On Line Mag Poll

[TimShoubridge]

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Bob Heritage wrote:

Friday 13th tomorrow, maybe the mag will arrive for the weekend.
As some people have had their mag for about a week now, it is probably a distribution problem rather than a printing one. The mag is printed in Kent and then transported about 100mls to Suffolk for distribution. Change the distributors is the answer, send them over to me, my daughter will stick the stamps on for a bit of pocket money.

100 miles to a distribution point? 12 times a year at what cost? Combine the process and we'd save a bundle......or pay Bob's daughter....OK by me.

[mad cyclist]

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got mine this morning wouldn't really bother me if it was quaterly

[toneil461]

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For what it's worth, reading intensly from a PC screen I find very tiring and would therefor not like an electronic mag only. I would agree to have the choice of paper / electronic format simular to most domestic billing companies like BT etc.

Terry..

[Kevin Garrod]

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Whatever, ways need to be found to reduce costs on this subject, the situation is far from satisfactory, are we all agreed on that?

[toneil461]

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kryten wrote:

The problem I have is my wireless signal on the toilet is no good..... makes an online version pretty useless to me anyway..... also using your laptop as emergency toilet paper is almost impossible so I think the paper version should stay - at least until I've lost all control down below and need nappies again....

Russ:dude:

Russ,

Mine arrived today:X

Terry..

[TimShoubridge]

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Kevin Garrod wrote:

Whatever, ways need to be found to reduce costs on this subject, the situation is far from satisfactory, are we all agreed on that?

Yep....me and all the voices I hear in my head agree.

[brian0443]

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Not exactly the response a marketing dept. would want! I am jut a little worried that only 52 people voted. One more than in the age survey. 35 responses I can understand. 526 viewed. Does this mean that 474 just didn't vote or that 474 people were not logged in, or have we a very high proportion of readers who are not forum members?

Brian

[Bob Heritage]

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Evens on the on line vote, but add an extra 4500 who are not on line to the paper edition-no contest

[Guest]

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Bob Heritage wrote:

Still no mag-10th of month. July report has to in by tonight

After several years of trying to sort out why were not getting our newsletter copies here in the States to no resolve, I lost interest and let my membership drop. That was unfortunate, and really, I never had feedback after I let my membership drop other than one membership reminder.

Membership outside the UK means (all been said before - I believe I am flogging a dead mule)

• - for member - not able to utilize any club benefits,
• - for member - sometimes a magazine in hard copy - but most times not,
• - for member - no real meaninful vote unless you attend an AGM or TFL in person - could be electronic voting on club issues,
• + access to the members area of the SOC site,
• + for club - financial assist in SOCTFL when projects do come up.
• more minuses for the outside UK member than pluses listed here

Now if I had online access to an electronic copy of the Newsletter, at least I would receive timely copy reliably in articles from the club officers, SOCTFL projects, parts specials, tech articles, photos, tours and advertisements.

So why not both a print copy and, a downloadable electronic copy with an opt out of the hard copy? Exactly what is the harm of adding member features such as 24/7 electronic access to the newsletter and other club materials in exchange for £35 annual dues??

I believe support for the largest Triumph Stag club that also funds replacement parts projects is quite important, but I also believe a club should at least provide some sort of equal and proportional benefit to its members in return for £35 (or any) annual dues no matter where the member resides in this world.
In our club, if members do not receive their newsletter (I would hope they contact us immediately), at least they can download it online on the members section of the web site and get current information.

Another reason for an electronic version is that postal fees are becoming more expensive every quarter, and reliability of delivery is deminishing every quarter. At least an online accessible newsletter is accessible 24/7, and even old copies for reference would allow greater access to the club monthly information.

Just another lost member looking for solutions ...

And is that 4000 members? I thought it was over 5500 members?? What has happened?

[Bob Heritage]

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I suppose Glenn's argument goes both ways, as he said he is no longer a member but can access the S.O.C. site. If everybody could do this and receive the mag electronically then none of uswould be members.

[brian0443]

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Glenn, I used 4000 plus as a safe number, If it's 5500 the position is even worse.

This forum presently has 482 members, not all of whom are SOC members. At best we comprise 9% of the membership. Then 23 of us say we would like to receive the magazine electronically, and that's less than half of the active people on this forum.

We have no way of knowing how many SOC members are internet users and I doubt whether the present website with its generic login and password codes could provide this information. Perhaps one of these years the membership renewal notices will ask.

Until then I don't think we need worry too much about having web-access in every room in the house

Thanks to all who replied

Brian

[DJT]

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Bob Heritage wrote:

I suppose Glenn's argument goes both ways, as he said he is no longer a member but can access the S.O.C. site. If everybody could do this and receive the mag electronically then none of uswould be members.

This is where the current system falls down. If you access the forum through the SOC homepage, you need to sign in using the login/password which is in the magazine and which has recently changed. If, however you log in once and save the forum page as a shortcut, you get access without logging in, hence Glen will still be able to do so even when the new login/password takes effect.

I am not necessarily advocating that the forum should be 'members only' access - that has been debated before. It is a thorny subject with some people - "something for nothing vs. free exchange of information".However there should be some way of identifying who is a member and who is not, as there is on the CT website. As soon as my membership of CT lapsed, my avatar immediately changed to indicate I was not a member.

Personally I would like the magazine to be available online for members, with th eoption of a paper copy if requested. I still haven't seen this month's as it only arrived home on Saturday and by the time it reaches me after re-directing I would be on my way home and possibly miss it altogether. So it will be Friday before I get my sticky mitts on it .

Dave

[mad cyclist]

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i feel that the mag just does not tick enough boxes for the members on the forum, but is more enjoyed by people who don't have the daily contact like we do, we are a club as most are, of varying tastes, in years gone by the yougsters will probably be saying why do they go on a forum when they could beam to each other's garages to talk about fossil power and pistons.................................nurse!! i'm off again:?

[mad cyclist]

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StagByTriumph wrote:

Bob Heritage wrote:

Still no mag-10th of month. July report has to in by tonight

After several years of trying to sort out why were not getting our newsletter copies here in the States to no resolve, I lost interest and let my membership drop. That was unfortunate, and really, I never had feedback after I let my membership drop other than one membership reminder.

Membership outside the UK means (all been said before - I believe I am flogging a dead mule)

• - for member - not able to utilize any club benefits,
  
• - for member - sometimes a magazine in hard copy - but most times not,
  
• - for member - no real meaninful vote unless you attend an AGM or TFL in person - could be electronic voting on club issues,
• + access to the members area of the SOC site,
• + for club - financial assist in SOCTFL when projects do come up.
• more minuses for the outside UK member than pluses listed here

Now if I had online access to an electronic copy of the Newsletter, at least I would receive timely copy reliably in articles from the club officers, SOCTFL projects, parts specials, tech articles, photos, tours and advertisements.

So why not both a print copy and, a downloadable electronic copy with an opt out of the hard copy? Exactly what is the harm of adding member features such as 24/7 electronic access to the newsletter and other club materials in exchange for £35 annual dues??

I believe support for the largest Triumph Stag club that also funds replacement parts projects is quite important, but I also believe a club should at least provide some sort of equal and proportional benefit to its members in return for £35 (or any) annual dues no matter where the member resides in this world.
In our club, if members do not receive their newsletter (I would hope they contact us immediately), at least they can download it online on the members section of the web site and get current information.

Another reason for an electronic version is that postal fees are becoming more expensive every quarter, and reliability of delivery is deminishing every quarter. At least an online accessible newsletter is accessible 24/7, and even old copies for reference would allow greater access to the club monthly information.

Just another lost member looking for solutions ...

And is that 4000 members? I thought it was over 5500 members?? What has happened?

greetings cuz

I have a load of soc mags dating back to 2003 ish if you would like a selection send me your address and i will send you a load over.

rgds Nick

[Guest]

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Bob Heritage wrote:

I suppose Glenn's argument goes both ways, as he said he is no longer a member but can access the S.O.C. site. If everybody could do this and receive the mag electronically then none of uswould be members.

I did not say I have access to the members sections. In fact, I do not have access to the members areas as I do not receive the Newsletter that contains the current login. As such, I would not be able to have access to an online newsletter.

I do have access to the public areas of the SOC site, like event photos which is a great feature! Anyone browsing to see what SOC does at events would surely be attracted to attend events and become a member on those photos alone.

My point is that only current active members should have access to an electronic version of the current club Newsletter and back issues.

On TSC USA web site, we interactively check logins against the active membership roster. If the person is not active, they get no member area access, and no access to back issues of the StagNews.
However the remainder of the site and the Forum is open to the public.

On the TriumphStag.net, I interactively check logins for posting and registry edit access for almost 700 registered members - for free. Registration is free, use is free, support is all by donations that usually do not cover annual expenses.

TSC USA is a club of about 350 members and we have individualized member login actively checking against the current roster, our dues is only $25 USD in US/$30 USD outside.

SOC is something well over 4000 members with an annual dues of £32 UK/£37 GBP + £5 outside UK (about 3 times TSC USA annual dues).

Why is a simple active interactive login for members on the web site a problem for SOC? Is it because the board only sees 450 members on the SOC Forum site and expects that is the sum of the online interest?