| Mr Psychlist dear boy, how lovely to see you on the site, hope you are on the mend mate.
I don't disagree with what you are saying, (and appreciate all the history), but every club is run by a couple of individuals, plus a few who do stuff and 99% who do nothing except be a member (which is absolutely right). The old 'you only get out what you put in' doesn't really apply as long as people are happy to depend on others to do stuff and the others are happy to do it. (if you see what I mean).
When I set up what was the BHC all those years ago, there was nothing at all locally. I got help from the then MT with a list of members in the area and an address to write to ask if they wanted to come on the first ever local rideout. I was very lucky that Fordie, Jools, Keefyb, David Cook and Monty showed up and we've been friends ever since. We were also lucky that when I gave it up, Fordie stepped up to the plate. Your question however is a very valid one. What are the MT doing to maintain and develop one of the most active regions in the country? Every region is slightly different, but I bet they all have one thing in common - they are like mini-versions of the club in that they are run by one or two people and without that person, little gets done as most people (it's their right) are happy to participate but not organise - that's their right as a member and quite rightly so. I am not at all surprised that Sussex and Surry both 'disolved' after key people stepped down, but if BHNC dwindles away to nothing, it will be a sad day.
Most if not all the regional events are organised locally, eg BMF by BHNC, Popham by Roy, Raid the lakes by the NW guys etc etc.A regional coordinator on the MT should be ensuring there is a proactive person running the region and that good ideas are shared around and there is enough organised locally to keep people interested. But none of us can expect the MT to do everything and in my view, they should be dealing with the big stuff and ensuring their is an infrasructure in place to encourage members to organise things locally. For example, one of the best things I ever did with the DSC was the trip the BHC (and some others) made to Yorkshire and met up with the boys up north, brilliant, absolutely brilliant and a lasting memory, but all organised over the board and a few emails and calls, job done (with no MT input)
Now if the MT are serious about the regional structure and 'grass roots' of the club, then they should use some of the £20,000 they have stashed away to buy me a Ducati and I will be delighted to run a thriving region.
WeeJohnyB  |