2008 AGM Minutes

[Wilburn]

I'd be more than happy to pay a annual membership fee to support the Cobra Club website.

To put things into perspective:-

How much does it cost to fill a Cobra with unleaded ? For me it is around £70 and I can easily burn the lost in an afternoon!

I subscribe to a few magazines, and usually read them on the bog (don't we all!)

One is topgear magazine which costs £40 per year. I don't really read it, just flick through it to pass the time on the bog.

So, compare this to the info and fun I get from the Cobra Club website!

I would not hesitate for a moment to pay for annual membership!

Who else would be willing to pay to be a member of the Cobra Club website?

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by Wilburn

I'd be more than happy to pay a annual membership fee to support the Cobra Club website.

To put things into perspective:-

How much does it cost to fill a Cobra with unleaded ? For me it is around £70 and I can easily burn the lost in an afternoon!

I subscribe to a few magazines, and usually read them on the bog (don't we all!)

One is topgear magazine which costs £40 per year. I don't really read it, just flick through it to pass the time on the bog.

So, compare this to the info and fun I get from the Cobra Club website!

I would not hesitate for a moment to pay for annual membership!

Who else would be willing to pay to be a member of the Cobra Club website?

Agree completely.

My tuppence worth:

- Directdebit would be very worthwhile. I got in a total muddle with marion when I had to insure my car. thinking i was a club member, and wasnt, as I;d forgotten to renew last May.

How about 5 levels of membership that appear when logged in (like Club supporter does now):
Full member: mag, ins discount, access to park at shows on club stand, photo upload area in gallery, free unlimited posting. As others have said, the ins discount pays for the club subs anyway.
Web member: None of the above, except can upload pics to gallery and post freely: nominal fee: £3pa?
Guest member: Free - can view everything, cannot upload pics, limited to X posts per month.

Industry member: Free banner, prize names after company? some other enticiments?
'Gold card' Club donor: Someone who pays more than the annual subs to support the club, not sure what the enticement would be?

[Neil O]

Originally Posted by Wilburn

Who else would be willing to pay to be a member of the Cobra Club website?

I would, as long as it was part of the overall membership fee.
If you separate the two costs, then I think we will see a further reduction in membership with people only joining the forum and not the club.

Maybe Rob could tell us what amount would be required from each person on the forum to make it a CRC "owned" site managed by him and paid for in full by members.

Of course, such a process would be pointless unless Rob is willing to think about going down that route.

[dingocooke]

I think a lot of this was already covered here?

Club Membership

[robert]

Guys

I will NEVER make a distinction between club members and forum members in terms of charging for access.

This site feeds members to the club and the club feeds members to the site.

If I had a "forum membership" system, that would be detrimental to everyone.

Its a CLUB MEMBERSHIP model only.

Lets face it, pay £25 and you can make it back time and time again.

[wilf]

Originally Posted by Simon R

So... if people couldn't have done it without the forum then that must represent a value to the various manufacturers? I only finally decided to go ahead with a build after lurking on here for a while and realising how much help would be available.

Therefore, how about seeing if the kit manufacturers would donate the first years membership to a technically restricted forum? It must be in their interests to keep the CRC going.

I appreciate that this might be a bit like drug dealing...... i.e get them hooked first........

Simon

Simon - that very idea was floated at the AGM- I took it upon myself to put the question to one manufacturer myself last night - they were 100% in favour. I will be in touch with the club chairman to let him know what I found out, maybe even volunteer to canvass the rest of the manufacturers myself, since I run a business anyway and could probably put the business case over with a reasonable degree of conviction. And the glare of publicity here about which ones will and which ones won't support us might tip the balance.

[Purple AK]

Originally Posted by wilf

Simon - that very idea was floated at the AGM- I took it upon myself to put the question to one manufacturer myself last night - they were 100% in favour. I will be in touch with the club chairman to let him know what I found out, maybe even volunteer to canvass the rest of the manufacturers myself, since I run a business anyway and could probably put the business case over with a reasonable degree of conviction. And the glare of publicity here about which ones will and which ones won't support us might tip the balance.

Any feed back between Manufacturers and The Club can't be bad Wilf

[bazbo]

I am very happy to pay my membership fees to CRC. I believe it represents superb value on its advice from member to member, as well as the social element, days out etc. My experience in working in various clubs/organisations usually shows that a few people do most of the work, whilst other help in any way they can. There are always the bulk that appreciate what is being done, but like to enjoy the benefits. Sadly, I am one of the latter, but would like to record how many of us really benefit fom being part ofCRC, even reading some of the 'in' posts which I never understand (lack of knowledge of tech matters or individuals). I get more reading matter from CRC than any magazine, and have that feeling of belonging, even though I don't know a soul other than their screen names in various posts.
Keep up the excellent work, from a lazy club member!

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by wilf

Simon - that very idea was floated at the AGM- I took it upon myself to put the question to one manufacturer myself last night - they were 100% in favour. I will be in touch with the club chairman to let him know what I found out, maybe even volunteer to canvass the rest of the manufacturers myself, since I run a business anyway and could probably put the business case over with a reasonable degree of conviction. And the glare of publicity here about which ones will and which ones won't support us might tip the balance.

I find it hard to believe this isn't happening already.

The efforts of both the CRC and Rob generate the platform for people to discuss and recommend products within the Cob industry, without them there would most certainly fewer Cobs on the road which inturn could lead to fewer manufacturers and £'s in there pockets.

This is a form of free advertising for them and I believe it's time for them to pay! sorry support the club.

Rob, no one would begrudge you making a penny or two from this site, you deserve it.

Russ

[legend]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts;

I find it hard to believe this isn't happening already.

The efforts of both the CRC and Rob generate the platform for people to discuss and recommend products within the Cob industry, without them there would most certainly fewer Cobs on the road which inturn could lead to fewer manufacturers and £'s in there pockets.

This is a form of free advertising for them and I believe it's time for them to pay! sorry support the club.

Rob, no one would begrudge you making a penny or two from this site, you deserve it.

Russ

DITTO!!!

Tony.