Persuading Club Members

[Greenheart]

Thanks Northwind, that's exactly my point. If one refused to contribute, one couldn't compete - so nobody who didn't want to race would have any duties outside their area of interest.

Yes.. it's what being part of a club is about...

You make me want to quit mine. ? I find the expectation that I should want to join in, even more objectionable than any hard-nosed obligation.

As mine's a dinghy club, I'm not considering duties such as mooring-checks or haul-outs or items that might be expected at yacht cruising clubs, if professionals are not employed...

...I would perform dirty and possibly dangerous duties (I'm thinking mooring weights for some reason) with much more interest and vigour than I can summon before sitting in an idling rubber speedboat to watch dinghies go round a short course ad nauseam.

Plainly I'm at the wrong club, and have been for ten years now. But if I quit, it will be because of what you are seeing as the basis for belonging to a sailing club - in my club's case, the narrow assumption that everybody with a dinghy, only wants to race.

 

[oldgit]

Our club was founded in 1905 and originally was made up of both motorboats and yachts, at some point we "fell out" with the sailing fraternity and they moved out and set up home a little further downsteam.
They are a little more successful at it than we would like as well.
The reasons for the parting of the ways is now lost in the mists of time, we still circle each other like a pair of cats .
A book was written about the history of the club and it would appear that the thorny problem of persuading club members to partake of the various unseen activities which allow the club to function has been there from the start. Both bribery and threats have all been suggested....and failed miserably.
To date, no satisfactory solution to the problem , with most of the burden falling on a few club stalwarts.
The only real contenders are those who are retired, who live within a reasonable commute to the club and importantly ,financially in a position to be able to afford to contribute time.
Physical limitations are also kicking in, the numbers of those able to bash metal or put in electrical cabling are diminishing fast and the days of installing something on the QT and hoping nobody gets hurt are also gone.
Plenty of folks able to hold a clip board and pencil but not in mid January thanks all the same.

Being given a clock, nice final salary pension , your tiny mortgage paid off at 65 are long gone as is merely searching ( to get you from under her feet) for something to relieve the boredom .
Many of our members are working well beyond retirement age.
The few youngsters in our club (under 50 ) usually are both working with families and can only offer limited help on the odd occassion.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Quite a bit of that thinking went into me going from Kia Sorento to Skoda Octavia 4x4 estate. It hasn't quite worked out in the sense that over the first five years far more has required replacing on the Skoda than did on the Sorento. It's needed a cambelt/ water pump and a clutch (leaking slave) and seems to eat brake discs . I've conclued that VW group discs are very poor quality. On the plus side, tyres, insurance and MPG costs are a lot lower. I can't get 55mpg, but 45-48 is OK for me, compared with 28-32 ish on the Sorento.

Our club was founded in 1905 and originally was made up of both motorboats and yachts, at some point we "fell out" with the sailing fraternity and they moved out and set up home a little further downsteam.
They are a little more successful at it than we would like as well.
The reasons for the parting of the ways is now lost in the mists of time, we still circle each other like a pair of cats .
A book was written about the history of the club and it would appear that the thorny problem of persuading club members to partake of the various unseen activities which allow the club to function has been there from the start. Both bribery and threats have all been suggested....and failed miserably.
To date, no satisfactory solution to the problem , with most of the burden falling on a few club stalwarts.
The only real contenders are those who are retired, who live within a reasonable commute to the club and importantly ,financially in a position to be able to afford to contribute time.
Physical limitations are also kicking in, the numbers of those able to bash metal or put in electrical cabling are diminishing fast and the days of installing something on the QT and hoping nobody gets hurt are also gone.
Plenty of folks able to hold a clip board and pencil but not in mid January thanks all the same.

Being given a clock, nice final salary pension , your tiny mortgage paid off at 65 are long gone as is merely searching ( to get you from under her feet) for something to relieve the boredom .
Many of our members are working well beyond retirement age.
The few youngsters in our club (under 50 ) usually are both working with families and can only offer limited help on the odd occassion.

Slight Fred Drift ere ;
Well knowing of the Club that Old G refers to since early 60s , plus aquiring some regular information about that club , from News reports , former Commodor who was a Neighbour , and being a member of the other Club accross the river , sailing boats of any size would have difficulties with the Rochester Bridge , mast height restrictions etc , but a good stones throw downstream

Resiting far further down stream gives the Sailing guys much more freedom to sail without being restricted by Mast / air draught at all , also much more space for moorings , plus plus set amoung the best sailing area on the Medway ; excellent historical associations with the Arethusa , traditional Barge Buliding at Upnor , The Base at Upper Upnor , far better Scenic area , etc , so whats not to like about the Down River location ? for a Sailing orientated location .

 

[Fantasie 19]

I find the expectation that I should want to join in, even more objectionable than any hard-nosed obligation.

That Groucho Marx quote comes to mind..

Plainly I'm at the wrong club.. snippage.. in my club's case, the narrow assumption that everybody with a dinghy, only wants to race.

I think the club's assumption is that everyone in the club is an equal participant in the running of the club.. and that's fair, or as you say, you disagree and leave..

I'm a cruiser sailor.. in my club I help out on the dinghy duties as an when I can, and have to say I just consider it "club" rather than anything else.. the dinghy guys do the same... it works... on the whole...

 

[Greenheart]

Yeah, that's fair. The trouble (from my perspective) with dinghy clubs (and dinghy sailors) generally, is the great proportion that race and the dominant promotion of racing as the reason for doing it...

...so while I know there are members at my club who prefer a cruise, we're not an organised or recognised group, and we're still snagged up in the main aspect of club activities which we wouldn't choose to have anything to do with.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Yeah, that's fair. The trouble (from my perspective) with dinghy clubs (and dinghy sailors) generally, is the great proportion that race and the dominant promotion of racing as the reason for doing it...

...so while I know there are members at my club who prefer a cruise, we're not an organised or recognised group, and we're still snagged up in the main aspect of club activities which we wouldn't choose to have anything to do with.

Yes quite so Mr d , Might suggest from observation that most Dinghy Racers are pretty damed determind Folk and appear only focused upon Racing not club Membership , thus other Duties of reasons for Sailng , Rowing , Cruising , them just appear on the appointed hour , launch their Dinghys , Sail the Races , then depart without considering the Clubs condition etc

 

[Greenheart]

Speaking of rowing, Cap'n, those 8ft oars you sold me nine years back, were lately varnished and are going strong.

 

[The Q]

One thing with Families is our club deliberately sets out to be a family club, we have children, parents and grand parents sailing, sometimes at the same time in the same event. Our Family membership is just £150...
One thing I noticed at other clubs was that at bank holidays and summer school holidays numbers seriously sailing reduced.. Not here, our numbers often increase during holidays..

 

[Capt Popeye]

Speaking of rowing, Cap'n, those 8ft oars you sold me nine years back, were lately varnished and are going strong.

Ahoy there Dancrane, yes I well remember that , meeting you , and handing over the Oars ; I recall that we were on our way to join a Cruise Ship , so could met you for a swap , Oars for Money , as one might say ; very glad that all was /is well with them ; Thank you for that memory ; much appreciated