[WA] Dovw 2008

[geoff_gti]

After speaking to Richard (president of VW Club WA) and Brookie (who organised the aircoolers show this weekend) I really think we need to get as many people to this meeting as possible. I don't think any formal decisions will be made then & there, but they are after a wider range of members and some new ideas to keep the club going.

[geoff_gti]

Meeting update

Righto, here's a bit of a rundown on what happened at the VW Club meeting last night.

The general feeling was the club has to jump into the 21st century in order to attract new members and retain its existing members. There was quite a lot of discussion about why people should join the club and not just a forum such as this - ie what do you get out of it.

Currently the club publishes a monthly black & white magazine for members. Membership fees (currently $50/year) cover the production costs of this, insurance, and general costs for the club.

Discussion points included -
*Lack of communication by the club. The current website is quite old and has only recently started getting updated again. Proposed using VW Club website to post info about the stuff happening on the existing forums eg events / drives / links and then invitations to members of all the forums to attend.
*Most agreed no need for another forum, but linking from the VW Club site to the current forums as more specialised discussion areas
*Organise events under the banner of the VW Club of WA for Public Liability insurance cover. Any fee paying member is automatically covered, but non-members could pay a day fee for cover.
*Reduced annual membership charge, but then pay discounted entry fees to get into events, full prices for non-members etc.
*Proposed electronic newsletter instead of current printed version every month, perhaps quarterly. opt-in / opt-out for hard copy to save costs of printing
*What sort of events do people want - show n shines, track days, social meets etc?

Many of the current members are aircoolers, a bit older and not necessary tech savvy, (please correct me if I'm wrong ) so there is limited incentive for some of the watercoolers to join in the club's current form. If the smaller groups come together to organise events and then everyone gets invited etc it can all be done under the banner of the VW Club.

The club already has PL insurance for events - THIS IS ALREADY THE CASE, BUT DID PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT? The point was made most of us would spend $50 on stuff for our cars without hesitating, so even if the membership fee isn't reduced, most of us would be happy to pay it.

No decisions were made & finalised, so it's up to us to dicuss what we'd like to see here, and then I'll be in touch the guys from the club in a week or so for another chat.

Thanks to the guys from here who did attend. Looks like I'm it for being liaison!

Discuss!

Geoff.

[MadBoraNut]

Sorry I missed it. Last minute thing I had to attend to...

[balkanac]

i was gonna come too, but my gf decided to go to syd the next morning so i had to spend the evening with her.
Anyway, i want show and shine, dyno days, track days, drag strip days, more cruises, occasional bbq somewhere nice (like serpentine falls for example). Im willing to help with these things as well if needed

[geoff_gti]

Hey guys, any more suggestions / feedback pls I can take the next Club meeting?

[geoff_gti]

bump! been invited to a meeting on wed so let me know if you have any more ideas.

[MattyT]

Bikini wash day

[runamuk]

Where? When? Hook a brotha up!

Bikini wash day

[OvaltoJetta]

Bikini wash day

Would you like to orgnise it Matty?

[gareth_oau]

I flatly REFUSE to go see a bikini car wash with Matty, Geoff, Runamuk wearing bikinis

Where? When? Hook a brotha up!

and runamuk, youre choice of words could be intepreted as you wanting matty to do up the hooks on the back of your bikini????

[balkanac]

I flatly REFUSE to go see a bikini car wash with Matty, Geoff, Runamuk wearing bikinis





and runamuk, youre choice of words could be intepreted as you wanting matty to do up the hooks on the back of your bikini????

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

[runamuk]

haha quiet the lot of ya...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

[geoff_gti]

HA! that's funny....i'll report back later tonight.

~~~

Well not a heap to feed back really; nothing much is going to happen before the new year. The planning for DOVW seems to be sorted, and otherwise there was just a bit more discussion about events and public liability insurance.

A few people suggested re-doing the whole Club website as a forum (so it's easy to use for members) and there were some draft screenshots, but others, including me, think there should still be a proper website for Club related content although a forum for events discussion could form part of the site. As long as the website content can be kept up-to-date easily by the administrators that's the most important thing. Once the site is redone, then the current magazine format can be reviewed and probably moved to bi-monthly or quarterly.

Feel free to add anything I might have missed Rod.

[OvaltoJetta]

Positive feedback

Having been formed in 1955, the WA VW Club (as with any other club - car or not) should probably keep it simple to survive another 53 years. It has been known for a year or so that the website needs an overhaul, but limited knowledge has meant a struggle to maintain it.
Points raised were to use the website as a window to the public in promoting the group and events over the ensuing months whilst reverting to an electronic newsletter to cut costs and then using either a "closed" forum or email to communicate with members at short notice. Those technologically challenged and sponsors would still receive the current monthly or maybe a bi-monthly or quarterly (possibly colour) magazine.
The consensus by the current committee is that all the club needs is a little more participation by members to spread the workload and a few fresh ideas, so the more people involved, the easier and more enjoyable it will be for everyone. Remembering, it's all voluntary and the purpose is to associate with like minded people and promote the marque.

The DoVW on 30th November is a GO!

http://www.vwclub.asn.au/Joomla/

[balkanac]

Thats good! I cant make it, but my car will be there. My friend promised to take it and get at least 1 trophy, so watch out Geoff