pull your neck in Sean

[ollyc]

I have read this end to end now and to be honest and don't blow my head off I think the club is a really nice well run affair that is in a league of it's own I mean if people wish to read the mag pay £15. I do. I don't stand in the shop read Auto Trader end to end then put it back but say hi to the shop clerk as means of thanks and in a nut shell that it whats happened here. I am a member of a Saab owners club that is memebership up front before you even get to post a single hello let alone get all the tech info, advice, support, friendship and family atmosphere that you can here for FREE. Christ try listing your butchers table for free on Ebay or Auto Trader and see how far you get! I will now point out some benifits that are being taken for granted here by a lot of people, the classifieds for one where else can you get such advertisements for free with pics write up etc? other than a shop window that may last a week? The tech support of all of the members and a direct line to Mr F is worth its weight in gold, but it's still free. I would be happy to log on to find the site as a blank screen with a few pics and a login screen I think the club would survive and I think the information once taken away from people would be worth double the membership alone to get back. and membership would jump through the roof. But all this is still free??? I can't say that I can do a lot to help the club because I have no idea how I can help or how to get involved further, but I would help anyone if I was asked and it was in my capabilities. I do think that everyone on here that does do the work behind the scenes has done so very very very well and without them hundreds of people would be fishing the internet for advice from people in Texas! but we have it here for free. I think £15 is worth every penny to turn red!!! let alone showing support for the club, to others and to inspire others to help the bloody club keep afloat by becoming a paid up member. Thats before you clock that there is the 300zx club as well! 2 free first rate clubs try finding that for a different marque you will struggle I fear the Anglia club costs!

So from me well done to everyone behind the scenes please keep it up you are the unsung hero's without you most would be stuck in a bloody chat room!


Where else would you be such a high poster Sean for free?

 

[SeanDezart]

Sorry for giving a damn ! Everyone move into a circle, turn towards the back of the person in front of you and pat them on the back.

Mikes' advice is still free whether you're a member or even a customer or not but my issue isn't whether the club should charge or not - that decision has been made.

I don't have anything to do with the Z32s - I don't have one, I don't plan to have one although I enjoy both clubs' cars having joint meetings.

If I was in the UK, I'd pay more if part of that went to active regional groups and they themselves had a small fee but not to pay the postage of a newsletter - the posted mag has been cut off and so should newsletters - postage is simply too much out of a budget.

So, an online regional newsletter sent automatically to each forum and club member listed - project 1.
Contact (in the name of the local group rep.) to those people in their area (mass address email) - project 2.

Ollyc - don't wait to be asked - volunteer, see what is offered and accept/decline as wished !

"...I do think that everyone on here that does do the work behind the scenes has done so very very very well..." I don't think that's true but everyone to their own opinion.

There also appear to be some posts that are now completely superfluous.

I'm not the top poster - Vaughn is !

 

[JakTheRuby]

Damn you can talk Sean. I remember getting to 1000 posts and thinking wow, that's a lot. And you were on around the 7,300 mark (and already opening a big lead over everyone else. And in just half a year you've tagged another 1300 on. Damn brother-man! The boy can talk.

 

[ollyc]

I thought 204 was good hehehe

 

[SeanDezart]

I thought 204 was good hehehe

205 now - you see how easy it is ?

What you don't know (yet) Jak is that on our French forum, I've already topped the 5000.

I strongly believe (even more so in the absence of a posted mag.) that national club membership begins at local level.

Get the local groups going, with extra support where necessary and people WILL turn up. People meeting others (and not just exchanging a quick email/post) will appreciate that The Club is about people as much as the cars.

Internet and the forum are the way to go BUT the downside is that the meet up and chat and look under each others' bonnets etc is done at distance. In order to boost up the paying membership, one has to give people something 'real'.

Gotta have ideas, motivation, will-power and not run away at the first, second or third 'failure' nor those that criticise. If you believe it will happen - it will !

I must have been mad back in '91/'92 !

 

[funkyboogalooo]

Think yourselves lucky that I left the country

Im sure most do Sean.

 

[STEVE BURNS]

No photos to appove today just 2 comments to approve
Oh and by the way Mr Burns sometimes forgets himself and does the same as a few others and lets his finger act quicker than his brain

What sort of support would you suggest for local groups

 

[SeanDezart]

Im sure most do Sean.

You see, you just have to let these comments run off your back and fix on the job in hand and yes Mr Burns, you are a passionate of Zs and even more of the people who own them, not only does your finger act quick but your tongue too but I still love you 'cos I know you 'cos I've met you. This forum does NOT replace meeting people and it aint at big, fancy nationals dos that that will happen. People have to meet locally (not too far and for not too long and preferably not too expensive) and THEN once in a group will want to be together at national events and maybe international ones.

"What sort of support would you suggest for local groups" - what do I know, I'm just a cheapie, bumpkin, loud-mouthed and long-worded foreigner.
We can keep this public or by email.....the sensors will be along soon anyhow.

 

[ollyc]

I must agree, more local meets on a more regular basis would improve the club and get other people involved and more interest in the cars. Knowing the face behind the keyboard is a key too.

"People have to meet locally (not too far and for not too long and preferably not too expensive) and THEN once in a group will want to be together at national events and maybe international ones."
Not sure how too implement this but it would be nice.

 

[STEVE BURNS]

I must agree, more local meets on a more regular basis would improve the club and get other people involved and more interest in the cars. Knowing the face behind the keyboard is a key too.

"People have to meet locally (not too far and for not too long and preferably not too expensive) and THEN once in a group will want to be together at national events and maybe international ones."
Not sure how too implement this but it would be nice.

Pick a place that you enjoy going to
Chose a date giving people a bit of notice
Post it up in the forum
And hey presto you have a local meet

 

[SeanDezart]

Post it up in the forum
And hey presto you have a local meet

You're missing the point Steve. Those that are on this forum can always do that themselves and are more likely not to because they 'meet up' here.

The people that one wants to see at local meetings are those that aren't on here but still have £15 in their back pockets for the club, fresh blood that can perhaps be encouraged on here and see this as an extra and not a local meet as an extra !

A mail shot on behalf of the lacal rep. organised centrally by the club committee to all members that are considered in the local reps' catchment area. Can be followed up by the same via email but it appears to me that a) records might not be up to date with people changing providers and
b) a lot of members (do you hold a database of ex-members to mail too ?) don't have internet access.

 

[ollyc]

I must say that when I first joined nearly a year ago now I did start by asking if people fancied a local meet as I knee a nice pub that was able to accomodate cars and in easy distance of the motorway, but I was just informed that there was a Cheshire plains meet and it was left at that. Since then I have never attempted to do anything again, but Steve I have taken that initiative before so not totaly for the lack of trying.

 

[SeanDezart]

If something hasn't worked once - it doesn't mean that it'll never work.

 

[ollyc]

True totaly agree but I've never atempted it again mainly as I felt as if I'd stepped on toes, I now don't have the same 'worry' of saying things on here as I did when I first joined the club. However I have just never attempted it again. However if I can work out how to start a thread then I will happily put some time into organising some sort of meet. (pm me instructions plweeeeeeeeeeeeeease)

But in response I am more than interested in doing things for the club just never known where to start lol

 

[BIGSSS]

Just go to the Shows & Meets Section and click on the Thread button (near top left)

 

[tulip]

also speaking as an overseas member, while i agree with sean that local group meets are are important the fact remains that the forum is an integral part of the club if not THE most important part of it, we now live in the web age of information and the forum is usually the first point of contact, it certainly was for me, having found the forum led to me going to the 2 z specific shows last year where i had a ball, and met wonderful club people,
we had a local group meeting yesterday for a whole COUNTRY which is our local group, we had 5 cars, 3 of which were z32, a model of the z range in which you have stated you have no interest i personally have a great interest in all the models of the z range,
i attend or try to all local meets, i take contact nos for all z owners i come across and tell them about this forum or others,
as regards the committee on here imho they are an extremely hard working dedicated group of people who run a very honest and friendly club/forum and dont forget they have lives/family etc,
i should have realised you were ex committee just like ex smokers they are always the most intolerent

 

[JakTheRuby]

Ahhh, but you see, it's sparked a debate. One that now has more and more interesting leads upon which to build. Whilst on the defence of the club, you've all kind-of pointed out little bits and bobs that can / should be helped move the club forward. And like that... He's proved his point. There was no dig per-se but now there is a small army of peeps gathering to 'man the guns'.

"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist..."

 

[SeanDezart]

i should have realised you were ex committee just like ex smokers they are always the most intolerent

Yep ! And I've never been a hypocrit - if anyone wants to look back to one of the last mags, there was a section for ex - chairmen to have their say......

Fair point about the forum too as an information distribution tool.

My point about the Z32s was merely that having access to a Z32 only club doesn't interest me therefore having free access to one doesn't interest me as a members' benefit (sorry for poor grammar and inevitable bad understanding).

Burns and I are of a similar mind I'm sure.

 

[Ian Patmore]

Thanks for the giggle and the insight :lol:

 

[SeanDezart]

........and you're another smug bunny who pays his money to support the club and the marque.easy and painless........ask not what my club can do for me.........