Leaving Central Region

[jamied]

Hi Gang

Had a long hard think about this and im leaving my post as co-ord for central due to circumstances.

Me and emma have pushed ourselves to get to meet's, sort out the billing show and other functions.

But now it feels that i have been shunted by certain members i regarded as friends.

Its been fun.

[Johnny A]

A damn shame but not unexpected mate

[Johnny A]

<walks off with hands in pockets to see the guys at South Central - I hear their meets are awesome>

[Mav]

Not sure what is going on but sorry to see you go

[nickyboy]

Nooooo

Dude you are the glue that keeps us together although tbh it is exactly how i felt before giving up the co-ordinating. Too much effort and too little praise.



Hopefully i'll make a trip up with John at some point now i have a car and give little un a scare.

[Ph@tboy]

that does totally suck, my lack of attendance this year was solely down to fundage . would have done everything as normal if it wasn't for year of the uber save.

you have done some awesome stuff since being coord though mate, so huge thanks from all of us for everything that you did i think i speak for us all when I say it was truly appreciated

[Nobbie]

Probably snap, some time soon mate.

Same old members (although i love you), no new blood, commitment, praise, or backup/help.

No memberse lists, no idea of numbersm, who's attendinf what, no response to simple forums changes to make everyones life easier, still no new events, still no new discounts.

[Mav]

Not good, I only just paid up and things falling apart, I am sure we can turn things around

[Johnny A]

Mav you joined the sinking ship as we were all jumping off

This has been going on for 2 1/2 - 3 years now that central has had a worse and worse turnout until the ONLY people that would attend was Me, Nick, Ben, Nobbie, Jane and sometimes becky. Then Jamie joined and attempted to rescue things, didn't work and even less people went as Ben could no longer afford it, Bex was too busy etc... All these people listed are friends of mine and we see each other outside of the meets.

Kinda pointless huh

[Trevor]

The region was doomed to fail from the start as it was simply to geographically diverse and large. You are talking of an area that is about 100 miles across it's widest points. So when it comes to meetings, even if they are held fairly central in the region, then those on the periphery have about a 150 mile road round trip. You seem to spend almost as much time traveling to and from the meeting as you do at it.

But it is not just the distances involved, clearly there are regions with a much larger size, it is the population demographic that is diverse too, so other than being in MIG the people in the North of the region often have very little in common with those in the south of it. Scotland for example is a HUGE region, but the people have much more in common as it is also a whole nation!

So in the past we tried to move the meetings. But those in the south/Oxford would not go any further North than Aylesbury, Those in the north were expected to travel as far as Abingdon or High Wycombe to appease those in the south. One Christmas it was even proposed the seasonal meal should be held in READING! That is over a 200 mile round trip for someone from Wellingborough or Thapston, and we can not all afford the price of a room, or have kids and need to get back.

This region needs split in half in my opinion. Nothants, Beds and Bucks as one region and Herts, Berks and Oxon the other. Then no one would be more than half an hour from a meeting.

[Benn]

*Volcher voice holding my arms open* Come one come all i'll welcome you all.......

[jamied]

The region was doomed to fail from the start as it was simply to geographically diverse and large. You are talking of an area that is about 100 miles across it's widest points. So when it comes to meetings, even if they are held fairly central in the region, then those on the periphery have about a 150 mile road round trip. You seem to spend almost as much time traveling to and from the meeting as you do at it.

But it is not just the distances involved, clearly there are regions with a much larger size, it is the population demographic that is diverse too, so other than being in MIG the people in the North of the region often have very little in common with those in the south of it. Scotland for example is a HUGE region, but the people have much more in common as it is also a whole nation!

So in the past we tried to move the meetings. But those in the south/Oxford would not go any further North than Aylesbury, Those in the north were expected to travel as far as Abingdon or High Wycombe to appease those in the south. One Christmas it was even proposed the seasonal meal should be held in READING! That is over a 200 mile round trip for someone from Wellingborough or Thapston, and we can not all afford the price of a room, or have kids and need to get back.

This region needs split in half in my opinion. Nothants, Beds and Bucks as one region and Herts, Berks and Oxon the other. Then no one would be more than half an hour from a meeting.

This was a plan that has been going around and around..ect, but never had any growth, me and emma went to the xmas meal in reading all the way from raunds...took hours to drive there and back and rooms were near £65 a night..ouch.

If you look at the central region we have one of the best areas for motorsport and shows (silverstone, pod, billing, rockingham, bedford race track) but the least amount of people.

I have a fair few people in the northants area that would like to come to meets but can't afford to travel the distance..

might be a plan to have:

two sub region meets for north and south and every 3rd month have a main central meet.

At the moment im in talks with rockingham and pod via my business to do corporate days which im hoping i can roll MIG into.

[Nobbie]

I agree, but let me just point out one or two other things.

We did split the region for about six months, having the 'North Central' Meets in Houghton Regis, and the 'South Central' Meets in Oxford/Reading. We still got the same members turning up, that were going to the joint Aylesbury meets.

We swap the xmas meal location every year between Reading and Milton Keynes, to make it fair on everyone, this is of course only do'able if there is a 50/50 location split for meets. As far as i'm concerned i take members who regularly attend meets, look at their location, and if there are 3 regular members from the North, and 8 members from the south, then i'd cater for the majority.

I do still think the region is too big, but i / we can't find a solution yet.

My opinion is that Milton Keynes/Aylesbury is central to the region at the moment, it's a car club, for car enthusiasts, the more people that come to meets, the more we can all discuss the way forward, etc.

At the moment some members, me included, are thinking of driving 100mile, to get to the SC meet!!

[Johnny A]

At the moment some members, me included, are thinking of driving 100mile, to get to the SC meet!!

Not thinking at all mate, I will quite happily drive for 1 1/2 hours to go see those guys. I do this nearly every weekend anyways driving to Jamie's unit!

Also Nickyboy wants to join me, so that's half my fuel covered already. I also pass Phatboy and Becky - all aboard the Senny!!!

[jamied]

I have had a few words with other regions and im quite happy to 'float/tour' other members areas, already this year i have been to essex and wales and shall be at the welsh xmas do, next year im doing the north tour up to scotland and shall drop into a few meets.

i just feel that central has lost its way and needs a bit of a sort out.

[Benn]

Yeah but whos gonna sort it? You leaving it, so thats bexs by her self....
Love the tidy up..lol

[GTE 16v]

Not thinking at all mate, I will quite happily drive for 1 1/2 hours to go see those guys. I do this nearly every weekend anyways driving to Jamie's unit!

Also Nickyboy wants to join me, so that's half my fuel covered already. I also pass Phatboy and Becky - all aboard the Senny!!!

Come on down!

[Trevor]

I have not seen Nickyboy for years, you will have to give me a shout when your coming up this way and if Jamie does not mind I will pop over.

[nickyboy]

Certainly will do old bean

[jamied]

trevor, you are more than welcome to pop over anytime mate, shall be doing an open day at JADE at some point...lmaolmao

[Mav]

I dont mind stepping up and helping out getting this Region kicking, fresh meat and all.

[jamied]

Well i did try but due to a poor turn out i am def leaving central. nobody was interested with any functions sorted in north central so the plan is now closed.

[Benn]

[Nobbie]

[BeckyG]

Pah!