Post by shadow on Dec 15, 2012 13:27:54 GMT -4
This is intended to be my reply to the website thread that started to become a sh#t show...thanks to Jan for moving it where it belonged and I will open it up for replies in the internal sections, but wanted to put this in general as some may be of interest to prospective members obviously.
None of what I am about to say is intended to argue any points, callout anyone or anything like that so if anyone takes offence then so be it. I will however try to address Larry's points and those that came up as a result.
Liking your enthusiasm, but the bull in the china shop approach leaves something to be desired...and that says alot coming from me...lol. Maybe a simple post like you were wondering if anyone has thought about updating the website and giving a little background on yourself and that you are becoming a member soon and would love to help out. By the time I read the thread there was far too much of what seemed like criticism, so I figured I would let it go and see where it went...well maybe that wasn't a good idea...lol.
So the first thing everyone needs to realize is that THE BOARD IS NOT THE CLUB. As was shown with some numbers in fact most on the board are not members of the club. Yes, we use the board to inform everyone what is going on, but as with main posters in the thread...many don't belong to the club. With that said though the input we get from those who are not members of the club is invaluable and we appreciate all perspectives and in a way are part of an extended Jeep family, but certainly not our main jeep family and when you are around a little longer you will see that when it was asked about perks...the NSJC Jeep family is the main perk from my perspective. The things that members do for each other in this club are at times simply amazing and I won't go into the numerous examples...again if you are around for a while that will become evident.
As soon as I read through the first page I knew the intent was meant to help and I don't disagree with the fact that the site needs to be updated...just as it needed it a few years ago when it was done the last time and someone stepped up to help, and since then it has been updated where possible by someone who was just trying to help and obviously tried to incorporate some of your suggestions while this thread was alive. Again...all volunteers. People here did find the club right...
Comments about the cost of web hosting...yup...came up last year and nobody stepped up so guess what...it is going to be paid again and the chapters are responsible for their share. Not my area of expertise and nor is this board just a HFX chapter responsibility. When people complain about something...step up or shut up. Won't go into why some things were updated better than others either but those who were involved know why.
Facebook...ahhhh facebook. Since this board isn't the club you can be damn sure FB isn't gonna be the club. I personally don't do FB and will never do it, but there are people who try to keep an eye on what pics are posted etc so the club doesn't get seen in a bad light...I have never seen it nor do I want to.
Massive club organization...not saying I/we are not interested in new members...of course we are, but it will never be massive and I too am interested way more in quality rather than quantity. The comment I made about toys for the toy drive was because we had a little more in the coffers last year in Hfx so it was doable...after looking at upcoming bills and activities and the fact I asked people to bring toys to AGM it wasn't needed as much as last year so I made the decision not to. As it turned out we filled the sleigh yesterday morning...AWESOME. HFX chapter pays all the bills and then collects the % from the other 2 chapters based on membership so we need to make sure we have enough to do that and since it is early in the membership year we have to consider that. We are looking at ways to improve the so called perks this year and one may include the collection of club bills prior to us paying as this is a provincial club. We could easily put dues up, but they haven't changed in the 7 or so years I have been around so I would rather not...about the trail fees...well that is something chapters feel they need...I have my own opinions but they are my personal opinions. Again dues haven't gone up but everything else has.
A small group can't fight the government???....totally false as long as you have the people who commit to it...we have done it with the raised vehicle issues....enough said... ;D.
Comments directly or indirectly intended, or not intended to be personal or taken as such...no place for that in internet land or on the board. We all know you can't take tone from posts...well most of the time...
. The fact is that there are people who commit and have committed their time an energy to do what they can for our Jeep family and it is alllllll appreciated. People come and go for different reasons and a lot may go, but alot of those return as well...and I love seeing people who have been out of it for a while come back...it doesn't matter why they left...we all have lives and life gets in the way sometimes...interests change...time gets short...and the fact is if you have ever been a member of this great club for any amount of time you know that your membership isn't just a result of paying dues. For some people who have done so much for this club to feel they are being attacked as a result of a personal or life decision doesn't sit well with me. Whether intended or not there was butthurt.
Everybody always says to me...oh I couldn't deal with the politics...yes sometimes you do have to display some tact, but I do what I feel is best for the club in anything I do so I have no problem NOT being political at times. If people don't like it I welcome pm's telling me so as most only see situations in one dimension, but a lot of the time I have a different perspective...the club is a provincial club...some love that...some think it shouldn't be...some do things different...oh and some comment on things that don't even pertain to them to stir up crap...lolol. Call it censorship or whatever you want, but if club members wanna share their opinons about club issues...that's what the internal section is for. With that said the thread is opened back up in the internal section so "members" can giv 'er. Internal section password will be changing early in the new year to be used by those paid for 2013
I would ask that people re-read what they are going to post and think about it before posting on the open board. Maybe take it more from a perspective of "would I say that if I was face to face with the person"...unfortunately in this age of sitting behind a computer that is usually not the case. As with Larry and probably alot of others there are prospective members on here...threads where people seem to be bashing each other don't bode well with what this club really is. Happy medium between giving opinions and trying to slam yours down someones throat. You can't keep everyone happy as we all know.
Hope that clears up a few of the issues/perceptions.
John
None of what I am about to say is intended to argue any points, callout anyone or anything like that so if anyone takes offence then so be it. I will however try to address Larry's points and those that came up as a result.
Liking your enthusiasm, but the bull in the china shop approach leaves something to be desired...and that says alot coming from me...lol. Maybe a simple post like you were wondering if anyone has thought about updating the website and giving a little background on yourself and that you are becoming a member soon and would love to help out. By the time I read the thread there was far too much of what seemed like criticism, so I figured I would let it go and see where it went...well maybe that wasn't a good idea...lol.
So the first thing everyone needs to realize is that THE BOARD IS NOT THE CLUB. As was shown with some numbers in fact most on the board are not members of the club. Yes, we use the board to inform everyone what is going on, but as with main posters in the thread...many don't belong to the club. With that said though the input we get from those who are not members of the club is invaluable and we appreciate all perspectives and in a way are part of an extended Jeep family, but certainly not our main jeep family and when you are around a little longer you will see that when it was asked about perks...the NSJC Jeep family is the main perk from my perspective. The things that members do for each other in this club are at times simply amazing and I won't go into the numerous examples...again if you are around for a while that will become evident.
As soon as I read through the first page I knew the intent was meant to help and I don't disagree with the fact that the site needs to be updated...just as it needed it a few years ago when it was done the last time and someone stepped up to help, and since then it has been updated where possible by someone who was just trying to help and obviously tried to incorporate some of your suggestions while this thread was alive. Again...all volunteers. People here did find the club right...
Comments about the cost of web hosting...yup...came up last year and nobody stepped up so guess what...it is going to be paid again and the chapters are responsible for their share. Not my area of expertise and nor is this board just a HFX chapter responsibility. When people complain about something...step up or shut up. Won't go into why some things were updated better than others either but those who were involved know why.
Facebook...ahhhh facebook. Since this board isn't the club you can be damn sure FB isn't gonna be the club. I personally don't do FB and will never do it, but there are people who try to keep an eye on what pics are posted etc so the club doesn't get seen in a bad light...I have never seen it nor do I want to.
Massive club organization...not saying I/we are not interested in new members...of course we are, but it will never be massive and I too am interested way more in quality rather than quantity. The comment I made about toys for the toy drive was because we had a little more in the coffers last year in Hfx so it was doable...after looking at upcoming bills and activities and the fact I asked people to bring toys to AGM it wasn't needed as much as last year so I made the decision not to. As it turned out we filled the sleigh yesterday morning...AWESOME. HFX chapter pays all the bills and then collects the % from the other 2 chapters based on membership so we need to make sure we have enough to do that and since it is early in the membership year we have to consider that. We are looking at ways to improve the so called perks this year and one may include the collection of club bills prior to us paying as this is a provincial club. We could easily put dues up, but they haven't changed in the 7 or so years I have been around so I would rather not...about the trail fees...well that is something chapters feel they need...I have my own opinions but they are my personal opinions. Again dues haven't gone up but everything else has.
A small group can't fight the government???....totally false as long as you have the people who commit to it...we have done it with the raised vehicle issues....enough said... ;D.
Comments directly or indirectly intended, or not intended to be personal or taken as such...no place for that in internet land or on the board. We all know you can't take tone from posts...well most of the time...
. The fact is that there are people who commit and have committed their time an energy to do what they can for our Jeep family and it is alllllll appreciated. People come and go for different reasons and a lot may go, but alot of those return as well...and I love seeing people who have been out of it for a while come back...it doesn't matter why they left...we all have lives and life gets in the way sometimes...interests change...time gets short...and the fact is if you have ever been a member of this great club for any amount of time you know that your membership isn't just a result of paying dues. For some people who have done so much for this club to feel they are being attacked as a result of a personal or life decision doesn't sit well with me. Whether intended or not there was butthurt.Everybody always says to me...oh I couldn't deal with the politics...yes sometimes you do have to display some tact, but I do what I feel is best for the club in anything I do so I have no problem NOT being political at times. If people don't like it I welcome pm's telling me so as most only see situations in one dimension, but a lot of the time I have a different perspective...the club is a provincial club...some love that...some think it shouldn't be...some do things different...oh and some comment on things that don't even pertain to them to stir up crap...lolol. Call it censorship or whatever you want, but if club members wanna share their opinons about club issues...that's what the internal section is for. With that said the thread is opened back up in the internal section so "members" can giv 'er. Internal section password will be changing early in the new year to be used by those paid for 2013
I would ask that people re-read what they are going to post and think about it before posting on the open board. Maybe take it more from a perspective of "would I say that if I was face to face with the person"...unfortunately in this age of sitting behind a computer that is usually not the case. As with Larry and probably alot of others there are prospective members on here...threads where people seem to be bashing each other don't bode well with what this club really is. Happy medium between giving opinions and trying to slam yours down someones throat. You can't keep everyone happy as we all know.
Hope that clears up a few of the issues/perceptions.
John
