The Honda Owners Club

OPPS I forgot about the thread Dibble started, I really must pay more attention to the Forum subjects

Yes you could be right about the Bank Holiday thing, but to be honest would it really make much difference if it were any other weekend so maybe a full weekend event i.e. a Saturday and Sunday maybe the way to go, then at least the event would be accessible to more members, might get more stalls, arrange an evening event, seminars etc even a rally type event like the National.

On my way back from London a couple of weekends prior the the Mega Day I noticed that BMW had there event at The Fire Service Training College at Morton in the Marsh that was a 2 day event I did stop and have a look around, did raise a few eyebrows when I turned up on the Zed but hey it's got 2 wheels there was lots of show bikes, demo bikes, didn't have a stunt show though (score 1 to Honda) lots of stalls and a couple of touring companies too. we only stayed for an hour or so, but still very interesting they even had an area for camping

Maybe we should do some market research, what do the members want from an event like this? What was good or bad about this event? I fully intend to ask my branch members who went what they thought and if there was anything they would like to see at a simular event in the future, what would it be? and be rest assured I will feed this back to you guys on the forum and at the AGM.

But again and again I fully appreciate the hard work put into this years event and that is something you can not take away, no matter how much critisium is placed here or elsewhere.

BIG THANKS GUYS

If people dont come to one day event how on earth do you expect themtocome and to stay at a 2 day event and why should anyone bother trying to arrange such a thing?

That is not my words but a comment expressed by some when asked about such an idea.

What you forget of course is BMW is sponsored as aclub and has companies run by BMW as touring companies so it could well have been employees of BMW rather than interested traders. As to camping at the event then you are really turning a show into a rally which do you want?

Why not just have the National Rally park all the bikes together and call that the show? Voting as per the Northants model.

If people dont come to one day event how on earth do you expect them to come and to stay at a 2 day event and why should anyone bother trying to arrange such a thing?

But surely the point I was trying to make is then at least you might get more attendance if the members had the choice of 2 days to come to such an event and if provision for camping was an optional extra then at least you would have the scope to make more of the event and yes why not turn it into the national rally you do seem to have good attendance to that, don't you? and what's wrong with 2 major national events in the HOC calendar?

Also would it not spread the burden of organising, helping to man such an event if it were over 2 days, a bit like the NEC show where we get more branches involved by providing man power?

I don't think attendance would improve and the burden of organisation would most likely end up not shared at all, but instead be 2 days of bloomin' hard graft for a core group rather than just one day.

You cannot compare it to the NEC - that's a whole different ball game - volunteers (apart from those setting up etc - again, a small core) just have to man a stand, within the confines of a monumental biking event that most volunteers would attend in any case, (plus one of the incentives is a free pass), we do not organise & run the whole event, thankfully someone else has that mammoth responsibility! You know what it's like to organise something... look at your run to choccie heaven...

Sorry Kwak, will have to agree to differ with you on this one.

We already have many major events on the HOC Calendar... The National Rally, Gaydon...Solent Rally... plus a whole shed load of others too...

You can take a horse to water my friend ... ... ... ...

I totally agree with Shellshine, speaking as the person who organises the NEC every year, it doesn't even compare in hard graft to what Mark had to do for Gaydon. I only have to make sure all the furniture arrives on time and we're fully staffed for 11 days and the passes get to everyone etc, it's not even in the same time zone as the work Mark has to do, so I for one appreciate all the hard work and effort he put into the day. Phil and I went along to help out and show our bike and had a blast..yes having a play on the bouncy castle helped a lot and my bike winning second place in his catagory was a major highlight for us(we're such proud parents LOL LOL) but we had a great day. And the Lings boys were awesome and great guys for letting Jennie and I have a sit and pose on their bikes at the end of the day.
All it takes to make this club one of the best at these things, is a lot of time and effort from ALL it's members, not just us usual suspects. We're only human and still have jobs and lives to lead as well as doing as much as we can for the club we love, so if more people helped it would make us the best by far...........so please feel free to critise and let us know what you want from us, but also, try helping out sometimes, then you'll get so much more from these events...trust me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love Rona xxxxxxxxxxx

Oh Rona... I didn't mean that what you do is any less hard work... I know it is just as hard, but it's very different... like I said

volunteers (apart from those setting up etc - again, a small core) just have to man a stand

etc etc ...

I agree with your comments wholeheartedly...

All it takes to make this club one of the best at these things, is a lot of time and effort from ALL it's members, not just us usual suspects. We're only human and still have jobs and lives to lead as well as doing as much as we can for the club we love, so if more people helped it would make us the best by far...........so please feel free to critise and let us know what you want from us, but also, try helping out sometimes, then you'll get so much more from these events...

Spot on mate!

I thought that people put themselves foreword as officers of the HOC because they felt they had the leadership, skills and knowledge to fulfill a specific office?

Stritchy is not always moaning about the lack of help in organizing the web pages. Erica gets on and does a good job of the advertising in Golden Wing. Tim - apart from chasing up articles for Golden Wing - gets the job done in a very professional manner. Shellshine seems to be getting to grips with the merchandising.

These people seem to welcome the occasional suggestion but basically, they are in charge and get on with it - to a very satisfactory standard.

Various other members organize weekend camping rallies - whilst I suspect they would occasionally like a bit of help, I don't hear them moaning about the lack of attendance or hear members feeling they have to make excuses for them.

The HOC stand at the BMF seems to be a continual success. The manning at the National Bike show seems to be well subscribed this year.

Both last years 'Honda Festival' and this years 'Honda Mega Event' has resulted in a number of 'hard core' members having to justify their organization. It seems to be assumed that most of the 'flack' is aimed at one person, but these were HOC-GB events. Just how involved are the Executive of the HOC involved in its organization?

The National Rally is another HOC event. How involved is the Executive in this? As far as I can make out, no one in the HOC will know how many members will attend until they book in! As the event is being held at an open to all location, anyone will be able to mingle with HOC members at what is being advertised as a 'closed' event.

If a National HOC event does not come up to their own or members expectations, is it not better for the Executives to put their hands up and simply say 'sorry about that, we will sort it out and get it better next time'.

Barry wrong again!

The executive are involved in all the events even if its only Ok'ing the money for it, or getting the regalia there, shipping the materials sorting out designs on T shirts and getting badges, organising the other teams that do run the event and then of course being there and spending their time on stands.

As to numbers at shows and rallies We have asked repeatedly for members to tell us if they are going to events so we have idea of numbers but hey they don't so we cannot. The arrangement over bookings is because the companies who run the venues will not let us run the bookings and we do not or rather did not have the funds to block book accomodation so we could then control that stock. That is the only way such counting can be done. Even then if like me you can get a better deal on the accomodation by organising it independantly you would and so do others. So having a check in with HOC at the event has been organised and that way we should get the final numbers. But your the only one who worries about numbers anyway so again not really an issue.

We do not advertise a 'closed event' what we advertise is an event for our members and to be involved you would have to get the information from being a member as it is not publicly advertised outside the organisation. The exception generally is a show or meeting which we advertise as it is held at a public venue that the general public have right of access to. So we try to have an event that if they wish to view they can. Hopefully we can then sign a few others up to the HOC. Our National Rally is not advertised for any old MOP to come to. If you decide to come it is because you heard of it whilst you were a member and we would expect you to rejoin if you attended.

It's totally ok Jennie, I didn't think for one second you were having a go, but you did hit the nail right on the head....Mark had to do so much more than I have to do....I just really hope he takes the critisism the way it's meant and it doesn't put him off doing it again. I think that's the main reason a lot of people don't volunteer for stuff in the club as a whole, because they are put off by people complaining. I've been luck enough to get nothing but positive feedback from my NEC work, but then like I said, it's dead easy for me. Someone else has had to do all the hard work of getting other companies and clubs etc involved,to make it a successful show.....although even people like that get it wrong sometimes, just look at the ThunderDome last year

Barry wrote: As far as I can make out, no one in the HOC will know how many members will attend until they book in!

Why don't you just start a post 'National Rally - Who's going?'

Dibble wrote:
The executive are involved in all the events

Good, corporate responsibility, I like it. So those members of the Executive who praised the Honda Mega Event are really just patting themselves on the back!

As to numbers at shows and rallies We have asked repeatedly for members to tell us if they are going to events so we have idea of numbers but hey they don't so we cannot.

Would it not be easier to do as most other clubs do. Have a registration fee paid directly to the club. The fee includes a rally Tee shirt or other club merchandise.

But your the only one who worries about numbers anyway so again not really an issue.

Really? You mean like Gaydon

BTW, the BMW motorcycle club is not sponsored by BMW. Some companies do sponsor it by advertising in their Journal, some then emphasise their support by turning up at rallies.
I was at David Silver on Monday, They have a dozen or so immaculate early Honda's lined up in front of their trade counter. Pity they can't be encouraged to extend their support of the HOC. Perhaps the local Branch should chat them up

Mabbie wrote:Why don't you just start a post 'National Rally - Who's going?':o)

...Now that would be a really great idea if HOC members used the Forum!! Unfortunately, its only a small number who do so youi would get the usual names chiming in! and be no better off!
...We wont know till around 10pm on Fri 19 Sep when all have registered!

Mabbie wrote:

Barry wrote: As far as I can make out, no one in the HOC will know how many members will attend until they book in!

Why don't you just start a post 'National Rally - Who's going?'

That's a valid point Mabbie, problem is how many members are actively involved with the forum?

I've been a HOC member for 2 years and have only just signed on so how many more out there?

Barry you are still wrong BMW do sponsor their club. Less so than they did but according to their own staff at the NEC they get money from the head office. It is less since the rise of the GS club and the sports section.

Likewise Suzuki get funding for events direct from the UK office.

So how many Tshirts would you buy before the event then Barry?

Dibble wrote:So how many Tshirts would you buy before the event then Barry?

They are available on pre-order Barry - £5 each