TRA Membership
It would be good if the Forum was exclusive to members only, as is, I believe the 6-Pack forum. This would give value for the price of the membership, which currently is priced at an average car club membership price. I would hope that this would increase membership. However on the flip side, most hobbyists are looking to get everything for free or for the least amount of money. Therefore IMHO (In my humble opinion) I do not believe it will be a driving force of increasing membership. This is done by attraction rather than promotion. As a member of four British Car Clubs, holding volunteer positions in two, I have noticed a surge in membership immediately following local club sponsored car shows open to the public. National clubs like TRA struggle due to distance and lack of local support. My local car club has little affialition with TRA as it is a mixed marque of British Cars, with only 4 out of 75 cars being TR2's through 4's.
The Triumph Mayflower Club, although home base is the UK, is international with it's volunteers spread over Holland, the USA as well as the UK. (I know this as I am the webmaster and do my part from the US, thanks to technology). They charge a one time initiation fee and annual dues. This helps maintain the membership due to the club rules, if you let your membership lapse, you must pay the initiation fee again.
Again, IMHO, I think that is one of the reasons why local club membership totals fluctuate. Its easy to let one or two years go by and then reup. Sometimes these on and off members still attend local meetings and events, taking advantage of club sponsorship and the perks it has to offer without paying the dues, as few people have the guts to challenge them, if they have paid their dues. They seem to always think that any approach should come from the membership chair person. What they forget is, it is all for the best interest of the club and that everyone is responsible to make it work, not just the officers who hold volunteer positions.
Now that I have taken much of your time, I will step down from my soap box. While I take that gaint leap to the floor, I wish to thank the TRA Board and all the volunteers for their time and effort, thier enthusiasm and leadership, for without them we would have nothing. And this forum is great. Exclusive or not, its a breath of fresh air and a whole lot of fun. Thanks. (I still think we need spell check.....see if you can count the number of typo's) ;-)
Actually, I believe the 6-pack forum is open to everyone - there may be specific sections that are members only which might make sense for the TRA. Likewise, a very good website is the UK Triumph Register, freely available.
Just my opinion, but I don't believe you will attract new members by having a closed forum - no one will no how good it is unless they participate or at least get to read the exchanges.
I am a member of 6-pack, and their web page is open to anyone that enters it (as a guest). However there are areas that you must be a member to enter. The forum section is open to all, but if you want to post a reply or ask a question you must be a member. I believe TRA should consider this format, as I think this is a good approach. Let anyone enter and read the information within, and maybe learn something from "The Experts". As it states at the top of this fourm page "To aid in the preservation, maintenance and enjoyment of our cars". I think anyone that has read the post in this forum so far would agree that there is a lot of useful information that is awaiting individuals that may need help and either does not know about TRA or for some reason hasn't joined yet. Let each individual decide if what TRA has to offer, is the route they want to go.
If this format is approached, then the page has to encourage membership in TRA.
Thanks.....and I agree, we need a spell check.
Tom
Some thought has gone into this, and currently the inclination is to keep the forum open to everyone at least in the short term. I do, however, like the 6-Pack format - open to everyone to read and learn, but open to members only to post. I know this policy works; my cousin renewed his 6-PACK membership after having discovered their site at the commencement of his TR6 project. He is delighted with the help he has received from the posts and their writers and considers 6-PACK membership well worth the price.
We must indeed also consider the value received by TRA members. For some, posting on this forum might be the only active contact they have with other members. To allow some to receive this benefit at the expense of others in the long term would be a bit inequitable.
If we do change, we should put a sticky announcement in the forum stating a particular grace period or cutoff point for non-TRA members to sign up. Remember also that there would have to be some form of logistically feasible logon verification process put into place: that's Ann's territory....
JW
Just a small clarification: I don't think 6-pack enrollment is required for posting, only basic registration (free). Here is an excerpt from their website:
These forums are for anyone with an interest in the Triumph TR250 and TR6 models.
You must register to post, but that and common courtesy are all we require.
Obviously we'd like you to join the club, but it's not required to post here.
Regards,
Randy
Hmmm...I tried to post awhile back and was denied; the registration request I assumed was for the club in its entirety. If 6-PACK merely requests club membership to post on their site we would be rather greedy and restrictive in comparison if we were to require it on ours..
I firmly vote that the TRA forum be open to all lovers of the Triumph brand. Useing the current buzzword of "transparency", an open forum will demonstrate that members have pride in the club and its forum and newbys will want to join and contribute.
On another point, I feel that the national name badge should have a colored dot to tell all that the wearer is at his first national. All other badges should have a line that proclaims that this national is my Xth.
Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
The Latin word "forum" in its most strict, literal interpretation means "open public space" which is what we originally hoped to achieve here with the TRA Forum.
I wholeheartedly agree with Tom's and Lou's statements, above, that an open TRA forum can best facilitate the exchange of useful information among all Triumph lovers and does clearly demonstrate the particular knowledge and camaraderie of TRA members--which will ultimately encourage forum members to join and participate in TRA.
I am delighted at the response to our new forum and hope it becomes a valuable resource to all who seek information about our cherished TR's!
Ann Gillman
TRA Webmaster
I sent a check on 12/28/2009 for membership. I have yet to hear anything. Is this normal? Rich Wilkins
Hi Rich:
Unfortunately, this happens more often than it should. Your check and membership application are mailed to the Treasurer, who must then forward the information to the Membership Chairman before a welcome letter is sent. I imagine that there might be some delay to allow for some "batch processing" to occur, and although it's only been two weeks in your case, I've heard that sometimes the delay in welcoming new members is much longer.
I believe that in most cases a copy of the most recent quarterly newsletter will be sent along with the welcome letter, unless the timing is close to the date for the next issue to go out. As it just so happens, the last issue was sent before Christmas and you missed the accelerated processing which happens right before a mailing. I wish we could come up with a way to streamline this process, and perhaps the officers will work on a solution now that you've brought the matter to light.
Mark
Unfortunately, this happens more often than it should. Your check and membership application are mailed to the Treasurer, who must then forward the information to the Membership Chairman before a welcome letter is sent. I imagine that there might be some delay to allow for some "batch processing" to occur, and although it's only been two weeks in your case, I've heard that sometimes the delay in welcoming new members is much longer.
-pmmacy
Actually, I just emailed about this topic when I received my renewal notice last week - I don't believe the TRA sends out a welcome letter, I didn't get one anyway last year when I joined. Not trying to criticize, but this would be an area I recommend looking at - for new members it would be nice to have a basic 'hello letter, introduction to what the club offers etc. to help orient people. This forum I think is a very positive step to help with communication.
Similar experience for me. I also recommend that each new member receive a copy of the most recent edition of the by-laws. It helps protect the club and have everyone understand how the club is organized.
Hi Rich,
When we joined TRA by mail in the fall of 1998, we didn't receive any confirmation or hear from anyone. Then on a cold rainy night in February, someone knocked on the door and a wet bearded man in a hood (sounds like a bad horror flick!) introduced himself as being from TRA. He was there to check on our 1957 TR3 and to welcome us to the club. His name was Tom Mahoney and we have been great friends with him and his family ever since! It's a great club and will be worth the wait! - Greg Gillman
Ron Hartley, TRA Membership Chairperson, will send out a snail mail reminder after you have
received your 4th copy of the National Newsletter. You can mail the form and the check for $25 back to me, or you can pay through Paypal for $26.25. Regards.
Joel Rosen
TRA Treasurer
VTR's forum is also open to all. New TRA members should get a welcome letter and a windscreen decal.
Darrell
New members will be receiving welcome letters, the most recent edition of the Newsletter, and a welcoming 'phone call. No decals as yet; we would have to make a batch.
I am the membership chairman for the Airheads motorcycle club and we offer a very simple website with a members only section with detailed tech tips, repair articles by experts. The forum however is hosted off the main website, although moderated by an ABC member, is open to all. We feel that the $25 yearly fee mainly pays for the monthly magazine and we tend to break even on it.
