Where does our membership money go?

[Chrisbasildon]

I'm gonna ask this question here as I have asked and never got a proper answer.

 

Where does the money from membership/traders fees and advertising go?

I'm aware that there is a cost to maintain websites etc etc but surely the income must far exceed the outgoings from what I can see

 

To be honest I don't feel that the "club" does much in the way of hosting events, this isn't a dig just an observation.

 

Jae 2015 was to be honest a poor attempt by the club IMO

 

We attend public shows as a club but don't seem to organise much as a club dedicated event

 

Don't get me wrong here anyone I appreciate every thing that anyone has done to bring club members together but I feel that with what the club receives in income there must be more that can be done??

 

I could be wrong here but IMO from what I've seen in the last couple of years and chats I've had with others, the club has lost its way a bit?

 

For me club events are an important part of owning cars such as the Z32, and there needs to be more done by the committee to include members from across the country.

 

There are members down south west (you know who you are) that have literally one event a year close by which is Beaulieu, (one of the better gatherings luckily) and that isn't a club event either.

 

Club members are spread far and wide across the country and I bet most would be willing to travel a few miles to a good club event,not one with a tent,crap food,no music and no atmosphere.

 

As said nothing written above is meant to upset anyone or point fingers, it's just something I wish to put out there to hopefully improve the 300zx.co.uk experience :thumbup:

[groover]

We have been there and worn the Tshirt, where to start with events :whistling:

 

Jae and NEC cost the club alot of money, but dont forget JAE has moved further North and now for this year even more costly to members for the tickets fuel etc so if members choose not to go, its not the clubs fault for poor attendance.

JAE is a Jap car event and we attend as a club and apart from forcing members to go, what do you expect us to do?

NEC helps promote the club and has attracted new members, so although its not a meet, its an event which is considered a worthwhile campaign.

Cost of banners for national and regional events, advertising is free as part of the traders fee, so we dont get income from advertising.

 

We are looking at a dedicated 300zx event for the summer but there are generally too few numbers to host several events, so we try to have a stand at any event an REO can organise.

 

REO's are responsible for arranging regional meets or monthly get togethers, but im sure if you look back a through the last few years, getting the numbers to attend is truly disappointing and frustrating.

 

The bank balance is not what it used to be a few years ago and we also have to make sure that we can afford the hosting for the foreseeable until the coffers are repleted.

[Gaz 300]

Hi Chris and yes good questions. So lets start with the money coming out of the club and for this we need the accountants in the Committee to answer this but I can tell you that I as Membership Secretary have been putting in invoices for all the Membership kits to be payed out. Then to place our club at JAE goes into 4 figures as does the NEC show. We have bought new banners for our REO's plus larger club banners. When we have shows we have to have PL Insurance for the club which is big money also. Then the price of hosting the forum is costly. Exact figures I dont know so cant comment on them figures that is for the treasurer to comment on.

 

Then to answer your comment on crap food at JAE. We were lucky that club member Tulip volunteered to source the food and cook it along with her sisters and we all enjoyed the free food that was there anytime of the day.

The tent cost around £800 at JAE to rent for a few days and as for music and atmosphere I think this comes down to members making the most of what we have on the day or weekend. Yes we could of done more but the Committee has been struggling with events as we have no NEO and no one has come forward to fill this role.

 

We will always be committed to do the best for the club and keep it afloat and interesting to the best of our ability. Other 300zx clubs have come and gone but we are still here to front the biggest z32 300zx club in the UK.

[Chrisbasildon]

Thanks for the feedback guys, so do we have up to date accounts to view?

[Mondo]

 

Jae 2015 was to be honest a poor attempt by the club IMO

 

 

 

As said nothing written above is meant to upset anyone or point fingers, it's just something I wish to put out there to hopefully improve the 300zx.co.uk experience :thumbup:

 

If memory serves, you weren't even on the club stand at JAE last year... the closest your car came was being parked on the green opposite the club stand....

 

If I'm incorrect here, I'll happily apologise. :)

[Chrisbasildon]

If memory serves, you weren't even on the club stand at JAE last year... the closest your car came was being parked on the green opposite the club stand....

 

I parked on club stand the night I arrived, and moved in the morning because to be honest, it was poor was it not?

[Sir Charles]

I would love to be able to organise some events around my area as we do not see anything unless we head over the bridge...or up north.

 

Hopefully the new circuit of wales will change that

[Gaz 300]

Thanks for the feedback guys, so do we have up to date accounts to view?

 

Accounts can be viewed when the Treasurer has time to update them Chris. Remember Andy does this in his spare time we all live busy lives outside the forum but your post has been noted so lets see if we can get the info for you.

[Chrisbasildon]

Accounts can be viewed when the Treasurer has time to update them Chris. Remember Andy does this in his spare time we all live busy lives outside the forum but your post has been noted so lets see if we can get the info for you.

 

I could be wrong here Gary but I can only find accounts up to April 2013, that's nearly 2 years, Andy must be a busy fellow.:lol:

 

Apologies if I missed a more recent post on accounts.

[Mondo]

I parked on club stand the night I arrived, and moved in the morning because to be honest, it was poor was it not?

 

Then I apologise for saying you were never on the stand - I arrived on the Saturday morning so no doubt missed you there.

 

Was our stand the best it could possibly be? No, it wasn't.

 

Was it as bad as it could've been? No, it definitely wasn't!

 

Personally speaking, I had a pretty good time at JAE in general and on the stand; I met lots of people I either hadn't met before or haven't seen for a while... my missus and our two dogs were welcomed with open arms... my Zed got a good reception from the people who looked at her... :)

 

Did I expect this forum's management to put on some banquet? No - I expected to have to sort my own food and drink, so anything more than that (be it provided by the Commitee or by Tulip herself) was a serious bonus.

 

2015 was the first year in a new venue so there was obviously going to be teething problems with the setup and running of the club stand. Some things are simply unavoidable...

[Chrisbasildon]

I would love to be able to organise some events around my area as we do not see anything unless we head over the bridge...or up north.

 

Hopefully the new circuit of wales will change that

 

This is what we need! :thumbup1:

[Gaz 300]

This is what we need! :thumbup1:

 

Indeed it is so how about it Chris are you willing to help out at club events?

[Chrisbasildon]

Indeed it is so how about it Chris are you willing to help out at club events?

 

Not the right way to ask such a question I feel Gary.

[Mondo]

Not the right way to ask such a question I feel Gary.

 

What was wrong with it...?

 

It was just as direct a question as the title of this very thread... :thumbup1:

[Gaz 300]

Not the right way to ask such a question I feel Gary.

 

Sorry Chris. I never miss an opportunity to get members to help the club.

[Chrisbasildon]

What was wrong with it...?

 

It was just as direct a question as the title of this very thread... :thumbup1:

 

because a question like that asked on here is hard to answer right away, is it not?

 

My question was something that we all as members have a right to know do we not?

[Mondo]

because a question like that asked on here is hard to answer right away, is it not?

 

My question was something that we all as members have a right to know do we not?

 

How is it hard to answer whether you're prepared to pitch in at club events in the future or not? Surely a yes or no would suffice? A maybe, perhaps...?

 

As for your question: yes, the members do have a right to know how their money is spent. Could you have maybe asked the question a little better...? Maybe....

[Chrisbasildon]

Where does our membership money go?

 

I can't see how that can be asked any better, this thread is about improving the club for everyone, and as the op states it's not meant to offend or upset anyone.

[Mondo]

Where does our membership money go?

 

I can't see how that can be asked any better, this thread is about improving the club for everyone, and as the op states it's not meant to offend or upset anyone.

 

So you ask a question that undoubtedly has a fairly complicated answer, and you ask it very directly... but then seem to take some offence when asked if you're going to help out with club events in the future...?

 

I absolutely fail to see how Gary's question was asked either improperly or could've been asked in a better manner! Care to explain?

[Chrisbasildon]

:offtopic:

[Gaz 300]

Where does our membership money go?

 

I can't see how that can be asked any better, this thread is about improving the club for everyone, and as the op states it's not meant to offend or upset anyone.

 

The best answer is it goes on running the club and shows. To improve the club we desperately need members to help out more.

[Mondo]

:offtopic:

 

I don't see how it is, to be honest. You stated that JAE was poor for you from a club perspective - indeed, you stayed on the stand for a single night before you went elsewhere - but you won't say whether or not you'd be prepared to help out in the future to make club stands a better experience for you and for everyone else involved.

 

The topic is simply evolving whilst the accountant digs out the books, no doubt :thumbup1:

[Chrisbasildon]

The best answer is it goes on running the club and shows. To improve the club we desperately need members to help out more.

 

Gary, of course running anything these days costs money, I appreciate that, but look at the accounts post for 2013, as said I may have missed a more recent post regarding these and apologise if I have. I just feel the club could be better and that was the intention of this thread.

[Chrisbasildon]

I don't see how it is, to be honest. You stated that JAE was poor for you from a club perspective - indeed, you stayed on the stand for a single night before you went elsewhere - but you won't say whether or not you'd be prepared to help out in the future to make club stands a better experience for you and for everyone else involved.

 

The topic is simply evolving whilst the accountant digs out the books, no doubt :thumbup1:

 

Because this thread isn't about me helping out is it, it was a thread about my observations and thoughts, if I said "no" to helping out then "Hypocrite" would have been the following post. That's why I felt it was wrong for Gary to put me on the spot by asking.

 

I wasn't expecting an answer to my original question there and then.

[Alic]

I think a better title would be

'Can we get some more events this year' or 'how can we make the club experience better'

 

Even though you said take no offense, you are still insulting people by saying some events were poor and badly organised there seems to be a lack of effort, even from a very small under manned committee.