Kent area

[gareth08]

Having read the posts on the Grasshopper meet which was apparently cancelled (although it would appear that some people went) due to snow I must say I am a tad confused as to what is going on.
I posted early on that it had been snowing but that the roads were ok and asked if anyone else was going to go.There were a few posts saying that it was to risky but then you find out via the forum that some people apparently went then reported that the roads were ok.(Didn't I post that earlier as I live that way and had already been out).
I would have gone in the Cob if anyone had replied to the posts but was not willing to go if nobody else was going.
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the idea of the forum was to exchange info etc on your Cob project and to arrange Regional meets etc with other people on the Forum ,(maybe that is why there is no Kent rep and partly one of the things that was to be discussed at the meet) so that you get the chance to meet and speak to people in person rather than on the forum.
I have to say though that IMHO it seems that anything outside of the Forum is a very closed shop affair and that was reflected in todays events.
Gareth

[dave.n]

Gareth

Please don't be upset with us.
At no time did I say I was not going to go and at no time did I say I would not take the Cobra. As I said to everyone who phoned me.
The Kent Branch prides itself for welcoming anybody regardles of car or size of engine as long as they bring a smile.
We now have a new club rep and if you would care to PM me with your contact no' I will make sure he recieves it. (not everyone has a computor). I would like to talk to you to see if there is anyway I can smooth over the short fall which has come about this club meet.
I appologise that you have been put out and it would have been good to see you.
Maybe we can bring a smile back to your face.
Lets talk there's too much slagging as it is on this site.
And I'm sure Mr Moderator is well aware of it.
Be good to speak to you.

[gareth08]

Dave
You have mail

[Miket]

Originally Posted by dave.n

Gareth

Please don't be upset with us.
At no time did I say I was not going to go and at no time did I say I would not take the Cobra. As I said to everyone who phoned me.
The Kent Branch prides itself for welcoming anybody regardles of car or size of engine as long as they bring a smile.
We now have a new club rep and if you would care to PM me with your contact no' I will make sure he recieves it. (not everyone has a computor). I would like to talk to you to see if there is anyway I can smooth over the short fall which has come about this club meet.
I appologise that you have been put out and it would have been good to see you.
Maybe we can bring a smile back to your face.
Lets talk there's too much slagging as it is on this site.
And I'm sure Mr Moderator is well aware of it.
Be good to speak to you.

Dave

Don't want to sound as if I'm telling you how to run your area meets, but if you have gone along with my suggestion and have 2 or 3 guys organising your area, might I respectfully suggest that either the area Rep or one of the others attends the meet come rain or shine.

We either have our area rep or myself attend every meet, if nobody turns up in the first half hour, we go home.

If you have new members that do not use the Forum, you will always have somebody in attendance to welcome them and advise why the meet is not as well attended as normal. :thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

The Forum is a good way of reminding people where and when, but we find that a Newsletter serves much better.

I'm sure the upset with Gareth was unintentional, but its happened and I hope that you all can kiss and make up.

[Andy S]

Gareth, as Dave has said, it wasnt intentional, like you I live on the Kent / Sussex border and it was snowing on and off all morning. Unfortunately I didnt go on the site today otherwise we would have seen your post and advised accordingly, these things happen, I know Dave has your number and is ringing you to update etc. As he says we have no axes to grind with anyone and today was not intentional, hell we were looking forward to meeting you and having a nose at your cob, but the weather put its oar in and created an unfortunate set of circumstances, which meant that only a couple of us went, and only Dave was mad enough to take his cob, he gets the labotamy next week, once he's thawed out.
Next meet is Easter Sunday and we plan to attend the Chatham Historic Dockyard as they have a festival of steam and Transport that weekend and we have reserved 10 places for a cobra club display. If you are free give me a buzz on 07870 640054 and I can run through the entry form with you and send it off with the others, we have places available.

[dave.n]

Miket

Thanks Mike for your suggestions they are valid and fully understood.
We now have a club rep MEEE.
We also have three or four deputy's.
Not everyone has access to a computor therefore how would they know a meeting had been cancelled.

I have to stand up for S/e-London, Kent and East Sussex Branch of the Cobra Replica Club and say. Quote me "In the last eighteen months since we lost our previous AND HIGHLY RESPECTED club rep, there has NEVER been an abandoned club meet at this venue. I personaly have only missed one meet (last month ) since I have owned my present Cobra.
And I believe there was 10 plus cars present. A club rep isn't the club it still functions without him.

Who actually said it was cancelled anyway?????
And how would they let every know who doesn't own a computor???

I have spoken to Gareth08 earlier on this evening and I fully appreciate what he has said to me, and likewise me to him. It would not be a club if people don't listen.

Lets get on and party.
Wish you all big fun.

[route66]

I concur with Mike above.
Our region, (East Anglia - for which I am the regional rep) are, as noted in Snake Torque and our newsletter, "On Tour" every month.
Namely, we are at a different pub or location every monthly meet.

Thus, myself and Steve, as well as a number of other regulars, sit down at the beginning of each year and plan our schedule. Additionally, I produce a monthly regional newsletter that is either posted or e-mailed to those within the region from a membership list provided by Marion Jones.
Additionally, I upload the newsletter to this forum (within the Regional News section), have added a diary entry in the Calender section and forward the newsletter to Peter Jones for inclusion in Snake Torque.

Logistically, each monthly newsletter gives directions to the venue, contact details if necessary and a request (if required by the pub for catering purposes) to let me know who's coming along if need be.

Steve and / or me always endeavour to attend each meet. If we can't make it, we notifiy a deputy. We hold our meets come rain / shine or flash flood. If there are any extraordinary circumstances, I reproduce my e-mail address, phone number etc in the newsletter monthly.

The newsletter seems to be very popular within the region, as does the 'different venue every month' concept. For this year, we are including details of a meet up location so that we can cruise / motor to a second location for a pie and a pint.

It works for us.

[Andy S]

We couldnt agree more with what you say and what Mike has said, which is why we issued the south east calender onto this forum, its the top sticky under regional roundups and gatherings. As Dave has said though until today there has been no regional rep etc for the past 18months, we agreed last month and with the approaching Detling show to put it together today, its just a shame the weather conspired against it. We have a published calender, and now an area rep plus a few deputies etc, so once we get everyone's e-mail or mobile tel number we can ensure that the problems of today do not get repeated hopefully. We are all relatively new at this thing and really only wanted to just drive and enjoy our cobs, but as we now total some 18 cars it had to happen sometime or other.
Many thanks for yours and Mikes input, suggestions etc, no doubt we will be asking for advise in the future as we all get to grips with this organising business.

[dave.n]

Anyway

Your all still welcome to The South & SE-London, Kent and East Sussex Meetings.
As long as you are smiling.

[tonym]

Dave, would you include me in your newsletter distribution please, i believe you have my e-mail address :thumb: