BVWS membership confusion?

[Nebogipfel]

As mentioned above, it may be a good idea to contact Audiomagpie via the UKVRRR forum and ask your questions, I notice Greg is no longer a member here.
Personally I dont think one should be joining the BVWS just for the freebies, but for the contacts, events and supporting the Society in general to help keep it going so it can continue promoting interest in our hobby.

Mike

Well thanks for that, I'm beginning to wish I hadn't bothered to ask.

In an ideal world I expect I probably would enjoy the meetings and auctions etc. but because I am restricted by significant health problems and also because most things are not local to me I am unlikely to be able to attend them.

In addition I survive on a very small income so £29 is not an insignificant sum to me.

All I wanted was clarification of what is included in the membership package.

I will ask elsewhere.

[Crackle]

Sorry John, I had not intended to be critical, just stating my view of what so often happens.
I know people who travel far and wide to attend BVWS events, it is all a matter of personal circumstances.


Mike

[Murphyv310]

A bit like myself John. Health massively restricts me travelling to meets and auctions so I'm unable to go.
I did mention once about an auction or a BVWS meet in Stirling for a one off and if proved successful perhaps make it a bi annual event due to distance. It was turned down but I was told basically to do it myself. Well having heart issues and doing a heavy job at the time there was no way I was able to organize anything. Now not happy driving distances, even the drive to Mike in Cramlington was tiring.

[ppppenguin]

The BVWS relies on members to organise meetings. The committee is a small number of people, most of whom have jobs, families etc. The amount of work that Mike Barker in particular has put into the BVWS over the last couple of decades is almost beyond belief. He has organised the Wootton Bassett meetings since 1994, which was before he was on the committee. The Golborne meeting is made possible by a few dedicated local members. I don't know much about other regionsal meetings but if there's a few people willing to give it a go, the BVWS will do its best to support them.

[Murphyv310]

Thanks Jeffrey.
He lads around Aberdeen and he north east do very well and have little meets on a regular basis. For me in Ayrshire it's a four hour drive so basically no good. The rest are scattered around the central belt from Ayr up to Renfrew, Edinburgh and Fife. All respectful distances and often no motorways, the logistics are sometimes difficult.

[Old Sparky]

I have sometimes thought of joining the BVWS, but have so far not done so, mainly because I would have difficulty getting to meetings, not due to health issues, yet at any rate, but because I don't drive. Getting to the NVCF, which I attend most years, isn't a problem, but some other places aren't easily reached by public transport from where I live.

[Kalee20]

The BVWS is a society, run by its members, for its members. That being so, any shortcomings are simply opportunities for members to improve things! Although before my time, I have heard about how things were, and how Mike Barker rolled up his sleeves and made things better. An ordinary member, but he did extraordinary things because he believed in what he was doing.

When I joined (about 8 years ago), I did indeed get a goodie pack, and very welcome it was too. Each Winter, there has been a new DVD sent out.

If you are looking at joining and being a sleeping member, then yes you might say the Bulletins work out a trifle expensive for what they are - but four magazines, a superb calendar, and a DVD for £29 isn't bad all the same! If you are looking at being more active, organising a swapmeet or auction near where you live ought to be possible. I admit to doing none of these, though I have had letters published in the Bulletin and I've been to Royal Wooton Bassett sales (very worthwhile). And there's currently an appeal for articles, so there's a chance for anyone with anything relevant to submit it and share it with your fellow enthusiasts!

[Nebogipfel]

Thanks for that.

I didn't mean to imply that the £29 is expensive, I don't think it is. Around £30-35/annum seems to be the going rate these days, certainly for car clubs.

Not wishing to sound like a broken record, but all I wanted was clarification of what the membership package consists of because I find the BVWS website unclear and somewhat contradictory and I do need to spend my limited funds wisely?

[ppppenguin]

I agree that the BVWS website could be better. Also it's about time they costed payment by card into the subs rather thanhaving a card surcharge. Do the e-commerce stuff right and it's no longer much of a cost. It also encourages renewals (some people don't have chequebooks - mine are infested with spiders due to neglect and who wants to write a cheque, put it in an envelope and post it?) and makes life easier for the treasurer. Get the system right and the membership database is updated more or less automatically. SOrting and taking cheques to the bank was never too much fun either.

When I was BVWS treasurer options for card payments were limited and relatively expensive. Now that e-commerce is huge, there are lots of solutions.

[Murphyv310]

Good post Jeffrey.
Don't get me wrong I did like the Bulletin and the DVD's, I did get the feeling though beginners were somewhat left out with the high quality of projects, great for the old hands but not so good for the newbies that this hobby really needs.
There are loose ends the BVWS needs to tie up, Mike has done a great job but he cant do it all on his own. I dislike committees, they sit and deliberate but do very little real work, perhaps listening to those that have left or even a questionnaire on the website would be helpful.
Oh and yes Jeffrey, get rid of the antiquated registration process and payment methods.