Notifications

Clear all

Elections & Volunteerism [long and maybe boring]

Al Olme · 2009-03-28T13:58:32Z

A little over five years ago the USCA started to have elections to name its officers. Before that someone [usually Ed Johnson, the unquestioned father of the USCA] talked folks into taking the officer jobs. That actually worked pretty well... for a while, but people stayed in office forever and club matters were very slow moving. Nominations recently closed for this year's election and there are several positions that have NO nominees. The North Central Region is one of them. The region consists of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska. It is the smallest region in the USCA in terms of membership yet it has hosted two national rallies in recent years and has a number of friendly sidecarists. It is also close to Wisconsin [which IMHO should be part of the North Central Region but that's a different subject] where there are a lot of equally fine folks who drive hacks. The point is [bet you never thought I'd get there] we need folks to step up and run for these open slots. I know, nominations are closed but what's the alternative? The alternative is an appointment by the Board later when someone finally raises their hand and says “OK, if no one else will do it, I will”. I've been on the Board for about six years in one position or another. Many of the Board members have been there as long as I have. Having some experienced folks on the Board is a good thing but right now we are once again out of balance. We need NEW folks to come forward and look at our issues with fresh eyes. Things on the board are so settled and familiar right now that a few of us can guess the way each member will vote on an issue without even asking. I've been here too long. Six years ago things needed to be shaken up, now we are in a building stage and we don’t need folks like me. It's time for some of the folks who sit on the sidelines and hurl in comments to get of their duffs and actually do some work for the club. Heck, it would be nice if some of those folks were even members. The BMW CCA is the national BMW car club. It is huge, has huge assests and it is run by professionals. When I joined back in the dark ages it was a lot of fun. There was only one paid staffer and a ton of volunteers and things got done despite that. Now it is run by professionals. It has a paid Director, paid Administrators, an accountant and a lawyer, paid newsletter Editor, paid Events person AND NO SOUL! The rallies are about as much fun as an insurance convention. Volunteerism is the life blood of any organization like ours. Individuals like YOU, have to step up and get involved for things to work. NEW people have to be brought into the management of the organization or the organization becomes stale and falls into bad habits. Very little actually gets done. When new ideas come up, old thoughts stifle them before they can breathe. We worry more about our bank balance than we do about having fun. Yes, fiscal responsibility is important but I don't believe that it's necessary to have a year's operating expense in the bank in order to do things or in order to have fun. I don't have a year's home expenses in my checking account and I don't feel that I'm about to fail financially, of course I could be wrong. Right now the club is losing money. Our newsletter is too expensive to print and mail [compared to the cost of membership] and the rally that I put on in Duluth lost a lot of money. I can’t resist saying that if it had been better attended we would have done fine. We are working with our printer to see if we can get costs lowered. One of the spearheads on that effort is the NEWEST member of the Board. ‘See, fresh eyes! The USCA has made progress this year, we replaced our newsletter Editor with a new volunteer, we have a new volunteer Treasurer [who actually has an accounting background!] and we have a new web guy who is making some difference already and promises to do a lot more. We had to go begging for all those folks. What have we done that’s new and fun for the membership? How has your per

Page 2 / 2 Prev

Discuss USCA Stuff

Last Post by Txart 13 years ago

21 Posts

12 Users

0 Reactions

602 Views

(@mj)

Posts: 224

Reputable Member

My two cents for points raised in this discussion:

I belong to another motorcycle forum. Membership is free for a month, and then the dues are $12 a year. Most folks join because, like this site, you save more than $12 in information from just one suggestion a member makes to a question you may pose. I am not opposed to being both a USCA member and website member.

Is it possible to send the newsletter via email or a link on this site? This would cut costs and the newsletter could be in "members only" section as some folks talked about.

I need to read the requirements for volunteer positions and I'll get back to you. I can't make all the rallies if that is a requirement. I would really like to see a club or group in my area that would be interested in getting together for rides. I should just start one and see what happens.

Thanks to all the officers for all they have done to keep us informed, plan rallies, and keep this organization running.

Posted : January 15, 2013 2:37 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Thanks Mary Jo for the comments. This thread was started in 2009 and a lot of things have improved since then with a better magazine, online store and memberships online. Our membership is growing and we are financially secure. It seems if there are real problems with any club there are always folks to offer to help but when things are going along pretty smoothly everyone is willing to let someone else do it.

About all you need to serve on The Board is to be a member in good standing and willing to help. Our Constitution and By-Laws are posted in The Reference Section here. All the information is in there like officer duties and requirements.

http://www.sidecar.com/mbbs22/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2470&posts=1&start=1

Posted : January 15, 2013 3:52 pm

SwampFox

(@swampfox)

Posts: 1932

Moderator

Mary Jo - 1/15/2013 7:37 PM

... I can't make all the rallies if that is a requirement....

Mary Jo, I hope rally attendance is not requirement, as I'd be out of luck as my travel time is generally limited to the occasionl long weekend. Keith & I + our wives are attempting to organize the national rally this year. None of us have had an opportunity attend a past national rally.

... I would really like to see a club or group in my area that would be interested in getting together for rides. I should just start one and see what happens....

That's how the Uncertain?Rendezvous at Caddo Lake got started. I wanted an opportunity to meet fellow sidecarists, but there was no gathering in our area -- so we started one. Just look for a facilty in an interesting area with suitable lodging options, a gathering area/pavilion, a nearby cafe' and invite sidecar enthusiasts to come.

Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox

Posted : January 15, 2013 5:32 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Lee You are doing a great job. I think the rally in Ar. is going to be great. Plans are to have enough things going on to keep everyone as busy as they want to be. People who have attended Uncertain have all been pleased. Hopefully we can get more to come.By the way,are there any plans for this year? J.R. Tex rep. BMW cruiser/Hannigan Burgman/Bullit

Posted : February 28, 2013 3:10 am

SwampFox

(@swampfox)

Posts: 1932

Moderator

J.R. - 2/28/2013 8:10 AM
... I think the rally in Ar. is going to be great. Plans are to have enough things going on to keep everyone as busy as they want to be. People who have attended Uncertain have all been pleased....

Keith & I are slowly working towards plenty of options, including simply hanging out at air conditioned rally central. And we almost have a logo.

... are there any plans for [Uncertain/Caddo Lake] this year?....

J.R., we haven't yet decided re: Caddo Lake in October. We have plenty going on with the national rally. However, I have thought of a simpler Caddo Lake rally with the primary organized event being a group ride to Cedar Run Ranch near Scottsville for a campfire meal by Jay, our chili cook.

Also, I found last year there is a scheduling conflict on our preferred mid-October weekend with the Harvest Classic vintage rally in Luckenbach -- most of the central Texas Ural riders attend.

Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox

Posted : February 28, 2013 4:42 pm

Txart

(@Txart)

Posts: 142

Estimable Member

I have my high school class reunion (50th) in October 2013. Waiting for the football game schedule to be set in May before a date is selected for the reunion in October --- hope we can do both the reunion and Uncertain... If we cannot, then I'll drive the rig to the reunion

Posted : March 8, 2013 1:56 pm

Page 2 / 2 Prev

29 Forums
11.7 K Topics
91.8 K Posts
8 Online
5,622 Members

Forum Icons: Forum contains no unread posts Forum contains unread posts

Topic Icons: Not Replied Replied Active Hot Sticky Unapproved Solved Private Closed