Sam, please christ yes stand for Ed, I'd back you. The Mag needs a personality and right now it seems to lack something.

Agreed it is purely personal choice whether to be a member or not. As with any organisation, it has its good points and bad points.

But one amusing paradox I've heard:

Ex-member:"I'm not a member of 2cvgb, why would I be, its crap and dull"
Me: Ok
Ex-member: See you at Registers - its one of the best events of the year!
Me: Err...

It will be a pleasure Sir

Matt, I really don’t appreciate that comment and it’s made me really angry and quite upset that you would attack me like that, what happened to this not getting personal?

My accident happened in September 2010 as far as I knew I was a member of 2CVGB, it wasn’t until November 2010 that I tried to log onto 2CVGB forum and found it wouldn’t let me log in I figured that I just has my password wrong so I emailed Anna who put me in contact with the new MemSec who told me that due to a problem with either the previous Memsec or database issues whatever reason (not pointing fingers here) the membership was never renewed, our membership is paid by direct debit – done, paid for and forgotten about as it automatically renews each year.

As far as we as the ‘Brookes Family’ knew our membership had been renewed as happens every year, I was on the Committee for 2 years (sorry did I make no contribution to that at all?) and half of that time apparently I wasn’t a member of the club we all attended the National last year spending money that went back into the club so if you want to point fingers Matt then don’t point them at me.

As a family we have been members of 2CVGB for around 30 years and yes we will renew our membership but sometimes life just gets in the way.

I don't think it was intended _that_ personally, Louise - more an illustration of one of the big benefits of club membership.

Still, I presume once that error was spotted, the renewal was sorted immediately, right?

Cheap point that is factually wrong.

<self-edited as a bit rude>

You have a point, but what I was trying to get across earlier is that clubs seem to be stuck in a model that was much more relevant 20 years ago than it is in the immediacy of the world we live in now. For instance I renewed my long standing club memberships for those clubs that take payment in a secure manner online. Those that don't I allowed to lapse.

I agree that is arbitary, but nonetheless that is what I did. It wasn't driven by dissatisfaction but simply by apathy. I agree that the FHBVC does valuable work, but really how many people join a "traditional" car club because they want to support their work?

I now spend more money annually making ad hoc donations supporting the running of various forums than I do supporting formal clubs. I actually do believe clubs are valuable, but I question whether they are really maximising their impact. Look at the school of thought for instance that non members should stay away from events. How do you attract new blood into a club like that? The simple fact is that the cars should outlast their keepers. Unless they are attractive to a new generation of enthusiasts the cars will die, and the club will die with it. 2CVGB doesn't even allow non members to access their forum, that seems a pretty odd way of attracting new members.

I would suggest that before you start slinging insults you check you facts. AT the time of Louises accident 'The Brookes Family' were members.

Our membership lapsed because the previous membership secretary failed to carry out the change to our direct debit instruction she received whne we changed banks.

Now i'm prepared to forgive her oversight, the post is unpaid after all and I know having done my time as a committe member what a thankless task it can be.

I await to hear from you!

Yes probably quite how I felt when I find out that there are some people are quite happy to take from the club and not give anything back (no names given).

As Adrian said, this was used as an example of how 2CVGB tries to help its members, I wasn't for one moment having a dig at you personally. Although in the future I will have to check and confirm membership details before being asked for ALL valuations and dating requests as aparently I'm duty bound to charge non members for this service.