if only we had that proportion at the usual monthly turnout, we'd have masses of new folks, eh!
Seriously though, I couldn't make it tonight - perhaps others may have been tempted if they'd seen a reminder on the forum to hint at a meeting tonight and / or an agenda or possible topics? (Dotting i's / crossing t's etc)
I *know* meetings take place 2nd Tuesday each month, others may have overlooked it though
near on 60 miles for me to get to Bovey and I still manage to get to the meetings.
As to why ......... hmmmm
I think I still feel more connected when its face to face and theres some banter and that generally doesnt translate well on forums (-;
Some suggest that people get bored with the 'business' side of things.
Well theres almost no national business discussed at DTRF meetings, beyond what might impact us in Devon.
So that leaves Devon 'business' -
Specific lane issues / RoW
How to raise money and how to spend it ?
How we might attract new Members and keep existing ones ?
What we might do to get more to come to the monthly meetings ?
Yes a few elected Officers could deal with it all but that doesnt really pull in people to help and that is what we hope to achieve and we will likely run out of Officers as they get fed up with doing so much and we might attract comments about inappropriate use of the money raised (-;
Because there were 4 new members last night and we didnt really have any formal agenda, we chose to tell the newcomers more than we usually do about our activities and it was interesting to observe that they all got drawn in and stayed around chatting afterwards.
I think it was an example of how the 'inclusion' principle works, as the effort was clearly directed towards them and they seemed to respond.
The downside of this was that the 'naughty corner' ( you know who you are ) were rather bored with it all and seemed to enjoy their own little, slightly exclusive, meeting.
I can totally understand why and hope my comments dont discourage them from coming to future meetings as they are staunch DTRF supporters and I, for one, would miss them.
It would appear that the East Devon DTRF social night is also rather quiet at the moment and presumably cant blame the boring business suggestion but as I have only ever been to one ( and that was in regard to an urgent 'business' issue) I am not really in a position to comment.
Apparently the forum is quiet according to stats and some seek to blame threads where opinion and fact get a bit mixed up for putting people off.
My observation is that all the ( rather few) forums I follow are quiet ........ perhaps its me then ? ........ (-:
Social media seems to be seeing similar patterns.
330 members in the Devon Group, hopefully feeling included enough to remain members and no obvious explanation for the apparent decline in interest.
Excellent to see you posting on the forum! You've already made the important step of connecting with the membership (suggestions + Feedback in one place) kind off a live feed!
I agree to most of what you have said in the previous post (don't tell anyone though ;)
Time for change..........
There is plenty of knowledge within the Devon group to host different evenings/meetings/group gatherings, suggestions from last year about topically monthly meetings we're excellent news to my ears, the only downfall is getting the show off the ground!
Ideas are plentiful, volunteers are thin on the ground with bringing these ideas to reality
The group should run the business side of things once a quarter, Second Tuesday, March, June, September, December AGM. All officers use the officers loop to run day to day business as its minimal things to chat about.
All other months of the year will take on a theme evening or if desired a more involved evening discussing bike things, taking the Michael.
Chairman has suggested this last year, tyre changing evening, map sessions, route advice maybe, Curry night (my favourite idea)
Dave did an interesting chat about 'run leading' it was well attended and the feedback on this evening has been very positive
Monthly gatherings don't have to be boring, change is all that is needed
We're still located at the Dolphin every month to meet + greet new potential members or trail riders in general, keep it open to all, inclusive to all...
I could delve into the archives and do a photo show on past lane clearing expeditions especially the JFDI ones (shot gun Charlie on marsh lane)
I agree with face to face connection but things have to change to bring the faces along to the wonderful Devon TRF world of mud and bollocks (that must be a different forum)
I think the deputy chairperson,....( i wonder how many ppl know who he is or what he looks like !! )
Did an exellent job and kept the new members abreast of what went on at the meetings,what we did as a group and so forth,
The new members...(will we see them again ? ) i would hope so,but going by past performance i have seen at the meetings...
it will be a Hello i am ....... never to be seen again....although one person was from Bovey so he may turn up again (See i was listening.)
One even said he was a past member from 20 yrs ago....
Bet the meetings were more lively then...
They asked some questions and the chairperson and Chris both answered them well..
Jhon had a good chat with them after the clousure aswell...
Apologies.were from the elected top table members but they mostly all turn up anyway so were exepted..
As for others,well what can be said exept the same old twaddle....
Will there be a Dtrf in years to come...?..
At its present rate nope....
Slag me off who cares.....
Do i get ppls backs up..
who cares...
