AGM 2018 ???
We had no AGM in 2017. It is probably too late now for an AGM in 2018 Are we gong to have one in 2019?
There is no news of any sort filtering through from any of the club officers. We need to have an AGM in order to get what looks like a state of complacency sorted out and not waste all the hard work that the late Tony Baskill put into this club.
It is possible to communicate with the entire globe in seconds in this twenty first century so surely someone among the club offiicers could let the rest of us know just what is or isnt happening. Can we have some committment please?.
Suggest just setting a 1 hour conference call and see if you can get a quorum for a online AGM meeting, then minute the discussion and any actions. Job done.
It does need whoever is the Chair and Committee to communicate.
neither of you have the red flag that indicates that you are members, if I'm wrong my apologies
I haven't responded before although I have been keeping track.
It would be good to hear from whoever are the committe nowadays as to what their plans for the club are going forward. I know there was a lot of talk a while ago about upgrading the website whch was going to be very expensive but, as far as I'm aware, nothing has happened since.
I can't remember what the estimate of the cost was but it was a lot. Quite a few thousand pounds.
It is a really useful source of knowledge and I, for one, would miss it if it weren't here but maybe there aren't enough members to warrant upgrading. My understanding was that if we didn't upgrade then the people in India who make it all work would simply allow it to grind to a halt - although obviously that hasn't happened yet.
Maybe there's a cheaper way of keeping the site running and keeping all the technical information and historical threads that give solutions to common problems available. Or maybe we should just allow it to carry on as it is, which actually doen't seem that bad to me. I have no idea what the cost is of keeping things as they are.
Or maybe the site should simply cease to exist and the funds in the club's account be shared amongst the paid up members?? As far as I recall from the last AGM that I attended there was quite a tidy sum.
Well
I rarely contribute to this site as my technical knowledge is limited but I have and do enjoy the wealth of info available
I've been a paid up member for quite a few years now and my vote would be to continue as is should the costs for a revamp of the site be prohibitive.
looks like my red flag is missing as well
Well done fraj. Simple check.
History of GWOA shows Rupert van Hullen has taken on the sole lead of the company over the past 3 years.
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05883923/filing-history
There is about 9.5k of member fees/assets in the company. Company address moved to Rupert as he became the sole Director, just 1 month ago, so some things are active (just not this website side of things).
You cant help those that dont want to be helped, but good to offer.Lets hope there are some plans afoot from Rupert?
No red flag indicates you aren't a member, but mine was slow being restored so I accept your comments
Does anyone know if GWOA is affiliated or have good relations with any of the less specific car clubs (for example The Mercedes Benz Club)? Maybe they, or another such club, would be interested in having an area set aside for G Wagens at one of their summer events.
The MBC has it's annual concours on June 15 next year at Milton Keynes.
It would be a great way of showcasing perhaps MB most iconic model and a perfect way to encourage many of our members to attend and meet up.
Any thoughts/ideas?
GWOA needs to stay alive in whatever form it can. Please.
The information, knowledge and expertise available here only gets more valuable with time - especially to owners like me with older cars, lots of enthusiasm but no relevant skills. (and oh so often taken for a ride by "specialists"!)
Becoming part of another club in some way to preserve what GWOA has (including identity) seems a good way to go.
If GWOA has money, it can buy-in to that club, covering costs of transfer of information, website expansion, forum space and so on.
We can also add numbers to that club's events with something (Gs, Unimog, P4, Pinzgauer etc) that they may or may not have represented otherwise.
I can give time but only when I have it - random work means I am unpredictable and travel a fair bit though.
There was a similar thread to this a few months ago and many good ideas were put forward.
The ideas are there but action is what's needed, of course.
To our one Director: I live near you and can meet at pretty short notice.
To everyone: That meeting can be just coffee for two, coffee and cake for a few, an AGM, a gathering somewhere interesting or a full-blown party/event. Whatever, let's do something.
Equally happy if that something is to tell me to back off as it's all in hand... :-)
I hope you are both OK FRAJ?
Think i was at the same point a few years back with this thread...
I could see what was coming... and it's arrived.... but worse than i thought possible!
Rupert as far as i am aware has not really been involved in the GWOA day to day, when he showed up at the last AGM i attended in i think 2015 at Gaydon, even the then Chairman didn't know who he was when he was sat in front of him?
The top tier of the GWOA never seemed to embrace the current tech age and have now been left behind with regards the forum, dear old Tony was the only "old school" person that did, but even he was just one man!
As for the club and meets its the same as always, people put masses of time and effort in and even of the small few that commit only a tiny handful stand up and be counted... like yourselves the same few everytime.
It wears!!!
Just the same as any community, it needs input from all members... and there are many ways to input without it being financial
Experience, knowledge, passion, enthusiasm... even just a thank you..... but 99% dont... so it dies...
Perhaps join a different community like the vast majority of the ex members on the above thread did... it thrives!
PS I am not a GWOA commitee member and have not been since 2015 when i had enough and moved my time and effort else where :0(
Gav
Just renewed my membership and hope to hear more about activities in 2019.
You are brave George, and maybe proof that the red member banner works?
I want GWOA to continue, adapt, re-generate. But I am reluctant to pay each year if there is not even an attempt to open up to members and respond. Rupert needs to invite a new committee, who are hands on and will be active in change, and use some of the accumulated subscriptions to support and boost the club. I'd hate to think they might just be siphoned away - the constitution shouldn't allow that.
best Hello to all those who are on this thread. I have been a member since the mid nineties and to be fair not really contributed to any of the GWOA events. I have enjoyed the exchange of knowledge and advice available on the forum but little else. For some years there was a good magazine and newsletter very well produced by enthusiastic members with great stories and news of events here and abroad. Sadly after a while the energy wanes quite naturally and everything goes into decline. This decline was probably not helped by some discord amongst a few rogue members. However the current situation is not satisfactory. The limited company is a legal entity and must abide by company law or apply for disallution from Companies House. Whoever is the registered Chairman and Company Secretary are liable to hold Annual General meetings of the company and to approve audited accounts. This must be done as a matter of urgency.
I have two Gs, both 460 models and am a member of a self styled Southern 460 group who hold lunch meetings and usually a short Euro tour every year. On occasion we have met with the French Mercedes 4X4 Club which is very strong and well organised.
I think some of the GWOA membership troubles are that the membership is very widespread across the UK and elsewhere so any sort of group meetings are difficult to arrange. (There have been valiant attempts in the past to get people together).
The legal responsibilities of the GWOA need to be urgently addressed and thereafter the way forward can be planned.
If I can be be of any help in this process then if time permits count me in. I have no idea what a conference call might be. We are 40 miles from central London and have no internet other than our own satellite dish, so it’s pretty poor!
Best regards. Rowland Kenny
Hi Rowland.
I'm not too far from you (I'm in East Sussex) so if you have another one of those Southern get togethers let me know and I'll come along.
In fact, post details up on here and I'm sure there are other members who would be interested.
Has everyone here seen the note in the Members Area, under Organisational Items?
Lays out who's who pretty well.
OE68
So heres the thing. I wanted to see the 'Org Chart' mentioned by OldEnglish and since it was in the Members area I decided to re-join (like I said, its not so much the money as knowing that it actually supports the 'owners association').
First point is proof that the red flag is automatically re-stored. That will stop some gripes on here about that.
Disappointed though that paying my annual membership has been backdated to when my previous expired in May 2018, so I just paid for <6 months it seems. I have emailed about that seeming unfair to me. Lets see.
But I still cannot see what OE68 is talking about. All the contacts under 'Committee' seem to be old and out of date.
However, the fact that the website has seen posts and updates on other pages means that someone is managing the site, and recently too. They just choose not to respond to the Forum messages? Lets see - hopefully this club/association is not going to be run in the shadows.
Keep the chat coming. I hope to get my G back this weekend. Its been a long wait.
Hi Gav,
Many thanks for your response. I know I may be hitting my head against a brick wall ............ and it will be nice when I stop..... but I have to try.
I am only guessing here, but my guess is that Rupert Van Hullen is a GWOA Ltd. officer more for his legal expertise than as a club member. I would think that he is in the unenviable position of having been "left holding the baby" so to speak.
As it is now getting close to the silly season I will wait untill after Christmas and write to Rupert and ask if he would call a extraordinary general meeting with the view to electing WORKING club officers and a WORKING committee. OR. Failing that to come to a decision concerning winding up the GWOA altogether. Including what to do with the remaining club funds. They are reasonably substantial.
I read the entire content of your link Gav, There seemed to be a whole lot more people supporting the club then than there are at this time. I do not for one moment think that £25 is what is keeping them silent. I know folks like something for nothing but if you run a G Wagen you won`t get much for nothing.
I have sent you a personal message Gav as there are things I wanted to convey to you that I did not want in the public domain as they are of a personal nature.
Got your PM and have belatedly responded... didn't seem to get a notification of it landing, it also send that mine hadn't sent but hopefully it has!
Thanks for your response jdring. Unfortunately I spent 58 years driving trucks and about 5 minutes driving a computer. I would not know how to do a conefrence call.
The lack of communication from club officers is the main thing that is lacking. We have a chairman, or did have, a secretary so I believe and a committee. The only response I have had is from both the western area reps, north and south. From all others nothing, zero, zilch sweet "Fanny Adams". Not good enough.