Is this club getting too old?

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:43 pm

Forgive me if this has been covered before (i've been away for a while).Whats going on about the club voting in a pensioners discount and completely ignoring the chance to embrace the younger generation(people who could be members for the next 30years plus) by throwing out a student discount. I don't fit in either group and have nothing to gain but without new members clubs die with the old ones. Once again if this has been covered before could someone point out the links to the posts (many thanks).

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:01 pm

Well the senior citizen discount has been in existence for years, so hasn't just been 'voted in' and as far as I'm aware there has never been a student discount so it hasn't been 'thrown out'.

There have been various threads about attracting younger members - if you use the search facility at the top of the page you'll find them. Here's a fairly recent one:

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... er+members

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:41 pm

As I stated I have been away for a while and I was just repeating a comment in a search for clarification. Thank you for the link (had a quick look will work my way through the 11 pages later). It's just I get worried, as I move from being a young member to a middle aged member that no one will be willing to take the cars on and keep them going. It was commented to me once that it seems much more like a social club with cars than a car club with a social scene. Young people love the cars but don't like the idea of the club.

Post by **rob.hardy1** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:16 pm

When i bought MEA 18months ago i knew nothing. One of the first people i met was driving past whilst i was busy polishing ( the limit of my knowledge) and he stopped and told me he was an enthusiast with , to use his words, a minor and a half in his garage that he hadnt touched much since he got it 7 or so years ago. We worked on his car to get it back on the road in time for the national last year. I learned so much and i feel confident enough to at least to a bash at almost any job. We have become good friends and we often go 'Morrising' in either of our garages.

The thing is, i am 52 and Ash is 24.

Age is just a number, the age range of members peaks around 30-40 i understand but with equal numbers of older and younger than that peak.
Morris Minors are of a certain times and they are for appreciating. Some would say they are for modifying and good luck to them (Ash keeps coming out with ideas for putting big engines in and using carbon fibre and he sees my eyes glaze over)
Ash gave me a PILE of old MM mags and the questions in there are very much the same as today because the car hasnt changed but the owners have and they have the pleasure of scratching their heads over what the fourth light is on the speedo and what the button on the floor is for but when they have learned that they are on the road to becoming closer to an expert and further away from a newbie.

My point is, age should hardly be an issue, as long as we listen to the new members, young and old , because they just might have a good idea.

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:39 pm

Whats going on about the club voting in a pensioners discount and completely ignoring the chance to embrace the younger generation(people who could be members for the next 30years plus) by throwing out a student discount.

That's why it can be very useful to belong to your local branch and to attend AGM's (if practical) to keep up to date with what's happening and discuss items in Minor Matters as only a tiny amount of the membership use the website unfortunately.
If you fill in your location in your profile we would be able to point you in the local branches direction.

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:39 pm

age should hardly be an issue, as long as we listen to the new members, young and old , because they just might have a good idea.

Agreed.

I wouldn't worry too much Arnie. From my experience people own Minors because they like them, not for the social scene. I'm sure there will always be people of all ages willing to take the cars on and keep them going and they don't have to be a member of the club to do this.

(I am not anti-membership, just pointing out that a reduction in members does not necessarily mean a reduction in Minor enthusiasts)

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:42 pm

Got to admit i'm slightly with Ash about the modding (it's good to have big ideas, makes a scaled down plan easier). My attitude to to modify the cars to suit the way you want to use them. Funnily enough I have owned Minors since I was 24 so I'm just in the peak range now. Those 11 pages were interesting though, I think the sucess of the VW clubs is that they see VWs, not modded or standard cars and that attitude embraces all (I could be wrong they might have seperate registers for every variant of the cars/vans but from outside it does'nt seem like it).

Post by **alainmoran** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:43 pm

To flip this on it's head, if there is a pensioner's discount why isnt there a student discount?

I'm not a student, so it wont benefit me either way, but if you are going to have one, then why not the other ... and while we are at it what about a discount for those who are on benefits (I have a job too, so that doesnt apply to me either)

Offering one and not the other might be opening the club up for age discrimination accusations/lawsuits.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:49 pm

as far as I'm aware there has never been a student discount so it hasn't been 'thrown out'.

It got suggested at an AGM but was never followed.

That doesn't mean it will never happen - however unless it gets pushed by enough people it will fall by the wayside. I think it's a really good idea - when i was at uni I had to lapse my membership as money didn't go far enough and things are worse now than they were 12 years ago.

As for the senior citizen discount - the difference was made bigger a few years ago (nobody voted against that except for one person ;-) )
At the last AGM the outgoing treasurer reduced the difference between normal and senior membership - so at least there is 'change'.

People often blame the 'committee' for being old blood, resisting change etc.. etc.. Reality is that it is much 2 sided. Younger members rarely stand for a post (in fact hardly any members stand for a post!). However it's worth to mention that a lot of committee members are relativel new to their posts including treasurer, regalia, assistant secretary, webmaster etc.

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:55 pm

Kevin wrote:
Whats going on about the club voting in a pensioners discount and completely ignoring the chance to embrace the younger generation(people who could be members for the next 30years plus) by throwing out a student discount.
That's why it can be very useful to belong to your local branch and to attend AGM's (if practical) to keep up to date with what's happening and discuss items in Minor Matters as only a tiny amount of the membership use the website unfortunately.
If you fill in your location in your profile we would be able to point you in the local branches direction.

I was a branch member for a number of years (I KNOW where my local branch is). I'm not going to say which one (best not to add my location). I'm a morris minor user and when I turn up at a meeting I expect to see other peoples morris minors in the car park. When I went to meetings I expected some talk about morris minors (if you don't talk about the cars it's just a social club).
Actually at the end of the day all I want to know is why is'nt there a financial incentive for younger members to join the club (thank you alain).

Quick edit I have nothing but admiration for anyone who sits on a club committee, at times it must be a frustrating and thankless task. As long as the people on the committee see every member as equal rather than following the interests of their own age group there are no problems wth older (and wider) heads being in charge while the fresh blood is prepared.

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:55 pm

Offering one and not the other might be opening the club up for age discrimination accusations/lawsuits.

I doubt it.

My local chipshop and hairdresser both offer senior citizen 'specials', usually on a Wednesday. It's apparently all perfectly legal

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:57 pm

LouiseM wrote:
Offering one and not the other might be opening the club up for age discrimination accusations/lawsuits.
I doubt it.

My local chipshop and hairdresser both offer senior citizen 'specials', usually on a Wednesday. It's apparently all perfectly legal

That must be because they have target customers they want to attract. Do we not want to attract the young??

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:04 pm

This website has probably helped to attact a lot of 'younger' owners however if they can get all the help and advice they need for free here, and find out about Minor events, why would they want (or need) to pay for membership?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:10 pm

This website has probably helped to attact a lot of 'younger' owners however if they can get all the help and advice they need for free here, and find out about Minor events, why would they want (or need) to pay for membership?

possibly because it would save them a lot of money on classic car insurance via the club scheme (priority is placed on making sure young members get a good deal). Or for the magazine, or for discounted entry to rallies, or because they are grateful for this forum etc.. ;-)

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:12 pm

LouiseM wrote:This website has probably helped to attact a lot of 'younger' owners however if they can get all the help and advice they need for free here, and find out about Minor events, why would they want (or need) to pay for membership?

If this site is the first point of contact that has to be a good thing knowing they have opened the door on a club that offers free help and support to owners. If I had come here as a new owner in years gone by it would have made me want to join. You are not suggesting we should deprive people of this site until they join? Nothing turns people away faster than a closed door.

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:15 pm

You are not suggesting we should deprive people of this site until they join? Nothing turns people away faster than a closed door.

Of course not

Just pointing out that the site offers much of the benefits of club membership but without having to be a member.

Post by **Arnie** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:20 pm

LouiseM wrote:
You are not suggesting we should deprive people of this site until they join? Nothing turns people away faster than a closed door.
Of course not Just pointing out that the site offers much of the benefits of club membership but without having to be a member.

There are other Morris Minor sites out there where much of the same information can be gained. Better people come here so they can be gently encouraged to become members.

Post by **Judge** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:51 pm

You're right Arnie that this has been covered before, hence I will not repeat what has been said already on many occassions. To get some idea of this, here is a more recent link, http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?name=P ... sc&start=0
I would also like to clarify one point due to a comment in your first post In fact normal membership fees have been frozen, and the existing concessionary rate has been increased. This also only appears to be the start of reducing the differential between the normal suscription rate and the concessionary rate, and I must admit that this approach does concern me as it seems to be targetting members that have possibly been so for many years, and does nothing to address the problem of attracting new members.

Post by **alainmoran** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:14 pm

rayofleamington wrote:possibly because it would save them a lot of money on classic car insurance via the club scheme

The club scheme with AON is way more expensive than a standard classic policy offered by FJ (Yes I know they have now merged, but last time I renewed they hadnt)[/b]

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:15 am

The club scheme with AON is way more expensive than a standard classic policy offered by FJ

Somehow I don't think you're a younger member! Older members get a range of prices when shopping around. My comment was based on lower premiums for YOUNGER members - The club has constantly maintained their efforts to ensure they get a good deal on insurance.