Fundamentally disagree with you Henry :D

I do think the content of any association or club paper must be provided at 80% at least by the members. We're not a company paying somebody to do that bl00dy job...
The best evidence I've got for that is "L'echo des Conti" which I receive from the Ducati Club de France about every 2 months and in which you will struggle to find 2 articles written by the same member. Everybody takes part in it, they write about their ride-outs, the club's endurance races, trackdays, etc... And don't forget we're French, and so lazy. Guess if we were German :lol: And their magazine quite good. The paper used itself is not as good quality as the one used for Pronto (less money on the other side of the Channel I guess) but the content is existing and intesresting.

If ones think Pronto's content is poor, ones take their best pen and help making it better. I'm not used to defend the MT (I do want to stay neutral in all those political b0ll0x) but I do think Pronto is what we make with it.

poor members' participation = poor Pronto. that's it.

I may be wrong again, but I do believe in what I write and my opinion is not influenced by any of all the conflicts which hurt that club...

I'd love to write an article for Pronto, but I don't actually believe I have anything of interest to say - I'd just like to be in a position where I did have something to contribute. Based on that, I won't complain about the content.

I've said it before, but I thank everyone who volunteers their time and effort to make this club what it is, and puts up with people belittling their efforts.

As far as joining - I voted yes right back at the beginning of this thread, but I've been thinking about it more carefully....

When I was a non-member I was happy with a yellow 996bip with standard pipes.. now it's got a single seat, termis etc.

When I was a non-member I thought I was a reasonable rider... then I met the BHCN crew...

When I was a non-member I thought I could drink.. then I met the BHCN crew..:D :D

My knowledge and enjoyment of my bike has been increased tenfold through the people I've met in this club and the parts I've acquired from members etc.

38p per week? Bargain.

Martin

Is that where Fil2's coming from? poor you :lol:

I understand you point about Pronto, hard to write something when we don't have anything to say... My problem was more with the "if Pronto is like this that's because of one person" thing...

In boxing that would be a kick in the beewax :lol: : totally wrong and unfair :)

Yes, Fil2 was one of the first people I met in the DSC, made me very welcome on my first ride - then blew straight past into the distance :lol: ...

But all the guys n gals from BHCN are nice people, I just wish I could out to ride with them more

FWIW


As a new person I would say to join up to see if it is for you and to get the benefits that many of us have already had. The club is (mostly) full of great people with a passion for ducatis. The events are great fun and the banter when you get to know people is brilliant.

As an existing member I have rejoined, I can't exactly say why tbh but as a paid up member I would like to pass a quick comment on the pronto issue if I may without hijacking this thread further than it already is.

Please note that I do not expect to be flamed for this, it is my view, not particularly controversial, just facts as I see them.

At the AGM the cost of Pronto was highlighted and frankly I think it shocked many of us as it was clearly the most expensive part of the club. There were many comments that align to the many comments on the forum about the value of pronto and how it could be done better and or cheaper.

I recognise, as do many, the value of non web based communication and indeed have enjoyed some of the issues of pronto. My beef is not so much with who writes the content but with it's value in it's current form.

At the AGM I openly, then in private offered my time to assist in looking at alternatives or changes to pronto to either reduce the cost of club communication whilst at the same time see if we could improve it.

I was not requesting MT status, was not even looking for recognition by shouting about it, I just wanted to help the club rather than just be a moaner.

After hearing nothing for some time I extended my offer again to a number of club individuals and once again was informed I would hear from them.

To this date I have heard nothing and it grates on me every time I see a comment from certain individuals about how hard it is to keep the club running about how much time it takes and about how it would be better if people were helping.

I have offered to help and have been ignored. I now do my best to avoid any post where my comments may get misconstrued or seen as anti DSC as quite clearly I am not.

For information, my real day job is as a Business Transformation Manager. I look at businesses and identify how things can be improved, money better spent and customer satisfaction improved. I feel I may have been quite useful as a resource to this club had anybody anted my help.

now that's an interesting post :)

Thank you very much for your thoughts, i have been hoping to see part 2 myself in the last 2 issues (vanity or what:lol: ) it did take me a while to finish part 2, but it has now been held over in favour of other articles. I think the locked toilet, and believe me Moroccan toilets are BAD was the worst bit:eek:

Too much of that pysclist bloke if you ask me.:rolleyes:

I used to be the editor of a large one-make international bike club...make no mistake, it's a very hard job. It does rely on members to make interesting contributions.

... but you can make it easier for them - which ain't happeneing if you look at what Lily said above, talk to Webby or many others. That's a real editors job.

Well not quite,..as I typed a long winded reply and it got lost in cyberspace.:mad:
Anyway the abridged version is that I voted yes to joining the DSC.