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[SteveM]

G’day to All

Most of you Gents don't know Me but I am the bloke from Australia who has a few pictures on the Mayhem Web Site. (Galleries Australia)

But be warned I am about to get on a Soap Box and say what I an feeling at the moment.

But I have some bad news that due to politics at Surrey Park Model Boat Club I have not renewed my membership for the up coming year. Why does a hobby club have to make a profit at the expense of some of the members and not others in the same club? It was unfair in my mind that there is a multi level rate of fees to be paid buy different members, it’s not a lot of money but I believe the principle is that every one is an equal and as it is a hobby club there is no need for any club to keep running at the expense of say a working member, or a few of the members keep looking at a bottom line in the black with over four numbers on the left hand side of the decimal point and then trying to work out how to get even more money there. If there was something that that was needed it doesn’t bother me, but keeping over 5 grand in the bank because the refrigerator might die is a bit extreme. 

I enjoy going out to the club and running around with my yacht, watching other people bursting with pride as they put a new model in the water for the first time, being able to take a few photos of the same and generally helping out around the place (the Club) but I was getting to the stage that it wasn’t as enjoyable as it had been due to a few members taking over the place and demanding that you will do this or that and things are going to happen the way they want it.

It was a sad day when I came to this decision as I really have had a great time at Surrey Park Model Boat Club and I still miss going there on the weekends seeing the Boys, havin’ a laugh at the antics of the gang. I would’ve gladly waded up to my armpits to help anyone with a boat in distress and my tool box was always open to anyone who needs anything, tools or parts, to keep a fellow Modelers boat out on the water or help them solve a problem if they wanted or asked. But I object to being TOLD I have to do this or that or other members getting the same treatment from some of the members. It was starting to get to be a chore and unfortunately I was getting to the stage that I wasn’t enjoying going there.

It’s not the end of my model boating days as I also go and sail with a good bunch of blokes at a lake not far from home and the best thing is that there is no structure of a club or fees and even better no one is in charge, we get to the lake help one another out if we can and best of all have a laugh at and with each other.

That’s why I love Model Boats it is supposed to be fun. I just hope that everyone else has the same idea

Thanks for your time reading but the best words of wisdom I have been told about the Hobby is "We are just a bunch of Men all grown up who want to go and play with Toy Boats"

Cheers to all 

Steve M

[GOGSAMWE]

Most of you Gents don't know Me but I am the bloke from Australia who has a few pictures on the Mayhem Web Site. (Galleries Australia)

It’s not the end of my model boating days as I also go and sail with a good bunch of blokes at a lake not far from home and the best thing is that there is no structure of a club or fees and even better no one is in charge, we get to the lake help one another out if we can and best of all have a laugh at and with each other.

That’s why I love Model Boats it is supposed to be fun. I just hope that everyone else has the same idea

Thanks for your time reading but the best words of wisdom I have been told about the Hobby is "We are just a bunch of Men all grown up who want to go and play with Toy Boats"

Cheers to all 

Steve M

Hi Steve,

( from another Steve  )

Sad to hear of this, and your final paragraph is spot on.. why do people go down this "power crazy " route... ???

My little boat club went the same way...  others trying to  hammer through their own rules , their own tastes likes etc, rather than  compromise for the good of the club.. In the end, I resigned.. others followed,and the club dis-banded.

I now "float my own boat" with  just one or two pals, who  enjoy the banter and a pleasant couple of hours by the lakeside.. No idea what happened to the rest of the dozen or so members... never see them, never hear from them.. ah well "their loss methinks" I am happy enough..

I hope you are too Steve

All the best...

and as you said...  "We are just a bunch of Men all grown up who want to go and play with Toy Boats" !!

You have my vote !


Steve   

[dougal99]

Steve

Sorry to hear about your experiences however, on balance I like to think that clubs are a good thing rather than bad. As chairman of my local club I like to think I work for the members and not the other way round. If I were to get power crazy I would think there would be a revolt and I would be on my way. I have to say that I fail to understand the mind set of those who want to become little overlords - I rely on the goodwill of members for help at shows etc without them I would be on my own (probably not their at all).

Small groups, it seems to me, can run as a collective but when the numbers reach or near double figures surely someone has to be responsible for organising frequency control etc. Whether that puts them in charge or not is surely up to the rest.

Whatever, enjoy your sailing.

Doug

[cbr900]

Well sorry Doug but I have to slightly disagree with you, in that we have in our group over here now 12 members, not a lot over the double figure mark I grant you but what we do is the simplest form of sailing there is we actually talk to each other and let every one know what frequency we are running with on the day, if there is a clash, one or the other will change frequency and no more problem, the main thing is we all like each other and we all get on well, so no problems, I will say that if we end up with another twenty members a frequency board will be made and some form of key will have to be used, but it will need to be a lot bigger than we are now, other than that I do agree with you, so enjoy what ever form of boating and all will be smooth...

Roy

[Youngat65]

Sorry Doug but I to have to diiagree with you, I have to agree with Stevem I no-longer belong to any club but sail on a local water with one or two others I had a bad experience with a local club being acussed of making it my club when all I was doing was keeping the club running becauce nobody else would do anything,atleast the club then had upwards of 40 members now I understand they have about 20 and still dropping . The people that caused the trouble were voted in as committe members at a later AGM and now they too are falling out with each other: they have found out just what it's like to try and get people to do anything.............My attitiude to thier plight ...............you made you bed now you lay on it......it's a shame realy as the club realy was going places but never again will I join a club happy just sailing with a few like minded people who just want to sail boats , chat and help each other

[Halley]

Like somebody said in on a different thread - the easiest way to start a fight is to put two model boaters in a room together....

[ambernblu]

... funny you should say that, I well remember a cartoon in a Wargames mag - opposing armies lined up facing each other on the table - and the two protagonists setting about each other alongside with anything that came to hand! 

So not so funny, 'cos the same thing happens in Wargames Clubs too (from personal experience!) Its such a shame though, that this scenario seems to be a regular feature of many club member's experiences!  :(

[Shipmate60]

It seems to happen in most clubs at one time or another.
You always get the budding "Admirals" everywhere.
Shame though because it does cause an atmosphere.
Yes I know from past experience!!

Bob

[ron h]

Been there, done that, got a new club jumper, You should join the Melbourne Club, D. i. c. k.s  an old fart, but will do anything for you,

[SteveM]

Hey gents
I didn't want to start an argument all I wanted to do was remind some of the people in the hobby that it is just that a "HOBBY"
It's not that hard!

I see that some of you have agreed with what I have said and some haven't but that isn't what it is all about just go and have fun. yes the experience has put me off the club scene but it is still possable to enjoy sailing. yes there has to be some rules the blokes I sail whit have rules but the good thing is that all we want to do is go for a sail and nothing is set in concrete, you don't have to do this or that, just go and sail. About the biggest rule we have is that we help each other out.

The point I was trying to make, is if you are in the club scene, don't be or let it get to dogmatic and inflexable.
I go sailing to relax and unwind its not that hard

Cheers Steve M

[GOGSAMWE]

Steve

I think what you said in your original post is STILL SPOT ON !

"That’s why I love Model Boats it is supposed to be fun. I just hope that everyone else has the same idea

Thanks for your time reading but the best words of wisdom I have been told about the Hobby is "We are just a bunch of Men all grown up who want to go and play with Toy Boats"

Its a hobby, a past-time..   a get away from it all kinda thing... relax and Enjoy !!

The Relax  and ENJOY are the biggest / best elements for me !

Steve

[dougal99]

Each to his own. However, my experience of sailing on my own was BORING. Then again building on my own - GREAT


Have a good day y'all.

Cheers

Doug

[Guy Bagley]

Hi Steve,

( from another Steve  )

Sad to hear of this, and your final paragraph is spot on.. why do people go down this "power crazy " route... ???

My little boat club went the same way...  others trying to  hammer through their own rules , their own tastes likes etc, rather than  compromise for the good of the club.. In the end, I resigned.. others followed,and the club dis-banded.



Steve   
[/quote]

Steve you are spot on......

 this happens in many clubs sadly, we have had alot of changes in our club recently, - the key thing is for the 'good of the club' not one or two members on some kind of power trip...... or as you put it why do they go down this power crazy route.........

whats the point ? - they soon get caught out,  -  i disliked the manner in which things were being done within our club and as a result both myself and the treasurer resigned form the comittee of the club,  - i also now go to the lake alot less as a result..... shame really but no loss, i just go model flying more now !-
its not a case of our clubs bigger and better than yours or whatever sad little power game these peole play.... the clubs best years were some 15 years ago when poeple just met at the lake, sailed and went home, none of this - well i only model exact scale, and my model got 57 best in shows and i only have premium club membership and all that rubbish, -  years ago it was just a group of like minded people who just enjoyed sailing models......

 i honestly feel there is not that common unity now, its seems to be too many underhand silly power games goiing on- it will kill the club in the end.....
 

[Halley]

Halley's 1st law...

Anything that involves a committee will end in tears...

[Dave Leishman]

Steve,

I agree wholeheartedly with your post. I just don't sail at all now. My Aziz has been in it's storage case for a year now and hasn't seen the light of day.

I get far more enjoyment out of building anyway, but it was good now and again to sit by the pond on a nice summers day.

Hey ho...back to the workshop :)

[ambernblu]

... did anyone watch the excellent programme about Goering at the Nuremburg trials last night... just something he's supposed to have said to a guard.... he started off with 'what do you call One Englishman?' (unfortunately I missed the answer, but probably derogatory!) Then 'what do call Two Englishmen together?' Answer 'A Club!' and finally 'what do you get if you have Three Englishmen together?' answer - 'An Empire!!'

He obviously knew something we didn't then! 

[anmo]

I didn't see the programme, been out sailing and forgot to set the video, but I'm not sure how believable the dialogue attributed to Hermann G was. There's an old German/Austrian saying that when two Germans get together they form a club, and when two Austrians get together, they award each other titles. I've never heard the English version that ambernblu tells us Onkle Hermie used. No doubt our resident Kraut (no offence!) Jörg will enlighten us.

[justboatonic]

I can assure people this happens in all model clubs whether it be boats, cars or aero. Some folk just like to run (and ruin) other peoples enjoyment.

Dont bother with any clubs anymore, there's just too much politicing going on. Its a shame because I used to enjoy helping the club out but when one 'jonny cum lately' memebr wants things done his way and his way only, just let them get on with it imo.

[Roger in France]

Let us just look at this from a different angle....

There are those individuals who are so strong minded and individualistic that they find any form of organisation limiting and uncomfortable. When someone else wants to regiment them they object and opt out. If they do not their individuality often becomes leadership and they emerge as committee chairman!

I am just such a one. I am not a joiner and committees bug me because my whole working life revolved around a committee cycle.

Having said all that some of those who seek to organise others often go over the top. Being professionally involved in a "committee organisation" made me aware that some folk like to play at committees in their hobbies (and are usually no good at it!).

So I keep out of "organising" and just help out at the club to which I belong....it is just the same here in France.

Roger in France.

[SteveM]

Hi Roger in France

Good point!
But the problem is being told you have to do this job or that job by the committee?
As I have already said I don't mind helping out around the place but it's my time. I have to do what SWMBO says not some Pratt on a committee with a power trip.
Remember it is meant to be fun

Steve M

[magpie]

Surrey Park MBC lost out in a big way with Steve leaving. I'm a fellow member and can tell you he really was a great asset. I never saw him sitting for more than a few minutes in between helping someone or other out. No joke. Here’s a few examples. Of our 70 odd members, Steve’s helped at least 60 I reckon.
Good on ya mate!
Jason