NC 4x4 clubs!

ord.sgt.26NC said:
oh and Rob,let me be clear...it's not my club
it's OUR group:lol:.
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And it's a dang good group.I have made many new friends who I regularly speak to or see because of 4X4E.Talked to 4 of them on the phone today and saw 1 of em'.Almost all of them People who I wouldn't have known without the group.We have had Impromptu M&G's almost every weekend at Rox&Mud's lately.I welcome the new groups on here.I think it makes it far easier to find that perfect "fit" everyone is looking for.
 
Mike, I would love to reinstate my membership in Southern.I find it hard tho to put money where I can't see it being used.If they are now disclosing where monies are being spent then it would ease my tensions and I would come back into the fold.I've been burned a time or two.Money will corrupt.It's not a question of if but more of when.The lawyers were paid alot in their fight to save Telico.After loosing rounds one,two,and possibly three,we were hit with membership increases but it was to no avail.We lost her and yet even tho I never had chance to go,I hated that.Never heard how much the lawyers wound up getting in the end.I wonder sometimes.
 
So, whats the answer?


Better organization of SFWDA? A new group? What?

I don't have the answer, but between all the smart people here, I'm sure we can come up with a good start.
 
Here is an idea for a huge voice. NC4x4 (club) with all the other now existing clubs/groups being chapters if they so desire. Each club/groups leadership can represent their membership here as part of a committee in a closed forum to discuss issues where one public voice is needed. No changes to any club/groups rules or bylaws. The "committee members" can take concerns to their membership discuss and bring back what their group/club thinks about given topic and then in turn take the outcome of that discussion to whatever entity that needs to be told what we want. Yes there will be some logistics to work out but it would be a very good way to combine our voices and still maintain the clubs and groups we enjoy individually.
 
^^^That's what I was thinking...have one parent club and have the rest basically be charters. But then you have the issue of, are the charters representing what NC4x4 Club wants to represent.
 
NC4x4 club = bad idea, we are all already here exchanging ideas, all the clubs are already represented, no reason to try and make NC4x4 the parent club IMO, the financial and political issues that would arise, in my opinion, would destroy the board.

Let it be the medium for discussion and idea exchange that it already is, but parent club, bad idea, I don't think you have any idea what kind of manpower and money it would take to actually do that on the scale you guys are talking.
 
Hell I thought NC4x4 was a club :lol:

Everytime I meet a rig on the road the first thing I ask them, "are you on NC4x4?" Not are you in this club or that one.



I think this is the 800lb gorrilla, all the parts are already in place. How can we make NC4x4 a stronger voice?

One thing we know is NC is a very large state. We can do polls and vote, thats already a feature on this site.
 
My dues are paid in full, I consider NC4x4 my club and overall voice in the NC fourwheeling community. Its open to all to visit but becoming a subscribed member allows certain benifits. Benifits most of us are aware of, but one hidden benifit (in my eyes) is my financial pledge make me a "part of the club."
The purpose and intent of this sight in my mind is to channel tech, up to date land info, events calenders, and discusion of all things 4wd. Seems like a united voice or a pretty good simalance of a club to me. I may not wheel regularly for various reasons but I am and will continue to stay connected to what I enjoy through what I consider my club. And when I'm financially and physically ready I'll happily support what I consider a subordinate so to speak through a local group. As for joining a local group now? Well, as someone already stated: being on the list and not participating comes accross to many as non committed and burdensome.
So why isn't the NC4x4 group considered a united voice?
 
nc4x4 = internet forum, we are forum members, etc. etc.


NC4x4 club = bad idea, we are all already here exchanging ideas, all the clubs are already represented, no reason to try and make NC4x4 the parent club IMO, the financial and political issues that would arise, in my opinion, would destroy the board.

Let it be the medium for discussion and idea exchange that it already is, but parent club, bad idea, I don't think you have any idea what kind of manpower and money it would take to actually do that on the scale you guys are talking.
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I tend to agree. I'm not so sure that making NC4x4 'the club' is what Rob is getting at with this thread
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
So why isn't the NC4x4 group considered a united voice?
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I'm not sure that's so much the issue... as it is that there's no advocacy arm here. That's kind of the role that I see Friends of Uwharrie taking on, except specifically focused on URE rather than land use in general.

But the thing that BlueRibbon, United, Southern, and all the rest have going for them is established channels for advocacy, lobbying, and litigation. That's not to say they're perfect, just that they do exist.

I understand that lots of people are pissed off at Southern for a variety of different reasons... but I don't understand how a NC4WDA and a GA4WDA and a TN4WDA, AL4WDA, FL4WDA, etc etc would be "better". Or if we have ideas for how to make them better, why those ideas couldn't be applied to Southern instead?
 
isn't a forum a fancier electronicly geared word for club? Or is it merely a intronet based discusion group where computer animocity has it's perks if someone should diagree with another. clubs seem like churches who worship the same entity. if somebody doesn't agree with the status quo they just jump ship and start a new worship group. I think thats the mentality that others are trying to abate. we enjoy the same entity (4WD) but we refuse to list ourselves together under a common banner that can be accounted for when the bean counters are counting beans.
 
Shawn could however, set up a linked system with United,Blue Ribbon,and/or Southern, SO that when you paid your dues on nc4x4 ,to get a diamond, there would also be an option to pay for the additional dues to those other groups.

Say..instead of just 5.50..I could pay my 50,60 or whatever on this forum, and opt for the other memberships too.

I bet a lot of folks would support those groups if this option were available, conveniantly, here on NC4X4.

Maybe instead of an orange diamond...those who choose to donate through nc4x4 could get a fancy black diamond or something that distinguishes them.


Just a thought...
 
Dylan W. said:
Shawn could however, set up a linked system with United,Blue Ribbon,and/or Southern, SO that when you paid your dues on nc4x4 ,to get a diamond, there would also be an option to pay for the additional dues to those other groups.
Say..instead of just 5.50..I could pay my 50,60 or whatever on this forum, and opt for the other memberships too.
I bet a lot of folks would support those groups if this option were available, conveniantly, here on NC4X4.
Maybe instead of an orange diamond...those who choose to donate through nc4x4 could get a fancy black diamond or something that distinguishes them.
Just a thought...
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Yea but then he would be responsible for an exchange of $$ for a completely unrelated third party, that just begs for issues to come up . . .
 
Yeah but the earth could be destroyed in 2012...he'd be off the hook.

Seriously though, I think it could be worked out responsibly.
 
Dylan W. said:
Yeah but the earth could be destroyed in 2012...he'd be off the hook.
Seriously though, I think it could be worked out responsibly.
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I like the idea of the unified voice.I think Rox&mud has the right idea or at least he took the initiative and has presented an idea.I don't see why there couldn't be a spokesman for the forum who meets or at least talks to all the Lead guys of each group to get an idea of way everyone feels.
 
retroedaddy said:
I don't see why there couldn't be a spokesman for the forum who meets or at least talks to all the Lead guys of each group to get an idea of way everyone feels.
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Thats not for any of us to decide... 1 (2) people have to decide that, not us...



This same discussion has come up before in the past, a NC4WDA, etc. and fizzled out to nothing. I think we are beating a dead horse there.

I'm not saying I have the answer, but we've been down that road before with no results. Hell, I don't even have a suggestion. But, we need something more than what it is now and another club isn't the answer
 
just my 2 cents...

i joined Triad Trail Junkies for the fact that it started as M/Gs that really took off and it was right here close to home vs. a 60 mile drive every month. met a bunch of great people and it became a club. now we meet every month and we are trying to become more involved with the important rolls of keeping our sport alive.
its not like we're all in a different "gang" and cant get along.

dont get me wrong, i see both points in this thread and think there are alot of strong points on both sides of this discussion.
 
My .02 Look at where we were 5 or 10 years ago. We as a group have grown a lot in size and strength and already share common view on major issues. As mentioned most clubs support other clubs events and there is very little in fighting that seems to be common else where.

Not speaking for Shawn but NC4x4 was established when most clubs didn't ride together or hardly speak, the internet/online forums were picking up a lot of steam. etc.. The forum was a way to bring people together with out getting mixed up in each clubs stuff.

Personally I think we are all ready again to put our uniqueness aside to come together to support our common goals with a larger unified voice. Be it better representation and participation with existing organizations or crafting up something new that fits 'our' needs.

Regardless of what shape it takes, I think an outline of what the current issues are and some basic goals need to be created.

anyway...
 
I think that if Shawn agreed to be the collection agent for membership into Southern, United and Blue Ribbon, that it would be awesome. I am sure all of the above would greatly appreciate the added membership. I would not participate, since I already am a paid member of those.
IF you ever been to one of Southerns meeting, like Dixie Run, there is a roll call. Anyone that is a paid member through here would answer the roll, it gets loud at times! LOL
Not only answer the roll, but have direct contact with the leaders, lawyers and so on to voice your concerns, and opinions.
I am in two clubs, as mentioned. I (IMO) don't give near as much to either as I would like to.but I do what I can.
IMO nothing wrong with a group of guys getting together and calling them self a club. Don't like the gang thing at all. Todays view of a "gang" is all negative. The term Gang has come a long way from "our Gang"(little Rascals). Club insinuates an organized group, with a common goal. We do get together quite often at The devils Playground, The Farm, and the Flats. then there are the bigger things like The Toy Run, Dixie Run, Aprils Fool Ride, and Fun Caravan. We meet up with many folks from here Ride, Camp, tell lies, and joke around.
Sorry for the babbling, too many hours no sleep
 
My intent was not intended to throw this issue into Shawn's lap but to simply offer an idea. As with most things someone has to come along and be negative. I propose that instead of complaining about a issue, or someone else's idea, come up with an idea of your own, explain your position and see if it resonates with others.

As with the Callalantee forum, seen only to a small group of club/group leaders, it would be simple enough to let the club/group leadership from all the entities pool their input from their respective membership into a similar single venue. I'm quite sure that a spokesman could be elected among those leaders to engage with any external entity to present our views as one voice. As I stated before, there would be a lot of hurtles to overcome but I know I'm willing to work with the other club/group leadership to find a way to present a unified voice.
 
My problem is I don't participate in the board enough to make informed decisions, in all honesty, I just happened to come across this thread and paid attention i guess but normally I don't have time hardly.

However, from my standpoint, dealing with all these different events, and Co's, Magazine's, media, and folks in all types of off-roading across the east coast. In my opinion I don't think Shawn should have to head it up, just from knowing what kind of implications, requirements, and whatnot would be really needed.

Once again this may be showing my ignorance of lack of board participation, but the friends of uwharrie . . . isn't that what they are doing anyway, except just for uwharrie? Why not have a section for them rather than just being Uwharrie, friends of 4wheelin, or something like that. They could be the "voice" for nc4x4. When there are issues let them host polls in chit chat and what gets decided is nc4x4's official vote. Maybe they are a part of southern, maybe they are their own entity . . . but I see that as being better to have something like that as the unofficial "political wing" of nc4x4 rather than putting it all, including any monies gathered, on Shawn.

Just an idea, I also am of agreeance(is that a word?) that making new clubs is good for the people and having fun, but not for the sport/politics. An association, however to me seems like it would be more for the politics, not the fun side of things. And frankly lets be honest, the folks in the association will spend most of thier time beating on peoples figurative "front doors" trying to get people to back them because most people really don't care. So the time requirements to do something like that needs to go to someone who can really devote themselves to it full time, and it will take more than one person doing it full time.

The other issue, and I'll be honest here, is that ya'll are kinda fighting your own fight as trail riders in the big "off-road" picture. Anyone in the Pulling or Mud world, in all honesty, really could care less about saving public lands or trails, because those are not spectator - "ie: money" driven sports, so to speak.

I have a national tour schedule now that I've teamed up with Mud Life Magazine from freakin Florida, to Texas, to Main, Ohio, etc, etc. And I can tell you right now:
-spectators could care less, they just wanna party
-Racers could care less because all this stuff is held on private land so if one gets shut down there are already 5 more that have popped up in the mean time because with spectators, its lucrative, there is money to be made
-And the land owners, really could care less (for the most part) because they are just in it to make money or throw a party.

This is not my opinion, I'm just stating facts, as trail riders, unfortunately you can't draw big numbers or money because its not a spectator driven thing. Its a participant driven hobby, and not many folks in the big picture actually wheel.



I think, however, the big thing that people are ignoring here, is the ATV crowd, there are way, way, way, more of them than us, and it is majority participant driven, and they want to save the same things ya'll do. To not pursue the ATV/UTV crowd and some kinda team up makes your efforts seem Ill-directed IMO.
 
I haven't seen in mentioned, but one reason some folks may have started these new clubs is to have a dedicated like minded group to wheel with, or to wheel with a smaller group. Personally, I prefer to wheel with a group of 2-5 rigs. Any more than 5 rigs, and the pace seems to slow down too much for my liking.
 
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