The Responsibilities of being a Member

[baD]

I would like to start a discussion thread here - one that will stay impersonal hopefully.

What are the responsibilities of a Club Member?

I find myself siding with DP in the matter of members helping/not helping at club events. I do not condone the tone of the posts but I support his message.

Members get a club at which to practice/race almost every week and in the near future may be able to race every day.
But what do they have to do for this? Pay a few quid here and there? Yes, pay your dues and help with all/any labours needed to ensure the club survives.

My personal view is to write this into the club membership agreement, or make it optional. i.e. a buy out clause to allow members out of the requirement to help out physically. Perhaps a £500 buy out per year?

Am I being serious, who knows, but the fact is I have over the years seen scores of parents and drivers give lip service to the idea of helping out and that's about the lot. They don't change because of the wonderful willing helpers who do the graft year in year out, and they pay the same race day and membership fees as the other lazy b*$t***s.

And I have to say this - the excuse that 'nobody ask me to help' is just total bullshit. Anyone with half a brain and can read, knows how much work is involved in Regionals and any other competition.

So - would anyone like to contribute suggestions to amendments of the constitution of JORCR?

[David Church]

You are right!!! Countless hours go into preparing a track and the running of the meetings.
It's the EPR National this weekend and I would guesstimate that some 2000 man hours have gone into preparing the track, it may not look like that much time was spent, but believe it has!!!
I myself am taking another day off work, self employed so I won't get paid, to go to the track and finish the painting!!!
I think a way forward may be to make it mandatory that everyone puts in time at the track doing maintainence, or I do like the idea of a buy out clause!!!
Remember without these people that freely give up their time, we would all be bashing round a carpark.

[sly]

.....

[cmgreen]

I think discussing this on a internet forum is the best way of discouraging future members from joining that club involved. Maybe its somthing to discuss when the club has a AGM or a monthly meeting????????

Its a shame the comments mentioned by one particular member in a post in the NE section has brought this about. In this particular case I would of suggested having a quick 5-10 mins chat to all members before the club is ran in the up comming weeks/month to gauge how many people can help, inform people of how much work is accually needed to run the event in stead of assuming that everyone knows what time to turn up and what is needed to be done. In this particular event people where asked to turn up 2 days before the event.

Maybe better preperation is needed to get more people to help...................

What i do find shocking is wrighting this on a public forum, when this club is trying to attract more members to a potentially region beating New Venue.

SHAME!

[chrispattinson]

Speaking personally, I try to help out when I can, but there are times when I cant. Lets look at NE regionals in Shields, I try to do as much as possible, and have done for years.

However, on the Friday prior to the event, which I usually take off work, I could not do this year, as I had a presentation to do at work.

I am grateful for those that grafted on Friday, and Im sure they understand that sometimes, its not possible for me to work on the track.

For those who dont help out, Im sure its more of a communication issue, than them not being aware what is required of them as members.

Work partys need to be communicated to, and expectations made clear. Our regional meeting was not mentioned once in a club announcement.... I have had success in previous years by drafting a newsletter prior to a regional, and handing it out at club meetings.

[chrispattinson]

Just thinking, I didnt there was a lack of help at all over the weekend ? Am I wrong?

[DCM]

After racing for more years than I care to remember, clubs have always had their helpers and the people who just turn up, race, go home, and no matter what you try to do to those who don't help, it won't change.

What I do believe in, those that help at the club should be rewarded in some way from the club, whether that is reduced race fee's or membership fee's.

[mikeyscott]

Originally Posted by David Church

You are right!!! Countless hours go into preparing a track and the running of the meetings.
It's the EPR National this weekend and I would guesstimate that some 2000 man hours have gone into preparing the track, it may not look like that much time was spent, but believe it has!!!
I myself am taking another day off work, self employed so I won't get paid, to go to the track and finish the painting!!!
I think a way forward may be to make it mandatory that everyone puts in time at the track doing maintainence, or I do like the idea of a buy out clause!!!
Remember without these people that freely give up their time, we would all be bashing round a carpark.

Couldn't agree more with the above statement. We are working on our club at the moment and the hours easily disappear.

[N7ELA]

Originally Posted by baD

I would like to start a discussion thread here - one that will stay impersonal hopefully.

What are the responsibilities of a Club Member?

I find myself siding with DP in the matter of members helping/not helping at club events. I do not condone the tone of the posts but I support his message.

Members get a club at which to practice/race almost every week and in the near future may be able to race every day.
But what do they have to do for this? Pay a few quid here and there? Yes, pay your dues and help with all/any labours needed to ensure the club survives.

My personal view is to write this into the club membership agreement, or make it optional. i.e. a buy out clause to allow members out of the requirement to help out physically. Perhaps a £500 buy out per year?

Am I being serious, who knows, but the fact is I have over the years seen scores of parents and drivers give lip service to the idea of helping out and that's about the lot. They don't change because of the wonderful willing helpers who do the graft year in year out, and they pay the same race day and membership fees as the other lazy b*$t***s.

And I have to say this - the excuse that 'nobody ask me to help' is just total bullshit. Anyone with half a brain and can read, knows how much work is involved in Regionals and any other competition.

So - would anyone like to contribute suggestions to amendments of the constitution of JORCR?

I would like to take this thread right back to the first post.

What are the responsibilities of a Club Member?

The only answer is, Who knows?

Who can honestly say when they joined a club someone gave then a sheet of paper or verbally explained to them what being a club member involves?

At my place of work we have had alot of new starters recently and they all get several different levels of inductions.

They get an induction from Security, personnel, Their Senior Supervisor, Supervisor and then finally their Team Leader.

They are given a rule book outlining the companies terms and conditions.

Now I know this is extreme for a buggy club but imagine If you started a new job, did not get an induction or shown any terms and conditions, then got sacked a week later for leaving work early without packing your tools away????

You'd be straight down to a no win no fee solicitor to get your claim in.

My point again is:

How can anybody complain about club members not pulling their weight when the members have not recieved any information about whats expected of them as a member???

[nobby]

Originally Posted by N7ELA

I would like to take this thread right back to the first post.

What are the responsibilities of a Club Member?

The only answer is, Who knows?

Who can honestly say when they joined a club someone gave then a sheet of paper or verbally explained to them what being a club member involves?

At my place of work we have had alot of new starters recently and they all get several different levels of inductions.

They get an induction from Security, personnel, Their Senior Supervisor, Supervisor and then finally their Team Leader.

They are given a rule book outlining the companies terms and conditions.

Now I know this is extreme for a buggy club but imagine If you started a new job, did not get an induction or shown any terms and conditions, then got sacked a week later for leaving work early without packing your tools away????

You'd be straight down to a no win no fee solicitor to get your claim in.

My point again is:

How can anybody complain about club members not pulling their weight when the members have not recieved any information about whats expected of them as a member???

sorry neil but that is a very poor excuse for not pulling your weight pal

[N7ELA]

Originally Posted by nobby

sorry neil but that is a very poor excuse for not pulling your weight pal

I don't really think you can comment about anyone pulling their weight mind Chris. After all you've barely raced at our club over the last 2 years to see who or what has gone on.

So on that note I think you'll find that over the last 2 years you have been classed as one of the biggest slackers at our club and I always laugh when I see sly comments like yours...

[nobby]

Originally Posted by N7ELA

I don't really think you can comment about anyone pulling their weight mind Chris. After all you've barely raced at our club over the last 2 years to see who or what has gone on.

So on that note I think you'll find that over the last 2 years you have been classed as one of the biggest slackers at our club and I always laugh when I see sly comments like yours...

i find it quite tricky racing at the club when i work away sunday to thursday or monday to friday so when i'm on monday to friday i'm up at 5am monday, and if i'm working sunday to thursday.........well i'm sure you can work that one out
so when i make it to the club i like to think i do my fair share.
i think the reason some people arn't to chuffed with some is people turning up racing then going home just as the track has to be put away.
the last time i raced at the club i was told we had to empty the room and move everything out to the garage outside.
that night i got home at 11:45pm even though i was up at 5am the next morning so please don't try and tell me i don't do my bit when need be.
but if anyone at the club thinks that please come and tell me face to face.
just bare in mind guys i'v helped organise club nights through to world championship meetings over the last 25 years without any complaints from people all over the world.
you all need to sit down and discuss any problems at the club.
i'll keep out of it from now on guys enjoy yourselves, and i'll see you all at the club when it's possible and work permitting if that's ok?

[cmgreen]

The way i see it is if a member or anyone wants to help then its a great bonus to the club. The only dissapointing thing here is mainly we are talking about Jarrow club, here we are blaming people for not helping, which i find quite hard to believe, there wasnt a shortage of help from wot i know because everything got done and the event ran very well. I wasnt even asked to help, i offered on the assumption that help would be needed, as i do every year.

Now to go forward i think better communication is needed to every member, e.g. we would like 5 people to help out friday afternoon, and 5 sunday nite with 3 or 4 going back to the club to put things away.

Its just a shame we couldnt disscuss this at agm instead of putting it on here, who wants to race in the NE region any more??? No wonder the numbers are dwindling, and the region in my view has taken a big hit on this forum. Either we stop this and do it properly at the next agm or club meeting, or give up completely otherwise there aint going to be any NE regionals next year.

Regionals should be FUN not a chore!

And just to add, this was Mr Pack's First regional event as organiser, yes there were a few hiccups but is'nt there allways??? Has anyone accually said Thank you to him?? He didnt have to do it............

Well i'll start, David Pack Thank YOU !!! I apologize if i p*ss** you off.

[turbo_brick]

To take up a few points

How do people know what is expected? - They know they are not paying someone to put the track out etc for them, new members are told people are needed to put the track out and away if they don't already know (I make sure of it!) they know it's all ran entirely by unpaid volunteers, they all know if many hands make light work - I don't know of any similar organisation where people don't just ALL pull together and help....unlike in RC racing as it's not just JORCR where this happens (I help run several activity groups and everyone regardless of disability mucks in!) FFS some people who don't even race help out! I don't think we have had any new members who have not helped either before or after a club night, taking into consideration those with children. If people have a genuine reason to not help noone minds. Maybe it should be put on the signed membership forms but really, do people need to do that? Surely common sense should kick in





The Warehouse - not a hope in hell springs to mind at present for the following reasons

• CASC refused (which you know)
• Discretionary relief refused (today)
• MOST IMPORTANT - Not enough people volunteered so far. People have been asked, have been emailed, very few offers and definately not enough to run it - unless this changes not a chance it can open

I've been trying to get the CASC decision changed and there is an alternative plan but without enough people to run it there is no point. A building doesn't become a brilliant RC racing arena unless someone opens the door and holds the racing. If someone who was willing to offer to run regular meetings did not get the email please do let me know and I will send it again. Thanks to the VERY few who did offer.

Agreed requests for help came in too late at the most recent regional, nothing much can change what has happened, people can only learn from mistakes.

Hope that clears up a few things