Quote:
Originally Posted by harit Got what? Frightened?
Many clubs should have a look at FCCCI to understand what cameradie and true sportsman ship is all about. Cheers harit |
Dear Harit
Hopefully we will see you more often at the FCCCI meets atleast but then thats for another thread.
Anyways all clubs have a period of stagnation and no matter how hard one tries one finds the club activities dropping.Call it a midlife crises if you may. No doubt the Fiat Club's enthusiasm is commendable and I am a part of it, however there are times we find two or three people turning up, which is fine! The mega drives are always a success when it comes to both clubs!
I think people are misinformed if they think members just own 123's and 124's. We have most significant post-war cars in the club. In any case we have no issues with people joining in any Mercedes, it is not a classic Mercedes owners club, any mercedes owner and his family is welcome.
Now as far as reaching out to enthusiasts goes, I personally reached out to all "enthusiasts" at the previous drive even committing to sponsor them at the annual dinner, several phone calls were made and no one turned up. It was their choice however an attempt was made. So lets leave that aside and I know for one I will not waste my time again!
Now the issue seems to be about the Rs 12,000/- membership. Consider the following i attend every Fiat club meeting possibly that there is in Mumbai and Pune and even at a minimum I spend atleast Rs 1000/- on meals, drives whatever annually. I expect to be a active member of the Mercedes Benz club as long as i live and if the club is taking care of all the expenses occured during 12 meetings and an annual drive in the year for however long a member lives I think its not a bad deal. Besides which please bear in mind we have to pay affiliation fees annually to Stuttgart, where does that money come from??
"Lack of knowledge" and not being an "enthusiast" is not a crime and I am sure members of the club are not obligated to search and research parts catalogues and sources for the benifit of the enthusiast. Yet we do our best!
We have been clear that our activities are centered around Mumbai and that enthusiasts from other parts of the country may not find value in our fees and our activities yet we have members from all over the country who will happily show up for the odd meeting and annual drives.
We do not solicit memberships, with the motive of making money and most of the clubs activities are met through private sponsorships. I don't recall a single post on this thread where such a appeal has been made.
Finally it is not very clear from your posts if you are complaining about the club not waiving fees for "genuine enthusiasts." or Not reaching out to the world at large with parts information or some other issue. Whatever it may be please bear in mind that it is a club which has its own articles and rules and and not at any compulsion to satisfy anyone but their member themselves.
This thread was primarily started to post information of the activities of the club and not for repitative rantings. Sorry if we have disappointed you
rgds
Amol