Rob Harknett wrote:Are you thinking of starting a club section in the area.
No Rob. After 35+ years of being involved in the starting and running of a number of clubs (including, as it happens, being a founder member and the Chaiman of the Knebworth Model Flying Club for a good number of years) and other associations I have come to the realisation that
in my case it's a sure fire way of losing a hobby as you spend so much of your available time "doing club", the "doing hobby" bit slips away and the whole thing ends up just as a chore which you are obliged to do. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that strikes a pretty loud chord with some here in "Jampot Land"!
When I first joined Jampot a couple of years ago there were the calls to help on the committee, edit the magazine etc and for ~10mS I did think about putting my hand up. But no, I decided there and then to concentrate
this time on the bikes and riding and I have to say I'm loving every minute. If that sounds selfish it's not meant to be but is just the way it is.
My local village has an informal "Classic Vehicle" group and last year there was some consideration given to turn it into a more formal club. The consensus of opinion was; What was the point? We all know that we meet on the 3rd Monday of each summer month at the "Dog and Sprocket", what more is required other than to turn up, have a drink (and maybe food), gawp at interesting machines and put the world to rights with your mates. What would having rules, a Committee and a subscription bring to the party?
The advent of WhatsApp and similar, means informal groups of bods can arrange spontaneously to go for a ride (as we do) with a simple message and yes,
that's what we do. (.... I'll probably get blamed for killing off clubs now
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
)
Mark's efforts to start up the meets in Ickleford would tend to suggest there's a need / desire for such informality where there is perhaps no longer the "critical mass" to suppport formal, marque specific clubs, sections or groups. That would certainly appear to be the case here in North Herts/South Beds. Anyway, this particular event was remarkably successful and it's not long to the next one
Old George.JPG
Rob Harknett wrote: If so, it must be done by making a request to the Secretary, for the committee to decide upon.
Fair enough, rules are rules and are there to serve a purpose. Given that there is another current thread bemoaning the future of this and other clubs I would venture to suggest that such rigidity might actually hasten that demise and add fuel to the fire of a more informal way. Or have I misinterpreted the message and it was more the way it was expressed?
Anyway, an example of when it's taken to the extreme:
A work collegue who is a fan of big American, "agricultural" motorcycles (someone has to be I suppose
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
) and a member of the owner's club showed me (in disbelief) the rules and regulations for being a "Ride Captain". That particular volume appeared to be a typical product of the H&S, risk-averse, procedure and check-list based society in which we now live and work and another reason for the apparent yearning for informality during playtime.
No, give me Facebook & WhatsApp and "See you at the garage tomorrow at 10:00" anytime.
Alan