MX-5 OC Forum

Having read the stuff on the two threads about the two events on 12 August I have to try to straighten this out; as a Club member, former Eastern AC, and friend of lots of you who have taken the time to post.

I would like to think by now Eastern members have got the measure of Robbie and his actions as AC. I believe his first concern when clashing events are proposed is with the organisers.  Club events can take a lot of work to organise; many of you will know that, as you will have been involved with stuff in the region over the years. How disheartening and disappointing potentially is it then when having spent all your time and effort to put on an event, one that has been in the planning since the publication of the region calendar at the beginning of the year to have another event suddenly pop up and be promoted to local members, which could, and I say “could” again, detract from your event, in terms of the likely number of participants. 

We talk about choice.  OK, choice is good, but if you have spent months planning and organising something and for whatever reason then find you are only one option, one of a number of choices and potentially could be the option that’s not chosen by members, again that ways lies disappointment and I suggest a reluctance to get involved again.

The way to avoid these potential issues is by carful pre-planning, and coordination of events.  That’s part of what the Club is all about, and what being an Area Coordinator is about. Every Saturday and Sunday of the year there is an event on somewhere that will be of interest to Club members and that we could therefore promote and attend. But we don’t do that, we pick and choose what we do at the beginning of the year and we then plan for the events properly, and with some foresight so we make the organisation of events worth the effort. What point would there be in everyone planning a run or show or somesuch, for the same weekend and then finding its only them who do it, as everyone has their own event to go to.  OK, that’s an extreme example but that’s where we could be heading if we have more and more choice.  And lets face it we can all choose to jump in the car and go for a drive or show or whatever every weekend on our own, that way why do we need a Club?

We have an annual calendar and we try to stick to it as that way we know what we are getting, and what we are presenting to Club members. As a region we have always tried to do things thoroughly and properly so all those who take part and do the organising feel they have had a worthwhile experience.  Robbie has been trying hard to uphold that in his spell as Eastern AC.  

There is of course often really no problem on most occasions with more than one event on the same day because it is a big and diverse region,  its been done quite a few times, but what that needs is communication and coordination, and everyone involved to treat the others with courtesy.

Now I think it has been acknowledged that at the beginning of this year there was a lack  of input into the calendar so far as event centred on Norfolk was concerned,  that’s not in dispute, I think those involved have put there hands up to that. Since then its great to see so much action centring on the Norfolk meet, and Steve A has gallantly stepped into to endeavour to help coordinate and make sure those efforts go to best effect but its not an easy job.

So what of this current issue?  As I see it from reading bits on this forum it’s possibly a tale of chinese whispers. There is no evidence Robbie said that the Snetterton event could not be publicised on the forum but there is evidence that he raised the concern about the impact on the other event on that day and given what I have said above he was right to do that in the first instance. Having then discussed that concern with Steve it was agreed that publicising Snetterton on here was fine. So where did “event cancelled” come from ? The chinese whispers I suspect. Robbie raised the concern, Steve tells him what’s been discussed at Norfolk meet end and planned, and Robbie agrees event is fine.  

As I said much early I think we all know Robbie’s AC style, and it centres on supporting those who have put a lot of work in to those long standing events first. I don’t think having that concern for others is wrong, how can it be.  But because he chooses to express that concern, usually in private I will add, he then seems to get vilified in public! Hardly fair is it. Read some of the comments on this forum, they are now getting personal, and we are talking about someone who is a volunteer, and who you will all know is hugely committed to the Club and puts in a huge amount of effort in many ways, to support us members.  Where would STHT be without Robbie ? This is of course the internet, and far too easy to type stuff and hit the “post” key, when in real life we would never consider saying such.

On 31July Robbie finally steps down as Eastern AC and so far as I can see he has done a brilliant job. On 1 August David will take over and I have no doubt things will change again. There are no set rules for being a Club AC, as volunteers we get to do it our way, with the help of al those who support us. 

But it currently looks like we are doing this change over under a bit of a cloud, and frankly that’s not how I, as an ex Eastern AC, and committed Club member want to see it happen.  So let’s put things all behind us, and as from 1 August look to move forward, lets thank Robbie for all that hard work he has put in and get behind David and get back as soon as we can to that fun thing we all want. Believe me, however our styles of AC / region management come across, that is and always has been the core thing for us, getting out there and having fun with cars !

 Well we are back to this again!!

I have just about had enough, I struggle to see what the real problem is? Yes the BTCC its not a ER sanctioned event,  but I for one would not be going to the ER run (sure it will still be a great event, they always are) I understand that the person concerned was asked to move it to the Motorsport section. Just where nobody would see it!!! 

As a Norfolk member I wouldn't expect anyone to travel a round trip of up to 100+ miles only to then do another 50,60,70 mile run, hell we don't get any visits from our officals anymore!!

Where has been the offical support?? Sorry Robbie has done a great job as I have said a number of times, but when are we going to learn that having just 1 AO doesn't really work.

Things really need to change.

Paul

Steve is a club official representing the Club at the meets.  

And things are going to change as we have all been aware of for sometime. 

 Sorry Martin but I disagree with you.

MX5 Paul:

 Sorry Martin but I disagree with you.

 

That Steve is not a Club official or that a new AC won't see things change ?

If the issue is about having more than one Area Coordinator, then that will be up to the new AC to decide. Club Areas all work differently, they have differenet teams who make things work. Some have more than one joint AC, others have one AC and then small committees of run organisers, newsletter editors etc.  Our new AC comes in with a team of 4 meet coordinators and a newsletter editor, who are a pretty strong team but how he wants to go forward with that will be up to him. 

Some people quite clearly have not liked the way Robbie runs things as they have said so in that other thread, although I still say its mostly misunderstanding of peoples intentions that results in the issues arising as they have.. Well fine, we all work in different ways, Rob announced he wanted to stand aside for someone else back in about January, and it was a long while before anyone came forward to take on the job.  Had more than one person come forward then we could be looking at more than one joint AC now, but that never happened.  

So I have posted in an attempt to explain where I see the problems, and to confirm that there is clearly a solution already in hand... Change needed, agreed, change coming, it will do, what that will be though is to be seen, me have a new man coming with new ideas. Lets see what happens.. 

Surely the Eastern region is large enough for two events to go ahead without an overlap of "catchment area"? When I've been on an event in Norfolk I've seen very few people from other areas travel to take part. The same can be said of other areas I'm sure, with petrol at £1.30 a litre not many people can afford to travel as far as we would like. So does it really make sense to have an event at one end of an area 130 miles by 100 mile (approx) and say that's your lot, hard cheese if it's too far?

Martin.

Bannedbiker:

Surely the Eastern region is large enough for two events to go ahead without an overlap of "catchment area"? When I've been on an event in Norfolk I've seen very few people from other areas travel to take part. The same can be said of other areas I'm sure, with petrol at £1.30 a litre not many people can afford to travel as far as we would like. So does it really make sense to have an event at one end of an area 130 miles by 100 mile (approx) and say that's your lot, hard cheese if it's too far?

Martin.

yes agrred, we can, we have done, we should do, but to be fair to all members, those attending and those organising the AC is correct in having some input in to those events, thats all thats happening, some oversight so that events are coordinated in the best interests of all...  

MX5 Paul:

.... hell we don't get any visits from our officals anymore!!

Is it any wonder considering the way they get treated - as I know only too well from personal experience

MX5 Paul:

Things really need to change.

Damn right they do!!

 James

If I remember rightly I gave a great deal of support and ideas to you when you took over (ref our telephone conversation and various pm's) although the meeting in question (January) things got a bit heated, but that was then. Since then we have had any support from the club (not you personally)

Look!  I only got involved with this because of what appeared to be somebody having a go at Sue and I over a clash of events, (Jackie and Graham's run/Snetterton), this problem now appears to have been sorted, but seems to have now grown into something like the U.N trying to sort out the Syria problem.

I am fed up with having to rush back to the computer screen every five minutes to find out who's saying what about who, I have got better things to be doing with my time. 

Looking at who is going to Helmingham, it seems that the majority of people who are posting about this topic are going to be there.  Why can't we stop this terrible method of communication where so much can be misinterperated now, and all get together for a sensible face to face chat where hopefully nothing can be taken out of context.

Sue and I work very hard trying to keep the Cambridgeshire group intergrated with all the other ER regions and up until now have enjoyed doing what we do, but having never wanted to enter politics this is all getting too much and we for one have had enough of it.  We joined to enjoy the company and the cars, not to be constantly faced with the bad feeling that is now going on.

So if this idea appeals to those concerned, please can we make it happen, and put an end to it all once and for all.

Bill

 Bill:    Most, if not all this, I believe comes from a lot of good intentions and unfortunate mis-understandings - I for one am more than happy to discuss at Helmingham.

James:    The evidence is in the factual knowledge (not Chinese whispers) of deterring these events, communication rightly by PM and e mail which should not be published publically here!

The Norfolk Fives Group is quite simply Norfolk owners promoting and encouraging more activity and enjoyment of their cars. It’s not exclusive as can be seen by the membership. It’s managed to fill in some enormous gaps in the events ER calendar and subsequently helped to keep the whole region active.

As for Robbie; I have posted and stand by my comments that I have the greatest respect and appreciation for his outstanding contribution to the club. It's truly amazing how he has managed to juggle so many roles for so long. He continues to do a superb job and I sincerely hope he will have more time to enjoy future participation.

My only gripe is the policy on restricting the number of events, which by the way I thought wasn’t down to just one person.

I hope this situation will shortly change and the Eastern Region all have more fun.

Hello all,

I feel compelled to add to this thread, firstly I would like to make it very very clear that myself and April have no knowledge of how this situation has all come about, but what I would like to say is that this whole mess that is being aired here on the forum saddens us very much. The Eastern region is being made a laughing stock here on the O/C forum, there is a lot of finger pointing going on and what appears to be virtual name calling!! It has to stop before there is a lasting impact and this whole situation blows completely out of control, most members have not signed up for this remember!! Most just want to enjoy their cars, enjoy the runs, the club meets and make good friends, anybody who has thoughts of joining the ER will surely think twice before paying their fees and joining what was (and hopefully will be in the future) a fantastic region. Please everybody who is involved, lets put this to bed and carry on in the spirit of which we all joined. 

Bill and Sue are clearly getting very upset by all the comments being made on here and if we are not carefull they too will hang their hats up,  from my point of view we would loose a very passionate couple who work very hard  within the ER and DO make the difference, we have already as of tomorrow lost one legend, lets not loose anymore.

Regards to you all.

Brian. www.mx5revive.com

WOW !! here we go again ........ I've not been on the forum for a few days and look what happens.

It's always going to be hard pleasing everyone, but I agree that there should be only one 'designated' and ER backed event on any one day, but that doesn't stop someone posting to say (like in this instance) "oh by the way i'm going to the BTCC, anyone fancy tagging along? " But isn't that exactly what happened and as I believe it from what I have read Robbie said was fine ? There's nothing to stop anyone in our region calling our mates up and popping out to do whatever we want, but I for one would be proper cheesed off if someone was allowed to create an ER backed event on the same day as one i'd spent ages organising.

I know the Eastern Region was always a region that used to 'break the rules' and push the boundaries but we do need someone to keep us within certain guidelines or all hell would break loose and we'd be all over the place with events and then you'd have little or no attendance by members.

I have been a VERY dedicated member of the ER for the last 10 years and have attended events all over the region ..... including the breakfast run all the way up in Norfolk (which meant leaving at 3am to get to the start ......... but is an amazing event) among loads of other 'further away events' , but I am getting fed-up of us all fighting and pulling in opposite directions. What the hell has happened to make us like this, we used to be the region that litteraly the rest of the country looked to for inspiration and now where just a bit of a laughing stock .......... i'm getting fed up of all this too.

Robbie is an area co-ordinater we should of all been proud to have, and I for one certainly find him inspirational. I've never met anyone so dedicated to a cause and work so tirelessly. I hope that David can find some harmony again and that we can all start to work together again as 'THE EASTERN REGION'. There's enough crap going on in the world without a bunch of people that I would consider friends all with the same objective to start on each other. 

 Normally I would not respond to a thread such as this covering as it does a matter which many would see as better dealt with in private and not on a public forum. However as a fairly recent  but  commited owner and what I consider, and am proud to be, a reasonably active  member of the Eastern Region, could we, as Martin has asked for in his opening post look for a little objectivity in this matter and not let it degenerate into a publicly aired personal feud.

For me Martin's final paragraph says it all. Please can we now go forward having "fun" in our beloved cars in new and determined mood of co-operation and communication.

David Marsh

Firstly, I do not believe that this forum is the most appropriate way to have discussions such as this. Writing, rather than talking face to face just leads to misinterpretation, misunderstanding, conjecture and avoidable emotional distress.

But we are where we are so here goes! Reading through the topic, I cannot see that anyone as proposed anything other than the current ‘status quo’ and thus I would like to do exactly that, but first a little background. I am going to try and keep this succinct and thus will bullet point aspects to keep it pertinent.

·         Eastern Region has been the successful blueprint of how to develop a pro-active innovate region of the club for a great number of years.

·         This is down to the efforts of all participating members but most particularly and importantly the Area Co-ordinator/s.

·         Eastern Region geography is significant – probably one of the biggest in the UK (accepting rural Scotland and Wales) – see below:-

By County border:

By Owners Club Area Map:

·         As a region, we have grown membership numbers year on year since I moved here approx. 7 years ago. The split of membership across the region by postcode during the last 5 years is as follows (this does include members who have opted to be part of ER whilst their postcode may not necessarily suggest it):-

·         This increase in membership causes ‘management’ and ‘organisational’ issues, mainly falling on the shoulders of the AC to navigate through. Eastern Region has always been very fortunate with the calibre of those individuals who have worn the AC ‘hat’.

·         However, as with any successful ‘organisation’ or ‘business’, change and dynamism are key to on-going and future success but what and how has this been forthcoming to date?

·         The complexity of serving the geography and increase in membership numbers during the above period has given rise to one original monthly meet increasing to four spread around our region. This was and is a positive step forward.  

·         Each meeting has a nominated ‘Meet Co-ordinator’ whose role is designed to ease the burden on the AC by helping to organise and chair the meeting, welcome new members, pass on club news, programme dates and ideas etc. In part, this is an excellent and positive step forward.

·         However, despite what has been detailed previously, the national club has no recognised Meet Coordinator position. Those helpful individuals undertaking this task are not formal officers of the club, are probably not covered in their role by the club’s insurance, do not receive the briefings or equipment that the AC does, yet ultimately and perhaps crucially are effectively undertaking the same role that a full AC in any other part of the country is doing.

·         Each meeting point has a growing mix of existing and newer members, some very vibrant and pro-active, wanting to organise activities for themselves and wider afield. This is absolutely FANTASTIC! Make no mistake about it, in some other areas of the country, they are hugely envious of your commitment! You are the life-blood and future of the club – please do not get disheartened or too frustrated! But all these members are all lacking in full and regular AC support, feel like they are treading on eggshells when trying to organise great events because of unwritten and unpublished rules that they know nothing about! So left unchecked, they will vote with their ’tyres’ and disappear into the sunset, much to the detriment of the region and club in general.

·         So in the appointment of Meet Coordinators to run 4 separate monthly meets, it seems to me that Eastern Region has already subconsciously acknowledged that with its significant geography and increasing membership numbers, it can no longer fully function as just one region. The recent issues which have gained emotional gravitas are systemic to this unaddressed scenario.

·         So my proposal in simplicity is that Eastern Region as an over-arching entity remains but within it we collectively approach the clubs national club committee and formally request that they recognise autonomously independent areas within it. Now, I don’t know whether that means 4, 3 or even 2 areas at this stage – that comes down to the active membership in and around the respective meet points and the proactive or reluctant stance of the individuals concerned. Those Meet Coordinators become formally recognised as full AC’s in their own right and therefore are cosseted by the national club and can more ably assist their local members and organise their own events without issue or fear of conflict etc.

·         However, it is an ‘open borders’ approach so all area programme ideas, dates etc. are freely shared around the region but are organised within each respective area. All members are free to attend whatever event, whenever it is being organised and wherever that may be (much as happens now anyway) but may I also suggest at least a quarterly ‘all roads lead to Rome’ event where all areas journey to one destination from different start points?

Whilst I am the National Club Treasurer and one of only 2 directors of the club, this piece is written from the perspective of being a positive club member, which I have now been for approx. 12 years.

I was in North West region when that area of the club split into 2 (the other which evolved out being Cheshire & N Wales) for essentially the same geographic and numeric reasons.

Why would members want to get up extra early and drive 1-1.5 hours to the start of another ‘drive’ if they had something else of interest on their doorstep? My grounding on trying to drive some forward thinking and common sense comes from my much better other half who quite simply hates that very thing, and this is without the increasing price of the petrol.

My ultimate aim is to see this club grow in membership to over 10,000 and we are now 60% of the way there but will only continue to thrive if we are willing to evolve and change, notwithstanding how proud and protective we are about everything Eastern Region and the club as a whole has achieved so far.

I have not had the opportunity to discuss any of issues of this matter with our incoming AC, David Poulter but in reading these forum topics and posts, he must be seriously apprehensive of what he is taking on and I don’t blame him at all.

From my perspective, in order to discuss this matter on more personal terms, I would suggest a central meet up of any members wishing to come along, with a structured agenda. Talking face to face will remove many of the issues associated with internet/email dialogue, deconstruct the barriers and defuse the emotion.

To reiterate previous comments, let’s try and get back to ‘fun’ and ‘friendship’.

Ian