Club Membership

[Luva65wagon]

After the bleak attendance at the last meeting - and the mini regional, as well - I have gone though to check where everyone is; things like, who's still listed as members, who have let their dues lapse, who are selling their cars (or have sold them already) and leaving the club as a result. or who have simply moved or are now or have always been "out of the area." It appears there are really not that many members who are nearby anymore. Members yes, but not local members. We have members who are not on the forum as well, but I don't have much information about them yet.

We've always had issues with members being too far away (like Florida) to come to meetings, but there needs to be a better way to know how to proceed. That's my goal here.

If you are all unaware of this little page, have a look. See where you are on this list and whether this lines up with where you thought you were. For instance, many just don't realize they are no longer paid members:

http://www.rainierfalcons.com/forums/showgroups.php

I'm also opening up this thread to allow (beg) users to comment on what they'd like to see happen. Goals they'd like to see in the club, but are not being met. How they might be able to help. Anything that is on your mind, please say it. This thread will hopefully help us plan for the club's future.

Thanks-

[doghows]

OK I guess Ill dive in.
I'm probably one of those that has slacked off a lot since last year, and yes I'm behind on my dues. Probably behind on my national dues as well. Life has definitely got in my way this year. I usually make it over to Seattle at least once or twice a year but this year I have not. No one to blame for that but me.
For me I think the club as a whole has not been as active as we were a year or two ago. Tech days were being scheduled a month or two out and now there have been very few. The club seems to only have one or two "club" events a year. The Monroe swap meet, and usually the BCC show oh and the mini.
I would love to see a club event monthly although I know it will be hard right now to get enough support to do it. maybe if enough people are interested we could do a function the Saturday after the meeting?
As far as meetings I know from previous clubs that most people want the fun without the work. Got nothing for that.
So that's my take so far and Ill get off my *** and get current since I still have the club plate on the front of my car.
Lets all try to put the effort in because I think the club is worth it!!

[Gitanesteel]

Being a brand new member I hope to meet others and attend the mini get together once in awhile. Still having active kids at home (one just finished up her softball season at the 65th game and I was a coach on three different teams) my schedule gets fairly limited until mid to late July.

I do plan on being a member for a long time.

[Luva65wagon]

Appreciate the input so far, but hope there is more to come from the rest of you.

Technically I consider you both to be the same distance away and would expect neither to feel comfortable with attending meetings. One may be more miles away, but one has a long drive or ferry trip (depending on the choice) so it probably takes the same amount of time coming and going. I know it has been the key reason few, if any, make it to paid activities over on Doghows side. We've made a lot of the tech days, because this is far more important to the betterment of the members. Not always as easy to make shows that charge $25 on average now, and pay ferry charges, food and drink, and gas - to show off the car. Costs as they are these days - I've done no car shows yet this year.

As for activities, we've not done more or less these past few years. Tech days happen as often as anyone asks or needs them to. No ask, no tech day. We did good the first year of the mini, but the second year was far more arduous than I thought it needed to be. And then this year not much representation from our club - though there was pre-interest. The day-of was altogether different.

Anyway, not going to belabor this a lot more myself. This is your opportunity to ring-in and let us know how interested you all are in this club and how we can move it forward... regardless of what forward takes it to. I'll post if nobody else does to keep it in the top 4 for a while.

[Gitanesteel]

Not always as easy to make shows that charge $25 on average now, and pay ferry charges, food and drink, and gas - to show off the car. Costs as they are these days - I've done no car shows yet this year.

I can see the cost side with all the extras. I'm putting mine in the Kittitas show at $15 on Aug 13. (the best redneck part is watching the burnout competition in the afternoon). But, again that's a little drive for you. Not sure how many shows I'll do as everything through July will be taken up by softball. However, I do really want to meet some people and attend a mini - just gotta time it right.

[ew1usnr]

Appreciate the input so far, but hope there is more to come from the rest of you.

Maybe you could video the high points of a club meeting and post them on YouTube?

Thanks, Dennis in Tampa.

[BadBird]

I mentioned this a while back about getting the monthly newsletter going again. It is computer related and I admit my lack of knowledge, but it does take knowledge, and the older you get, the harder it is to come by.
I still believe it would help, and if anyone who is a computer geek has the time and patience to work with me, I will go forward.
That newsletter would be a good way to communicate our activities, our meeting minutes, national news and good rebuild advice and on and on.
Roger gave me some advice on a site to utilize, but I couldn't figure it out. I hope someone takes the newsletter on as a project. Larry