Non Members Poll Only Please. Membership, what would you want from the club.

[bodgit0_0]

There is a poll in the members area so if you are a current member please vote there.

I raised the point that the none members are actually the target for this increased revenue to allow the club to blossom so it's only fair to gain a consensus on what YOU would want from the club to make it worth while joining or what you'd pay to gain access to say the technical area?

That said any constructive feedback you have either on this poll or even better a feasible solution on how the club can raise some extra funds, feel free to post below.

[E_T_V]

I'll add to this post as until today I didn't know I was a member (the idiotic committee decision spoilt one of my Christmas stocking fillers from the missus!). I'm strongly of the view that virtually all the forum should be available for all to see.

Suggestions for improving revenue:

Advertising - Not loads of it but some proper targeted stuff in small quantities is fine on the forum in banners. (I don't like the stuff that appears inside discussion threads)

Differing levels of membership - Full membership that gets a magazine posted to them, web membership that gets it e-mailed to them, and seller membership for those that simply want to flog a few bits or a car their granny had.

A donations button - people can donate money when they receive a benefit from the forum. This sounds like a crazy idea but one forum hosted makes its entire web hosting costs each year with this method.

Commission charge on items bought through the club - Similar to the e-bay model a small percentage of the purchase price gets paid to the club as commission

Commission from recommending insurance companies - This one is possibly already in place, but not very visible to most users

Club sourcing - Essentially a group buy but the club takes a commission from the sales price as it facilitates it.

A decent club shop - Yes I know it must already be on the list, but it still needs to be said, if you don't make things easy to buy then people don't buy them.

[Tanya]

Brilliant - thank you!

I'll add to this post as until today I didn't know I was a member (the idiotic committee decision spoilt one of my Christmas stocking fillers from the missus!). I'm strongly of the view that virtually all the forum should be available for all to see.

Suggestions for improving revenue:

Advertising - Not loads of it but some proper targeted stuff in small quantities is fine on the forum in banners. (I don't like the stuff that appears inside discussion threads)

Differing levels of membership - Full membership that gets a magazine posted to them, web membership that gets it e-mailed to them, and seller membership for those that simply want to flog a few bits or a car their granny had.

A donations button - people can donate money when they receive a benefit from the forum. This sounds like a crazy idea but one forum hosted makes its entire web hosting costs each year with this method.

Commission charge on items bought through the club - Similar to the e-bay model a small percentage of the purchase price gets paid to the club as commission

Commission from recommending insurance companies - This one is possibly already in place, but not very visible to most users

Club sourcing - Essentially a group buy but the club takes a commission from the sales price as it facilitates it.

A decent club shop - Yes I know it must already be on the list, but it still needs to be said, if you don't make things easy to buy then people don't buy them.

All great suggestions - thank you! I wanted to start a fundraising/ideas thread, but it seems we have a lot of ideas here! I still want to start that thread, so others can contribute and it's easy to find.

[bodgit0_0]

Some how I've cocked up the poll and my laptop has died.

Will try to update it later but thanks ETV for kicking this thread off.

I've seen the donation effort on the Fiat forum. It has a monthly target which a few people donate towards especially after a successful self repair or sale. Giving something back without being asked to.

[Tanya]

Great - thank you!

There is a poll in the members area so if you are a current member please vote there.

I raised the point that the none members are actually the target for this increased revenue to allow the club to blossom so it's only fair to gain a consensus on what YOU would want from the club to make it worth while joining.

That said any constructive feedback you have either on this poll or even better a feasible solution on how the club can raise some extra funds, feel free to post below.

Great - thank you! One of the job on the long list of things that the committee decided it needed to do was to find out why people weren't members of the club, and what they would like to see in the club that would persuade them to join. We would really appreciate feedback here, because as we know the club needs to improve and we need everyone's input to do that.

Thank you again for posting this

[Guest]

There is nothing the club can do to change my personality, especially as it seems to clash with people who "pull my chain"

I say it as I see it, and it's rarely appreciated, so unfortunately, there is nothing that will persuade me to become a full club member.

I have had to satisfy myself by helping other owners the best I can from this side of the divide.

Unfortunately this now seems to be insufficient.
If the lock down comes in January,(or at any time) I for one will not be here, so my answer is "academic".

[The Express Valeter]

Can someone tell me/us the benefit of being a paid member?

[Guest]

.

[E_T_V]

Can someone tell me/us the benefit of being a paid member?

The monstro magazine essentially.

[Tanya]

The monstro magazine essentially.

There is more, or at least there should be much more, along with of course helping to preserve and promote these cars. I need my bed now, so I'll let someone else answer.

[E_T_V]

Agreed there should be more, but in reality there isn't really and I know the history of Monstro has been sketchy (I'm just as much at fault as anyone for that!)

It didn't always used to be like this of course.
I seem to recall being involved (or perhaps organising - I can't remember the details) several group buys on bits for our members cars.
We had one on powerflex bushes
We had another on brakes or braided brake lines I think
I got a discount on Discloks too I seem to recall.

All of which helped the members keep their cars on the road.
I re-made the anti-roll bar links in polyurethane too for the same reason.

All these could be repeated and a premium attached to non members who wish to participate if there was the will to do so.

[Tanya]

Agreed there should be more, but in reality there isn't really and I know the history of Monstro has been sketchy (I'm just as much at fault as anyone for that!)

It didn't always used to be like this of course.
I seem to recall being involved (or perhaps organising - I can't remember the details) several group buys on bits for our members cars.
We had one on powerflex bushes
We had another on brakes or braided brake lines I think
I got a discount on Discloks too I seem to recall.

All of which helped the members keep their cars on the road.
I re-made the anti-roll bar links in polyurethane too for the same reason.

All these could be repeated and a premium attached to non members who wish to participate if there was the will to do so.

Agreed! I'm under no doubt just how much the club needs to improve, and yes it should be doing so much more. However, that why I'm involved as I want to make changes. However, the committee cannot address all the failing of the club in a day or even a few weeks, but we must do it. I think it would also be reasonable to give the membership some sort of timetable for the improvements. This sounds a bit Ofsted like, but we do need to pull our socks up.

[Guest]

I remember an effort to purchase /remake items for the cars.
And was told the club could not buy in bulk due to cost, and could not sell at a profit to "non members" due to "fear of the tax man"

We had a chance for new Fuel filler pockets, the club found some one to make them, but only asked for 10 units. The story is old so I won't go into depth with it.

The club also needs to instill "realistic values" into it's members beliefs in regards to the actual cost of purchase, restoration, and spares.

They are still "in essence" cheap cars, but they are in no way "cheap to repair".
If no one is willing to pay suppliers a fair price to continue stocking spares for our cars, then the stock will dry up and the prices of what is left will sky rocket.

As for one member stating I have Horded parts over the years.........

My self, Sean Norwood and a few others, did not hoard them, we got stuck with them!.

We spent our own money, and our own time, and where told that even the "cost price" we paid for the parts was too much!.

Well, Sean and I are clearing out,many others already have done so, and the majority of members will either miss out, or end up paying ebay prices, as we no longer have the time or resources spare to store things anymore.

Jeff and I have done our best of late to improve availability, my semi retired status, gives me time to search for suppliers with old stock.
I confirm that stock, then pass the details to Jeff.

Many of you have seen the result of this, and have secured much needed parts for your cars through it.

We will (if Jeff is still willing) continue to do this when time and funds allow.

But, this is what the club should be doing for it's members.

There is more, but I'm fed up of the same record going round just as much as everyone else.

Lock out / don't lock out.

In the end it's all academic to me.

[Jeff Turbo]

My self, Sean Norwood and a few others, did not hoard them, we got stuck with them!.

We spent our own money, and our own time, and where told that even the "cost price" we paid for the parts was too much!.

Well, Sean and I are clearing out,many others already have done so, and the majority of members will either miss out, or end up paying ebay prices, as we no longer have the time or resources spare to store things anymore.

Jeff and I have done our best of late to improve availability, my semi retired status, gives me time to search for suppliers with old stock.
I confirm that stock, then pass the details to Jeff.

Many of you have seen the result of this, and have secured much needed parts for your cars through it.

We will (if Jeff is still willing) continue to do this when time and funds allow.

Needs lots of time and effort to do this and I don't have either anymore. Unless something special comes up I won't be looking for any more parts etc.
It does take a big lay out from my part and I get to 'store' them till there sold but I will keep looking just for myself in future or close friends who need spares.
I have to sort my projects next year and my sons Turbo so won't have the time anyway
Also my wife wants more time with me and more holidays, so less time to spend on buying parts etc.
This year might also be the last year as treasurer of the club as my free time is non existent and I'm not getting any younger

[David3500]

I have not yet joined the Maestro and Montego Owners Club (MMOC) because at the moment I do not have a roadworthy car to use, let alone take to events. However when work does commence on rebuilding it - hopefully next year once the leaking garage has been sorted out - I may well change my view.

I appreciate that if my MG Maestro was 'sorted' and useable I would not be able to display it at any organised events arranged by the MMOC because I am not a paid member and therefore not covered by their Public Liability insurance. This seems completely reasonable. For the same reasons I do not receive the club's magazine. Perhaps it is these two aforementioned benefits that to be pressed more to try and gain paid-up members?

Having a 'members only' part of the forum based on write-ups on their cars and other articles of interest could also be a way of attracting paid-up members? Details for discount codes to organised events (e.g. as a foot visitor to vehicle shows such as the Bristol Classic Car Show at the Bath & West Showground) and other products could also be listed in a 'closed' section.

What the current forum does offer me is invaluable, with lots of useful advice from a technical perspective, while I am also happy to cross-share my own knowledge from an historical perspective.

Individuals such as MG Mal have also been put on my 'short list' for contacting in the future to see whether they have any required NOS spares for my project, and this in itself is a valuable benefit of the forum. I genuinely appreciate the efforts he and others have made to try and save certain parts and offer them at reasonable prices to forum members where they obviously will have immediate benefit. Without this 'open' trading forum many spares from numerous parties would have ended up as skip fodder a long time ago.

Others have also used the forum to advertise cars they have come across which are potentially on death row if they are not bought and saved. Some very low mileage and interesting cars have been saved through this open-for-all forum.

If I did join the MMOC in the future I would certainly want to see better and more consistent advertising on the website of organised events to attend, and hopefully details for area representatives who might be considering attending more local events, based on the level of demand generated. My main problem is the fact I live down in East Devon, so I do feel cut-off from attending organised events that are within a reasonable commuting difference - I have the same problem with the MG ZR which I occasionally display at organised events. Also, with the exception of one former member of the now defunct MG M Group south west area group (who owns a lovely MG Maestro 2.0i in British Racing Green), none of the others are that active in the car scene anymore (or apparently keen to support it).

Before anyone asks - No, I would definitely not be interested in taking on the role of an area representative in the future as I got my fingers 'badly burnt' the last time I was involved with a regional car club!

Just to let you know (if you did not already know), the MG M Group has recently made the decision to 'close its doors' after 20 years. In the last few years there has been a dearth of new blood willing to be involved at committee level or even write material for the club's magazine. Current members will be now be pointed in the direction of the MMOC as well as the MG Owners Club. Hopefully this will attract 'new blood' who are interested in becoming more involved.

A continued presence at notable events such as the BMC & Leyland Day, Pride of Longbridge and the Classic Motor Show are definitely continuing to keep the appeal of the 'M' models alive with a captive audience.

It is also worth noting that the MG Owners Club continues to be luke warm on recognising the appeal of the MG versions of these cars, while the MG Car Club's FWD Register seems to be trying to get its feet of the ground in terms of having a meet-up. For me that is the appeal of the MMOC - attending events where it is not limited to just one marque. For me, spending a day/weekend attending an event which limits me to looking at row after row of shining MGs only with rather anal owners would drive me mad!