> " .... resisting being members?" " .... complaints about OBC?"
You are referring to the largest and most successful cycling club in Canada. Likely we offer the most diverse set of programs of any club in North America and possibly anywhere in the world. There's nothing that matches the Rideau Lakes Tour and the Grand Prix is the best race in Canada. We publish a fine newsletter. People vote with their wheels - participation is increasing (the reason I posted data on membership and RLCT registrations). We have hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers, and an active and vibrant Board of directors. We are financially healthy. We have a stable level of membership (1,000), the vast majority of them return year after year, indicating a pretty good level of satisfaction. When members feel the need to express their feelings about the way the club is steered, they show up in force at the general meeting of members. To the allegation "people feeling unwelcome" non-member Michael Slavitch makes, the facts suggest otherwise. Members of the Board go to great lengths to make people feel welcome at our events. Tour leaders and others are encouraged to act as club ambassadors in seeking out new members. Three or four years back we introduced an annual "meet the directors night" for new members. We also let prospective members participate in our events in the hope they will become fully paid up members. Some posters here just demonstrate a lack of awareness and don't seem to care just how much time our directors and volunteers put in to make cycling an enjoyable experience for our members and prospective members. Even though we are continually reviewing and finetuning our programs during our annual planning session and at monthly Board meetings based on feedback we get, I acknowledge it is impossible to be all things to all people, specially tho ones that would impose a different agenda to that which the club has been delivering for last 30 or so years. But those that don't find what they want in the OBC may find a niche in the Kanata/Nepean Club (or is it Nepean/Kanata?), Citizens for Safe Cycling, or a club of their own. (How about the O-Transpo Passengers Cycling Club?) This mailing list is operated by the OBC for club members. It's a means for the club and its members to exchange information. While we do not prohibit outsiders from posting to it, we expect guests to our facility to do so in a courteous and respectful manner (just as we expect our own members to). Guests have the same freedom of access to our list as OBC members. They are not however accorded the same privileges as are granted to club members who, after all, pay the bills to operate the club. The OBC is a private club not a public resource. As they say, "he who pays the piper calls the tune" In my opinion, it shows a lack of respect to our members if a person posts with suggestions on what the OBC should and shouldn't do without identifying his or herself, and/or without acknowledging he or she is not a member. The tone of the replies from non-members to my request suggests the reminder above is necessary. Avery Burdett President ------ Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (613) 230-1064 Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.a2i8p1 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
