The quasi-semi meeting on the 17th

[nensha]

I thought I'd mention what little happened at the club meeting on the 17th.

There were only three of us that showed up (myself, Andy and Darryl). Officially, we never had a meeting; however we did discuss a few things that actually are club business.

Meeting Place
We all agreed that we didn't like the idea of meeting at a place where alcohol is served. Andy suggested meeting at: Monica's Taco Shop, Louie's Pizza or Dairy Queen. All of these places are on Filmore and easy to get to.

IH8MUD verus Email
We all agreed that using IH8MUD's message forum is a little less than convienent (two of us just don't like using forums). This is especially true for people using dial-up connections. So we decided that I would set up a Yahoo Group to use for email, files, calendar and photos. I have set on up at:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/coloradolandcruisers

The way the membership is set up is that I will have to manually approve all membership requests. This should help cut down on spam and unwanted mail sent to the list. Plus, the first messages from a new member will need approval as well.

 

[Isotel]

Dam i should have gone to the meeting, but i diding want to drive in those conditions if i didint have to!

Meeting place - Louies Pizza sounds good to me.. but lets keep our options open..

Just wondering what the issue was with no alcohol?? its not a big issue with me, i could care less, but I think we are all resopnsible people!!

i know of atleast 2 or 3 Cruiser enthusists in Colorado springs, that would love to be in CLC but have decided against it for one reason or another.. I know they talked about trying to form a new club, and i decided its better that we try and keep this one going.. the alcohol issue is not the reason, but just possibly one of the reasons that some of the younger colorado Springs Cruiser heads have shyed away from CLC..

Hmm.. Im going to strongly disagree with the addition of another form of comunication in the group.. Lets face it, CLC is DEAD, and now the few members that still go to meetings and trail runs need to cheack 3 places for information, (website, here, and E-mail).. If you Look their are almost 40 Chapters of TLCA using the forums on here with great success, Risings sun is one of the largest chapters in TLCA and they use forums for almost all comunication..

We definatly need to get the word out on how to use the forum, and how to subscribe to a list, but Yahoo Groups is not the answer.. the treads are way to hard to follow on it!! I have wrote a newsletter submission that explains how to use these forums. it will be in the next newsletter.

I Do agree that their is no perfect soulution, but lets atleast give the forums a good effort before we go elcewhere.. It just make since having TECH info, For sale sections, and TLCA Chapters all on the same place..

Our website can host the calender, Photos, and any other files that we want, (it already is), it just use some updating, and revision.. But it works just fine..

Sorry for the Rant, I have enjoyed all of the current members company, and you are a Great group of people! with new members comes new ideas, and new ideas will shake up what the current members are used to. but this is what i belive will bring new members into the group! and keep it alive and growing into the future

 

[Isotel]

Ive Added a Sticky at the top of the forum that explains how to subscribe to a forum, This will dispatch all new information to your e-mail address, Similarly to the way yahoo groups works.. but without adding a new place to comunicate!
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=116019

 

[Man Jerk]

On the subject of this here forum...

I understand that some people don't want to go out and look for information. Some want the info to come to them. That is understandable.

I think that the email group is a viable option. Thank you Jeff for setting that up. I do think we should make sure that everyone knows that this forum is here, and make sure that everyone knows how to use it so they can make their own choice. Having a presence here on this website is a perfect way to attract new members. And email group will do nothing to attract members. I know that the Lone star land cruisers operates an email list with a lot of traffic.

Either option will be a great way to increase communication.

 

[Uncle Ben]

On the subject of this here forum...

I understand that some people don't want to go out and look for information. Some want the info to come to them. That is understandable.

I think that the email group is a viable option. Thank you Jeff for setting that up. I do think we should make sure that everyone knows that this forum is here, and make sure that everyone knows how to use it so they can make their own choice. Having a presence here on this website is a perfect way to attract new members. And email group will do nothing to attract members. I know that the Lone star land cruisers operates an email list with a lot of traffic.

Either option will be a great way to increase communication.

Hi guys,
Another option you might consider is CLC buying the VBulletin software. With Rising Sun, we struggled with these same issues and have had several mediums of e-communication. We voted, as a club, to buy the software. That choice was perfect for us and as Trevor pointed out, it is now our main communication and newsletter. What you don't see on our forum is several "secret" topics. This is so handy for the differant committees and also for communication pertaining to the workings of the club and doesn't need to be public. As many of you have probably seen we also have the photo gallery plug-in to host the massive picture archives we generate.
The forum does generate positive energy within the club. It also attracts interest in the club from guests. We always have surges in guests and it's not uncommon to have 15 - 20 guests and only 2-3 members. Guests are free to search and snoop while members can carry on club business un-interupted. With club business being constantly delt with in the "members only" mode our physical meetings can be fun and productive as the topics have already been discussed so we can officially vote "yea" or "nay."
A downside to the web based forum is many folks cannot view it at work due to compay firewalls. Those folks deal with it at home and as you folks mentioned, subsribe to topics and get e-mail pings.
Good luck on your decisions and never give up on the club! CLC ROCKS!

 

[minisrule]

First, Let me give my input on the alcohol issue. I don't think anyone is saying that anyone is irresponsible, looking to get plastered at a meeting or even just get buzzed. At least I am NOT! I have been known to enjoy some liquid refreshment now and then. I personally don't think that an Automotive type club should endorse the merging of the two. Endorse might be alittle strong. Also, CLC bills itself as a family club and often we have members and visitors that bring the whole family to a meeting. I know that some dont mind but others will. Anyway, generally, places that do serve alcohol are noisy and busy. A small group usually goes out to get some dinner after the meetings, that is when we are meeting somewhere without food. If we meet at a place with food, Maybe a small group can go grab a beer after the meeting. I know there are no perfect solutions and no matter what is decided we will probably lose a member or two maybe more and maybe even keep some new ones from joining.

Now as for the communication thing, I for liked the old fashioned telephone.
actually I am not very computer savvy. but forums or email can work for me. I try to read the board at least a couple times a week. I don't always get to but usually at least 1 time/week. I think I am what they call a lurker, reads but doesn't post. I don't know what the best answer is for everyone, but, know that I know how to subscribe to the(a) forum for email It will be easier for me to lurk!
Thats all I got for now, Later

 

[woody]

What you don't see on our forum is several "secret" topics.

The same thing exists here...a few clubs have private/closed BOD corners for their own business....even I don't read them.

IIRC, Cottonland has one as do the Hoosiers...

IMO, for club use, simplemachines.org is more than sufficient and it's free....it operates very similar to vBulletin...I use it presently on a couple club sites.

 

[Man Jerk]

IMO, for club use, simplemachines.org is more than sufficient and it's free....it operates very similar to vBulletin...I use it presently on a couple club sites.

I like simple machines. I use it on one site and it's real easy to use. Even for the unqualified and untrained like me

 

[Isotel]

Great ideas guys, I think for now our club is at the point that we dont need a private section Quite yet.. But its good to know that we can do it within MUD, or elcewhere..

I have webspace that i could host a basic VB Forum on, i already pay for it and am barley using it.. THats another option..

Uncle Ben, thanks for the input, Its great to here from other successfull club leaders input. I do want to see CLC grow!

Andy(Minisrule) - , i guess the could wait till the kids go home, and yes automotive and dont mix anyway..