Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms MSSC, 100days at (nearly) the top. What has improved

K

I agree with both of you, I have been involved with 3 areas because of Geographic location. I was involved at the start of Fossilmog, but once it became formalised (in a very loose sense), it started to become the midweek tea and beer runs, holding little interest for me. I made other suggestions, such as trips to Museums, car shows, hill climbs, track events, but this was ignored effectively, IMO. So I have now removed myself from any regular participation in any one area and only selectively attend events of interest. I personally have found what I have experienced locally frustrating. However I have also met some lovely more like minded MOG owners who we keep in touch with and meet up with when possible. I have shifted my attention to going to fun or charity hill climbs or track events, ie Shelsley, Prescott, Castle Coombe etc and meeting TM friends who have similar views and interest in cars generally.

With respect to Peters comment re getting involved to make change, yes I agree with that, but that can only come about if individuals voices and suggestions are allowed to be heard.

Yes, the "Centres" vary enormously in character. Some are great, some are a bit stuck in their ways and others are stuck in a bit of a time warp.

I've been lucky, perhaps. LogMog is a very friendly and welcoming bunch and not at all stuffy. The Centre Secretary also attends most of the NCMs. But even so it organises activities that don't interest me, like a walking treasure hunt. So we don't go.

Since then I've joined SwanMog, been to Fossil Mog events and will get involved with others in the South. I'm going up to the MW on business and will call in at a DEVAMOG Noggin on Thursday: I want to meet as many Centres as possible, to see how they differ.

BUT I do accept that there is a tendency to spend more time eating and talking than driving, I'm not sure why.

Remember, running a Centre takes time and effort, and has to follow certain rules to be officially "recognised" by the MSCC and the Motor Sports Association so that third party insurance cover is in place. MSCC is a member of the MSA and so the MSA requirements cascade down.
Details of the MSA Certificate of Exemption here

So, yes, if you want a "Centre" that reflects your interests by all means try setting up a new Centre. I've got some ideas, I'll ping you and e-mail.

Peter

Totally agree on this one and I have a similar experience with the local centres to Adrian. I was also involved in the founding of Fossilmog (originally just a group of mates meeting up with no association to MSCC)
Sadly, the moment it became a "club" egos took over and certain people wanted to be "in charge"
I think I must just be generally averse to clubs.
I much prefer the general wit, anarchy and friendship that I have found through TM.


I too am giving MSCC one more year after 10 years of membership. For me, their only recent shining light was MOG 2015 which was superb.

It is perhaps a little disingenuous of me to comment on this topic as I am not a member. I was a member between 1981 and 1986. I was then a thirty something with a 4/4 and with one exception found the members stuffy and self important. I have attended a Fossilmog picnic last summer where a number of people on this board made me very welcome, some of the others were very much of the ilk from the 80s comments like you have a badge bar why no badges etc etc. These days I do not live near a centre and would have no inclination to travel a great distance to go to a meet. The local car club is informal and fun with no pretentious people. I spent the latter part of my career helping organisations change and a change of culture has to come from within and the willingness of people to embrace change / see the value of change. If the MSCC does not change it will wither and sooner or later someone will set up an alternative organisation ..... I have seen this happen with a yacht club, that club has now changed dramatically and has embraced the alternative organisation. I will watch with interest and hope the new chair of vice is successful

Pete

That's 2 miles down the road from us and we know the Pastor there!

I'm really with Adrian on this, many centres have very little motoring content which doesn't really suit me. We have arranged a track day in August with a mixture of Morgan owners and others with track day toys, a weekend run to Paris in Septrmber involving some fast country roads there and back, a few tunnels in Paris, a couple of decent meals, etc. Also the Plus 8 owners meet at Goodwood, hope this takes place.

Crunchie picks up his Zenos in September, so we'll have a few cars meet him at the factory, a meal and a night in a local hostelry and a drive back home. Book it in Asbo as we're in your neck of the woods!

Hopefully a run to the south of France in October, etc, etc. All really arranged by email and with some TM'ers coming. I think it's probably difficult for a club like MSCC to fulfil all our requirements, but why not a virtual centre with motoring at its core. Would it work or do TM and other motoring sites fulfill this need already?

A recent DonMog Centre Secretary (worried about being lumbered forever) made us change our constitution to limit our officers to a maximum of 3 years. Whilst finding a new volunteer can be stressful (most members are retired and our new Centre Secretary is working full time - I am exempt having done my few years a while ago.

The compelled change avoids egos and brings a refreshing change of style every 3 years. We still rely on the same few people to organise things though - as is the way with all clubs. Our calendar is a good mix of eating / social events and driving events including a modest autotest and a Car Trial - both with an emphasis on participation.

Referring back to Peter's idea of a TM centre - all you need is a group of people prepared to approach the NCM for approval using a variant of the "model constitution" and you are away. The only officer you actually need is a Centre Secretary prepared to deal with a few emails and kick "volunteers" into action for event organising. If you keep things simple and avoid collecting money off people then it should be straightforward. I can even suggest a name:
FosseMog

Not sure what the advantages of a formal centre are over the current means of organising TM meets though.

morganscc seems to be available in .co.uk and .org, plus a lot of other variants.

The regional clubs I have come across all seem very similar - predominately retired couples and a few widow/widowers with a preference for runs, lunches local attraction visits and holidays.

I like em - nice and friendly people in the main.

There are other general car clubs that would better suit some owners.

Came across these at a local car meet last weekend.

http://www.lindholmemsc.co.uk

I'm inclined to agree with Mike here. To change the current mindset is likely to be very hard work especially as I say there is no recognition of a need to change in many local centres, and we'll probably all be turning our toes skywards before its achieved.

Lets look at what we have here.. on TM we have like minded Morgan owners that seem to enjoy each others company and when we do meet up in person its enjoyable. So why don't we use TM as the online forum (as it is) but develop some local centres (which in effect is already happening) and move towards an alternative and new 'club' structure? doing the things the majority of us like doing rather than the current offering. I'd be willing to help and I'm sure there are others on here.. instead of us moaning about it, lets do something?