Flat rate membership fee

Hi all,

The commitee has been talking about changing the membership fees for club membership.

Currently the fees are £25 for a new member and £10 to renew. Returning/expired members can also join for £10.

The proposal is to charge everyone £15 flat rate for the year.

There are several reasons for doing this but the main 2 are to attract more members and to hopefully increase club funds to spend on things like National Day etc. It's thought that charging £25 is putting people off joining - something we really want to change. Whether altering the fees to £15 will increase club funds is less certain despite the number crunching.

We'd really like to hear what the members have to say about this so we can come to a decision soon.

Please discuss but please try and keep on topic! ;)

Sounds good to me :)

Current or older members s**t out new members have it all to gain, that's how I feel this will be looked upon. Thing is how bad or good are things these days, are club numbers dwindling that fast. What are the numbers for 2006 onwards?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alex

Hi all,

The commitee has been talking about changing the membership fees for club membership.

Currently the fees are £25 for a new member and £10 to renew. Returning/expired members can also join for £10.

The proposal is to charge everyone £15 flat rate for the year.

There are several reasons for doing this but the main 2 are to attract more members and to hopefully increase club funds to spend on things like National Day etc. It's thought that charging £25 is putting people off joining - something we really want to change. Whether altering the fees to £15 will increase club funds is less certain despite the number crunching.

We'd really like to hear what the members have to say about this so we can come to a decision soon.

Please discuss but please try and keep on topic! ;)

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Fine.. One less pint n crisps that's all

Id be happy paying that, the amount of knowledge and help from members is worth that alone:agree:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rs250nut

Current or older members s**t out new members have it all to gain, that's how I feel this will be looked upon. Thing is how bad or good are things these days, are club numbers dwindling that fast. What are the numbers for 2006 onwards?

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I don't have fingures going back that far but over the last few years memberships have dropped by quite a lot.

http://forums.themustangsource.com/a...tch-_do_it.jpg

Wow a whole 1.37p extra per day for existing members, not really worth thinking about when put in those terms.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alex

I don't have fingures going back that far but over the last few years memberships have dropped by quite a lot.

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By the tens, hundreds?

Ian S will have more definitive figures but as an example:

563 members joined or renewed in 2010

514 members joined or renewed in 2011

389 members joined or renewed up to September 2012

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Originally Posted by Alex

Ian S will have more definitive figures but as an example:

563 members joined or renewed in 2010

514 members joined or renewed in 2011

389 members joined or renewed up to September 2012

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Sobering numbers those.

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/20...by_vgfr33k.png

I would happily pay £15, i think this is a good idea, if your new to Renault turbo's and you don't know anyone off the site then i agree £25 seems a little steep. I know it's worth more than that in terms of info and help but i really can see £25 putting people off.

Wow, only 389 renewals last year:eek:

Sounds good to me.

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Originally Posted by car.crash

Sounds good to me.

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:agree: I will go with whatever the club decides :D

Less than 400 members and less than 100 turning up for the ND. It's a sad reality tbh.

The current tiered system was designed primarily to try and retain existing (and pre-existing) members by making it cheaper for them to renew. Has it been in place long enough to understand how well that has worked? The numbers need analysing, otherwise what was the point of putting it in place and what is the point of changing it again now?

That said, I'll just go with whatever the club decides, as ever. I'll pay £15.

We only need a certain bank balance to cover nat day losses .If we don't have the money then that will have to change format .
Inflation rise and long overdue .
15 quid is still very cheap compared to other clubs and what they offer .

I think its fair to say 95% of the regulars if not more would have no issues paying £15 and if it means we can drop the new joining fee to hopefully increase new members seems a good idea.

Maybe £20 1st year and £15 after for new joiners?

DG

I'm happy to pay it but I don't think you can attribute low membership numbers to the joining fee. 2010 was £25 but 2012 was nearly 200 people less and the same price.

I guess people are just less interested in the whole renault 5 thing nowadays and kids prefer corsas, evos etc etc

What's needed is better media coverage but how to go about it? I've seen the ads in ppc and they're great so I don't know what else can be done :confused:

Ross

We've been here before (with regards to attracting new members/other breeds of Renault Turbo), but it's still status quo.

https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=29802 - Long thread, but a good read with some valid points & ideas (more so end of page 2 onwards).

I have no problem paying 15 pound still good value for money. As regard to a lower amount of people joining is it because the club is seen as a club for old renault turbos and people dont consider the club for the newer cars

It's not even about older Renault ,it's all about 5gtt .
That attitude will take a lot of changing and I doubt it will ever be more than it is already without a major overhaul of the site and PR in mags etc and there is no-one that will do that job .
The increase is to try and attract new members ,maybe even newer model owners , at 15 quid it's still throw away money ..pie and a pint ,but is also needed to keep the coffers full .

Nearly 20 members have posted on this thread so far. That's 5% of the total membership (and probably represents 10-15% of those who actually ever post). Not one has said they are unhappy to pay an extra £5, which is good.

My 2 pence worth: You need to make it appealing to renew as well as get new members:

£20 for new members, £15 for renewals

We are faced with new forums/groups such as FB. Why pay RTOC when you get the same for free? Hence a lot of newbies not joining!

The point is to have a flat rate and move away from the two tier system .This whole renewals discount scheme is just a complication we don't need and puts newbies off I think especially as it's far more than double what existing members pay .

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Originally Posted by Romil Davda

We are faced with new forums/groups such as FB. Why pay RTOC when you get the same for free? Hence a lot of newbies not joining!

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How many National Day events have those FB groups hosted?

It's also far easier to read the daily news/topics on this/a forum, than what it is trailing through lines upon lines of everyone's posts on FB.

I think if we maybe went to larger events as a club for example PFC i know this year is not an option but maybe the following year we have cars like meganes and there was a lad on here with the new shape clio was it the 1.2 turbo and obviously theres loads of retro renaults or is there a problem with just staying with the older cars?

Chris, read the thread that Mart posted.

Think problems with staying with older cars is that the numbers decline as some become beyond repair or broken for parts, cost and availability of parts etc

Im happy with £15.

389 renews for 3/4 of a year sounds like we where on corse for another 500ish for 2012.

:agree:

£5 inceased annual fee is feck all...... if it helps the club continue then its a go-er imo.

I only use the forum for the excellent advice available and vast information it has stored and that alone is well worth the investment.

And athough I would like to, I dont really see myself attending one of the national days this year or next unfortunatley :(.... but you never know.

I would also like to read more about the modern renaults ie megane's clio's etc so anything that will encourage more members like them to join will only make for a more interesting forum

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Originally Posted by Mart

How many National Day events have those FB groups hosted?

It's also far easier to read the daily news/topics on this/a forum, than what it is trailing through lines upon lines of everyone's posts on FB.

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I quite agree with you although obviously not everybody does - Blunty's R5 Group has over 500 members now, that's about the same as RTOC! :eek:

Haven't looked around the site for a while as I go straight to the boards, maybe if we could show people who are looking to join the club what members discounts they'll receive once a member, say on the home page, the initial higher charge wouldn't be so bad. After all most people have another car and a Renault turbo which they need parts for, show you can off set the cost of membership against money saved at gtt spares, ecp, gsf ect....

Ie, with my club discount I saved £50 when I spent £200 at .......... Because of the 25% off discount rtoc have negotiated

Then renewal time the £10 is easier to swallow

But like what has been said, the price of everything has gone up so maybe it's time membership did as well

Personally the FB group does not help the club in my eyes. Yes I'm a member and part of the issue, but I'll cough up for Rtoc,

Maybe we should approach the people who run the other sites or FB pages and get advertising, on FB I can't see it being an issue as long as bluntly agree's.

The FB page is the best way to get members into the club.

My 2 pence... Dont hate them use them

Ffs! its like groundhog day on here! I mentioned about looking into different cars in this post other day:

https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=31494

only to find a thread hi-jack and sarcasm!:mad:

Maybe a fresh thread should be started with a list of objectives and dates set in place?

Anyone is free to post any links etc to the fb page i have told big steve this a few times. Iv also made an event for the rtoc national day and pinned it to the top of the page so people can see about it also there are links to rtoc on that post so any non members can find you and hopefully stump up the cash to join up.

On another note the fb page was never set up to be a rival or anything daft like that it was actually set up in 2009 just after i got my 5gtt it for a long time was very quiet then all of a sudden jumped in numbers and posts.

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Originally Posted by Alex

I quite agree with you although obviously not everybody does - Blunty's R5 Group has over 500 members now, that's about the same as RTOC! :eek:

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Everyone likes a free ride. Simple as.

Good to see you posting back on here, Blunty :agree:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

Chris, read the thread that Mart posted.

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Read cheers trev:agree:

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

Maybe a fresh thread should be started with a list of objectives and dates set in place?

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Another fresh thread? There's been plenty of threads akin to all this over the years, but it's stalemate, it's status quo, it's same old same :D

Feel free to start another thread, but no doubt we'll be here in 12 months time having exactly the same discussion ;)

This simple problem is that other car clubs don't want to be absorbed into this one.

Even though the 21T OC and other clubs like that are now small, they want their own club. So we won't get those cars here.

Seems the Alpine people tend to look down their nose at this club and so we won't get any of that kind of thing here.

New cars are well catered for by bigger clubs with more members and money as no-one in this club bought those new cars as they came out and wrote tuning guides, etc, that people would have come here for.

Err is that you generalising again Ian .....:coffee:
It the clique mentality that pervades all one model car clubs ...this one included .Dont see many RTOC on RAOC either .......
Both Big Steve and I have tried in vain to get cross club relations started but it really needs someone of the likes of Stephen Dell to have the time and energy to do it ...for nothing ...and have a very thick skin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mart

Another fresh thread? There's been plenty of threads akin to all this over the years, but it's stalemate, it's status quo, it's same old same :D

Feel free to start another thread, but I guarantee we'll be here in 12 months time having exactly the same discussion ;)

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Yes Mart, another fresh thread, with the current members and committee members.

At the end of the day, and the way i see it, the members in various threads over time have given the committee plenty of ideas to work with. What we need now is the committee to take these ideas forward and set dates and objectives on when they can be implemented.;)

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Originally Posted by Ian S

New cars are well catered for by bigger clubs with more members and money as no-one in this club bought those new cars as they came out and wrote tuning guides, etc, that people would have come here for.

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This. :agree:

As much as I feel change is needed, I also feel that we've missed the boat.

However, we have a golden opportunity with the new ClioT that's about to be launched, but if we don't nip that one in the bud from the start, so to speak, it'll soon have its own forum dedicated to that marque. That, or there'll be a relevant section on ClioSport.

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Originally Posted by clee

Err is that you generalising again Ian .....:coffee:
It the clique mentality that pervades all one model car clubs ...this one included .Dont see many RTOC on RAOC either .......
Both Big Steve and I have tried in vain to get cross club relations started but it really needs someone of the likes of Stephen Dell to have the time and energy to do it ...for nothing ...and have a very thick skin

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:agree:

Someone needs to camp out in the meganesport forums. No offence to them, but many are clueless and tuner driven!!

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Originally Posted by Mart

This. :agree:

As much as I feel change is needed, I also feel that we've missed the boat.

However, we have a golden opportunity with the new ClioT that's about to be launched, but if we don't nip that one in the bud from the start, so to speak, it'll soon have its own forum dedicated to that marque. That, or there'll be a relevant section on ClioSport.

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How mart? Great thought but unless you get a flyer for Rtoc to every body that buys a Clio t,
It's going to be hard to get the word out.

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

Yes Mart, another fresh thread, with the current members and committee members.

At the end of the day, and the way i see it, the members in various threads over time have given the committee plenty of ideas to work with. What we need now is the committee to take these ideas forward and set dates and objectives on when they can be implemented.;)

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Matt, I totally agree with ya. That's been the point of my thread(s) over the years, not to p1ss off people/the Committee, as they always seem to think that's my motive ;) but simply for rtoc'ers to flag up fresh ideas/changes, and the Committee to at least chew them over/give them a go if deemed worthy.

I can only think of one scenario where that's happened - Changing ND venue from that of quarter-mile racing to track driving.

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Originally Posted by clee

Err is that you generalising again Ian

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Yes, but in general, that's how it is.

There are a few exceptions, namely yourself, Andy Bond, who are here as well.

But to grow the RTOC it needs more that 50 other cars from the 1980's.

The Twingo Turbo idea that committee had, to buy and tune one, fell flat, as it looks like, did the Twingo Turbo.

The Clio turbo, I didn't know there was one. People who are in touch with modern cars need to be involved with this. Leaving it to the committee as it is, isn't going to do it.

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

:agree:

Someone needs to camp out in the meganesport forums. No offence to them, but many are clueless and tuner driven!!

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Go on then ,you got a tent ;):coffee:

Anyway this is all going off topic ( as expected )
We putting the fees up or what ? :laugh:
I think it's a resounding ' yes ,that's OK ,as the club needs our support to enable it to continue to offer the great services and plenty cheap offers it has always done '

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Originally Posted by JRP

How mart? Great thought but unless you get a flyer for Rtoc to every body that buys a Clio t,
It's going to be hard to get the word out.

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As Matt mentioned above, get some of the rtoc'ers on ClioSport (assuming we do have members on there?) to put the word out & drum up interest.

It's a shame we're not affiliated in any way, shape or form with Renault (UK), as there would be golden opportunities there with this new Clio, but alas we're not. C'est la vie.

Thing is, as has been said numerous times before, bar putting the word around, we also need something to lure in the new members, plus then make them feel like they're getting VFM.

Or maybe we're barking up the wrong tree altogether, and not worry about the new breed of Renault Turbo's, and instead, simply concentrate on keeping rtoc afloat & its members happy?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Romil Davda

My 2 pence worth: You need to make it appealing to renew as well as get new members:

£20 for new members, £15 for renewals

We are faced with new forums/groups such as FB. Why pay RTOC when you get the same for free? Hence a lot of newbies not joining!

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I think this is it, I've noticed alot of drop off at Renault 5gtturbo.com since Blunty's facebook page started, & that has over 500 members now... Looks like the way forward unfortunately :(

The 5GTT had been out for maybe seven years before the 5GTT owners club started to get going. There was easy tuning potential, no speed cameras, and petrol was cheap.

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but the reality is probably like this:

So now, the new Clio Turbo arrives. People not interested in tuning buy them and join Cliosport to tell other new owners that they are a new owner and pat each other on the back for 1000's of posts. Then they talk about cleaning and polishing them.

Koni will announce their new FSD shocks for the Clio Turbo and some people will want them and maybe new springs. They'll fork out the cash and then talk about track days and springs ratings. Even now on RTOC after all these years that doesn't happen. People just want standard springs.

How many newish Clio Turbo owners will want to modify the engine of they less than three year old Clio Turbo. Very few I guess.

KTec and others will buy them new and have an exhaust and dump valve made ready and maybe a couple of extra psi. Then other parts as the car gets older.

By then petrol will be £10 a gallon and 250bhp will be of no interest to most people. I presume the Clio Turbo is intended to be a small and efficient car, not a fun big boost gas guzzler. Turbo'd cars will be the norm by then due to manufacturers trying to get better mpg.

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Originally Posted by Mart

As Matt mentioned above, get some of the rtoc'ers on ClioSport (assuming we do have members on there?) to put the word out & drum up interest.

It's a shame we're not affiliated in any way, shape or form with Renault (UK), as there would be golden opportunities there with this new Clio, but alas we're not. C'est la vie.

Thing is, as has been said numerous times before, bar putting the word around, we also need something to lure in the new members, plus then make them feel like they're getting VFM.

Or maybe we're barking up the wrong tree altogether, and not worry about the new breed of Renault Turbo's, and instead, simply concentrate on keeping rtoc afloat & its members happy?

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Branching out is the way to keep afloat eventually I'd imagine

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Originally Posted by clee

Go on then ,you got a tent ;):coffee:

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Clee, no problem, but i will need some tools to help plug the hole!

How about 10 free t shirts, and 10 free memberships to get things moving?

Speculate to accumalate as they say!

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Originally Posted by Ian S

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but...

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http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001..._5_xlarge.jpeg

;) :D

Also we have to be carefull advertising on other boards... I have tried speaking to officials on cliosport about club co-operation, offering them to officially join together for nd or pod days.... There not interested.

Clio sport spends alot if its membership fee on the membership packs, and very little on there ND...

I can see a day when RTOC won't hire a venue such as a track or pod due to lack of interest, instead we will hire a field at a Venue and camp up and just meet up (very much like the frenchies do)....

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Originally Posted by Penfold aka The Dealer

Also we have to be carefull advertising on other boards... I have tried speaking to officials on cliosport about club co-operation, offering them to officially join together for nd or pod days.... There not interested.....

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Probably because RTOC members have slated cliosport in the past....

Thing is Renault turbos are dwindling in numbers, so surely therefore the membership of the club will dwindle with the cars.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

Ffs! its like groundhog day on here! I mentioned about looking into different cars in this post other day:

https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=31494

only to find a thread hi-jack and sarcasm!:mad:

Maybe a fresh thread should be started with a list of objectives and dates set in place?

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Just re-read that. There was no sarcasm in anyone's posts and the 'hi-jacking' was members reminiscing about times past based on the pics that were posted up! Sheesh.

The advice at the bottom wasn't used either. Why not give it a go as I'd like to see a collection of pics of the Renault-based, non-GTT, members' cars.

So, in a nutshell...

- No-one wants to be affiliated with RTOC, including other Renault forums & Renault UK.
- Any future breed of Renault Turbo will more than likely end up having its own forum/club, or simply bolt onto ClioSport/MeganeSport, or even the RenaultSport club itself.
- RTOC membership levels are reducing as each year passes.
- Akin to that, our National Days of the future will become non-existent.

As Trev mentioned in the other thread, it's paramount we keep this website running above anything else, even if that means knocking ND's on the head.

Simply put, if this goes, rtoc's dead & buried.

How are the club coffers, Ian?

I assume we're ok for hosting a ND this year?

Theres car clubs for cars that are much rarer than ours how do they manage to keep goin and turn up at shows

i just renewed today. Only just saw this post.

RTOC is a great source of information. I have met a few people on here as well.

You do have groups on FB which are free and easy to get information from etc.

I like popping on here so browse the classifieds but thats all i do when i think about it.

There is not enough interest for local meets which is a shame and would keep this alive.

Not sure why other turbod renaults do not come on here seems strange to me!

I've just joined bluntys fb group. It's great for the odd bit that comes up for sale that wouldn't appear on here due to people not wanting to pay the membership fee. It's great for what it is but it'll never be RTOC. Please don't take offence by that Andy btw.

Facebook is a ****e format. That's just how it is and can't be helped. I love RTOC and think the membership fee is a bargain. I'd happily pay £25pa but not everyone will feel the same. With fb, if you're putting nothing in (£) you'll get nothing out.

Has anyone tried contacting the twingo forum? They're quite popular with the yoof of today.

Ross

Local meets can be difficult to arrange (or difficult to get people to attend them at least). When there are only (guess) 200 active members, spread across let's say England, Scotland and Wales, there simply aren't enough people for truly local meets any more. It's more regional (if that), which means you have the majority travelling a lot further than from Derby to Notts for example. With the cost of fuel playing a much bigger part in decision-making these days, it doesn't help.

As has been said times-a-many, this club has to either deal with its shrinking size (i.e. accept it and adjust expectations), or change direction, which would mean having a committee full of people who want to take on that challenge. At the moment I don't believe there is a will (even if changing direction was the right choice).

I have wondered before what the RTOC numbers are likely to go down to. At some stage the number of GTTs being scrapped will flatten out. The number being rebuilt has increased a lot in the last couple of years. Perhaps we'll find membership numbers stabilising over the next 2-3yrs.

Smaller numbers means it's easier to organise and I imagine the classic car brigade, where member numbers in clubs are more like 150 (another guess), find it easier to get out to shows. They are usually older as well so can afford the petrol and entry fees. One day RTOC will probably be like that. It's not the end of the world if that's the outcome (although I'm not necessarily saying that's what I'd want ideally).

We've veered slightly off the membership price track here! :D I appreciate all the comments non the less.

So, in general we're happy to alter the fees. Good, I'll take this forward. When/if the change occurs I'll be promoting it as best I can so people outside the RTOC are aware.

Re other issues i.e dwindling members, worries for future ND's/club subsistance etc. The problem is the committee consists of perhaps 10 members, of which perhaps half that are what you would call 'active' members' so getting anything done can be a mission in itself! Ideally IMO we need more 'dedicated roles' within the committee. A few good members have left the club over the last 6 months or so and I think it's been felt.

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Originally Posted by Mart

So, in a nutshell...

Blah blah blah blah....

Simply put, if this goes, rtoc's dead & buried.

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NOW who's being downbeat!?

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001..._5_xlarge.jpeg

I think the two things are inextricable Alex. The subs should be geared according to what members are getting back.

For example. If we ditched ND and one or two other expense-laden club facets (that's not a suggestion), then I'd say no to paying £15 a year if the income from subs is say £5000 p.c.d (as I guess it is now). As that should be more than enough for the website and the odd cost here and there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mart

How are the club coffers, Ian?

I assume we're ok for hosting a ND this year?

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Well the 2012 budget was blown on this years ND with what can be only be approximated to about £5k loss. 2012, the RTOC seems to be about even, ie, no surplus and no loss. Though I think it's the first year since 2006 that no surplus was made.

So the bottom line is that we can afford the ND in 2013 but if we want to spend on the website we won't have a 2014 ND as we'll likely make a big loss this year. PFC say they just spent £10k on their new websites.

Re Pod, there no mention of it in the committee apart from me saying we probably won't be able to have it this year based on the lack interest last year and the impending total loss until Miller got involved at the Pod on the day itself and sold the tickets at reduced price.

The bottom bottom line is the club has a few good say'ers but not enough do'ers.

As it is the club can afford to subside a nd(but only 1venue such as pod/trackday), for this year and hopefully in the next coming years the same...

When demand does down and we don't have the numbers for a Venue like pod/etc we will have to look at change, website don't cost that much as we are lucky scoff did most of the programming & design... So if we decide not to hire a big venue membership cost will go down as remember rtoc is owned and run by the members unlike many other car forums...

That is a good point that Penfold makes, we could drop the ND and charge less for memberships.

The subsidy for the 2012 ND would seem to be about £50 per head for each person that attended.

We have to consider how much good such an expensive ND does the club and whether we'd have more members if the fees were a lot less.

There is a risk with going to a flat rate of £15. If the numbers for joiners and renewals stay the same then the club will lose about £750. The hope is that there will be more than 50 new members and the renewals will not drop due to the £5 extra.

Another consideration is the advertising spend. The worth of this could be divided by the number of new members responding to the ads. At £15, we'd need a lot more joiners to meet the adversing fee.

The website's vB 3.7 is way out of date. Eventually we may be forced to update it. Scoff won't be able to do it for free next time and if we want to keep a site with features like we have then we'll have to pay. Or just have a very basic forum.

Yup I will pay the extra no probs you guys have saved me much more.. I will admit one thing though I use the fb page because its easier to load pics up off my iPhone as I don't have a pc.. But I'm still here everyday and iv been to the events available so far.. Rtoc for life :) well the 5s life :p I promote this place everyday and every chance I can as the stickers are in my windows but I can't see it doing any good as I haven't seen another Renault turbo in nottingham at all.. Just do it!!

Cancel ND :confused: it's what I'm aiming for I can go to pod any day I like but I can't go to a ND.. Oh no no no :disagree:

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Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

NOW who's being downbeat!?

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001..._5_xlarge.jpeg

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Not at all mate - It's just a summary of pretty much what's already been posted in this thread.

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Originally Posted by Nottswoody

Cancel ND :confused: it's what I'm aiming for I can go to pod any day I like but I can't go to a ND.. Oh no no no :disagree:

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I don't see us cancelling nd anytime soon, but what we could do with is not making such a loss....

I can, not this years, but if looses even more than last year, and the membership income drops, there simply won't be the funds to pay for a 2014. If 2014 goes ahead based on optimism and also loses then the club won't be able to pay for the other costs like advertising and web hosting. It may even be bankrupt at that point. Currently, there are the funds in reserve to be sure that even after a total loss at the ND the club can still keep going.

Clearly, if the ND broke even like it maybe did 2011 and nearly so in 2010, they could carry on. But not at the kind of loss of the 2012. And not if Blyton raise their prices. Apparently Donnington doubled their prices this year which is why the FCS had to go elsewhere, namley, Castle Coombe.

What were the losses? What cost so much? Was it people just not turning up not paying? Have we even asked who's going? Who's will to pay upfront? I know I haven't been asked and I consider myself as an active member imagine what the non actives feel like. Perhaps put strippers on with big titties!!!

Let's see who's reading :eek:

Advertising spend:
2010 £1017
2011 £1380
2012 £1332

2010: membership fees income = £9155
2011: membership fees income = £8005
2012: membership fees income = £8550

Various website hosting costs:
Maybe £2000 or so.

Event losses:
maybe £6000?

On that basis in 2012 the RTOC lost about £650. Can't be easily sure but it might be a bit less loss.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nottswoody

Have we even asked who's going?

---

Tickets always go on sale months before events and much noise is made about it.

Cliosport, the club that takes money off a hell of a lot of members but no one is willing to tell you where it goes..

Is there a club account, do they put on an event with it?

Answer = go away, it's nothing to do with you..:sad2:

We would never be able to get involved with them unless you allow there hosts to pocket the rtoc bank account and not tell you what there doing with it..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Penfold aka The Dealer

I don't see us cancelling nd anytime soon, but what we could do with is not making such a loss....

---

Ok so this year we will just have the hire of Blyton Park and a p1$$ up in the field.

• No Show & Shine (I wouldn't touch it with a frikkin barge pole anyway :coffee:)
• No Rolling Road (be it free to members or members pay for it on the day)
• No Disco in the barn
• No Rally Plaque's
• No stickers etc

I estimate binning that lot off would save the club somewhere in the region of £1.5 - £2K?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dangerous dave

Cliosport, the club that takes money off a hell of a lot of members but no one is willing to tell you where it goes..

Is there a club account, do they put on an event with it?

Answer = go away, it's nothing to do with you..:sad2:

We would never be able to get involved with them unless you allow there hosts to pocket the rtoc bank account and not tell you what there doing with it..

---

Difference is Cliosport is run as a Business..... so why should they tell you anything?

I can tell you now for £12, you get alot with cliosport... you get a nice membership pack (cost to you door are estimated at £8.50), so the club then has £3.50 per member to use on running website etc... now a huge profit to be had but considering the guy who made it originally dont have to do much & is most likely a website designer = a nice tidy income per year & no doubt dont just own Cliosport....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

Ok so this year we will just have the hire of Blyton Park and a p1$$ up in the field.

• No Show & Shine (I wouldn't touch it with a frikkin barge pole anyway :coffee:)
• No Rolling Road (be it free to members or members pay for it on the day)
• No Disco in the barn
• No Rally Plaque's
• No stickers etc

I estimate binning that lot off would save the club somewhere in the region of £1.5 - £2K?

---

Agreed with all plus sets up another day at the scoffs :smokin:

As long as the ND is not allowed to continue to the point where there is no money to service (and upgrade), the website. Risk management! Lol.

We don't want to get to the point where we're find we being forced to upgrade the website and then are told there's no money to do so due to last year's ND losses leaving us with only website maintenance money.... If you catch my drift.

A couple of motor clubs do their 'special day' as a a separate business so as not to endanger the actual club if it goes a bit tits up. Just a random ramble/suggestion.
For example Sevenoaks and district motor club run the crystal palace sprint, the only motorsport in London. Shall I see if a stand is available this year for RTOC??

I've heard about website upgrades on other threads on here. Now, I'm not even slightly computer minded so maybe I'm missing something but why would there be a need to upgrade? For what it's worth I think the site looks great. Why fix something that isn't broken?

Ross

I haven't really been to Landon but I'd travel :) I'd love to dump all over London bridge

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Matt@CodeRedMotorsports

Shall I see if a stand is available this year for RTOC??

---

Yes Matt. Its not that I dislike smaller shows/meetings as some people suggest, I just don't have the time to arrange everything.

If you want to lead it and arrange it then I'd support you where I can.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slammed 66

Why fix something that isn't broken?

---

Hardware and software move on all the time. Eventually you have to update or what you got stops working.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

Hardware and software move on all the time. Eventually you have to update or what you got stops working.

---

Cool :)

I wasn't being pedantic, I just really am unaware of Internet stuff. :agree:

Ross

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

Yes Matt. Its not that I dislike smaller shows/meetings as some people suggest, I just don't have the time to arrange everything.

If you want to lead it and arrange it then I'd support you where I can.

---

Small show?? Hehehe!
Over 5000 paying visitors last year ......;)

That show might not be small but the number of people from RTOC who go there will be.

Same with Enfield Motor Pageant. A member did his own RTOC stand last year due to nil support from the RTOC, I couldn't even get anyone to send him the banners the club owns, and there were about four people with 5GTTs or other Renaults.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Branching out is the way to keep afloat eventually I'd imagine

---

:agree::agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slammed 66

I wasn't being pedantic, I just really am unaware of Internet stuff. :agree:

---

Just say that one day a hacker finds a way into vB 3.7, it's not supported any more and then it stops working as everyone was expected to be on or near their latest version.

18 months ago we had to get quite a bit of the 'under pinning' re-done so it would work with this LAMP server we're on, as the site was more or less non working on the previous server and fairly slow and faulty on the one before that.

Alas, someone, not me, deleted the original and only copy before the work was complete and deleted members profile photos and left some problems that have not been repairable.

People want mobile facilities that this version doesn't have. They want features this version can't have.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

That show might not be small but the number of people from RTOC who go there will be.

Same with Enfield Motor Pageant. A member did his own RTOC stand last year due to nil support from the RTOC, I couldn't even get anyone to send him the banners the club owns, and there were about four people with 5GTTs or other Renaults.

---

My point was.... There is a potential of 5000 people seeing a club that caters for turbo charged renaults, it may help with potential members to aid the club.
Ian, thanks for that, if the club wants to implode and moan about it then so be it....
That chap at the Enfield show deserves a medal.

Il pay that all day.. £15 is nothing for all the knowledge info etc and then meeting people off here for a chat wen buying, meets etc its all worth it!! :agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Matt Cole

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Branching out is the way to keep afloat eventually I'd imagine

---

:agree::agree:

---

Easy to say.

Branch out to where?

Who's going to do this branching out? It's not going to be me. So anyone who will please let us know :)

A large part of the problem is not lack of branching out, it lack of manpower to get anything like that done.

As far as I know there was no RTOC at any shown last year, apart from just mentioned which had nil to do with the RTOC really.

And despite booking Pod, no-one seemed to know it was happening.

So much for putting the word about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mart

As Matt mentioned above, get some of the rtoc'ers on ClioSport (assuming we do have members on there?) to put the word out & drum up interest.

It's a shame we're not affiliated in any way, shape or form with Renault (UK), as there would be golden opportunities there with this new Clio, but alas we're not. C'est la vie.

Thing is, as has been said numerous times before, bar putting the word around, we also need something to lure in the new members, plus then make them feel like they're getting VFM.

Or maybe we're barking up the wrong tree altogether, and not worry about the new breed of Renault Turbo's, and instead, simply concentrate on keeping rtoc afloat & its members happy?

---

:agree: as mentioned above , we need to start offering incentives to meg sport , twingo , r21, etc. I wasn't joking regarding the free memberships , raffle a few t shirts etc etc. if we got say ten new meg sport members and all go back and tell other members............ Then there is the possibility of them buying a national day ticket! The club shop needs to expand with other turbo model parts , could even be a simple start as a Renault sport badge!

Ian, don't dig me out.. Not impressed mate. That was also in relation to FB, and with your seemingly negative stance ( just how it reads) we won't get anywhere

How about £25 for new members and £15 for existing but improve the welcome packs?

As penfold said clio sport do a nice keyring etc but I joined and never renewed because its not great, whereas here the membership is worth the money!!

It's maybe just getting more people through the door and hoping a high percentage don't leave after one year! Lets face it we all can be swayed with a free gift etc! I know I've been swayed with magazine subscriptions just on the better gift!

I'm sure revised membership pack appealing to new and old renault turbos could be done and at £25 you have £10 to play with?

As for events living on the Isle of Man means £180+ before I even get to the mainland so unfortunately can't attend events! Maybe one day!!

Steve

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Matt@CodeRedMotorsports

My point was.... There is a potential of 5000 people seeing a club that caters for turbo charged renaults, it may help with potential members to aid the club.
Ian, thanks for that, if the club wants to implode and moan about it then so be it....
That chap at the Enfield show deserves a medal.

---

I agree. But the event's co-ordinator doesn't have time or interest and has repeatedly strongly said that events like this have no worth, and no-one else cares enough to get up and do something about it. I don't have a Renault or I'd have taken it to the Enfield show.

Who is the events cordinator if the aint got time or intrest then isnt that considerd abit of a problem

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

That was also in relation to FB, and with your seemingly negative stance ( just how it reads) we won't get anywhere

---

I'd be less negative if there were people wanting to join the committee and actually properly do stuff, have initiative, use it.

These threads are usually the same, a few people kick around some suggestions, often good ones, then go away. The few of people working for the club every day can't do any more than they are.

Join me up

I pmd i think it was big steve asking why we cant go to more events as a club and if it was a lack of money or if it was a lack of man power because i was willing to help

Lets not turn this into a witch hunt about who did or didn't do what... Lets move on from here

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

I agree. But the event's co-ordinator doesn't have time or interest and has repeatedly strongly said that events like this have no worth, and no-one else cares enough to get up and do something about it. I don't have a Renault or I'd have taken it to the Enfield show.

---

Hmmmmm I wonder why we have low numbers.....
The Enfield show was great even if we only had 6 cars on stand everyone had a great day.
We had loads of interest and met some great people,the sun was shining what more do you want. I will be arranging it again this year and obviously would want the clubs support and not neg feedback,but it will go ahead regardless. I think with dwindling members it's time to be a CLUB.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Lets not turn this into a witch hunt about who did or didn't do what... Lets move on from here

---

It aint like that at all i am trying to say i am willing to help him if he wants a hand thats it mate

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soapymech

Hmmmmm I wonder why we have low numbers.....
The Enfield show was great even if we only had 6 cars on stand everyone had a great day.
We had loads of interest and met some great people,the sun was shining what more do you want. I will be arranging it again this year and obviously would want the clubs support and not neg feedback,but it will go ahead regardless. I think with dwindling members it's time to be a CLUB.

---

Brap CLUB for the win, back in Bruce's day it was strong as ever! The old guard FTW. No offence to current people running the club... But things can be learnt maybe,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Brap CLUB for the win, back in Bruce's day it was strong as ever! The old guard FTW. No offence to current people running the club... But things can be learnt maybe,

---

Not intended to give anybody the needle by the way

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

Just say that one day a hacker finds a way into vB 3.7, it's not supported any more and then it stops working as everyone was expected to be on or near their latest version.

18 months ago we had to get quite a bit of the 'under pinning' re-done so it would work with this LAMP server we're on, as the site was more or less non working on the previous server and fairly slow and faulty on the one before that.

Alas, someone, not me, deleted the original and only copy before the work was complete and deleted members profile photos and left some problems that have not been repairable.

People want mobile facilities that this version doesn't have. They want features this version can't have.

---

On the mobile front I can now load onto my profile from my iPhone but I can't seem to load in a post.. Or am I just not doing it write? People say copy and paste but it won't transfer :scratch:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

Easy to say.

Branch out to where?

Who's going to do this branching out? It's not going to be me. So anyone who will please let us know :)

---

Surely we're just talking a simple case of contacting administrators on various other renault turbo orientated forums no?

Letting them know about what RTOC offers (ND being the jewell in the crown!) and asking them to promote us and get involved. Maybe I'm being naive or not seeing the bigger picture though.



The idea of raffling t shirts and memberships is a good one too.

I'd happily contact all relevant forums on behalf of RTOC but being a noob and not really known by anyone here I don't think it would be right or appreciated.

The offer is most deffinately there though.

Ross

What positions are available on the committee? What is the club looking for? What will it need from people?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nottswoody

What positions are available on the committee? What is the club looking for? What will it need from people?

---

Good question?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slammed 66

Surely we're just talking a simple case of contacting administrators on various other renault turbo orientated forums no?

Letting them know about what RTOC offers (ND being the jewell in the crown!) and asking them to promote us and get involved. Maybe I'm being naive or not seeing the bigger picture though.



The idea of raffling t shirts and memberships is a good one too.

I'd happily contact all relevant forums on behalf of RTOC but being a noob and not really known by anyone here I don't think it would be right or appreciated.

The offer is most deffinately there though.

Ross

---

:agree: top lad Ross. Good to see some forward thinking. The way I see it is we need the help from these other clubs lets offer them something in return of their support! I would hope That we may also strike up a reasonable relationship in which we could attend some of their events and vice versa.

I'm talking Renault turbos by the way and not Clio sport unless we really have to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

But things can be learnt

---

Jon there were several, or many, times as many 5GTT's back then and about 1200 members. The club took about £15,000 per year. There were elections for club positions. The fastest ¼ miles were the 13's and that gave people something to aim at. There were loads of car mags, shows, tuners, and petrol was comparatively cheap. It was a different world.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

Jon there were several, or many, times as many 5GTT's back then and about 1200 members. The club took about £15,000 per year. There were elections for club positions. The fastest ¼ miles were the 13's and that gave people something to aim at. There were loads of car mags, shows, tuners, and petrol was comparatively cheap. It was a different world.

---

Lol somthing to aim at iv just done 15s we are still aiming for 13s.. 13s would be cool about now :scratch: I think I'm starting to see what's up.. Is it that its all been done before? Think we need to get to other shows and reintroduce the Renault turbos to the scene.. Or should I just say I need to start going to different shows.

Thanks for offers to help out :)

Every year people have been in touch with many or all of these other clubs, even if just to try and get them to the RTOC ND.

We've already mentioned the smaller clubs a few posts up.

I think the Megane sport club caters for non turbo'd cars too, so they have a further advantage in numbers.

What others are there and what does RTOC have to offer them and they us, apart from people at events?

The RTOC ND of 2011 and 2010 were bolstered by some BMW M3's and some MX5's amongst others. But I wasn't there and it should really be the people who were that are taking part in this thread here at this point. I'm just chatting about it like other people here.

We were hoping Blunty was going to do this role of interfacing with other clubs and promoting the RTOC in the press.

• Right now we need someone to create an advert for us to go in PFC tomorrow. Failing that, next month. Miller was great at this kind of thing, coral draw, etc, so can any of you do this? He just came up with the finished ads, flyers, leaflets, etc, on his own, and they were good so we used them. I've been placing the ads in the mags for the past few years as we've never had a press officer who actually did it. I was trying to feed the mags with cars for features too, but didn't get much co-operation from members. I got a few in there, mainly 'Readers yard' in PPC. Different to how it seems, I'm badly dyslexic and very very slow at text, so I'm not the person for that type of thing.

• We could really do with someone to organise the area reps since Lomo left and Dawn left.

• Also someone to organise small meetings that Steve can't do. Find them, create entries in the RTOC events calender, promote them, get members to want to go to them. Organise the banners, signs, tents, to be at each as appropriate. Be there at the venues and organise the clubs stand, maybe give out leaflets and promote the club, sign people up maybe.

Or is that all from a decade ago and no longer happening?

I know of a few classic cars shows that RTOC cars could have been at, I went to the one in Harpenden in a Morgan Aero 8 and returned in an original nearly new condition mini cooper apparently worth £15k, it was just like I was in the 1970's again, a weird experience, but kind of nice.

• We could do with someone to edit the club Contacts section. Dawn was originally here to do that but I don't think she ever went through the whole lot and 'weeded' them. She got some new ones but not for some time.

• We could do with someone going through the articles section and doing some major fixing of links and stuff.

• We could do with someone writing a new articles section really. That probably means in PHP code.

And? Stop giving up and start believing.

Lomo and dawn gone, and now roles are up for grabs??

If the club needs help it should post up "help needed"

Or do we just plod along until its beyond repair.

Ask Ian ask! Rather than sound bitter

Again not a dig, maybe we need to fill spots and get in house help before branching out again

Well I'd be more than willing to sort the smaller events side out for the club so long as I had the blessing of the right people.

There's a lot of new blood in the club now and maybe it's time they were let in on helping out and joining the comitee. (I'm not referring to myself here btw)

It's honestly the best club I've belonged to and last national day really sold it to me. A lot has changed since I was last a member 11 or 12 years ago but let's get it stepping in the right direction if that can be found.

Ross

1 offer of help.. Spot on, I'm sure plenty will help if aware it's needed.. And no need for name tags by the user name. We are all just members.

I would be willing to contact other clubs and so on if thats whats needed to be done

Would it be viable to give every member 5-10!flyers? And on seeing a Renault turbo leave it under the wiper or something ? Just a silly idea, no idea of price etc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Would it be viable to give every member 5-10!flyers?

---

And on seeing a Renault turbo leave it under the wiper or something ? :agree: send them out with member packs. Possibly member packs/flyers to event organisers?

[QUOTE=soapymech;310400]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Would it be viable to give every member 5-10!flyers? And on seeing a Renault turbo leave it under the wiper or something ? :agree: send them out with member packs. Possibly member packs/flyers to event organisers?

---

Yea that works thats how i joined the starlett owners club i found a leaflet under my wiper

Who can make a leaflet and all that's then left is...

A decent printing firm

Funds, I'd imagine it won't brake the bank, not if say 10 new people join??

Oh and who distributes them, I'll help how ever people see fit.

Theres bound to be someone that works in printing on here can get us a deal

Has the club thought about maybe having some carefully picked advertising on the site?
If we had a few relevant companies who paid the rtoc to have a banner or advert appear at certain times on the site this could bring some much needed revenue back into the club.
Passion Ford for example uses large amounts of advertising and utilises a good idea imo that once a paid member logs in a large proportion of the adverts are not shown to that person.
If we also said that any company that paid to advertise through rtoc did the same for us to there customers it may spread the word a bit more.
Im not suggesting covering the site in crap banners akin to a tv shopping channel but its just an idea to bring some much needed funds into the club :)

There are some great and really achievable ideas here.

But I've seen too many threads where people offer help and nothing happens, either because they were not that keen after all, or the committee were too busy to organise what it was they wanted from those that offered.

Some of the suggestions do not cost more than time and effort, at least in the first instance (designing flyers, contacting other clubs, investigating attendance at smaller/specialist events etc etc).

So why don't people stop waiting for a royal blessing from the committee and just go ahead and start something! Start your own thread to tell the club what you're doing, ask for input if you want but just do something and then tell someone you've done it!

If you want on the committee, or if you want to assist someone who already is, just get PM'ing the most appropriate person: https://www.rtoc.org/club/?show=committee

I'd also like to say Ian, that I had no idea you were dyslexic. You are one of the most articulate and well written people in this club. I'd have never guessed. Hats off to you sir.

[QUOTE=chris;310401]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soapymech

Yea that works thats how i joined the starlett owners club i found a leaflet under my wiper

---

Or even just design the flyer and upload it on the forum so we can print them off at home?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

So why don't people stop waiting for a royal blessing from the committee and just go ahead and start something! Start your own thread to tell the club what you're doing, ask for input if you want but just do something and then tell someone you've done it!

If you want on the committee, or if you want to assist someone who already is, just get PM'ing the most appropriate person: https://www.rtoc.org/club/?show=committee

---

Yes Trev's right, this isn't communism guys :laugh:; we'd welcome if members started threads & took ownership of arranging things they want the club to do? That's how the various Ring, and now Sangliers trips started, those of us who wanted to go arranged the trips & hotels etc.

[quote=Fishey;310421]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris

Or even just design the flyer and upload it on the forum so we can print them off at home?

---

Something like this...
https://rtoc.org/files/Club%20files/F...r%20Side_1.jpg

Great. There is only one problem with that, it needs the link at the bottom changing and the last sentence removing (for flyer purposes).

Please, can someone (anyone with the requisite skill), change www.gtturbo.org/join to https://www.rtoc.org/club/?show=join , delete the last sentence, repost the updated image on here (or a new thread), and then get the membership secretary to send it out as an attachment to every RTOC member via email such that those who have access to a printer can then print them off at will and leave them under any car wiper that they see fit. :agree:

For those members reading and taking part in this thread, once the flyer has been updated, you can simply right click on the image, go 'copy image', open Microsoft Paint (or whatever art package you have on your PC, everyone with a PC at least has MS Paint), then 'ctrl-v'. Save the file. You then have something to print out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

Yes Trev's right, this isn't communism guys :laugh:; we'd welcome if members started threads & took ownership of arranging things they want the club to do? That's how the various Ring, and now Sangliers trips started, those of us who wanted to go arranged the trips & hotels etc.

---

And so I have started :D

Please see here:

https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=31609

And jump on board if it tickles your fancy!

Ross

Bloody hell I've had an idea taken seriously lol, we'll just pm me with anything I can go :) do we need a printing firm? The idea of printing at home is good :)

Regarding these flyers, it's not a new idea, it's one of a list of frustrations that have been stalled for along time.

Miller did a great job to create those flyers. I've asked him a few time to modify them in the way mentioned but he never did. He's been just about to do it for years. so we wait, nothing happens, then he appears or I speak to him and he's just about to do it......

I think he did them in Coral Draw. I and the other committee have been unable to edit these.

That's one thing that needs doing, then they can be given out as suggested.

People could do print them off now and just cross off the wrong address and enter the correct one. Or just cross it off and let them visit rtoc.org and find their way from there.

Here's side two, only really for people paying by cash or cheque. That might be at events: https://www.rtoc.org/files/Club%20fil...r%20Side_2.jpg this also has a non working phone number and may soon have the wrong fees.

https://www.rtoc.org/files/?path=Club%20files/Forms/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slammed 66

And so I have started :D

Please see here:

https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=31609

And jump on board if it tickles your fancy!

Ross

---

Good stuff Ross :)

I seem to recall that the RTOC Pod Friday was sometimes booked to precede the Retro show so members could stay over for that.

Clubs stands at the Pod were the norm under Rachel Heads leadership of this club but pretty much fell away when she left.

There's some weirdness going on though as all the other events are 2012. I've not been to the events calendar in a long while. Clearly there should be a 2013 one or the 2012 should all be archived. I no longer recall the procedure for that.

I hear your frustration Ian. Best to look for different options then now and not let any more time waste.

There are some excellent Photoshop skills in this group. Even if that file is flattened and the layers can't be picked apart, most of that work can be salvaged, put into Photoshop, altered and re-saved, both as a layered file and as a jpg which is small enough to email...

Anyone volunteering?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

I hear your frustration Ian. Best to look for different options then now and not let any more time waste.

There are some excellent Photoshop skills in this group. Even if that file is flattened and the layers can't be picked apart, most of that work can be salvaged, put into Photoshop, altered and re-saved, both as a layered file and as a jpg which is small enough to email...

Anyone volunteering?

---

Should ask Millie (Big Steve's Missus) if she can work her photoshop magic...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonny5

Has the club thought about maybe having some carefully picked advertising on the site?

---

Yes, it's been discussed many times.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonny5

If we had a few relevant companies who paid the rtoc to have a banner or advert appear at certain times on the site this could bring some much needed revenue back into the club.

---

This was talked about in a thread very recently. We're probably not big enough for people to earn back the cost of their ads, even though 21T OC do have a few paying ads. I set up deal over the years with companies who gave is discount and a commission per sale, rather than pay us. We never got any commission as the sales didn't happen. We felt it was better to have 200 companies offering us discount rather than perhaps three paying us a small fee until their sales per click data showed it wasn't worth doing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonny5

Passion Ford for example uses large amounts of advertising and utilises a good idea imo that once a paid member logs in a large proportion of the adverts are not shown to that person.
If we also said that any company that paid to advertise through rtoc did the same for us to there customers it may spread the word a bit more.
Im not suggesting covering the site in crap banners akin to a tv shopping channel but its just an idea to bring some much needed funds into the club :)

---

Wasn't it the case the Passion Ford was sold to a USA company just so they could use the site to advertise their clients? Ford is a LOT bigger than RTOC.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penfold aka The Dealer

Should ask Millie (Big Steve's Missus) if she can work her photoshop magic...

---

So all this time a leading committee members wife could do this? You can perhaps sense my and other's frustration.

I've just asked PFC if they can alter the ad they used last year so as to use it for this July's RTOC ND.

I and other's have been asking for years with no input at all.

Really, I'd prefer it if we could establish the use of a professional design and print service rather than rely on anyone from the club or committee or someone's Mrs or pal's pal. That's why were in this mess. Together with the fact that no-one in the committee has had the time or interest to sort this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Penfold aka The Dealer

Should ask Millie (Big Steve's Missus) if she can work her photoshop magic...

---

Have you PM'd Big Steve, Penfold? What's all this 'should' business? :wasntme:

We can't be reliant on Steve's Mrs.

When we need edits and new material we need to be able to make a call, during office hours, and get a prompt professional resolution with no insults and emotionally overwrought histrionics. And if their service is sh1t, tell then to FO and we go elsewhere.

Miller already had all this in hand and done. Used a printer near him. But years have gone by and someone needs to establish another.

• The club / committee apparently needs some to do this for us, ie, get stuff designed and printed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

So why don't people stop waiting for a royal blessing from the committee and just go ahead and start something! Start your own thread to tell the club what you're doing, ask for input if you want but just do something and then tell someone you've done it!

---

This was the idea of the events calendar 6 years, or whatever, ago, but I guess those people left and new people didn't realise and no-one told them or led them or properly introduced them to the club and it's features.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

I'd also like to say Ian, that I had no idea you were dyslexic. You are one of the most articulate and well written people in this club. I'd have never guessed. Hats off to you sir.

---

That Trev. :) I make a of of effort and take a lot of time over text work to try and get it right. If it weren't for the spell checker my posts would be near unreadable!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

communism

---

is where people work together as a team, sharing the work and benefits. This IS communism! As in community.

You mean this isn't Autocracy or Plutocracy (a dictatorship).

Communism, as in USSR, is an Autocracy or / and Plutocracy.

Just read through your posts ian. It comes across that the clubs failing because of a failing commitee.. great

Well that's how it is Jon. We've been saying this for long time. How could you not have noticed!

A lot of committee have left over the last years and some not been replaced. The few people who are working for the club every day have been under some strain for some time.

Ian, it would be great to have stable, secure, reliable structure in place for everything that the club does (and it should be that way for as much of the fundamental admin as possible), but we know that folk wax and wane, especially in RTOC. I think at times it's about motivating whoever is enthusiastic at the time to get things achieved.

In Penfold suggesting Steve's Mrs he wasn't then suggesting that we then rely on her for all the image-based content of the club. Just as we shouldn't have been reliant on Miller for the updating of this one flyer image.

Maybe in the future, for things outside of website maintenance and the club finances, there should be more open requesting of specific help from the membership base?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

folk wax and wane

---

Hence having a printer service, so any club official can have them print more stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

I think at times it's about motivating whoever is enthusiastic at the time to get things achieved.

In Penfold suggesting Steve's Mrs he wasn't then suggesting that we then rely on her

---

But that's what would happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

Miller for the updating of this one flyer image.

---

There are numerous images that Miller is 'about' to do or re-do, including the various magazine adverts that he previously did.

Yes, there should an established set of third party suppliers and motivation for use them, be and we have been asking for extra help for years but very few people have responded and some of those couldn't do much if anything.

Some people do want to get more involved but they are wanting to help rather than lead the way.

We need some more motivators and leader types who come up with ideas and plans and can carry them out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

Well that's how it is Jon. We've been saying this for long time. How could you not have noticed!

A lot of committee have left over the last years and some not been replaced. The few people who are working for the club every day have been under some strain for some time.

---

i noticed, also know my helps declined when offered. so i just gave up bothering

Maybe one of the agreements to taking a committee position is that they arrange for their replacement before they leave.

The reality is probably that some people just drift away and b*gger off without ever bothering but still.

Ian, why don't you (or one of the committee), set up (and keep updated) a sticky thread listing everything that needs doing (that isn't already being managed well or requires proper, continued dedication), and allow anyone from the membership base to take on individual tasks?

Maybe Jon could be taken on to motivate club members to pick up some of these tasks, chivvy them along, and monitor/report (on the thread if not to the committee directly), their progress/status?

Who knows what needs doing atm that might be do-able for bog-standard members?

That's not so easy. We've tried as a group to get new people. It's not far from the point that there are only new people to get new people and some many old ones moved on.

An example is the shop. Lee did find someone who has been filling orders but beyond that, things have stalled. Lee was more driven it seems to build up the shop and make it make some profit but he had to divert his efforts to his own business. The new shop person already has his own busy business. We are fortunate to have him take over from Lee but as a volunteer the club can't 'expect', just be grateful for what is given.

A print service sounds good but having one doesn't mean we can't also do the other and in fact, since there isn't a service in place at the minute, that's no reason not to do anything if there are other options.

This flyer is quite a big thing that can be achieved quite easily at nil cost to the Club. So, all members get a copy and all members are encouraged to print a few off and get them out there.

In fact even I will promise to print a few off and keep them in my Mrs' Focus (and carry one or two), to put on all performance Renaults when I get the opportunity.

Penfold, about that PM....

Hell, Ian, send me whatever copy of that image you have, unless it's only a jpg, in which case I can rip it off the site as described earlier.

Jon doesn't even turn up to any meets on his doorstep.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by car.crash

Jon doesn't even turn up to any meets on his doorstep.

---

Spent last 5 month immobile, and had surgery you nob

You had surgery on your knob!!

I really like the flyer idea and it's something I was going to bring up in due course. It's not a new idea as said, I once had a load sent to me to distribute when I became area rep.

If someone can alter the one we have or better still come up with a new one that incorporates the correct membership fees (when they're changed) and also mention the ND, I will take them to a printers and have a load of copies made. We can send them out in membership pack. I think this is a very good and easy idea :agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

You had surgery on your knob!!

---

No

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

I agree. But the event's co-ordinator doesn't have time or interest and has repeatedly strongly said that events like this have no worth, and no-one else cares enough to get up and do something about it. I don't have a Renault or I'd have taken it to the Enfield show.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris

Who is the events cordinator if the aint got time or intrest then isnt that considerd abit of a problem

---

If someone would like to take on the role of events organiser that's ok with me. I'm not bothered about stepping down to let someone else have a go?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

If someone would like to take on the role of events organiser that's ok with me. I'm not bothered about stepping down to let someone else have a go?

---

Ill gladly take on ALL the small event organising Steve leaving you to pick and choose which ones you can manage. Only if you and everyone else is in agreeance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

events organiser

---

But you're remaining as ND organiser?

General event's organiser was another role.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex

If someone can alter the one we have or better still come up with a new one that incorporates the correct membership fees (when they're changed) and also mention the ND, I will take them to a printers and have a load of copies made. We can send them out in membership pack. I think this is a very good and easy idea :agree:

---

I remembered the printer that Miller used and just phoned him to see if he has the original Coral Draw artwork. He may have. If so, editing will be only a few minutes work.

Together with the changes we want made, I'm now going to email him the jpeg, as shown a few posts up, and see if that's amongst the originals he has.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

But you're remaining as ND organiser?

General event's organiser was another role.

---

Yeah i don't mind, if someone wants to do it all or you split it back upto smaller elements then that's ok with me?

Maybe Chris & Ross should share the smaller events co-ordinator, or take on the lot together?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slammed 66

Ill gladly take on ALL the small event organising Steve leaving you to pick and choose which ones you can manage. Only if you and everyone else is in agreeance.

---

:agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris

why we cant go to more events as a club and if it was a lack of money or if it was a lack of man power because i was willing to help

---

Lack of man power.

One thing I should mention about being a member be it a committee member, or just arranging events... Expect it to take up alot of time, a few hours a week (feel like more as you will get pm's, respond to emails/telephone calls... )

It's also a thankless task and you will get negative comments, which is very hard not to take to heart as you will have put in your time and effort into it.

It can also feel that when you attend ND/POD it's abit of a chore rather than a day to look forward to with your mates as some of the time you will help manage club stand or just running around sort out show and shine, or get drivers to briefings etc.... But I would say it's a role that you will enjoy, helping other members, members you may not speak to, but as a member of the RTOC team you will speak to alot of members :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex

I really like the flyer idea and it's something I was going to bring up in due course. It's not a new idea as said, I once had a load sent to me to distribute when I became area rep.

If someone can alter the one we have or better still come up with a new one that incorporates the correct membership fees (when they're changed) and also mention the ND, I will take them to a printers and have a load of copies made. We can send them out in membership pack. I think this is a very good and easy idea :agree:

---

Yes we want it in the membership packs but we ALSO want it in jpg form (once updated), to every existing member's email inbox so we can print them out ourselves. It costs the club nothing to do this and enables an immediate distribution of these things and by far more people!

The national day is mentioned in the bullets. The membership fees should be left off because they might change (and change again), which means changing the flyer each time. You want to future proof it as much as possible.

If the original file is available (either from the printers or Miller), that would make it much easier to mod it but it's not impossible without it.

If someone would create me a list of changes I will do it asap.

I can get them printed and sent down to alex.

Regards
Chris

Hi Chris,

Thanks.

I did that already, by now forgot what, and I have to do it again. Just looking at it now. Some months ago I edited the one that gets linked to from the club page when Alex joined as membership Secretary. I need to do an amalgam of the two.

I spoke to Robert and am about to email him direct to see if he has the artwork you did on file for this particular item. He does have some.

I have to do it myself this time, I've been waiting for over a year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

Yeah i don't mind, if someone wants to do it all or you split it back upto smaller elements then that's ok with me?

Maybe Chris & Ross should share the smaller events co-ordinator, or take on the lot together?

---

I have no problem with helping ross with small events organising you seem to be takeing this as a personal thing steve at end of day if you dont have time to organise smaller events thats fine we are offering to help and last years nd was a rite kick in the teeth for you with a few people moaning even tho by far and away the majority of people that went really enjoyed it i pmd you a couple of weeks back offering to help you with other events?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris

I have no problem with helping ross with small events organising you seem to be takeing this as a personal thing steve at end of day if you dont have time to organise smaller events thats fine we are offering to help and last years nd was a rite kick in the teeth for you with a few people moaning even tho by far and away the majority of people that went really enjoyed it i pmd you a couple of weeks back offering to help you with other events?

---

Not at all Chris, it's good for new blood to come into the club and committee and improve things for all members given people's circumstances change etc. I'm not taking any of this personally.

TBH you're right about the kick in the b4lls from last years Festival & my motivation isn't as high for it as it once was.

Maybe my position should change to being events co-ordinator and we have several events co-ordinators like me that can work together to get things done? I'm more than happy doing the Ring & Sangliers trips etc so I could concentrate on that, Chris & Ross can concentrate on other events, and then we all work together on ND?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

we have several events co-ordinators like me that can work together to get things done? I'm more than happy doing the Ring & Sangliers trips etc so I could concentrate on that, Chris & Ross can concentrate on other events, and then we all work together on ND?

---

:agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

Not at all Chris, it's good for new blood to come into the club and committee and improve things for all members given people's circumstances change etc. I'm not taking any of this personally.

TBH you're right about the kick in the b4lls from last years Festival & my motivation isn't as high for it as it once was.

Maybe my position should change to being events co-ordinator and we have several events co-ordinators like me that can work together to get things done? I'm more than happy doing the Ring & Sangliers trips etc so I could concentrate on that, Chris & Ross can concentrate on other events, and then we all work together on ND?

---

Aslong as it aint seen as we are trying to push in. And steve if you can organise a couple of body guards i will judge show and shine:laugh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian S

Lack of man power.

---

I'm putting myself forward to help out with one or some of the below:
· organise the area reps
· organise small meetings that Steve can't do
· edit the club Contacts section
· going through the articles section and doing some major fixing of links and stuff.

Oh and I am now the FB Guru... If you're on FB, let me know (Romil Davda) or get yourself added:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/RTOC/230200617060130

I will try and co-ordinate the Events from this site to FB, also get your pics up from ND and all other meets!

We have some great peeps here on the club who are more than happy to help, let's get those who want to be involved, involved? Not forgetting you silent ones out there too, just because you don't post messages or write articles, doesn't mean you don't care ;)

My opinion is that if people wanted to join they would and the price wouldn't put them off.If they can afford to own, run,restore a 5 then parting with 25 quid isn't the problem.So what is?Reputation possibly? ??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by casper

My opinion is that if people wanted to join they would and the price wouldn't put them off.If they can afford to own, run,restore a 5 then parting with 25 quid isn't the problem.So what is?Reputation possibly? ??

---

Exactly!! I was warned off by ex members off here but I'm my own man and I won't lie they were right with a lot of it but I think they were a little thin skinned.. As in business a complaint travels an costs you business.. You simply can't please everyone but you should defo try and get along with the ones that turn up.. My offer still stands to pay for the name badges.. Or look at the link the master has put up atleast Facebook will give names and faces.. More than what I had on my first nd when not many even spoke.. And don't say I should of introduced myself.. Still enjoyed it though others may not have.. Rant over :cooter:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by casper

My opinion is that if people wanted to join they would and the price wouldn't put them off.If they can afford to own, run,restore a 5 then parting with 25 quid isn't the problem.So what is?Reputation possibly? ??

---

25 quid is nothing nobody runs a turbocharged renault because there cheap so they must have some exspendable income but i dont know why the dont choose RTOC there is alot of competion on the internet but i reckon theres some really good ideas to try and t more members and if we start goin to more shows then maybe we can raise awareness of the club

Perhaps Blunty could start a topic on his FB page asking why people aren't interested in joining rtoc?

See it as constructive criticism :)

i can do that for you no probs mart, i really think rtoc should take advantage of the world of facebook has a much wider scope for advertising/promoting and attracting potential new members etc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris

25 quid is nothing nobody runs a turbocharged renault because there cheap so they must have some exspendable income but i dont know why the dont choose RTOC there is alot of competion on the internet but i reckon theres some really good ideas to try and t more members and if we start goin to more shows then maybe we can raise awareness of the club

---

Not true, sorry I know several people depending on there's as daily runners and ain't so well off. 15 would suit

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

i can do that for you no probs mart, i really think rtoc should take advantage of the world of facebook has a much wider scope for advertising/promoting and attracting potential new members etc

---

Cheers mate :)

I think it'd be good feedback for the Committee, and as said, they should take any negative feedback as constructive criticism & work on improving that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Miller

If someone would create me a list of changes I will do it asap.

I can get them printed and sent down to alex.

Regards
Chris

---

Hi Chris.

Put a date on it?

Also, would it be possible to have both the existing and newly updated layered files emailed to the committee and saved on an admin part of the site or something so it can be picked up and altered by someone else if time somehow slips away again?

mart if you tell me exactly what you would like me to ask then ill ask it and pin the post at the top for a while to get as much feedback as possible

Just why they're not an rtoc member, or words to that effect :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Not true, sorry I know several people depending on there's as daily runners and ain't so well off. 15 would suit

---

i aint saying that everyone who runs one is minted and has money to burn i definatly havent but these cars are luxuries to a certain extent would you not agree there are cheaper cars to run day to day. but the point i am trying to make is 25 pound really isnt alot of money and dropping it to 15 will help i just dont believe thats the biggest factor

done :)

If it's joining costs, that throws more weight behind Alex's proposal of lowering the fee to £15.

If it's lack/type of events, that gives the new blood chaps something to chew on.

If it's lack of trackdays, that gives me something to chew on :D

Poor vfm?

Dare I say it, cliqueness/hard for a new member to 'get involved'.

Etc, etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

done :)

---

:cool:

Keep us posted mate. It'll be good feedback for the club/Committee.

would you like me to tag you in the post so you get notified when there is a reply? just had first feedback

Good stuff chaps :)

Andy could you post the feedback here?

Unless it needs to be private in some way. In which case, you could start a committee thread?

i honestly dont think £25 is a great deal for a complete years membership when you consider all the info/help etc etc you get, the amount of cash to be saved by being a member could be massive.

defo one area which would be great to improve on is trying to get out there at some events i know this is easier said than done but nothing is impossible

Perhaps stop the privacy on these things what was we saying about click? Say it out loud and be proud of the club and its members.. We're not at work we shouldn't be talking behind closed doors IMO :p

first bit of feedback is as follows

I'm not yet...but will be. The only reason for me at the moment is that I've set myself a car related budget, and currently I'm putting all that money into the car. As soon as I can, I'll put £25 toward joining up

i have suggested that he just might not have pay £25 in the coming future.

more feedback

i used to be a member. the site went down for a while and by the time it worked again my membership had run out. i did try and rejoin using there instruction but it wouldnt work and i never botherd since.

i have linked alex to that reply to see if he could sort something out for him

Just a suggestion but if you look at bluntys Facebook group anything goes.There's still plenty of people who like to drive in a certain way and want to be able to speak about it,the last time I saw a thread like that on here someone put it had no place on the rtoc.There's always plenty of people on here yet the boards are quiet.Since I have been a member some people who seem to be on every day have never replied to anything I have put.Lots of people have though and I am grateful,iv also met a few good people and not been a member long.Its difficult when you have members that have been here years.Getting the members will be the easy part,its keeping them that's hardest.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

I used to be a member. the site went down for a while and by the time it worked again my membership had run out. i did try and rejoin using there instruction but it wouldnt work and i never botherd since.

---

I wonder if that was during the 2008 period? We gave everyone a free four months or so.

Or when the site was so slow in 2011.

it would be the 2008 period mate he did say in another post he hadnt been on rtoc for 5 yrs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by casper

Just a suggestion but if you look at bluntys Facebook group anything goes.There's still plenty of people who like to drive in a certain way and want to be able to speak about it,the last time I saw a thread like that on here someone put it had no place on the rtoc.There's always plenty of people on here yet the boards are quiet.Since I have been a member some people who seem to be on every day have never replied to anything I have put.Lots of people have though and I am grateful,iv also met a few good people and not been a member long.Its difficult when you have members that have been here years.Getting the members will be the easy part,its keeping them that's hardest.

---

And that's a good thing for fb if you mention someone they are notified perhaps people miss certain things and questions bud.. So much and so many threads even I loose track

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

it would be the 2008 period mate he did say in another post he hadnt been on rtoc for 5 yrs

---

Thanks, we can do something for him then.

that would be great if you could, like i say i have linked alex to it so he will get a notification to that post :)

I am happy to pay a higher amount, £5 is not going to hurt.

I have mentioned before, do we not have information on the renault5gtturbo.com site, I'm sure it's free to join, how many members it has etc would that then give the club some idea if its the joining fee is the problem.

Agree on the getting other cars interested, I like most Renault hatches tbh but this site is just seen as a gt turbo site, the cars are dwindling so something needs to give.

Nothing much goes on in the club up and down the country, it needs more meets and get some real buzz about it like scoffs r/r day last year. I would love to look through pictures of meets from all over the country instead of watching the same old restoration threads all the time.

I can say from my own experiance I log on less and less these days.

more feedback

I've had my 5 for about 6/7 years now and always thought about joining but never have! prob because i dont think my 5's good enough compaired to the nice straight ones that are on there.

Blunty, PM the chaps user name and email address he used and I'll sort it :agree:

ok mate iv just asked him for details just waiting on reply

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philg

I am happy to pay a higher amount, £5 is not going to hurt.

I have mentioned before, do we not have information on the renault5gtturbo.com site, I'm sure it's free to join, how many members it has etc would that then give the club some idea if its the joining fee is the problem.

Agree on the getting other cars interested, I like most Renault hatches tbh but this site is just seen as a gt turbo site, the cars are dwindling so something needs to give.

Nothing much goes on in the club up and down the country, it needs more meets and get some real buzz about it like scoffs r/r day last year. I would love to look through pictures of meets from all over the country instead of watching the same old restoration threads all the time.

I can say from my own experiance I log on less and less these days.

---

Scoffs rr day was my second outing and it was quality.:agree:i

that was the last rr day i organised on rtoc, the other 2 were great successes as well especially the pfc mag featured one

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris

i aint saying that everyone who runs one is minted and has money to burn i definatly havent but these cars are luxuries to a certain extent would you not agree there are cheaper cars to run day to day. but the point i am trying to make is 25 pound really isnt alot of money and dropping it to 15 will help i just dont believe thats the biggest factor

---

Cool :)

Could the club get a small advert in some of the French mags offering a discount on the membership.

I'm registered on I think about 10 car web sites and out of them i think there is only a few where there is a joining fee.

Could the club not have a free joining fee and the option for a donation to the site, or maybe charge a fee for using the for sale section, of have restricted areas for full paying members.

more feedback

Because you have to pay 25 quid if you've been away for a while! would re-join if it was 10, as have been a member.

well thats our first old member now rejoined after a 5 yr absence (aly b)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philg

I am happy to pay a higher amount, £5 is not going to hurt.

I have mentioned before, do we not have information on the renault5gtturbo.com site, I'm sure it's free to join, how many members it has etc would that then give the club some idea if its the joining fee is the problem.

Agree on the getting other cars interested, I like most Renault hatches tbh but this site is just seen as a gt turbo site, the cars are dwindling so something needs to give.

Nothing much goes on in the club up and down the country, it needs more meets and get some real buzz about it like scoffs r/r day last year. I would love to look through pictures of meets from all over the country instead of watching the same old restoration threads all the time.

I can say from my own experiance I log on less and less these days.

---

It has quite alot of members but it's deader than a dodo on there most of the time apart from the odd newbie & spammer TBH :(
Not having a dig but I think Andy's facebook page has near killed it as you get the same & more from his page (Facebook is the in thing & everyone is on it), progress & all that :smokin:

i honestly dont think fb pages can ever kill forums surely? fb is good for certain things which iv mentioned a few times but a forum will always be a much more focused/dedicated place for us.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

i honestly dont think fb pages can ever kill forums surely? fb is good for certain things which iv mentioned a few times but a forum will always be a much more focused/dedicated place for us.

---

Why join a forum when facebook is easier, people are always on there, you get notified of things easier, yadda yadda. Like I say not a dig buddy, just saying they get alot of bang for no bucks from the FB site & someone is always on to give advice/abuse :cooter: ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

that was the last rr day i organised on rtoc, the other 2 were great successes as well especially the pfc mag featured one

---

Andy,I don't know you but you strike me as a good lad with plenty of enthusiasm so wether its Facebook or rtoc both will benefit with you on board.

thanks jon :) im hoping get to meet you and plenty of others at the rr day in april.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philg

Could the club get a small advert in some of the French mags offering a discount on the membership.

---

We have a big advert, but haven't offered discount on joining.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philg

I'm registered on I think about 10 car web sites and out of them i think there is only a few where there is a joining fee.

---

But what do they offer?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philg

Could the club not have a free joining fee and the option for a donation to the site

---

We'd lose too much money, more than half our income = no ND.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by philg

maybe charge a fee for using the for sale section, of have restricted areas for full paying members.

---

Is it free to register and some some of the site, the rest is restricted. Classifieds is free if anyone new, other than spammers, can find it. I did talk about starting to charge a fee for advertising, like Pistonheads, but it didn't go anywhere as we'd need to change the software.

I think there is a feeling that to rejoin from a lapsed membership £25 would be charged.

So a flat rate would stop that erroneous belief. Provided those people weren't still put off by £15.

I wonder if the site would be more attractive if the articles and classifieds sections were easier to see and use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

would you like me to tag you in the post so you get notified when there is a reply? just had first feedback

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It's ok, I don't get on FB that much, but if you could keep us posted on here that would be great :) Plus I'm not on the Committee, so it's not as if I can do anything about the feedback anyway :D

Just seen you've helped an old member re-join. Good darts mate :agree:

The mlr site is free to join but you only get 30 free posts a month. It would give people full access to the site to get a bit of a feel for it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philg

Could the club not have a free joining fee and the option for a donation to the site, or maybe charge a fee for using the for sale section, of have restricted areas for full paying members.

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think the fee maintains nd and pod also this site so if we could get the joining fee down as much as possible and not restrict members in any way it would be better, cliqe and all that.
What with parts getting more desirable and expensive I see the shop playing more of a role.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BluntyR5GTT

well thats our first old member now rejoined after a 5 yr absence (aly b)

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:agree: well done

from what i can see there should be another 3 old members rejoining and 2 new members so in total 6 not bad for just a few hours last night on fb

Well done blunty :) single handed saving Rtoc :) keep it up

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JRP

Well done blunty :) single handed saving Rtoc :) keep it up

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:agree:

Great stuff. :agree:

The word needs to go around (everywhere, not just FB), that if you were an RTOC member previously, that it's not going to cost £25 to rejoin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philg

Nothing much goes on in the club up and down the country, it needs more meets and get some real buzz about it like scoffs r/r day last year. I would love to look through pictures of meets from all over the country instead of watching the same old restoration threads all the time.

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More meets needs more members. We're too thinly spread. Plenty goes on up and down the country in proportion to how many active members there are.

As for 'the same old restoration threads' Phil, for me they have been the best thing about RTOC in the last couple of years (yours especially). A lot more GTT's saved from the scrap heap, improved quality of work, it's been really exciting to watch as more and more resto threads have appeared. I've learnt a lot and the encouragement from other members to get the job finished has resulted in some great outcomes!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

More meets needs more members. We're too thinly spread. Plenty goes on up and down the country in proportion to how many active members there are.

As for 'the same old restoration threads' Phil, for me they have been the best thing about RTOC in the last couple of years (yours especially). A lot more GTT's saved from the scrap heap, improved quality of work, it's been really exciting to watch as more and more resto threads have appeared. I've learnt a lot and the encouragement from other members to get the job finished has resulted in some great outcomes!

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Agree on both points Trev. More members would get more of a buzz on the site and get more meets organised, we can blame a lot on the weather last year, but i have been available for a local meets for a good 3 years now, im even prepared to travel so far and thats saying something in those dam seats of mine :laugh: I think the guys down south seem to do there bit on meets better than us northern folk :ashamed:.

As for builds i like them to, especially when done to a high standard or a really trick engine conversion. This was not meant as a dig, just we need some really good buzz threads about local meets, r/r days, track days, ring trips and our national day.

I have not been on the site for as long as some, but its regrettable that threads like this keep popping up looking for ways to get numbers up and organize better days out.

Think we are all guilty of the same bug, standard looking cars are whats desirable now, gone are the day of carisma kits and crazy exhausts popping out of tailgates and anyone ever putting a car on like that would get ripped to shreds and never come back.

Ditching the gt turbo label with this site and getting other renault members on board is the way forwards imo :)

Great that bluntys back on the scene, good stuff.

i haven't read the whole thread so maybe it has been mentioned before but the thing that kept me from joining the club was the lack of access without being a paid member.

i didn't knew the club or forum but been told there's alot of knowledge around here, i was fortunate i had a friend who was a member already so i could have a peek inside.

after that i decided to join up for myself. maybe it's a good idea to give new members full acces for a week or so, or maybe still restricted access but more into the technical discussions. so they can see for themselves how much this club has to offer.

ofcourse there will always be lads who only look for info that week and never join but hey, would they have joined otherwise?

It's not a bad idea, if it's technically possible, to have like a 'x' number of days full pass for free. Could it be controlled by IP address?

I think the idea of letting people have x amount time free is not technically possible with our software...

Unless perhaps Scoff were to find a way to write some more custom hacks which is not likely. There is a timer he created that shows the 30 day notice before account expiry. we're not going to manually keep a list and give every new member a free period, it has to be automatically done by the system.

It's further complicated by us having to fully moderate all new applications. That is we now manually vet every one of them as that seems to be the only way to stop spammers registering at a rate of several per day. Penfold found 550 spammers as registered users! We've been deleting them but it takes time.

A new hobby for me over the last few weeks has been checking each IP address and adding it to a banned list within the RTOC vB forum. I'm now seeing that's not working as banned IP's are being re-used.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

Unless perhaps Scoff were to find a way to write some more custom hacks which is not likely. There is a timer he created that shows the 30 day notice before account expiry. we're not going to manually keep a list and give every new member a free period, it has to be automatically done by the system.

It's further complicated by us having to fully moderate all new applications. That is we now manually vet every one of them as that seems to be the only way to stop spammers registering at a rate of several per day. Penfold found 550 spammers as registered users! We've been deleting them but it takes time.

A new hobby for me over the last few weeks has been checking each IP address and adding it to a banned list within the RTOC vB forum. I'm now seeing that's not working as banned IP's are being re-used.

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I think we have found the very first task we need to look at as a priority.......the website! I agree with all that a free trial would be beneficial in the long run. I also think that we should provide some free memberships to some lucky people of other relative clubs who can hopefully spread the joy and attend national day.

Ian,

the commitee really needs to get together now and discuss the way forward. People are coming up with ideas and are willing to help out but this must be controlled by the club officials as people are now implementing ideas of their own withought discussion from the club hierachy!

Matt, the reason these things are starting to happen ad-hoc is because good ideas in the past haven't had backing from the committee. Not because they weren't good ideas but because there wasn't enough capacity within committee's spare time to discuss and implement them. They've been waiting for a simple flyer update for a year for goodness sake.

A lot of the committee's time is taken up by keeping the website running (which includes the shop), and organising and paying for ND. The technical issues with the website are manifold and the ND a pain in the butt from all perspectives, including financial.

Then you have committee members leaving which makes it yet more difficult for those that remain.

So it's no surprise that there are people who have decided to just get on and do things.

You are right though, ideally it should all be done under the guidance of the committee and the only way to do that is to reform the way people get on and off it, enlarge the number of roles, define roles/responsibilities and then fill the bloody positions with people who can devote enough time to the club.

I'd like to know just how much coherence and communication there is between committee members. Is there even a weekly conference call to chat about club matters for example? Skype works a treat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

Matt, the reason these things are starting to happen ad-hoc is because good ideas in the past haven't had backing from the committee. Not because they weren't good ideas but because there wasn't enough capacity within committee's spare time to discuss and implement them. They've been waiting for a simple flyer update for a year for goodness sake.

A lot of the committee's time is taken up by keeping the website running (which includes the shop), and organising and paying for ND. The technical issues with the website are manifold and the ND a pain in the butt from all perspectives, including financial.

Then you have committee members leaving which makes it yet more difficult for those that remain.

So it's no surprise that there are people who have decided to just get on and do things.

You are right though, ideally it should all be done under the guidance of the committee and the only way to do that is to reform the way people get on and off it, enlarge the number of roles, define roles/responsibilities and then fill the bloody positions with people who can devote enough time to the club.

I'd like to know just how much coherence and communication there is between committee members. Is there even a weekly conference call to chat about club matters for example? Skype works a treat.

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Communication.... erm can be limited.... can be very indepth...

Thats why we have the boards for us, so we can access it 24/7....Heres a screenshot
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...th/photo-9.png

We do hold conference calls when we need to discuss things like ND/POD... but with most things not everyone was able to commit (Myself being one of those as I worked evenings/overnight and weekend)

But I would say communication been us isnt to bad, we also have each other telephone numbers to call/txt, email address and can pm via here...

I do think that we could do with a few new members on board either as Committee or part of the RTOC team...

Ooh, really interesting :agree:

Good to see there's some structure. I notice 5 threads have seen action since the turn of the year.

Old events calendar - 0 replies
Filling roles 2013 - 4 replies
PFC advertising - 4 replies
Membership renewals
RTOC festival - 7 replies

I realise that there will be a lot of ongoing work with memberships but are there things going on that aren't reflected in the screenshot? As (ignoring the membership thread), there's less than 1 committee post a day since the New Year. With 8 people on the committee (I think), it means an average of less than 1 post per week, per committee member...

EDIT - I don't mean that to sound like nobody on the committee does anything but it would be good to understand how much is done and by who. Otherwise how can you identify what needs tending to.

Trev, Remember that over the winter its pretty quiet for us...

ND has already been booked and was booked along time ago...

Website is pretty much ticking over, we have been let down so much with professional companies, we cant seem to find anybody willing to do the custom work for RTOC.

The biggest issue recently was Spammers (Notice how recently we havent had the forum spammed)

The Koni suspension kit was more or less 99% arranged by Wallace (think it was him anyway), He and Ian S no doubt exchanged a few emails - committee didnt need to be involved as such...

Now we have this thread all these new ideas/people offering to help I have no doubt the committee boards will get a flurry of action...

Thanks Penfold, and thanks for continuing to answer my questions :)

It makes sense that it's a quiet period in January but then if that's the case, from a member's perspective you'd hope that with the breathing room this time of year affords, some of the good ideas posted by the membership base in threads over the previous 12 months might have been collated and perhaps looked at. To see what might have potential.

It does seem that there needs to be constant chivvying up of each other within the leadership but then I guess that's natural when folk are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. :agree:

You're right, here does seem to have been some really good impetus from this thread so I do hope it's picked up on. :smokin:

Incidentally, from your point of view, is there anyone in the committee that is really leading from the front?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

Thanks Penfold, and thanks for continuing to answer my questions :)

It makes sense that it's a quiet period in January but then if that's the case, from a member's perspective you'd hope that with the breathing room this time of year affords, some of the good ideas posted by the membership base in threads over the previous 12 months might have been collated and perhaps looked at. To see what might have potential.

It does seem that there needs to be constant chivvying up of each other within the leadership but then I guess that's natural when folk are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. :agree:

You're right, here does seem to have been some really good impetus from this thread so I do hope it's picked up on. :smokin:

Incidentally, from your point of view, is there anyone in the committee that is really leading from the front?

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Ian S is the back bone of RTOC/Committee - Love him or Hate him (I am sure he will admit sometimes his Passion for RTOC gets peoples backs up)

Ian does do soooo much work behind the scenes, emails, telephone calls, PM's etc...

I feel the committee dont need to get any bigger... Personally just needs to ask members to help, elect members to be RTOC helpers as such.

:agree:

Knowing Ian and speaking to him it sounds like you need one more role - Ian's go-getter.

To face inward, to chase round/encourage/assist other committee members where progress appears slow, and to make the group more cohesive, and also to face outward to the membership base to collect/collate all good ideas (and provide insight as to the interim status on matters that seem to have drifted).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

Matt, the reason these things are starting to happen ad-hoc is because good ideas in the past haven't had backing from the committee. Not because they weren't good ideas but because there wasn't enough capacity within committee's spare time to discuss and implement them. They've been waiting for a simple flyer update for a year for goodness sake.

A lot of the committee's time is taken up by keeping the website running (which includes the shop), and organising and paying for ND. The technical issues with the website are manifold and the ND a pain in the butt from all perspectives, including financial.

Then you have committee members leaving which makes it yet more difficult for those that remain.

So it's no surprise that there are people who have decided to just get on and do things.

You are right though, ideally it should all be done under the guidance of the committee and the only way to do that is to reform the way people get on and off it, enlarge the number of roles, define roles/responsibilities and then fill the bloody positions with people who can devote enough time to the club.

I'd like to know just how much coherence and communication there is between committee members. Is there even a weekly conference call to chat about club matters for example? Skype works a treat.

---

Trev I pretty much agree with your comments above and the rest of your posts in this thread:agree:

It's obvious that people are passionate and want to get their ideas heard and implemented. They just want to get on and do it! The problems come when The ideas aren't discussed within the committee thoroughly and limit the possibility of some thing backfiring against the club. I know of one instance on another thread where a member has come up with a great idea for a you tube channel and a committee member has said 'just do it' with i guess no details of what's to be included on the channel or suggested to have the rest of the commitee /club to moderate prior to going live!

IMO that's pretty irresponsible and would certainly not be tolerated in any other organisation with a correct structure in place!

Maybe it's come to the point where the club should look at becoming a business with a paid team to oversee the daily tasks.

I agree with that Matt. Perhaps Steve thought that no-one on the committee would do it.

I think there isn't the income to pay people to run the club. Also we'd need to pay tax, banking fees, and have audited accounts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

I know of one instance on another thread where a member has come up with a great idea for a you tube channel and a committee member has said 'just do it' with i guess no details of what's to be included on the channel or suggested to have the rest of the commitee /club to moderate prior to going live!

IMO that's pretty irresponsible and would certainly not be tolerated in any other organisation with a correct structure in place!

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It's not the spanish inquisition Matt, were an internet based car club. I don't see the harm in creating an RTOC youtube channel that will help pull all of the various video's taken at various RTOC days/events together in one place, rather than searching youtube looking for them?

I've said before Matt, if someone would like to take over from me they're welcome to it, no hard feelings. I'd be delighted to go back to just attending the events etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

I don't see the harm in creating an RTOC youtube channel

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Neither does anyone else :)

The point was simply that the content might be better being committee vetted, that all :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

Neither does anyone else :)

The point was simply that the content might be better being committee vetted, that all :)

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Who's going to sit & be the censor then Ian? What are the right attributes for that position? You'd dam near have to be a magistrate or maybe Judge Dredd. Why make more work and red tape for the committee to do?

Just my view.

That's why we need bigger committee :)

Leading on from other thread, Robbo is right that there are hardly any committee left. I personally have invested three full days this week into the RTOC. How about you?

Three days that I NEEDED to be doing other stuff, but here the need was greater but I'm not going to carry on putting in the hours like I used to. The load needs to be better shared.

Vet the footage lol, I'm with Steve, is this china are we under censorship? Maybe it's Russia post ww2

It's gets worse :cry:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

That's why we need bigger committee :)

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:agree: But that's what we've achieved this week isn't it? That's how I feel? New year new ideas & all that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

That's why we need bigger committee :)

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Get out Steve, If your publicly being outed be a fellow member of the committee over who's done more

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

Leading on from other thread, Robbo is right that there are hardly any committee left. I personally have invested three full days this week into the RTOC. How about you?

Three days that I NEEDED to be doing other stuff, but here the need was greater but I'm not going to carry on putting in the hours like I used to. The load needs to be better shared.

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Sorry I ment to quote this not previous

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JRP

Get out Steve, If your publicly being outed be a fellow member of the committee over who's done more

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Yeah i think my time is through TBH

You have been great for the role, let that not be forgotten if you step down

Maybe the committee should all resign and let anarchy take over? Marxism in action with a new RTOC rising from the Ashes?

Or we could be responsible, take charge, have a management structure and try and do it right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

Maybe the committee should all resign and let anarchy take over? Marxism in action with a new RTOC rising from the Ashes?

Or we could be responsible, take charge, have a management structure and try and do it right.

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Be a dictator Ian

Are we adjusting the price or not?
I'm lost over the whole thing now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

:agree: But that's what we've achieved this week isn't it? That's how I feel? New year new ideas & all that.

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Yes it's very good and worth the effort. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by car.crash

Are we adjusting the price or not?
I'm lost over the whole thing now.

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:laugh:

It does look like we are going to be adjusting the price when we can figure out exactly how to :) Pages and papers have to be adjusted. How do we adjust the two tier system? Will what we do work as we want it to? These matters are under investigation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

Maybe the committee should all resign and let anarchy take over? Marxism in action with a new RTOC rising from the Ashes?

Or we could be responsible, take charge, have a management structure and try and do it right.

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:agree:

It's all gone anul. :nohijack: :argue:

I don't know why this was ever posted for member input. Threads like this only ever go one way :disagree:

RTOC at its best :coffee:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ashy

I don't know why this was ever posted for member input. Threads like this only ever go one way :disagree:

RTOC at its best :coffee:

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:agree: could have had a quick committee vote and bobs ya aunty!:cry:

I don't know how you can say that Ashy when this thread has led to 3 new committee members and at lest 6 new members. Facebook feedback, a Youtube channel, a twitter account and more besides. It's done the club a power of good. And everyone who said, seems OK with £15 renewal.

Lots of good ideas and positives from the thread.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

this thread has led to 3 new committee members and at lest 6 new members. Facebook feedback, a Youtube channel, a twitter account and more besides. It's done the club a power of good. And everyone who said, seems OK with £15 renewal.

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:agree:

What role did Jrp go for in the end or what was he given ???? :)

So far it was Ross and Chris to do events and Romil to do various things. And Haz who has been quietly running the shop for some months.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ashy

I don't know why this was ever posted for member input. Threads like this only ever go one way :disagree:

RTOC at its best :coffee:

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:confused:

One of the most positive threads I've ever seen on here. These changes may well be the club's saving grace.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

this thread has led to 3 new committee members and at lest 6 new members. Facebook feedback, a Youtube channel, a twitter account and more besides. It's done the club a power of good. And everyone who said, seems OK with £15 renewal.

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^ Incase you haven't read through this thread, Ashy...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philr5t

What role did Jrp go for in the end or what was he given ???? :)

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Health and safety officer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philr5t

What role did Jrp go for in the end or what was he given ???? :)

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Penis Enlargement officer

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ashy

I don't know why this was ever posted for member input. Threads like this only ever go one way :disagree:

RTOC at its best :coffee:

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It was posted as I/the committee wanted to hear what the members had to say/think about the price increase rather than making the decision for the whole club with 5/6 committee people :)

This thread has been very positive for sure :agree:

Re the price increase, yes it should be going ahead soon. I beleive I know how to alter the website to accomodate the price change, we just need to alter a few pages to reflect the price. Once done I'll make an announcement ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philr5t

What role did Jrp go for in the end or what was he given ???? :)

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Be serious I'm not wanted, only re lit the flyer idea etc. the committee would die before wanting me on board

:disagree:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by car.crash

Health and safety officer.

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:agree:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JRP

Be serious I'm not wanted, only re lit the flyer idea etc. the committee would die before wanting me on board

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:bothered: please listen to this whilst reading, makes it more dramatic.

http://youtu.be/jAImc0EfuAU

Quote:

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Originally Posted by car.crash

:bothered: please listen to this whilst reading, makes it more dramatic.

http://youtu.be/jAImc0EfuAU

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Lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

I don't know how you can say that Ashy when this thread has led to 3 new committee members and at lest 6 new members. Facebook feedback, a Youtube channel, a twitter account and more besides. It's done the club a power of good. And everyone who said, seems OK with £15 renewal.

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I'm glad my negative take on it resulted in a group hug!

As one or two have said, this thread has been totally different from the others of its type. Things have actually happened this time! More even than has been listed in Ian's post.

It's been a breath of fresh air and it's come not a moment too soon IMO. Who started the thread? The committee. Who has been responsible for ringing the changes? The members. Brilliant!

Matt - I agree with you totally. I have always been an advocate of a committee based leadership for this club. Sometimes however a bit of anarchy can be good for re-energising and/or refreshing that committee and I hope this thread has had that affect. If so, we need to get the most out of it.

Jon, I think if you really want to get involved then there isn't anything stopping you mate. I mean that honestly. If you want to help this club, there are things to do. :)

Steve, I really hope you stay in your position, I think you do a great job. :agree:

This thread has saved RTOC IMO.

Either get on board or get out.

FB, Twitter, Youtube whatever the media outlet is going to be bringing this club kicking and screaming into 2013 wheather members like it or not.

Now is the time to let vendettas/issues/sarcasm off the boards and get rid of the clique mentality this club is dripping in.

Im glad Andy Blunt has decided to give the club another chance as will so many other members that have left due to the direction (lack of) the club has taken in recent times.
The FB page was looked upon as a threat and a problem that would/could ultimatley end RTOC (still a website but no ND or RRD). Stories of RTOC members PM-ing others to warn them off using FB??? :laugh: We're here to talk about the cars we love not shaft eachother.

I found a common ground with alot of the "outcasts" on FB and various other avenues after my issues with some members at ND12. I'd use RTOC for info and FB for fun/friends/laidback attitude and have made some good aquaintances and friends. I had no intrest conversing with members who basically couldnt be arsed to say hello. Id say alot of the problems/edge/sarcasm/(being borderline dicks) gives the club a bad rep is generated by a handful of members that think they have some kind of devine right to say and do what they want on here. Cut that out and your onto a winner because the vast amount of ordinary members share the same opinion. Fact.

There will be no naming of names this post is simply to highlight the core issue of the decline of memberships. I just hope the ones that know this is aimed at will take heed if what we are trying to do here is to succeed.

Ive been here less than 12 months and never felt a club member, ive been on FB 3 month and its like ive known some of the lads years. Why is that? I aint the only one!:confused: There is no agendas there as it is a new page with all NEW diverse members, not stagnating repetitive condesending attitudes from dinosaurs.

Ive dropped what happened to me n me mate at ND and put it down to experience. Ill be coming again this year with a bit more knowledge of the club and the way it works, bygones be bygones and look forward together for 2013.

As far as the membership goes id go as far to pay up to £35 to ensure good running of the club and get the best experience we can possible (FFS my xbox membership is £35).:) (or a nut and bolt from CGB):laugh:

Love it or hate it this is IMO, i have a MASSIVE ENTHUSIASM BACK FOR THE CLUBS ONCE AGAIN. Peace :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

Steve, I really hope you stay in your position, I think you do a great job. :agree:

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+1:agree:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

As one or two have said, this thread has been totally different from the others of its type. Things have actually happened this time! More even than has been listed in Ian's post.

It's been a breath of fresh air and it's come not a moment too soon IMO. Who started the thread? The committee. Who has been responsible for ringing the changes? The members. Brilliant!

Matt - I agree with you totally. I have always been an advocate of a committee based leadership for this club. Sometimes however a bit of anarchy can be good for re-energising and/or refreshing that committee and I hope this thread has had that affect. If so, we need to get the most out of it.

Jon, I think if you really want to get involved then there isn't anything stopping you mate. I mean that honestly. If you want to help this club, there are things to do. :)

Steve, I really hope you stay in your position, I think you do a great job. :agree:

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Trev, if helps needed and I can in anyway help, I'd be happy to, been a member for years and don't want to see Rtoc fail, I was lost when the site had the long down time period.. If I'm approached I'll seriously consider doing my best by the club. I know I'm flippant quite often, but that's just me... People that know me, know I'm not a baddy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Red October

This thread has saved RTOC IMO.

Either get on board or get out.

FB, Twitter, Youtube whatever the media outlet is going to be bringing this club kicking and screaming into 2013 wheather members like it or not.

Now is the time to let vendettas/issues/sarcasm off the boards and get rid of the clique mentality this club is dripping in.

Im glad Andy Blunt has decided to give the club another chance as will so many other members that have left due to the direction (lack of) the club has taken in recent times.
The FB page was looked upon as a threat and a problem that would/could ultimatley end RTOC (still a website but no ND or RRD). Stories of RTOC members PM-ing others to warn them off using FB??? :laugh: We're here to talk about the cars we love not shaft eachother.

I found a common ground with alot of the "outcasts" on FB and various other avenues after my issues with some members at ND12. I'd use RTOC for info and FB for fun/friends/laidback attitude and have made some good aquaintances and friends. I had no intrest conversing with members who basically couldnt be arsed to say hello. Id say alot of the problems/edge/sarcasm/(being borderline dicks) gives the club a bad rep is generated by a handful of members that think they have some kind of devine right to say and do what they want on here. Cut that out and your onto a winner because the vast amount of ordinary members share the same opinion. Fact.

There will be no naming of names this post is simply to highlight the core issue of the decline of memberships. I just hope the ones that know this is aimed at will take heed if what we are trying to do here is to succeed.

Ive been here less than 12 months and never felt a club member, ive been on FB 3 month and its like ive known some of the lads years. Why is that? I aint the only one!:confused: There is no agendas there as it is a new page with all NEW diverse members, not stagnating repetitive condesending attitudes from dinosaurs.

Ive dropped what happened to me n me mate at ND and put it down to experience. Ill be coming again this year with a bit more knowledge of the club and the way it works, bygones be bygones and look forward together for 2013.

As far as the membership goes id go as far to pay up to £35 to ensure good running of the club and get the best experience we can possible (FFS my xbox membership is £35).:) (or a nut and bolt from CGB):laugh:

Love it or hate it this is IMO, i have a MASSIVE ENTHUSIASM BACK FOR THE CLUBS ONCE AGAIN. Peace :p

---

Good lad.:agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Red October

This thread has saved RTOC IMO.

Either get on board or get out.

FB, Twitter, Youtube whatever the media outlet is going to be bringing this club kicking and screaming into 2013 wheather members like it or not.

Now is the time to let vendettas/issues/sarcasm off the boards and get rid of the clique mentality this club is dripping in.

Im glad Andy Blunt has decided to give the club another chance as will so many other members that have left due to the direction (lack of) the club has taken in recent times.
The FB page was looked upon as a threat and a problem that would/could ultimatley end RTOC (still a website but no ND or RRD). Stories of RTOC members PM-ing others to warn them off using FB??? :laugh: We're here to talk about the cars we love not shaft eachother.

I found a common ground with alot of the "outcasts" on FB and various other avenues after my issues with some members at ND12. I'd use RTOC for info and FB for fun/friends/laidback attitude and have made some good aquaintances and friends. I had no intrest conversing with members who basically couldnt be arsed to say hello. Id say alot of the problems/edge/sarcasm/(being borderline dicks) gives the club a bad rep is generated by a handful of members that think they have some kind of devine right to say and do what they want on here. Cut that out and your onto a winner because the vast amount of ordinary members share the same opinion. Fact.

There will be no naming of names this post is simply to highlight the core issue of the decline of memberships. I just hope the ones that know this is aimed at will take heed if what we are trying to do here is to succeed.

Ive been here less than 12 months and never felt a club member, ive been on FB 3 month and its like ive known some of the lads years. Why is that? I aint the only one!:confused: There is no agendas there as it is a new page with all NEW diverse members, not stagnating repetitive condesending attitudes from dinosaurs.

Ive dropped what happened to me n me mate at ND and put it down to experience. Ill be coming again this year with a bit more knowledge of the club and the way it works, bygones be bygones and look forward together for 2013.

As far as the membership goes id go as far to pay up to £35 to ensure good running of the club and get the best experience we can possible (FFS my xbox membership is £35).:) (or a nut and bolt from CGB):laugh:

Love it or hate it this is IMO, i have a MASSIVE ENTHUSIASM BACK FOR THE CLUBS ONCE AGAIN. Peace :p

---

Fair comment, tactful too :) the dinosaurs you refer to quite often are just passionate and show it in varying ways. :agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

Matt - I agree with you totally. I have always been an advocate of a committee based leadership for this club. Sometimes however a bit of anarchy can be good for re-energising and/or refreshing that committee and I hope this thread has had that affect. If so, we need to get the most out of it.

---

Trev,

Agree with that.:agree: It's now up to the commitee to pull a list of actions together forecast for at least the next 12 months, with the individual tasks assigned to each committee memember (microsoft project is good for this). Each commitee member could then aproach the general members for help and other ideas on how to achieve each goal.

Unfortunately it will require someone to drive this forward and try and keep track of progress from all individuals. To me that's the first port of call, followed closely with a commitee meeting on what to do with this website in order for it to become flexible enough for all the clubs needs.

Matt

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Matt Cole

Trev,

Agree with that.:agree: It's now up to the commitee to pull a list of actions together forecast for at least the next 12 months, with the individual tasks assigned to each committee memember (microsoft project is good for this). Each commitee member could then aproach the general members for help and other ideas on how to achieve each goal.

Unfortunately it will require someone to drive this forward and try and keep track of progress from all individuals. To me that's the first port of call, followed closely with a commitee meeting on what to do with this website in order for it to become flexible enough for all the clubs needs.

Matt

---

Almost like a role of success coach is required, to keep spirits up and help those people helping already. I'd back you into this role, can't fault your enthusiasm and vision/sensible outlook.

Is there an echo in here. This is the exact role I was describing earlier and the person I have my eye on for it is Jon :laugh:

In all seriousness, that role would do wonders whoever took it on. A bulldog, an enabler who is happy not to be the most popular person in the world, chasing round people for things they are struggling to find the time to progress as they had initially intended (and assisting them, or finding assistance for them, if possible).

More efficiency with reassigning tasks from folk who're simply unable to see things through is also crucial. Where is that updated flyer for example feck's sake?

What I'm saying is, Ian likes to lead from the back and does a fantastic job. He just needs a front man. :D

http://ochmonek.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/minder.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Red October

This thread has saved RTOC IMO.

Either get on board or get out.

FB, Twitter, Youtube whatever the media outlet is going to be bringing this club kicking and screaming into 2013 wheather members like it or not.

Now is the time to let vendettas/issues/sarcasm off the boards and get rid of the clique mentality this club is dripping in.

Im glad Andy Blunt has decided to give the club another chance as will so many other members that have left due to the direction (lack of) the club has taken in recent times.
The FB page was looked upon as a threat and a problem that would/could ultimatley end
RTOC (still a website but no ND or RRD). Stories of RTOC members PM-ing others to warn them off using FB??? :laugh: We're here to talk about the cars we love not shaft eachother.

I found a common ground with alot of the "outcasts" on FB and various other avenues after my issues with some members at ND12. I'd use RTOC for info and FB for fun/friends/laidback attitude and have made some good aquaintances and friends. I had no intrest conversing with members who basically couldnt be arsed to say hello. Id say alot of the problems/edge/sarcasm/(being borderline dicks) gives the club a bad rep is generated by a handful of members that think they have some kind of devine right to say and do what they want on here. Cut that out and your onto a winner because the vast amount of ordinary members share the same opinion. Fact.

There will be no naming of names this post is simply to highlight the core issue of the decline of memberships. I just hope the ones that know this is aimed at will take heed if what we are trying to do here is to succeed.

Ive been here less than 12 months and never felt a club member, ive been on FB 3 month and its like ive known some of the lads years. Why is that? I aint the only one!:confused: There is no agendas there as it is a new page with all NEW diverse members, not stagnating repetitive condesending attitudes from dinosaurs.

Ive dropped what happened to me n me mate at ND and put it down to experience. Ill be coming again this year with a bit more knowledge of the club and the way it works, bygones be bygones and look forward together for 2013.

As far as the membership goes id go as far to pay up to £35 to ensure good running of the club and get the best experience we can possible (FFS my xbox membership is £35).:) (or a nut and bolt from CGB):laugh:

Love it or hate it this is IMO, i have a MASSIVE ENTHUSIASM BACK FOR THE CLUBS ONCE AGAIN. Peace :p

---

Well said Ash, couldnt agree more. :agree: :agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

This is the exact role I was describing earlier and the person I have my eye on for it is Jon....

---

Why not?? Jerpa would make a good bulldog, he'd got the natural looks for it! :laugh:

In all seriousness though, why doesn't JRP or Matt Cole put themselves forwards for it? :niceone:

Lets be honest here...........no one likes JRP.

There............i've said it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J8TRO

Lets be honest here...........no one likes JRP.

There............i've said it.

---

*Apart from me, can't fail to love the big boll0cks who manages to burn both his hands one day! :laugh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J8TRO

Lets be honest here...........no one likes JRP.

There............i've said it.

---

Thanks mate

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Thanks mate

---

No, thank you x

Your the only reason I still log on each day, in the vein hope you'll have PM'd me or written a witty reply on a thread.........Oh why are you so down JRP

WHY...................?

:crush:

(god damn it Friday afternoon is dragging at work)

Sorry :nohijack:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J8TRO

No, thank you x

Your the only reason I still log on each day, in the vein hope you'll have PM'd me or written a witty reply on a thread.........Oh why are you so down JRP

WHY...................?

:crush:

(god damn it Friday afternoon is dragging at work)

Sorry :nohijack:

---

I hoped you were kidding lol I was racking my brain trying to think what I'd done to you

C'mon give Jon a job .
It is my final wish ,before I take the long walk into the cursed earth , that he be appointed to something that suits his talents :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clee

C'mon give Jon a job .
It is my final wish ,before I take the long walk into the cursed earth , that he be appointed to something that suits his talents :D

---

Lol waiting to see me fail and then make a JRP fail tshirt for the club shop,

Another idea, (old but let's rethink it for revenue)

Rtoc polos with club name under the Rtoc badge... Good for meets

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clee

C'mon give Jon a job .
It is my final wish ,before I take the long walk into the cursed earth , that he be appointed to something that suits his talents :D

---

Also what talent? Club idiot?

http://vimeo.com/m/58184068

As spoke about earlier in the thread about my cousin having his own filming talents for hire.. Then strange enough he puts up the link above..
Yes I know it's not a gt :)

Jon has energy and personality, he just needs setting off in the right direction. Like a Staffy :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nottswoody

http://vimeo.com/m/58184068

As spoke about earlier in the thread about my cousin having his own filming talents for hire.. Then strange enough he puts up the link above..
Yes I know it's not a gt :)

---

Right poses you know who you are this video cost £200 I'm not in the video world is that good? Iv asked what sort of rates he would charge for a full day at blyton plus interviews etc etc.. Lets see what he says.. And no he's not some dude doing it on his iPhone corporate filming/weddings etc is what he dose..
Check out his site on

http://www.iandearmanmedia.co.uk/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JRP

Another idea, (old but let's rethink it for revenue)

Rtoc polos with club name under the Rtoc badge... Good for meets

---

I offered that service for last years Nat day ...printed T shirt with custom/name/pic etc etc ...Got a grand total of ! order from Big Steve .I think it turned out OK and he liked it but don't know if he wore it :coffee:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clee

I offered that service for last years Nat day ...printed T shirt with custom/name/pic etc etc ...Got a grand total of ! order from Big Steve .I think it turned out OK and he liked it but don't know if he wore it :coffee:

---

I know i certainly would.

It would also help as a sort of an ice breaker at meets where you'd at least know who you were speaking to. Especially for new or less regular forum users.

Great idea IMHO

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

Jon has energy and personality, he just needs setting off in the right direction. Like a Staffy :D

---

:agree:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nottswoody

Right poses you know who you are this video cost £200 I'm not in the video world is that good? Iv asked what sort of rates he would charge for a full day at blyton plus interviews etc etc.. Lets see what he says.. And no he's not some dude doing it on his iPhone corporate filming/weddings etc is what he dose..
Check out his site on

http://www.iandearmanmedia.co.uk/

---

Committe

Ian says he can do national day for £500 as a special family rate edited and all as he says it will be fun to do.. The balls in your hands :)

The quality of the video speaks for itself.

It might just be about money as we lost about £5k on the last one and that's another £500. Unless people buy the DVD and we make bit from that? Steve did that last year; sold a CD of the official photos. But would we get any where near recouping £500?

Of course, if the event sold enough tickets then that would be OK.

I can't see sales being a problem I personally am quite excited at have my car filmed on full boost by a quality filmed instead of trying to catch it on my phone :) who wouldn't want that track action? Guys how cool would it be to get that camera strapped to your car? I think we could be onto a winner here?? Work the prices out between your selves for DVD sales could be a winner :)

We might have lost money on the last ND but this year (or next year if plans are already formed for 2013), is a fresh go at getting an affordable but fun and interesting event organised that may or may not be able to include a £500 video of the day. Nothing is for certain yet, and that includes whether the day will be loss making or not :agree:

The GTR vid is very good.

Trev

The main reason I looked into this was because it was mentioned on revamping the club with some media coverage.. Not just to have personal DVDs as I say it's up to you guys I just know a guy that could doit all for you.. Now you know were he is if you want a local (to blyton) media guy.

Worth a punt, imho.

Would make for some great footage to go on our YouTube page, and great advertisement for the club/our ND's.

Jon gets my vote, fwiw (feck all :D), for the aforementioned role/job.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

Jon has energy and personality, he just needs setting off in the right direction. Like a Staffy :D

---

:laugh::agree:

I read about 4 of these pages last night and thought I would chime in.

Im not sure what the big issue is with the Club running at a loss.

In fact Im not sure how the club can ever be in a state of being in a loss in the first place?:confused:

From a budget perspective here is how I see it.

Fixed known costs.

• Web hosting and site mainternance
• membership packs (including all parafanalia)
• Maketing flyers?

Once that is paid for by the membership renewals - whatever is left can be put towards events such as National day and what ever else - if the cash is not there then there are no events - simple no?

Not sure how the club can ever be at a loss (whos pockets are paying for the loss?)
If you mean loss as in the club bought x amount of track time and only sold x amount and did not recoup its outlay - I don't see that as a loss - The money was there to be spent as long as the fixed costs are paid for the site then I see no issue with the club not breaking even.
:confused::scratch:

You can't spend what you don't have - its not a business...

Now if you want to make cash, a mate of mine runs a Mondeo club and brings in about £2K per month from Advertising space sold on the site.

As the Renault's are more home tweaking based that's never going to happen when people bash tuners and want to do the work themselves - but if you get the new blood on board (new cars) - even make it the Renault Owners club ( drop the turbo) and promote independent dealers for a share of traffic clicks or codes that may bring the money in and turn it into a profitable website. - With Low member numbers that ain't going to happen - most R5s are scrapped and rotten now and its only the hardcore that keeps them going, shame they are still seen as chav cars and not a classic piece of motoring history.

Adapt or die - Darwin was right.

http://www.prophpbb.com/ - host it for free with a generic looking site and save I believe Ian S said £2K per year?
or
http://www.hostgator.com/apps/phpbb-hosting
http://www.siteground.com/hosting_features.htm
Don't look like 2Ks worth of money to run the site - unless we are buying hardware and sticking it in a hosting service. Thats a big no no, use the "cloud" and never get out of date on the hardware.

Nailed it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 6FOOT6

I read about 4 of these pages last night and thought I would chime in.

Im not sure what the big issue is with the Club running at a loss.

In fact Im not sure how the club can ever be in a state of being in a loss in the first place?:confused:

From a budget perspective here is how I see it.

Fixed known costs.

• Web hosting and site mainternance
• membership packs (including all parafanalia)
• Maketing flyers?

Once that is paid for by the membership renewals - whatever is left can be put towards events such as National day and what ever else - if the cash is not there then there are no events - simple no?

Not sure how the club can ever be at a loss (whos pockets are paying for the loss?)
If you mean loss as in the club bought x amount of track time and only sold x amount and did not recoup its outlay - I don't see that as a loss - The money was there to be spent as long as the fixed costs are paid for the site then I see no issue with the club not breaking even.
:confused::scratch:

You can't spend what you don't have - its not a business...

Now if you want to make cash, a mate of mine runs a Mondeo club and brings in about £2K per month from Advertising space sold on the site.

As the Renault's are more home tweaking based that's never going to happen when people bash tuners and want to do the work themselves - but if you get the new blood on board (new cars) - even make it the Renault Owners club ( drop the turbo) and promote independent dealers for a share of traffic clicks or codes that may bring the money in and turn it into a profitable website. - With Low member numbers that ain't going to happen - most R5s are scrapped and rotten now and its only the hardcore that keeps them going, shame they are still seen as chav cars and not a classic piece of motoring history.

Adapt or die - Darwin was right.

http://www.prophpbb.com/ - host it for free with a generic looking site and save I believe Ian S said £2K per year?
or
http://www.hostgator.com/apps/phpbb-hosting

---

Tom, we can have a very cheap looking car forum... but members moaned/Disliked that when RTOC went down and we went over to the temp forum hosted by Scoff.... Even though they was very grateful for him to do so.

RTOC website is very unique as car clubs go, we have more than just a forum....Lots more.

As I previously stated the club can exist on very little income and we could have a very low/donations etc if we wanted...but would only be a basic forun

But once again RTOC is very unique (for a club of our size - small), we for the last few years have managed to Hire 2 Unique Venues such as Pod, Mallory, Blyton, Brunters and have the ability to hire other attractions such as Rolling Roads at our events, all these things need to be paid for up front which we use the income from our memberships to pay for.

We normally make a LOSS at these events, which is no real issue as its normally covered by the income from our membership. The club itself does not run at a loss... although we nearly went bankrupt after Brunters 2006, I forget how much that we lost at that events, but we did struggle to pay for ND in 2007 - which if you remember was actually part of FCS for that year and RTOC had an exclusive 1 hour at track session at the end of the day and most members was disapointed with that.

I think most members would love to continue having at least one major event with other attractions, hence why we need a decent income to support that.

It's less that £2k I expect but I was rounding up. We pay probably too much for 4 domain names and from time to time pay for someone to do something or other. You can recall how bad the site was with Webfusion for the three years we were with them and unusable in the end. It's great now. So I rather be with a good reliable host that fast with vB sites than a cheap sh1t one. Not that Webfusion was low cost particularly.

Probably as much as the hosting cost is the fee paying for a managed backup service. We also have a fair size database which was always a issue before, requiring a dedicated server, until VPS appeared.

Ideally we'd spend more and have a fully managed web hosting service where they can do all the site updates or whatever needed as the committee cannot do any of that and relied on just one man who's now too busy for it.

There is also the old site still on an expensive Windows server waiting for someone to fix it's problems and move it to a cheap server. But 18 months have gone by and I can't 'make' these people do this stuff, not even for the full rate of pay. So why not dump it? Because it packed with useful data, such as all the article photos and info that's linked to. Or maybe the photos have been moved but the threads haven't. I used to go there often to look up stuff but since it scans the www when it switched on I have to keep it off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Big Steve - Raider

In all seriousness though, why doesn't JRP or Matt Cole put themselves forwards for it? :niceone:

---

Matt gets my vote, I know he's got plenty of spare time to do the job and he's a whizz with MS Project!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nottswoody

Trev

The main reason I looked into this was because it was mentioned on revamping the club with some media coverage.. Not just to have personal DVDs as I say it's up to you guys I just know a guy that could doit all for you.. Now you know were he is if you want a local (to blyton) media guy.

---

No probs. I was supporting you in what you were saying. :agree:

What I said was in response to Ian's post. I meant that there's no reason to discount the option of paying for a high quality video simply because last year's ND made a big loss. Who knows that this year's ND cost make-up will be. It might be easy to set aside £500, who knows.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clee

I offered that service for last years Nat day ...printed T shirt with custom/name/pic etc etc ...Got a grand total of ! order from Big Steve .I think it turned out OK and he liked it but don't know if he wore it :coffee:

---

Oh I wore it Clee, loved it! :niceone:

[quote=JRP;310975]Lol waiting to see me fail and then make a JRP fail tshirt for the club shop,

You can put them next to Dales t-shirt :D

Lol

So can we have a basic summary of whats been decided for the clubs future, idea's ect and where help is needed,

And let's pull together and get it done :agree:

More than one member has asked for a summary of all the changes/ideas that have sprung from this very important thread. Can someone from the committee please respond, even if it's only to say that an overview is in the pipeline (and give us an idea when it's going to be presented).

I have also asked a number of times about the club flyer. It's now been six days since Chris said he would update it 'asap'. If the updates have been done, I'm still looking for a jpg copy so I can print out my own (and for all members to receive one to their email addresses). If the changes haven't yet been incorporated, please for goodness sake send the master file to someone who has the time to do it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

More than one member has asked for a summary of all the changes/ideas that have sprung from this very important thread. Can someone from the committee please respond, even if it's only to say that an overview is in the pipeline (and give us an idea when it's going to be presented).

I have also asked a number of times about the club flyer. It's now been six days since Chris said he would update it 'asap'. If the updates have been done, I'm still looking for a jpg copy so I can print out my own (and for all members to receive one to their email addresses). If the changes haven't yet been incorporated, please for goodness sake send the master file to someone who has the time to do it.

---

Hi mate unless nobody else does so in the mean time i will do everyone an update tonite. Also find out about them flyers

Hi Chris, thanks :)

Btw, just in case there was any confusion, when I said 'Chris' in my previous post I was referring to Chris Miller who is the one doing to flyer update. :agree:

Re membership fees.....

Yes it looks like they will be altering. Ian S is looking into altering pages from this site to reflect the price change. When this is done we should be ready to go ahead. :)

Re flyers;
I thought I'd posted that last Tuesday and Wednesday I telephoned the printer Miller used to see if they still had the original artwork and could edit it. So far I received an email to say they'd received my email and will look for the stuff and let me know.

I'm waiting for Sparkie to investigate with GSF to see what the status of our discount with them is and if there is a contact person as the one on the flyer has moved on.

It's not about sending something to a printer and expecting them to print it and send it back to us the same day. That's not gong to happen. The changes to artwork have to be decided, text altered, names and numbers found out first, editing done by the printer. Printing. Postage. Then suitable artwork retrieved / converted, uploaded to this site and people told where.

I have to re-write some of the back of the flyer. I've stated to the printer the changes to do to the front.

There are four sides to deal with as we need to alter the membership letters too, all need some changes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

More than one member has asked for a summary of all the changes/ideas that have sprung from this very important thread.

---

Not me, no time and I can barely read. I can't read back though this thread.

Any volunteers? :)

I'd like to let you know that Blunty has re-joined the committee. :)

Hi Ian.

Yes you did post that. Although you didn't quite articulate all the things that would need to be done (and in doing so manage our expectations). Apologies if I'm jumping the gun.

From my POV it looks like there needs to be two flyers, one which includes the back et al that people can fill in, and another with just the front that members can print single-sided (on basic home printers) at will. Most people receiving them will only need the net address these days anyway.

Also, I had thought that the changes required to the artwork were minimal and agreed in any case a fair while ago (another reason for me thinking this would be a quick turn-around).

Lastly, I'm not sure whether Miller is doing the changes, or you're dealing directly with the printers (it looks like both are happening based on the posts in this thread). If it's the latter, have they yet confirmed that they have the master file? If not, they need to get us up their priority list.

IMO the single-sided version should be a quick job and an easy hit to get out to members' inboxes but up to now I've had any assurance that this is going to happen...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

there needs to be two flyers, one which includes the back et al that people can fill in, and another with just the front that members can print single-sided

---

You appear to have read my mind :) That what I'm trying to do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

minimal and agreed in any case a fair while ago.

---

yes most of it is but still it needs all the communication, printer to go through filing, etc. Rear page is a bit is more involved, difficult for a poor reader, but no-one else is jumping forward to do this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

Miller

---

Directly. No. And I can't make them go faster. To get their attention I told them we'd have a few 1000 prints.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

members' inboxes

---

I'd not thought of mass emailing it. A large % of members don't receive their emails.

I hoped the printer would have confirmed by last Wednesday that he had the original files. I posted a thread last August in the committee forum with proposed changes. It's very hard to get any progress made when people ignore posts and requests for information and help.

Thanks Ian.

I did mention at least twice in this thread that the club should send the updated flyer frontage to members email addresses. The emails members used to sign up via Paypal must be in use!? Even if there is a disparate database, 200 out 400 is still 200 better than 0 out of 0 for example.

Regarding the printers (assuming I've read your response correctly), if they haven't even confirmed they have the artwork within this last week then there's a problem as it means they haven't even started. We are paying them so we want a date for completion. Where's that committee bulldog, this is the perfect job to chase?

Basically, if they have the master artwork then we want it, not at the end of the print job at an as yet undetermined date/time but a copy in the meantime so we're at least back in control. Or a copy from Miller. If he doesn't have the time to update this thing then why not get the master file from him and absolve him of any responsibility on this issue. Someone else in the membership base can make changes (at least to the front) and get it out to members.

I vote Trev for bulldog ...jeeeezzz louise ..if all that energy was channeled outside the forum :coffee::cooter: Just an observation :D

I think Miller does not have originals now, if at all.

We're not paying the printer yet. Only after he does something. If he does something. They might be very busy, we can either wait or someone else, not me, can design something from new based on the one in the filing. Best to wait a while. we've waited for a log time so far. Members can print and use the one in the files if they want. I just needs a bit crossing out, etc.

If they find they do have the original, then he said it's a few minutes work to edit it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trevhib

Thanks Ian.

I did mention at least twice in this thread that the club should send the updated flyer frontage to members email addresses. The emails members used to sign up via Paypal must be in use!? Even if there is a disparate database, 200 out 400 is still 200 better than 0 out of 0 for example.

Regarding the printers (assuming I've read your response correctly), if they haven't even confirmed they have the artwork within this last week then there's a problem as it means they haven't even started. We are paying them so we want a date for completion. Where's that committee bulldog, this is the perfect job to chase?

Basically, if they have the master artwork then we want it, not at the end of the print job at an as yet undetermined date/time but a copy in the meantime so we're at least back in control. Or a copy from Miller. If he doesn't have the time to update this thing then why not get the master file from him and absolve him of any responsibility on this issue. Someone else in the membership base can make changes (at least to the front) and get it out to members.

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:agree: It's frustrating reading this!

Matt, I think you were the other person suggested for the proposed new committee position. Are you interested in taking it on?

From PM conversations it would seem that one of the biggest problems is that committee is so loosely joined and lacking in overall direction (new members notwithstanding).

Even if the new members are enthusiastic, if they are met with the lack of cohesion and direction that the rest of the committee suffer (no offence intended at any 1 member of the committee), then they'll fall down the same hole.

A master list of deliverables and the status (and some shove), would really be useful IMO.

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

:agree: It's frustrating reading this!

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It shouldn't be. I already answered all those points. They're not point that exist as it were. Apart from the email suggestion but I'm not sure the website mass email facility can email an attachment. So that would have to be established first anyway. The printer may not have the files. Miller may not have the files. That's the starting point, establishing who has the original, if any. They don't owe us anything. We don't owe them anything. I already said I got a response on perhaps Thursday or Friday to say they will look.

Do you suggest we pay this printer money just to go and have a look? They still might not if they're busy.

We need someone / people to actually go and do stuff. Not someone to p1ss off the key workers by goading them constantly but offering no action. We had that already on this committee and it caused arguments, divisions and people to resign. And I'm not talking about this year with people leaving because I asked some simple questions, to try and establish some simple facts, and people injected their own imagined emotional content into my words where there was none, and drew out messages that weren't there.

We only need peoples email once, when they join and get the return link. From then on, if they change it, they don't need to tell us, we don't need to know. Of course they can't then have the emailed notifications but that's their choice. Other people have it switched off. There have been committee threads about mass email over the years and how much worth there is in using it for anything important. We do sometimes anyway, just in case it does reach some people.

Any help needed?

What can you do to help? :)

Pm

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Originally Posted by Trevhib

Matt, I think you were the other person suggested for the proposed new committee position. Are you interested in taking it on?

From PM conversations it would seem that one of the biggest problems is that committee is so loosely joined and lacking in overall direction (new members notwithstanding).

Even if the new members are enthusiastic, if they are met with the lack of cohesion and direction that the rest of the committee suffer (no offence intended at any 1 member of the committee), then they'll fall down the same hole.

A master list of deliverables and the status (and some shove), would really be useful IMO.

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Trev, I'm not sure what the position is?

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Originally Posted by Alex

Re membership fees.....

Ian S is looking into altering pages from this site to reflect the price change.

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Altered :) https://www.rtoc.org/club/

Great work Ian :agree: let's spread the word on this folks :)

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Originally Posted by clee

I vote Trev for bulldog ...jeeeezzz louise ..if all that energy was channeled outside the forum :coffee::cooter: Just an observation :D

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All that energy IS channelled outside the forum. Mainly on developing algorithms for trading the stock market. I come on here for a break, to look at other people's hard work on great little cars that I can't afford atm. :cry:

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Originally Posted by Matt Cole

Trev, I'm not sure what the position is?

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I'm not on the committee but my idea of the role would be an amalgamation of the things I've said thus far on the subject Matt.

There has been a problem identified but it's the problem itself which is stopping the solution being progressed. Go figure.

odd one, but just noticed this "https://www.rtoc.org/images/bullet.gif Window sticker, tax disc holder and keyring displaying the club logo"

is that just the initial first joining thing because i havent been sent one in about 6 years ;)

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Originally Posted by Adey aka Ewok

odd one, but just noticed this "https://www.rtoc.org/images/bullet.gif Window sticker, tax disc holder and keyring displaying the club logo"

is that just the initial first joining thing because i havent been sent one in about 6 years ;)

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Yes, just when you initially join up. If you haven't got one or want one I can send one out.....

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Originally Posted by Adey aka Ewok

odd one, but just noticed this "https://www.rtoc.org/images/bullet.gif Window sticker, tax disc holder and keyring displaying the club logo"

is that just the initial first joining thing because i havent been sent one in about 6 years ;)

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+1 same here think i might of had a keyring about 2 years ago but no tax disc holder or sticker

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Originally Posted by Hoolio

Sobering numbers those.

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You should see the 21TOC numbers.... :cry:

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Originally Posted by Ian S

Even though the 21T OC and other clubs like that are now small, they want their own club. So we won't get those cars here.

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Silly really isnt it. I dont see how a merge would harm.

Nothing to stop any of them joining here .....yes it is silly isn't it but ... big fish bowl :D;)

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Originally Posted by DaveL485

Silly really isnt it. I dont see how a merge would harm.

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i think the thing is whos going to give up there club, they could join here but i think giving up there site and individuality would be the issue. i think it would be the same here if everyone on rtoc was asked to go joing up over on another site, we would no longer be rtoc as such

Maybe there is a way they can be the "21OC, part of the RTOC"

A branch of the tree but a branch in its own right, if you see what I mean.

Like Scotland. They will be much weaker on their own (in many political, financial and business ways), if they choose independence, but they will be in control. The trade off isn't worth it IMO but other people might argue differently.

A merger other clubs, they might want to retain their technical info, threads, etc, and control over their membership fees.

Just off loading the work of membership and website management to a larger club, for that part of their takings that they would normally spend for that.

They'd want to retain control over their spend on their specific events, etc. Have their own membership packs.

I had a plan the other year to create new sections of the RTOC site that would look like some other site, ie, a Twingo website. But have the one membership fee system, etc. Twingo owner can then log into their own front page, have their own home page and threads, but also log into RTOC area and RTOC members get access to all. Kind of thing. That fell flat when I failed to get anyone to even do small(ish) jobs to this site.