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Author Topic: How do I start a Local RC Club?  (Read 4609 times)

Weeds

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How do I start a Local RC Club?
« on: September 23, 2008, 09:35:12 am »

How do I start a Local RC Club?

1. Get website + forum
2. Make business cards for bystanders
3. Advertise
4. Create meetup.com account
5. Run prizes for members

If I do all that, will I find people to play rc cars and boats with (except friends, children and family)?

Is there any money in it for me, Martin?  ;)
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dougal99

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2008, 01:05:03 pm »

What you need above all else is a venue to sail on! The rest can follow on. If you start sailing at the venue you will very probably quickly meet like minded souls.

Have you checked in your local library/ with local council that there isn't a club already?

Cheers

Doug
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craftysod

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2008, 05:31:17 pm »

dig a big hole fill it with water an tell everyone  {-)
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TugCowboy

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2008, 01:56:58 pm »

I also think, but am not certain, that if you invite the public to attend (I.E a club where anyone can join) then you will probably have to have some sort of insurance as well.

Alex
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tigertiger

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2008, 03:05:10 pm »

Do you really want to start a club?
This is a very formal arrangment which takes work, meetings, arguements, insurance, bank account, Secretary, Treasurer, Commodore, AGM etc, etc, ::)
A comitee to argue about rules, dummies spat our of prams, teddies at 10 paces etc, etc,
And it you ever want to wind it up.................... :'(
You will need insurance as has been pointed out.
What other formalities you need to go into I do not know. But I am sure somebody on here can tell you.

There are many informal groups, some that have websites. They even have names.
It is just like minded people who meet regularly at a spot on some water.
This would be an easier way to go.

How do you start an informal group?
Just go regularly yourself. If somebody shows an interest, ask them if they want a go with your boat. You might get a few people started off.
Advertise on here perhaps.
Check to see if there are any other RC clubs/groups in your area, perhaps for aircraft or buggies. Let them know what you do.

You could also try looking at the Clubs List http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=112.0 and asking them what the suggest. If they are posting on here you culd PM them. Others list a phone number.
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Roger in France

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2008, 05:15:07 pm »

I thoughroughly agree with tiger tiger.

Starting a club is the way to less sailing and building. If, like me, part of your working life was about committees and rules then you will never want to go that way again.

On the other hand, there are those who enjoy the structure of a club and find it adds to the hobby (i.e. they like all the things tigertiger describes) and enjoy playing at it. Whatever floats your boat....but don't ask me to join!

Roger in France.
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dougal99

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2008, 05:46:37 pm »

Roger and TT

I think you both have a very jaundiced view of clubs and the running of same. I was chairman of my club for 4 years and never experienced any of the problems you outline (I have attended many meetings at work where toys and teddies flew around the room but never at the club.)

I'm currently the secretary and sail twice a week, as I did as chairman.

It's all down to the individuals IMO.

Cheers

Doug
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Weeds

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2008, 06:14:41 pm »

How do I start a local rc club?

Insurance - Why can't each individual be responsible for his own insurance?
Committees and rules - No Dues = No committees and rules 

But how do you get people to dump money into boats?
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catengineman

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2008, 06:25:51 pm »

Hi weeds

I have often though about this but never bothered to take it further,

You say a club without rules: but then you want to have each member take care of his/her own insurance would this not be seen as a rule?
ie; you can be a member of our club but you have to have your own insurance

just my look on the idea

R,
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kiwi

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2008, 08:02:23 pm »

Hi all,
There are clubs and there are clubs. They take all forms, as do the people who join them.
We don't have a local club, but do have a collection of modelers who get together at the local pond and play with our boats. Well organized, friendly bunch, and enjoyable.
I've been a member of various clubs in various counties, and found most of them worked well. Depends on the members and their reasons for being members.
As to what do you get out of it for organising it all, simply the satisfaction of doing something for your fellow man (and woman).
If thats not enough, and you want a financial return, then its a business, not a club.
Just my thoughts
Kiwi
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tigertiger

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2008, 03:06:06 am »



When I mentioned monies I was thinking of club subscriptions. There will often be some form of expenses with a formal club. And these are covered by subscription. You will then need a bank account and treasurer, unless you are a very trusting bunch. So not a business as such.

If you are a formal club, you are an entitiy. The entity may require some public liability insurance. This is an expense.
I am not sure of the legal position with formal club members having to have thier own insurance, but I imagine there will also be a 'vicarious liability'. Whereby if a members insurance (or lack of it) does not cover the damages claim, then the club is responsible for making good. Some of this may fall on club officers personally if the club is not adequately covered.

A benefit of club insurance is that members can get discounted rates of specialist cover to insure thier own activites with boats.

Although there is 3rd party liablilty in most home contents insurance in the UK, not everybody has it. Also the 3rd party liability may not cover your members at public events.
Remember that insurance companies are very good at not paying out.



As an informal group, on the other hand, you are just a bunch of guys and gals by the lake, everybody is responsible for themselves.
Own insurance
No commitees and rules.
This is not a formal 'Club'.

I also agree with Dougal 99, if you enjoy doing things like this then it can be a lot of fun. But there is some work involved.
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Bee

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2008, 08:34:11 pm »

Curious to know where you are, Weeds. There could be a load of people on the forum living in your street.
If you do start a club, do be sure to include the name of the nearest LARGE town in the club name. There is nothing worse than looking for eg 'the Sheffield Boat Club' only to find eventually after much frustration that they are called 'the duckpond modellers' and expect everyone to realise that.
Also try not to be single activity or specialist to get a larger catchment. Steamboats may only get 5 members, but all boats gets 30, and boats plus cars gets 60. The exception is flying which almost always entails membership of the BMFA (expensive). Most modellers have a passing interest in a variety of activities and welcome contact with other areas while not being able t o afford to join several clubs.
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Weeds

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2008, 10:14:00 pm »

Boston, MA USA RC Car and Boat Informal Club.

Start a club website
Announce meetups on local lamp posts.
No dues. No Insurance. No committees. I'm the organizer.
RC Boats at the waterfront train station. RC Cars on the field. Carpools to local rc car track.

How do I start a website? I want to admin my own forum. Also how much would I pay for www.rcboston.com domain?

Cheers,

Weeds
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dreadnought72

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2008, 09:50:48 am »

Buying a domain name - about US$20 a year. Hosting, about the same. Best not to announce the domain name before you buy it though! (Else you could be beaten to it).

Forums can be free - phpBB is popular. You'd have to put up with adverts and limits on design and layout if you go for a free option.

Websites. Now there's a thing. You'll get what you pay for. At the very bottom of the heap, you can "save as html" from MS Word, which, being free, will do precisely what it says on the tin. i.e. look godawful. There are hobbyist web designers out there who should be able to make something a bit more glamorous for a few hundred dollars ... maybe approach students on web design courses needing subjects for portfolios?

Pro web design is probably out of the realm of affordability for most clubs. UK rates for developing in Flash and Dreamweaver are ~£250 a day. (US$500).

The other issue with websites is what you want one for. If it's to advertise your presence and thereby increase membership, then possibly there's better ways to do that - target local press, organise and advertise events. If it's to maintain contact with members, then a forum would be more immediate and useful.

Andy
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tigertiger

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Re: How do I start a Local RC Club?
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2008, 02:18:26 pm »



The other issue with websites is what you want one for... If it's to maintain contact with members, then a forum would be more immediate and useful.

If you want to do this you can start a thread on our clubs news board. This is already being done by others. e.g. http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12144.0
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