The Honda Owners Club

[Barry]

Publish details of events on the forum? Is that not what the web site is for?

I suggest that the forum is better for chatting up and raise some enthusiasm for an event from members outside the organising Branch. If members say they will be supporting an event and where they will be departing from, it may encourage other to join them?

But as for letting 'everybody know', it doesn't does it? A monthly Branch news sheet is a far better means of local communication - relying on the Internet ignores the fact that the vast majority of our members are not on line.

As far as other officers getting involved, perhaps they feel that they are already in touch with their local members and do not wish to talk, talk, to a lot of strangers.

[Chimp Boy]

Barry

What's a monthly branch news sheet? In 10 years of being a member of HOC I've never seen one!!!!!

I have never been contacted by any member of my local branch although I have met them at events!

As for officers not wanting to talk to a load of strangers, if that is the case I suggest we need some new officers?

What is it that HOC members are not on line when other bike clubs and organisations that I belong to embrace the modern age of the internet?

It's time to get into the 21st century or the HOC will fade away!

[Barry]

Barry

What's a monthly branch news sheet? In 10 years of being a member of HOC I've never seen one!!!!!

Your local Branch would benefit from having one.

I have never been contacted by any member of my local branch although I have met them at events!

A monthly newsletter would resolve that.

As for officers not wanting to talk to a load of strangers, if that is the case I suggest we need some new officers?

Having met another member face to face they are no longer a stranger - unlike this forum business. Perhaps you should have a word with your local Branch Secretary and offer to be the voice of the Branch on the forum?

What is it that HOC members are not on line when other bike clubs and organisations that I belong to embrace the modern age of the internet?

So how are these other bike clubs and organisations doing 'on the ground'. Are their physical meeting and events well attended? Are their organisers overburdened with helpers?

It's time to get into the 21st century or the HOC will fade away!

If it does fade away it will be because it has forgotten that it is a physical motorcycle club and that means riding bikes. Talking about bikes is boring and people who just wish to talk will find better things to talk about on the INTERNET.

Perhaps the HOC should have a sticker - Get Physical with the HOC-GB

[alansh]

Which is your nearest branch?

I don't put our "branch newsletters". I do have an email list for all people who have attended club meetings or been on rides and I send out occasional mails with news.

Alan

Barry

What's a monthly branch news sheet? In 10 years of being a member of HOC I've never seen one!!!!!

I have never been contacted by any member of my local branch although I have met them at events!

As for officers not wanting to talk to a load of strangers, if that is the case I suggest we need some new officers?

What is it that HOC members are not on line when other bike clubs and organisations that I belong to embrace the modern age of the internet?

It's time to get into the 21st century or the HOC will fade away!

[Barry]

="alansh"

I don't put our "branch newsletters". I do have an email list for all people who have attended club meetings or been on rides and I send out occasional mails with news.

What about those members you do not know? Sure, they know where you meet and if they felt inclined they could always just turn up. They get Golden Wing and can see what is going on from there. Ignore them and they will go away - oh dear, change that to 'stay away'

But, wouldn't it be nice if they got a mailing 'out of the blue' - telling them what is going on and asking them to come along to the next ride/meeting - that personal touch. After a few news sheets they may even get to believe you would be pleased to see them.

All you have to do it to sort out how to finance the news sheet and remember to make them welcome when they do turn up.

[Chimp Boy]

Barry wrote:

Publish details of events on the forum? Is that not what the web site is for?

At the present time not. Even if we had an active webmaster it would be too much to ask to keep updating a web site on what could be a daily information update.

The forum is a "live" piece of technology where if you so desire, you want everyone to know that you are going to Clacton tomorrow, you can inform them.

[Dibble]

I have been away this past week and have just come back to this. Some interesting points being made but please don't d get too fixated with the forums and internets worth to the club. Yes I like it and so do some others but still the best means of attracting members is the personal approach and being seen out and about.

That said I would love every branch to get at least one member active on this forum if only to pass news about. Cant make them.

I would love our classic secretary to get on the internet regularly but he will not!

I did send every branch the web link in an email so where are the dedicated secretaries and where are their newly enthused branch members

[Chimp Boy]

Andy wrote

That said I would love every branch to get at least one member active on this forum if only to pass news about. Cant make them.

I know you can't make them but it would be in every branchs interest if they were represented here surely? I genuinely think that a lot of branch members are unaware of this facility.

The fact that we are able to discuss these topics openly and transparently must be a good thing to the HOC and everyones benefit. The more people that we can encourage to join in and partake the better.

I don't know what the restrictions are on this forum and if Alan can add unlimited extra folders, but it would be nice to see branch areas for specific, relevant, up to the minute information to be added?

[andyr]

All the things that have been said so far are fine, but what if at the end day you are like me have a life outside the forum and as a consequence are not able to log on daily to see what's going on. Surely the way forward is to use all communication links available as to make sure that everybody who needs to know on a need to know basis.

If the HOC is to move with the times then it should not just embrace the fad at the time. If at club level the only way is to communicate at a weekly meeting with a newsletter, then that suits them. If they want to use the internet as well fantastic but really its up to them to chose what works for that branch.

I personnally do not want them bombarding my email inbox with stuff I didn't need in the first place, If I want to get involved I'll visit there web site and choose for my self want I want to do if I have any free time.

My local branch is in Birmingham, but I choose to attend some of Oxfords events as they really don't seem to mind who joins them as long as they have a good time. Unfortunately I can not say that for Birmingham as they seem to be a closed shop.

What is the point of posting events on the forum when this is the third attempt at finding a stable server to host this forum, It took an email from Erica after two weeks of wondering what has happened. Yes granted Stritchy has been moving house and as a consequence has not been able to update the web site or send newsletters, but no one person should be made responsible for communication within an organisation. Take the police how do they go about catching a piece of vilanious scum without team work and collective communication.

Remember there is no 'I' in team, surely that also should be the case for the HOC someone outhere should've realised that there was a new forum, remembered that Stritchy was moving house and gone ahead and sent out some kind of communication link with other branches etc and informed them of the new all singing, all dancing forum for now till this one goes 't*"! up'

[alansh]

I don't know what the restrictions are on this forum and if Alan can add unlimited extra folders, but it would be nice to see branch areas for specific, relevant, up to the minute information to be added?

You just have to ask.

Alan

[Chimp Boy]

Alan

Unfortunately it's not for me to ask as I'm not a branch officer.

However you or Erica or Claire may want a folder where you can post all and anything relevant to your particular branch, I don't know?

If I was in that position myself I would go for it

[alansh]

There is already a section saying "Branch Information". The leaders of each branch could put stuff in there. What I don't want to do is keep adding forum sections to the header page - it becomes a bit unwieldy.

I think what we need is for the branch committees to nominate a person who's job it is to keep this forum updated with the branch stuff.

We could also have someone from the HOC committee nominated to keep the HOC central information updated. I would be happy to add a section for that one (in fact, I will do it once I have posted this note)

So, any volunteers (willing or press ganged...) ?

Alan

[Dibble]

Just to repeat for those that missed it I did send emails out to all branches to say where the new forum is.

I have again today repeated this exercise.

If you or others like you don't go to branches then that could not be passed on If the relevant secretaries do not pass on the information at their meetings then there is a fault in the secretary and that has to be addressed at the branch. So go along and tell them

As the website could not be updated and the crash of the forum was after GW was published then how else can we tell people

Please however stop slagging off other inactions if you have not taken any action to rectify the situation yourself

[Chimp Boy]

Just to repeat for those that missed it I did send emails out to all branches to say where the new forum is.

I have again today repeated this exercise.

Well done Andy this is the sort of pro active action that needs tob taken.

If you or others like you don't go to branches then that could not be passed on If the relevant secretaries do not pass on the information at their meetings then there is a fault in the secretary and that has to be addressed at the branch. So go along and tell them

If branches wanted to pass this information on to their local members I am sure they would as some have already done! Unfortunately not many seem to want to.

As the website could not be updated and the crash of the forum was after GW was published then how else can we tell people

Andy I run two websites myself and know it's just not practicle to keep updating a website on a daily or weekly basis, email and forums are the best way of keeping people informed.

Please however stop slagging off other inactions if you have not taken any action to rectify the situation yourself

Perhaps you could expand on this comment, I for one am in no position to influence the management of the HOC, I am not a branch or committee oficer, I just want to see the HOC become a successful modern respected club making full use of the the internet?

[andyr]

Please however stop slagging off other inactions if you have not taken any action to rectify the situation yourself

Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but I assume the last remark from Andy was directed to me and my remarks in a previous entry.

I'm sorry if I have offened anybody, but I thought the idea of this forum was a group of like minded people getting together to share opinions.
If I am to be excluded from having a bit of an opinion, then I really do not see why I should renew my subscribetion in January, because clearly I'm too challenging and avantgarde for this club.

As for rectifying the

situation yourself

how can any body do this if you are not fully aware of the situation and only the chosen few are privvy to information.