Is this club getting too old?

[LouiseM]

I don't think that age should be an issue, but the term 'younger members' keeps getting bandied about. Who exactly does it refer to? Under 20's , under 30's, under 40's? At one Minor rally I was given some branch details and invited to attend the next branch meeting "as we need some younger members" but I'm the other side of 40

[Judge]

Dare I say it's been said before

Sorry

[jonathon]

I think the club should be looking at ways to attract new members whatever age they are. Its unlikely that more younger members will join just for the fact the gap between the concessionary is decreasing. On a personal view i do not think the club offers good value for money. I do think the magazine is very good but i think the national rally should be free entry to club members and there should be no local fee for club branches. In a time that everyone is looking after their pennies club membership might be the first thing people might decide not to renew so the club needs to change their direction slightly and offer more.
Jason

Couldn't agree more, again shall not expand on this as I'm sure I have said this on more than one occasion.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I have to disagree and say that the club does offer good value for money. As said the magazine is excellent and a great form of communication for those not on the web. The insurance scheme is very good, I have been with AON for over 12 years and have agreed value for everyday use and an unlimited milage policy for the other 3 cars that no one else could come near to on price.

Branches could not exsist on the rebate received from the club, furthermore this is only received if a member attends a branch meeting and signs a form. Membership of NI branch is £17.00 a year. This pays for rent on club night, finishers awards, postage and printing costs and numerous other sundries. Its not a money making business and all profits are given back to the members in value for money. At the moment for us to have a road run with evening meal its likely to cost us about £28-30 per person and we havent charged more than £18.00. Its the same with the National Rally, you cant expect something for nothing.

every branch will have a loyal group who you can depend to be at everything, those who dont attend IMO are missing out!<br><br>

[polo2k]

I try and avoid posts like these as I am not commited to offer the skills and services of the committe so ipso-facto I cannot critisize. Since I was mentioned at the beginning here is my 2p:


I have a standard '63 4 door but I am planning a severly modified car next.
I agree that the VW scene is a lot more active and possibley "cooler" but a lot of this is to do with the image that the public have of the car;
Original beetle = surfer dude
minor = miss marple

I dont think that the club will die out completley but may have hit its peak

I dont think that the membership is fantastic value however any discount offered with suppliers can help to offset that ;)

::EDIT:: All opinions contained in this post are simply my opinion and probably dont count for anything at all. I don not wish to start any confrontations or ruffle any feathers. If I have offended anyone then please have a look at www.comparethemeercat.com as it usually puts a smile on my face and lets face it, laughter is the best medicine
::/EDIT::

[Kevin]

Do other clubs have registers for each variant or state of modification? I have owned an Ital drivetrained 1293cc 5 speed car which i think fitted into the modified register class but to me it was still a morris minor. Its a one make club why do we need registers, whats wrong with a single inclusive club?

Well one reason for the registers is so that the club have a rough idea of how many cars fit into the different catagories and so that if someone feels the question/problem is more appropriate to a register than the general board they will hopefully get a more accurate reponse.

As for other clubs just look at the Ford ones that are fragmented into lots of small ones because of their differences and we are talking models that were only produced for a few years.

I agree we are all entitled to our views but this is the first time I have heard of someone who thinks the registers are a bad idea, but each to their own.

[COMMERCIALMAN]

What about a payback scheme on membership fees like some clubs offers. For every MMOC event or branch rally you attend you get some sort of token or stamp in a book and at the end of the year you can offset these against your membership fee. This could encourage more people to attend MMOC events and reward those more active members. Just a thought

[alainmoran]

I think that is an excellent idea commercialman

[Kevin]

What about a payback scheme on membership fees like some clubs offers. For every MMOC event or branch rally you attend you get some sort of token or stamp in a book and at the end of the year you can offset these against your membership fee. This could encourage more people to attend MMOC events and reward those more active members. Just a thought

Hmmm sounds like you wish to increase your stamp collection to me

[COMMERCIALMAN]

I think that is an excellent idea commercialman

Obviously no one else thinks so.
Jason

[jonathon]

Well its a good idea, but I firmly agree with your previous statement that the National should be free. The reason we have so few attendees to the National must be down to either previous experience of them or that they do not offer what people want, or in the way that despite there being several thousand members of this forum, it only has a handfull of regular contributors.

[aupickup]

mainly for me the venues do not hold enough interest, must be worse wit a family

and the venues are not varied enough

the feilds are normally badly catered for camping, food, etc


a free entrance would hopefully see an increase in attendance
if we want to see an increase in attendance , or membership we must have venues that attract the interest of the up and coming younger ones

i personally think that a rally with another mark of car would be of interest
on the plus side it is good to see the many traders there
alas i am not in a position to help, these are just suggestions

on a note of local branches , well to me anyway, there is normally not enough to hold an interest

this is why i joined a non mmoc branch, lots more interesting things going on, and i can see more of this hapopening

[Judge]

Sorry, all said before (see my previous link) And in my view this years National will unfortunately have even less variety.

[aupickup]

yes you keep saying bill

unfortunately i am not on a position to help much, i wish i could

well lets hope something changes in the next few years

well at least this year there is something to see, as opposed to a large house

my only criticism wuld be the fact that it coincides with glastunbury

i think the clubs ideals and ideas have not kept up with modern trends

well look at butlins and the like, they had to change

[Judge]

I only said it because you raised it again, sorry. It's just that no one seems to be listening and/or doing something about it.

Perhaps I should just let people to continue to go round and round in circles.

[aupickup]

that sok bill was not trying to be offensive or any thing

well the only way to get change is to get the younger ones, those that will continue the club, to be at the top

i will allways have a moggie
i had moggies years ago, and did not know there was a club for them,
for me they are a fun car to drive, i use mine now most days now

it is nice to have a club with a common goal, and good to have a website for all things morris minor, and for me this is best
after all the national is only once a year for a day or two, the website 24/7

and this is the way the club must go eventually
more downloads, maybe the club magazine,
club spares online would be good i feel,

local branches, well the first time i went to mine quite a few years ago, i was dissapointed in the attendance, and those that did go were in modern cars, i suggested going to other branches outings etc, and the reply was, well its to far
so i left that club

this is only my veiw of things

[jonathon]

I think the people who were 'going round and round in circles' have now given up in despair, that nothing will be done and that the current 'face' of the club is exactly what the majority want. So if its a minority who demand change then start a different club which holds the ideals you/we are trying to achieve.
Its clear that even some of the vocal members of this messageboard are reluctant to attend the AGM and achieve the changes that they want.
Its also very awkward to discuss these matters on this forum as its often seen as negative comment against the MMOC and therefore against the T and C's.

[Judge]

As you say Jonathon, having previously been very vocal in this area yourself the majority must be happy, so we shouldn't see anymore whinging should we

[jonathon]

I wouldn't call it 'whinging' purely a logical debate of expectancy. It does seem that the newer member are the ones asking the questions, not the old timers.
Personally I'm not loger interested in effecting change, but I do treasure my right to complain or praise, and offer help to those who ask. More important things in life to be involved with really.

[Judge]

More important things in life to be involved with really.

My feelings exactly. It seems that the club, i.e. the membership, have decided already on its future.