miss" it here? Post it on the Region pages, and get others to reply. Stick it in the members-only area for good measure. Just don't tell them I said so. [&:]

Pete, it's not fair to quote "petty politics" as an excuse to do nothing. Everyone who sets up their own events, FB groups etc. needs to appreciate that wherever you get even the hint of a success you'll soon find people expect you to repeat it, and aren't happy unless it's bigger and better. Usually the ones who don't attend are the most vocal! [] The minute you have more than two of you there will, at some point, be a falling out: it's just how people work. That then becomes the politics, and the group splinters again.

Car clubs must have been the inspiration for the "Judean People's Front" sketch. I think the danger is in thinking that trying something different will solve an inherrant problem with all groups of enthusiasts, rather than ignoring the odd muppet and working with what we have here. I find that it's easy to lose the odd idiot in a group of nearly a thousand, but I wonder how hard it'll be to ignore them when it's a group of 20 or so? [&o]