Steve has put up the figures so that potentiel members may see where the money goes. I (and others) have asked pertinent questions on some of the details, some of which aren't immdiately clear - NOT because we're looking for trouble but because we want to be satisfied (as opposed to being told that we should be like sheep) and because we want this club to continue and in a healthy manner (which means money). I don't recall anyone here saying they'd pay less or should be !
So what this discussion highlights is the openess and transparency of the club officials and perhaps given many some food for thought.
Re comments of armchair heroes, there was another post not so long ago (fiercely attacked) which attracted several offers of help, I wonder whether they have been taken up - I know mine wasn't so please don't point the finger.
I've always believed that whether a job be paid or not, it should be done to the best abaility of that person. Obviously time is an issue but even in paid work, we're expected to do things within a certain time-frame unless you have the luxury of timeless pressure : so, it is a weak excuse for anyone (and I'm not targeting anyone at all) serving on any club or association committee to say, well, I'm not paid so if I don't do a good job or take too long, it's not my fault !
For info, Sylvain and I manage our club with nearly 600 members although with a lot less money because membership is free, we get by on donations.
Our website is hosted annually for £60, our domain name costs us £10 and we have a memory base of 5Gb. We don't have crashes.
I assume that The Z Clubs' is much, much bigger and there was a momemnt that we were discussing with Russ to rent space off The Club (I thought this a great solution - keep it in the family) but it fell through for timing reasons.
So, if you're gonna do it, why not do a bit of marketing - get the advertising officer (s ?) to send a circular to other classic car clubs perhaps - I dunno - I'm not an IT manager
! But paying for extra space now that you may need in 20 years time seems extravagant. Either down-size and upgrade when you really have to or rent that space out - too simple I suppose but as stated I'm a nunce.
But what PISSES (moderaters feel free) me off is the mentality that anyone who questions is moaning, that questioning implies criticism.
Simple fact - if you want to learn - you ask ! Here, it's like being atschool and the teacher asking after having explained something "has everyone understood ?" and two hands go up - "do you want to get me fired , - I've already explained it !"
You were all brought up (I hope) to question. Not to question authority
but to ask 'why' etc but you've had (my supposition) 20 years of re-education that questioning is now criticism and also that if you don't pay, you haven't bought the 'right' to question !
Have you armchair politicians thought what Steves' potentiel members might think ? 'hmmm, great club, no secrets but boy, I daren't ask a question before joining and not even then when I am paid-up" !
Well, chaps and chapesses, you had a go long enough at me last year and I warned you - I AM a paid-up member so I will continue to question (NOT ffs to criticise) in the aim to further (note the word please, denoting that great progress has already been acheived) improve this club and the service to its' members.
Good ideas above and I'll add :
access to most areas for non paying members :
no posting of classifieds, only viewing
very limited attachment memoies
(which reminds that for what the club pays each year, my 120Mb memory should be unlimited - there has been a thread about this but nothing done yet !!!!!)
I'm sure that there's more but non-paying members should have a lot less than paid - no argument !
Oh, and early on I recognised that many of last years expenditure was capital and a long-term investment - I even had a chat about it with Mr Burns 3-4 months ago.
