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    Looks like it could be goodbye ?.

    Looks like it could be goodbye ?. Sorry for the long post but it could be the last chance I have. I thought I would give my thoughts and opinion.



    I have read the thread on the possibility of making the Forum mainly for SOC members. When I first found this forum it was due to me possibly wanting to buy a Stag, I wanted to ask questions, these were answered which resulted in me buying a Stag ( Off a SOC Member ). If I had not been allowed access to the Forum I am reasonably certain that I would not have purchased a Stag so would not have joined the SOC. It is easy to say well join the SOC for the information but to join a club when unsure if buying a car seems to me the wrong way. I am a relative newbie as I have only owned my Stag for about one and a half years and joined the SOC but decided not to renew. I was asked by the local/regional coordinator the reason I did not renew so he could report back to the main office. I have never become involved in the threads that were about the SOC, Magazine etc but as it looks like I may not be allowed to post in the future I thought I would give my thoughts while I had the chance.



    There were a number of reasons I did not rejoin.



    Insurance, A couple of phone calls and I obtained a better price than the club insurance, with the same if not better conditions.



    Tooling fund. No advantage to being a member, no discount so why be a member ?. Seems strange as funds from the SOC are used but are no discount for members who’s subscriptions are used.



    The monthly meetings, I am not antisocial but to drive to a pub and drink lemonade even if the people are pleasant is not for me.



    There are meetings some weekends, once again I am not antisocial but not for me.



    Club magazine. This is a difficult one. There is always criticism of it’s content and cost. The magazine is important as it is the only means of communication to many/most members as I suspect that those who frequent the Forum are a minority of the SOC membership. There are efforts being made to change but in the year and a half since I have been visiting the Forum there is a monthly “moan” from some about the magazine, is no one listening ? even from a minority of members. Maybe before a decision about trying to raise money via the Forum is made the magazine and it’s costs should be looked at, not stopping it but looking at a way to reduce costs. This would not include sending via e-mail to those who want as printing costs etc would not be reduced by a significant amount.



    Grahamb does a good job within the Forum but why do I sense that he is “lone voice” within the hierarchy of the SOC regarding the Forum.



    What I found difficult to understand is the apparent them and us from the hierarchy of the SOC by this I mean that it seems that the Forum is a sort of sideline for some members, when it should be looked upon as possible the way to go in this day and age, the Internet being the preferred means of communication for many people. So the majority of new members will come via the Internet and what message will the SOC be sending to those who visit the Forum if they have limited access. I visit another Web site that allows access to the Forum and technical knowledge but other areas you need to be a member, seems to make sense to me. Now the SOC Forum is up and running the costs should be relatively low acknowledging the work done by volunteers. Yes at present people can get technical knowledge from the Forum for nothing but maybe that is the way to entice them in to join the SOC with discount on the Tooling fund parts, better deals with insurance as well as the meetings etc for those who want that sort of thing.



    I would like to thank those who have helped me in the past and I would like to give credit to Dave ( DJT ) who from day one always made me feel very welcome and kept me well informed of everything that was going on down this part of the country. I have tried in my own small way to give something back, see, http://www.donkennedy.co.uk/StagIndex.htm



    My offer in the past still stands, if I have anything that someone may find of use ( i.e. spanners for rear wheel bearings ) they are more than welcome to loan. I have many other “special” tools that may be of use to others when working on their Stag. Contact me via my web site at, http://www.donkennedy.co.uk/



    I never say never so maybe sometime in the future I will rejoin the SOC, when it has something that is of advantage to me. The comments about it is only about 61p a week is not valid as there are many things that do not cost much, just because the cost is low does not mean I should buy if it is not offering me a complete package.



    Maybe I have misunderstood some things, if so it could well be me being stupid but it could also be due to poor communication within the SOC ?.



    I am sure that there are those who will reply to this post but please remember the above is my thoughts and opinions, if different to yours does not make me wrong, it just means I have a different opinion to you.



    Don Kennedy

    #2
    imported post

    Hi Don,

    Firstly, no need to apologise for the length of the post everything you have said makes sense and is well put. Perhaps it will be read by others with influence in the Committee.

    I understand your reluctance to attend meetings and appreciate your frank comments.

    I do hope you keep in touch. You have my email address and phone number, so if in the area please let me know and I can buy you a lemonade.

    I have saved the link to your website in my favourites, so hope to keep up with your Stag antics.

    Dave
    Dave
    1974 Mk2, ZF Auto, 3.45 Diff, Datsun Driveshafts. Stag owner/maintainer since 1989.

    Comment


      #3
      imported post

      Don2138 wrote:
      Looks like it could be goodbye ?. Sorry for the long post but it could be the last chance I have. I thought I would give my thoughts and opinion. I am a relative newbie as I have only owned my Stag for about one and a half years and joined the SOC but decided not to renew.

      There were a number of reasons I did not rejoin
      Don, I have een critical of the committees approach to the forum and I for one support a free and open forum. I am also a strong critic of the amount of money spent on the magazine. I agree with a lot of what you say, but if you look at some of your arguments logically, maybe you can see what the SOC is trying to do. For example:
      The monthly meetings, I am not antisocial but to drive to a pub and drink lemonade even if the people are pleasant is not for me.There are meetings some weekends, once again I am not antisocial but not for me.
      Maybe not for you but for many this is a significant benefit. Our local Surrey meeting of 40 cars proves the point I think.
      So the majority of new members will come via the Internet and what message will the SOC be sending to those who visit the Forum if they have limited access.
      I would have thought that was ovious Don: if you want access join the club!
      I never say never so maybe sometime in the future I will rejoin the SOC, when it has something that is of advantage to me.
      The forum?
      Maybe I have misunderstood some things,
      Don Kennedy

      Comment


        #4
        imported post

        Don2138 wrote:
        Looks like it could be goodbye ?. Sorry for the long post but it could be the last chance I have. I thought I would give my thoughts and opinion.

        ...

        I have read the thread on the possibility of making the Forum mainly for SOC members. When I first found this forum it was due to me possibly wanting to buy a Stag, I wanted to ask questions, these were answered which resulted in me buying a Stag ( Off a SOC Member ). If I had not been allowed access to the Forum I am reasonably certain that I would not have purchased a Stag so would not have joined the SOC.

        >---

        Grahamb does a good job within the Forum but why do I sense that he is “lone voice” within the hierarchy of the SOC regarding the Forum.

        Don Kennedy
        Hi Don

        I'm really sorry to hear your thoughts and hope your very relevant comments perforate through to the SOC hierarchy.

        Your words echo my own.

        The SOC has an approach of 'all or nothing' and it is applying this policy to the forum, with limited knowledge and a certain lack of experience.

        I wrote a long email to Rodger Robertson regarding the future strategy of the club together with a number of positive suggestions intended to move the forum, website, and the club forward. I was assured that it would be discussed at the committee meeting last Friday.

        Despite the meeting starting early (6:30?) and finishing at 11:30, these suggestions and the future strategy for the club was not discussed at all! I have no idea what they pontificated over for 5-hours, but it was not the future direction of the club.

        The committee clearly have their own problems demonstrated by the recent resignations - but the time has come to stop nattering and take control of the SOC!

        We are talking of benefits to the members ... therefore the forum should be open to all, meaning that the subjects can be discussed with the widest audience possible. There is a far more sophisticated model to run a successful forum using banner adverts and paid advertising. The benefit to members would be the option to remove these to reduce the irritance.

        PaulT

        Comment


          #5
          imported post

          Don2138 wrote:


          What I found difficult to understand is the apparent them and us from the hierarchy of the SOC by this I mean that it seems that the Forum is a sort of sideline for some members, when it should be looked upon as possible the way to go in this day and age, the Internet being the preferred means of communication for many people. So the majority of new members will come via the Internet and what message will the SOC be sending to those who visit the Forum if they have limited access. I visit another Web site that allows access to the Forum and technical knowledge but other areas you need to be a member, seems to make sense to me. Now the SOC Forum is up and running the costs should be relatively low acknowledging the work done by volunteers. Yes at present people can get technical knowledge from the Forum for nothing but maybe that is the way to entice them in to join the SOC with discount on the Tooling fund parts, better deals with insurance as well as the meetings etc for those who want that sort of thing.


          This is why the Forum articles in the magazine have taken on a more technical aspect since Emrhys took over the editorial job on the magazine and I took over writing them. It is an attempt to bring together the people that do and don't use the forum. and to be a step towards reintegrating the parts of the club.

          Rgds

          Dave

          http://www.stagwiki.com | http://parts.stagwiki.com (Under Development)

          Comment


            #6
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            Is the ultimate desirenot, to share ,how to keep as many Stags on the road or as ongoing projects possible? without politics.

            Comment


              #7
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              Is the ultimate desire not, to share ,how to keep as many Stags on the road or as ongoing projects possible? without politics.
              Hear Hear!


              Comment


                #8
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                stay on here as long as you can Don (and others) - I do not know what they think they will achieve with this

                Comment


                  #9
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                  Ian Durrant wrote:
                  Is the ultimate desire not, to share ,how to keep as many Stags on the road or as ongoing projects possible? without politics.
                  Hear Hear!

                  Ditto!

                  http://www.stagwiki.com | http://parts.stagwiki.com (Under Development)

                  Comment


                    #10
                    imported post

                    Don,i am saddened and reading this,i agree with you on most points,i too am also not a member of this club anymore,and i too would reluntantly leave the forum,if it were the will of the club/forum members.
                    I feel that forums in general should be for the use of all,i dont wish to make enemies here so like you this is only my opinion

                    Comment


                      #11
                      imported post

                      I didn't bother renewing my club subs. I read the mag in 5 min but this forum every day. Work permiting

                      Comment


                        #12
                        imported post

                        The SOC heirarchy need to remember this is not the only Stag Forum on the Internet; the other one is free and open to all. I prefer the style and features of this one but if it becomes memebers only then perhaps the other forum will become the better choice.

                        Personally I think that will be a great loss but then the dinosaurs never did look up to seethe asteroid did they?



                        PS where is my discount on SOCTFL parts;


                        1976 Triumph V8 Manual/OD in BRG

                        Comment


                          #13
                          imported post

                          NickA wrote:
                          The SOC heirarchy need to remember this is not the only Stag Forum on the Internet; the other one is free and open to all. I prefer the style and features of this one but if it becomes memebers only then perhaps the other forum will become the better choice.

                          Personally I think that will be a great loss but then the dinosaurs never did look up to seethe asteroid did they?



                          PS where is my discount on SOCTFL parts;

                          I agree on the fact that we as members contribute to SOCTFL parts through being members of the SOC,but there dose not seem to be any discount..:shock::?

                          Adrian

                          Comment


                            #14
                            imported post

                            NickA wrote:
                            The SOC heirarchy need to remember this is not the only Stag Forum on the Internet; the other one is free and open to all. I prefer the style and features of this one but if it becomes memebers only then perhaps the other forum will become the  better choice.

                            Personally I think that will be a great loss but then the dinosaurs never did look up to see the asteroid did they?

                             

                            PS where is my discount on SOCTFL parts;

                             
                            There's always Lewy's forum:

                            Maybe his time is approaching....

                            Comment


                              #15
                              imported post

                              Arbman Al wrote:
                              There's always Lewy's forum:
                              http://www.stagmad.co.uk/forum/default.asp
                              Maybe his time is approaching....
                              Maybe so:?. The last post on there was TWO days ago:shock:

                              Bruce

                              Comment

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