The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

[JWLaRue]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

....and wait until you see what the iPad version costs!

[steveneill]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

Ahahahahahahah!!!!

steve

[steve jensen]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

If I have been processing the information I’ve been reading, correctly; based on the numbers and ideas, as presented in the previous 8 pages, it appears that;

Only a small percentage of the membership accesses the web pages…possibly due to a lack of computer skills, or some other reason that limits them.

A very small minority reads/understands the information requested on the membership cards and fills them out correctly.

There is apparent difficulty finding individual people, or any SubRon, to work/host the Regatta, even with another club picking up at least a portion of the heavy lifting.

There is the continuous call for articles for the SCR…no throngs of members waving their hands, like in the 6th grade saying "pick mine, pick mine'.

And finally, there has been an on going post; (Or so it seems) for members to ‘step-up’ and fill the vacancies in the SCR …even with dire warnings of the imminent loss of the magazine… and still, the positions remain unfilled.

It seems that somewhere along the line the majority of the club membership either has gone to living in their parent’s basements, or has such an outlandish sense of entitlement that they expect to have all of the above mentioned benefits of a ‘club’ without participation, other than paying dues.

I know this sounds a bit harsh, but as outlined, these appear to be the circumstances, as I understand them.
One last example; how many different people have participated in this conversation?
Steve Jensen

[Guest]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

I'm afraid this kind of malaise is far from exclusive to the Sub Committee, it is highly prevalent in all clubs and societies. I think this represents a change of values within society in general. People want to be entertained rather than entertain.

The larger a club or society is, the more difficult it becomes to engage with members as a whole. Folk tend to pair off into smaller 'sub' groups (no pun intended) forming clubs within clubs, committee members can become entrenched, and a risk of complacency sets in.

I find it difficult to believe that a large majority of members in this organisation either lack understanding of, or don't own a computer. This kind of hobby tends to attract people with technical skills, and 'puters are just another (perhaps the ultimate) gadget. Lack of engagement in these forums may be due to other factors, or may simply be reflecting my own opinion that only 10-15% of the membership of any organisation really roll up their sleeves and get involved.

I personally have never advocated the removal of a printed magazine, just the option of an electronic one.

The setting up of regular columns in the report will go some way I think to getting over the bottleneck in copy.

[skip asay]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

"majority of the club membership either has gone to living in their parent’s basements, or has such an outlandish sense of entitlement that they expect to have all of the above mentioned benefits of a ‘club’ without participation, other than paying dues."

Steve, to a certain extent, you've hit the nail on the head. However, what seems to have been put on the back burner is that, according to our membership chairman, only about 10% of the members are exposed to this discussion. I would be willing to bet that if THE WHOLE MEMBERSHIP was involved the chances of filling the empty slots would be greatly improved. Someone has to write up a comprehensive article for the Report so that ALL MEMBERS can get involved. No, let me rephrase that. So that ALL MEMBERS get a CHANCE to get involved.

I realize that making the SCR available in digital format sounds really good to some but I, personally, prefer a hard copy that I can take with me wherever I go and sit down and read at my leisure. I also feel that having a hard copy lends more credibility to the organization as a whole. And to those who are willing to step up to the plate ONLY IF the SCR goes digital, what are you accomplishing? There's certainly no reduction in the time and effort expended except that we would lose the need for a printer and postage. If anything, with the possibility of including movies, the workload will increase slightly.

But before we come to any conclusions, the ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP MUST be included in this discussion.

For what it's worth, that's my two cents.

Skip Asay

[JWLaRue]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

For me, there is still a lot of discussion needed...and it needs to offer the entire membership a voice, not just those of us who frequent these forums.

For those who are keeping up with the entire thread, let me remind you of the above......

-Jeff

[tabledancer]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

Again I agree with everything that Skip has just said.I don`t have all the skills nor the mind to get all the information from this damn computer.I like the idea of taking my copy with me to read anytime and anywhere that I please.



TD

[Guest]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

"For me, there is still a lot of discussion needed...and it needs to offer the entire membership a voice, not just those of us who frequent these forums. I have been following this topic on and off for what seems to be quite some time now, and I personally believe the subject matter has been discussed to some degree with various points of views and opinions at length, all good points may I add. I recall a couple surveys were in fact conducted regarding ones preference to continue the hard cover magazine, or switch to a pdf file format of presenting the quarterly SCR. There was a request at that time of members old and new alike regarding how the subcommittee and it's elected officers may improve the organization and ultimately secure the return of ex-members once more. I remain hopefull that after all the facts and figures pros and cons related to this issue are compiled, there will one day be some positive steps to move forward and present the information and alternatives to the subcommittee membership, possibly in the form of a ballot within the quarterly SCR itself if necessary outlining these findings and requesting a vote for final decission. We may then move forward, and concentrate on the next order of bussiness. Best Regards, Al,

[Guest]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

I agree with the above remarks. However I would like to point out that it was published in the report that a new editor would be required, well in advance, and on more than one occasion.

Also, there have been the regular pleas for articles and content over the years.

The concept of going electronic is to help encourage and maintain international membership, and hopefully encourage younger members into this hobby.

[steve jensen]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

Why not include this entire thread in the next issue of the SCR, for everybody who does not follow the web-site?
It would have the potential, at the very least, to reach the majority of the membership, and perhaps stir them to participate.
Steve Jensen

[pirate]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

What's an iPad?
Is that to go on the coffee cup holder that pops out of the front of the computer to keep the dripping coffee off of it, so it doesn't get stuck?
I still can't figure out where to stick the CD/DVD in. And what does that stand for anyway, Communicable Diseases/Department of Venereal Disease?

[don prince]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

I believe the printed SCR is what makes The Subcommittee unique in the online hobby community. I agree with Mr. Skip Assay that the printed SCR lends more credibility to the organization as a whole. Frankly, I would say that 99% of our members, including myself, would find the editor’s job overwhelming. I don't know enough about the process to make an intelligent decision about volunteering to help. Does the editor have meetings with staff members and discuss each SCR layout? Is there more than one person that proofs the SCR before it goes to print?

I just retired last year after working in the computer industry; hardware and software support for a little over 46 years. I am not an English major and always run MS Word to help correct my spelling and grammar.

I am in the process of selling our home here in Lexington, SC, and relocating to the Atlanta, Georgia, area. I may volunteer to help with the SCR editor position after I get settled. However, I don’t want to be a failure and make a damn fool of myself, or put the SCR in another bad situation. I believe anybody new who takes on the SCR editor’s position will need a great deal of help and guidance from the club officers and especially Mr. Jeff LaRue.

This posting may be for not, because our home has been on the market for almost 7 months and hasn’t sold yet. Maybe someone will step up and resolve the problem in the interim.

Regards,
Don_

[tmsmalley]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

My pals at the US Power Squadrons send me their on-line mag – they also allow a PDF download for printing or this page flippy thing for on-screen viewing…

http://www.theensign.org/imags/spring2010/pageflip.html

I am not a fan of going to a totally electronic SCR, and as Steve said, how many electronic magazines do you get at home? However, I submit this as an example of what an on-line magazine looks like.

Unfortunately, when you cut down the number of hard copy magazines printed, the cost per unit goes up so it would be expensive for the club to have both.

Tim

[tabledancer]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

OK,I tried it and like I said before,I don`t like it.I don`t want to fool with all the bells and whistles.I want to sit on my couch and put my feet up and read through my magazine.





TD

[Guest]

Re: The Future of the SubCommittee Report?

Works for me, although I don't like the way it zooms in, but the quality is fine. Interesting to see those electric outboards, I love (fullsize) electric boats- lots of poke, whisper quiet and non-polluting.