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Post by jeepchipjones on Nov 21, 2004 23:12:45 GMT -5
I got to thinking about tools, building, and fabricating, and I wondered what everyone would think about paying an annual fee to purchase tools for everyones use whenever they need it. This fee will also help the keep up of the new tools, as well as the tools we use of others (ex. Brad's welder). We could also include a free sticker for those who pay their dues. I just threw a random number ($40) out there to get your reactions. This is a club decision, and will only take place if we have a majority vote. This decision can only be made by members that are local and actually ride and/or attend some (not all) meetings. So, let me know what you think.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on Nov 22, 2004 7:52:33 GMT -5
I voted no. Anybody is free to use my welder whenever they want...
1. we have no place to keep all these tools.
2. we are mostly students and most people will only be here for 2-3 years.
I don't feel like we would be offering much for $40 a year. that's what caos charges and they have gray rock and discounts at vendors out the wazoo. I think most people would turn and run, and we would have a lot less members. best thing for you to do is buy the bender or whatever, then charge whoever wants to use it $40 or something... then when you graduate and move you can take it with you and nobody has any hard feelings... I don't think we are organized enough to keep up with dues and all.... and I kind of like it that way.
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Post by rsmith on Nov 22, 2004 9:49:04 GMT -5
I am still a little undecided about my vote. I completely agree with Brad about the tool thing. We have tried this concept on the farm with buying equipment and it ended in nothing but heatache. If that tool gets broken it may not be discovered until the next person uses and then the blames start to fly. It creates a lot of responsiblity for the person that oversees the tools.
I think if we did dues then the person should get a set of stickers, then a portion of the money go to join a larger 4 wheel organization like the Southern 4 wheel Drive Association that is proactive in maintaining places like Tellico. Maybe the rest of the money could be put up to participate in promotional activities - like supplies to build an RTI Ramp.
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Post by JWP on Nov 22, 2004 9:52:51 GMT -5
I voted no to dues especially for tools. Tools would make us like little kids wanting to take toys away from other kids.
As far as dues to be part of something bigger like southern four wheel drive association. CAOS dues to go that and that would be something good for us all to join.
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Post by rsmith on Nov 22, 2004 9:54:50 GMT -5
By the way, I have a Miller AC/DC stick, cutting torch, pipe bender and other tools that doesn't get used enough. So if anyone gets in a bind just let me know.
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Post by jeepchipjones on Nov 22, 2004 11:19:10 GMT -5
What are all the benefits from joining the larger offroad associations? I know some of it goes to trail maintenance and the making of new trails/keeping the ones now open. Is there anything else that goes along with that? I can see where it would be a problem when a tool ends up missing.
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Post by broncocraigellis on Nov 22, 2004 11:32:07 GMT -5
the larger 4wd orginizations like Southern and United are our voice to other people and organizations. They have the lobbying power and are organized enough to effect decision making in government. Southern here in the Southeast and United all over the country especially out West. United fights to keep our trails open in Utah, California, and Colorado when the land grabbers want to close trails because some threatened species MAY be affected by 4wheeling(thinking of Panamit Valley in CA-the trail was closed because a certain frog species MIGHT have been hurt by 4wheeling traffic).
so i feel joining those organizations is a good thing. i kind of agree with the others about tools. once i really thought about the dynamics of having community tools, it would be hard to make it work. like jason said we'd all be like kids fighting over toys. also, you guys know that my tools are community tools anyway, so it's no big deal.
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Post by rsmith on Nov 22, 2004 11:37:03 GMT -5
The main benefit I see is that it helps to keep the trails that we enjoy riding on open. The bigger the voice the more influence that the froading community will have. I also get their newsletter in the mail since I am a member of CAOS The newsletter has a ton of information in it - trail experiences and legislation stuff etc.
Chip I need to talk to you about your brackets. I think I may need to look at them myself. The drawing are great, but I need to look at it so i can get an idea as to how to set the machine up and how to cut each individual part.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on Nov 22, 2004 11:39:03 GMT -5
I sent an email inquiring about joining SFWDA.
I will let you all know what they say about how to join. I think it would be worth having dues to be a member of the SFWDA. maybe we should start another poll about dues, but leave out the tool thing. We could let dues include the membership in the SFWDA and GTJC, includes stickers, and maybe a once a year cookout or something... maybe even a T-shirt if Craig could hook us up.
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Post by broncocraigellis on Nov 22, 2004 11:48:11 GMT -5
that's possible. i have checked on the southern membership thing before, but i can't remember what they said. i've still got an application at home i can look at for reference. i assume we would join as a club and part of our dues would go to both southern and united.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on Nov 22, 2004 11:50:42 GMT -5
yeah, as a club... I will look into united as well
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Post by jeepchipjones on Nov 22, 2004 11:51:33 GMT -5
That sounds good Brad, let us know what you find out. I emailed them a while back when we first started the club, Ill see if I still have the reply. Nope, I dont. If I remember right, I think its $25 a person, and that gets you membership into both groupsf (Southern and United), but I could be wrong.
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Post by broncocraigellis on Nov 22, 2004 13:53:13 GMT -5
chip you're right, membership in southern gets you an automatic membership in united. they both have some cool stickers.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on Nov 24, 2004 8:41:50 GMT -5
Okay, everyone who in interested in being a member of SFWDA, needs to get me $25 and their mailing address as soon as possible. we will join as a club, but I have to send a roster with $25 per person. They are in the middle of doing their renewals for 2005 right now so its a good time. It is not going to be mandatory but it is going for a very good cause... help do your part. I hope we can send in a large list of members. I am going to give a deadline of Dec. 15.
Jason and Rob, this doesn't apply to you since you are already members through CAOS. unless you want to get 2 newsletters... ;D
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Post by JWP on Nov 24, 2004 13:34:00 GMT -5
I don't understand why everyone doesn't just join CAOS. You'll have $25 going to SFWDA and the rest goes to CAOS and makes you eligible for once a month club rides and once a month work days that generally end up being more like rides. It is well worth it to me to know that at least once a month, I can go riding if I want to and don't have to worry about rounding people up or making sure land is available.
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