Hi there
I notice another concours forum, COG, which requires membership fee.
Anyone is a member of that forum? What benefits could justify their cost?
Thanks
JX

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=24701.0

I'm a 'forum subscriber member' - ne fees to read or post replies.

Sounds like the shot heard 'round the world has not made it all the way 'round yet.....

:-)

I'm a 'forum subscriber member' - ne fees to read or post replies.

COG was a dues required club before the forum was set up, providing a regular mailed hard copy newsletter and national and regional riding events. A forum was added to provide an internet presence and to attract dues paying members. It was only recently decided that non dues paying subscribers would be restricted after 6 months.

     I haven't seen MOB on there since the change.  Curious?

Hi there
I notice another concours forum, COG, which requires membership fee.
Anyone is a member of that forum? What benefits could justify their cost?
Thanks
JX

The fee is not to be on the Forum. The fee is to become a Club Member.

Ride safe, Ted

    I haven't seen MOB on there since the change.  Curious?

It is always perilous answering for another, kinda goes double for MOB....however....you may notice he hasn't posted here either.

 He's going through chemo treatment and I hear that can tire out almost anyone.
 Best wishes MOB, you look better without hair anyway, of course YOMV.

The fee is not to be on the Forum. The fee is to become a Club Member.

Ride safe, Ted

After Feb 27 for current forum subscribers, your account will be restricted to read-only. To post and reply, you will have to become a dues-paying member.

New forum subscribers will get a 6 month trial, but then roll to read-only unless they py dues.


For me, it was nice while it lasted.

For me, it was nice while it lasted.

Same........

Anyone is a member of that forum? What benefits could justify their cost?
Thanks
JX

I've been a member over there since 2011 or 2012. The one big benefit for me is the members handbook. This is only a benefit though if you ride cross country much which I do & it's always in my tankbag. The handbook has every member in the country listed. Should you need help, a place to stay or just want to stop & visit it list this by their name what they will do. So being given a place to stay or helped out if needed just one time is worth way more than a years dues.

I have never had to trailer anybody, but given quite a few a place to stay.

Then there's that always very nice full color glossy quarterly magazine.

Just my .02.

After Feb 27 for current forum subscribers, your account will be restricted to read-only. To post and reply, you will have to become a dues-paying member.

New forum subscribers will get a 6 month trial, but then roll to read-only unless they pay dues.


For me, it was nice while it lasted.

It'll devalue the group and site.  As a 15 or more year forum subscriber member of that site (and the one before it) I believe I've given more than I've taken from it.  Living on the other side of the world makes it pointless to pay.

Thanks Jim for keeping this one up and running and free even tho your interests have changed.

This here forum seems to have all he expert info that I need and a lot more pleasant. The other one used to have Fred Harmon but I have not seen him post in a couple years. He now  makes a living off his Concours expertise so it would be foolish to give away free advice.

It'll devalue the group and site.  As a 15 or more year forum subscriber member of that site (and the one before it) I believe I've given more than I've taken from it.  Living on the other side of the world makes it pointless to pay.

Thanks Jim for keeping this one up and running and free even tho your interests have changed.

    With thanks to the forum owner, Rick Hall and the other Admins and mods as well.

. . . What benefits could justify their cost? . . .

Full disclosure: I'm currently a 'Forum Subscriber' on the COG Forum.

As far as I know, the yearly fee goes towards printing and mailing the members list and the Concourier magazine. You also get a bit of a discount on Group ride registration fees. Soon paying the yearly fee will be the only way to participate in the COG Forum.

To me, the printing and mailing seems to be rather costly and old-fashioned, in this era of pdf files and the internet. Maybe in 1992 it made sense.

As far as I know, the yearly fee goes towards printing and mailing the members list and the Concourier magazine. You also get a bit of a discount on Group ride registration fees. Soon paying the yearly fee will be the only way to participate in the COG Forum.

To me, the printing and mailing seems to be rather costly and old-fashioned, in this era of pdf files and the internet. Maybe in 1992 it made sense.

Yes I agree but there are some members (many I'm told) that want it to stay that way (paper based). So what should COG do?...I think it's important for the organization
to take care of the members it has rather than worry about attracting new members. The money collected does mostly go to printing but the most important thing it does is give the club financial viability or identity. Before a National rally can take place, contracts must be signed with the venue and insurance must be procured, before a volunteer officer of the club can do this (sign on the dotted line) he or she must know that their personal assets are protected by the club and the insurance. I currently only host one local event a year for COG (and zero in 2020) but I insist on seeing the insurance documents before the event takes place or I will cancel it. It only takes one idiot and his lawyer to take you and your retirement savings to court.
 Now the MSTA has a publication which in my opinion has always been far superior to the COG magazine and yet their forum (despite Lather's excellent administration there of) has very low participation by the membership. It isn't unusual to find that the most recent post is several days old. However they too have regional events and a National Rally and the needed insurance to protect the event hosts/coordinators from potential financial ruin. To me these are the most important things that happen with your dues if you join either or both groups. Additionally there are going to be other costs associated with having a financially viable club. I don't know it for a fact, but I'm assuming that the clubs have to file IRS forms yearly and postage costs etc., not just for magazines but for internal club functions when the volunteer officers are scattered all across the country.
 If you don't ever go to events and have no intention of ever going then I don't know why you would join either group despite the low cost of dues.

thanks for the kind words. Yes, the club has to file taxes. MSTA got fined about 4500 bucks when a new volunteer treasurer failed to do so. An attorney member volunteered his services and managed to get that fine waived.

    With thanks to the forum owner, Rick Hall and the other Admins and mods as well.

I second that...... hear hear!!!

If you don't ever go to events and have no intention of ever going then I don't know why you would join either group despite the low cost of dues.

exactly. this is why I left, and i just renewed like a month ago. 1: got tired of posts being slagged with 'join and pay' messages in the responses, which got worse after the 'new rules', and 2: forum access would be dead in 6 mos if i didn't renew. I did but didn't like the approach by 'the board' and really didn't like the 'if you don't like it too bad' attitude. 3: certain members with the snarky expertise with a very 'we know more than you' attitude'. Didn't like that one bit either, and it was allowed way too much.  Decorum rules should apply to everyone.

I have no desire to attend rallies, get printed materials or get help from a club member, just don't need it. I could see that before the days of the web and cell phones, but its archaic. I do remember the old BMOA days and i could def see it then, but now, nah.   No value for me. same reason i no longer have a land line ( and my dad worked for ma bell for 37 years). 

It'll devalue the group and site.  As a 15 or more year forum subscriber member of that site (and the one before it) I believe I've given more than I've taken from it.  Living on the other side of the world makes it pointless to pay.

Thanks Jim for keeping this one up and running and free even tho your interests have changed.

I second that. Thanks Jim, Rick and all others involved.