Let me answer this.

What would be the answer from 90% of members?

However Martin has helped organise Raid the Lakes andd many other ride outs. He has also driven 50 miles to help people out with electrical problems.

The disaffected North West group have been active before in the past. JPM and Lily organised the WInter Warmer, JPM organised the unofficial DSC Oulton track Day and have attended other DSC meets down south.

My contributions have been more in line with writing articles for Pronto about riding Ducati's (France, Morocco, charity ride Lands End/John O Groats) but i've been prepared to contribute in some way.

SteveM has organised the North West Mega meets.

The question isn't just about Henners, its the whole situation within the club which desperately needs resolving.

MartinH hit the nail on the head, the DSC isn't what it used to be.

Its not just the North West region either.

Why did the entire Scottish region debunk?

There are still a lot of really good people in the DSC, but the current trend is a very sad downward spiral.

I don't think anyone is going out to deliberately cause trouble, they are just reacting to legitimate concerns which have been aired many times.

Cheers Shaun, was just about to reply when someone came to the door. Actually it was nearer 75 miles one way! In fact because I had been given wrong directions it was a 170 mile round trip :lol:

Joking aside, I have done what I can where possible to help out other members of the DSC and DuN. Yes theres the already mentioned trip to sort a members dead bike who needed it for a fast approaching track day. No big deal and the members concerned had previously (and since) been very helpful to me in a number of similar ways. That to me is what this club should be about. Have also helped out in similar minor ways to members I had never met until some time later at Raid the Lakes where they bought me enough drinks to turn me from a mildly idiotic drunk to an inchorent wreck.:lol: Again at RTL I had to pay someone to keep my business running whilst I took time off to help with the organisation and route leading etc. At the last minute I took the Friday off as well to meet up with the southern contigent and lead them an interesting way up to the lakes. Fair enough its no big deal but it was for the benefit of the DSC.

Over the last few years I have made a point of going over to every Ducati rider I see at the usual bike meeting places (Devils bridge, Hartside, Hawes etc etc) and telling them about DSC and DuN. Lately though I do warn them a little about this website and tell them to ignore any spats they see and just look for the good stuff. A few of the people I have informed about DSC have joined but did not seem to hang around too long, makes you wonder why!?

Maybe I and other northerners can be perceived as not having much to do with the club as we dont do the 5 to 600 mile round trip to the DSC and DD events in the South? But there again how many of the Southerners would make the trip up to Croft or Knockhill ? Not many thats for sure! This is definitely a southern based club which was only recently reinforced as such by the thread about having a meeting to talk through the problems. Somewhere central was suggested and the solution was a location near Oxford! :D I recall once being informed that the centre of the UK was somehere up near Shap in the Lake district (350 miles or so north of Oxford :confused: ) Though I suppose as all the Scottish members have now gone it doesnt count?

To be honest I feel more than a little embarassed at having to type a justification for me being a DSC member. I am saddened the way things seem to be going here as all the DSC members I have ever met I have liked.

Maybe the question should have been what havent you done for the DSC! So far I have pretty much avoided being involved in all the arguing and falling out that goes on. And the ridiculous nonsense where members verbally threaten each other both on the froum and by PM. All things that cheapen the DSC and if not stopped will turn all the good members away.

Its a sorry state of affairs :(

The centre of gravity of the club is without doubt in the South, you either accept that, don't accept it, or do something about it.

The North South divide is alive and well in some peoples perceptions for all sorts of reasons, either get over it or get some therapy.

Ray.

DSC Yorkshire region.

The great North/South divide debate eh!

Interesting reading here -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North-S...United_Kingdom

We did!!! We used to moan about it so we sorted ourselves out and now we just take the mickey in a lighthearted way because it no longer really has any bearing on what we do whether it's north south or Mars

And thanks, but I don't feel I need any therapy, doing just fine over here :)

But I must have missed the bit about North South divide, I believe Martin was just providing some example of why it may be percieved that he is not 'giving' as much to the club

No reference to the DSC context though:lol:

If an individual chooses not to be a member because "he does not feel he gets any value from it",then thats what he should say,not make derogatory comments about was is still the most informative,well organised Ducati club/site available,in my opinion.Maybe its not perfect neither is the world but,it exists because a small number of people give up a large amount of their time,and the membership pay subs.I and no doubt a lot more folks a grateful.

Can you please show me wher JPM made a derogatory comment in the post you originally quoted.

I believe this is what he posted and you quoted:

Frank,

There's no mention of moderation in the above????? Surely Henners can be allowed to post then? This does mean you could delete the post immediately obviously, would this be correct?


This is actually a question for clarification and in no way derogatory.

Sadly whether you feel he should say that as he is not a member he cannot make comments is irrelevent as the forum is open to all to have an opinion. When that changes then non members can be told what they can and cannot do and your personal views will be satisfied. In the past the majority of members have opted to retain the forum as open to both members and non members alike.

Jon is still trying to add value to this club irrespecitive of his membership status

Ray/Everton,

its not just a case of a north/south divide, especially as Ray looks after Yorkshire. Everton originates from err..........Anfield i think:lol:

I have argued against the north/souht factor with JPM and spoke my mind at the AGM that i wouldn't expect someone from darn sarf to organise stuff in the north.

North/south divide is just red herring, it is not the root problem of ongoing concern.

He gave me a couple of fags at lunchtime when i had lost mine at RTL!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;)