Should a modeller be a club member?

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I 've been asked this question by a skilled model boat builder friend of mine

I think he should be a club member, myself, for all sorts of reasons…….viz

It is not advise able to sale alone!……..Personal safety in this day and age is paramount!

Help is at hand at the club pond to assist with launching and model rescue etc

Useful exchange of ideas can be handy at times

Cheap source of relevant materials, equipment and bargains etc

Friendship and companionship

Club facilities

And somewhere to sail!

Think about it and join in?

Bob

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Bob,

I must agree from a personal experience not too long ago. Always sail when there are others at the lake, especially in this day and age –

I took a model for a trial run one evening when it was quiet (didn't want a first test in front of a crowd). Model was sailing ok, when along came a bunch of 'likely lads' recently released from Preston Prison. Oh-Oh thought I, anyhow managed to humour them, and let them have a try at sailing, until a couple of female friends they knew turned up and they moved on. Boat and belongings quickly loaded back into the car and I was lucky to escape with my model, wallet and anything else of value.

Always sail with the club, or at the very least when others are present.

A lesson learnt.

Tony.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

This is a subject that I have been pondering for a long time.

I have thought, on many occasions, of taking up your longstanding invitation to join Etherow and sail on your lovely lake but I've always avoided joining clubs as I'm the sort of grumpy loner that doesn't really fit in with interactive people and I would shy away from joining in with club activities.

The points that you make in recommending membership are well made especially the one about not sailing alone, Jane would have a hell of a job getting me out if I stumbled and fell into the canal and its not something that I want her to be worrying about.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Paul

We've got plenty of odd balls and quite a few loners too

Also quite a few experts…..As you already know

You'll fit in wel!………Lol

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Without deriding your excellent membership they would have to be more than just simple odd balls for me to fit in.

Thanks for sending me the photo….all the chaps need is a beach umbrella and long cool drinks.

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

I was a member of a "full" club a long time ago. By "full" I mean the club had a committee, officials, rules, a quarterly publication, an AGM etc etc. Needless to say the usual conflicts arose between factions and individuals; conflicts which generally had less to do with making and sailing model boats than with inflated egos. I became heartily sick of the whole thing and left.

Where we sail now – and by "we" I mean just a small bunch of like-minded old fogies – there's strictly no "club". We are obliged to belong to the Trust which owns and operates the site we use and we police our own conduct by mutual agreement and common sense – on pain of being barred from using the site. I/C and noisy electric models are not allowed, and car parking is controlled. We don't need anything more elaborate or formalised than that because it works.

Dave M

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 17/07/2014 16:53:44

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 17/07/2014 16:54:26

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

I think being a member of a club COULD be a good thing, although as Dave has said it comes with its drawbacks. The problem some of have is there no clubs close by. I know I can sail at Bushey Park and I think I am right in saying there is no official club there. Just the usual group of oddballs as Bob calls them. Sorry Ashley.

Andy (clubless wanderer looking for a drop of water in which to sail his boat).

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

As Andy has just said, there is no club at the park and thats the way we like it.

Unlike others and I quote "Where we sail now – and by "we" I mean just a small bunch of like-minded old fogies – " we are all young, good looking and able bodied, and are not prone to falling in. Andy "croc" Dundee goes wading now and then but the pond is reasonably shallow so drowning is not likely.

Ashley

 

Edited By ashley needham on 17/07/2014 18:44:27

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Our club is well organised and runs like a well oiled machine!

We have a full calendar each year……Quiz and HotPot supper…..licensed bar……club meetings twice a month….regattas……quizzes with prizes…..BBQ's and bar…..Venetian night, pizza and bar….Christmas dinner with raffle, prizes and bar of course, coach trips to the big shows….140 members….there's never a dull moment

Warship day……steering comps….club 500 comps…Fiesta comps….J Class comps…..model comps with cups and shields….photo comps….and a large hard working volunteer committee to run it all

!ovely cafe close by….large country park…..We can sail 365 days a year……Stands at some shows…..have held the Lifeboat show several times

We support certain charities….share the clubhouse with the proper sailers….toilets….shower…..kitchen…..bar…..club talks……visitor talks….model shop visits……club auction………club website…….and that's off the top of my head!

Warra club!

I'm lovin' it

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob, Clubs like yours are indeed jewels and long may they prosper. I used to be heavily involved myself many years ago and it was great fun but you do need a strong central core of members to make a continued success of it otherwise all the work tends to fall on a declining number who eventually get fed up. As Dave says, you can also get problems with internal club politics which rarely turn out well. One club I belonged to never recovered from one prominent member running off with another one's wife!

That said, for a newcomer I would thoroughly recommend joining a local club as there is no better way to learn about the hobby and receive unstinted help along the way. Model boaters are invariably generous with their time and practical advice to people coming in to the hobby. There is only so much you can do through an internet forum.

For more experienced modellers, if you do join a club then you should be prepared to make a contribution and help with the chores rather than simply take advantage of the efforts of others.

Colin

[Mark Jarvis 2Participant @markjarvis2]

HI All

In support of Bob, i rejoined Etherow 2 years ago, after a 15 year gap, i didn't leave as such, just work small kids and a mortgage meant there wasn't much spare cash.

Back in the club, i work shifts which means i rearly attend meetings, i see and talk to a lot of the members on the poolside, discus problems and some solutions, its mutual, as Bob said the club organises a lot of activities, you don't have to comply, its a free world, but it does help to have friends.

Fell of me soapbox, going for a sulk

Regards

Mark

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

In an odd way I kind of agree with all that has been said , having the experience of belonging to a number of clubs over the years and seen first hand the very best that a club can offer and also the flip side . Having said that Bob and Mark are indeed fortunate to belongs to one of the better organized clubs with good facilities which goes a long way in ensuring the contentment and continuing support of its members . Not forgetting that Etherow also has two lakes side by side , a venue in a ideal setting you lucky modellers.

Dave Wooley

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Bob

It sounds to me that your Etherow club is very much like my Fishers Green Sailing Club Model Boat Section in that we are part of the sailing club, have full use of its facilities and voting rights, but maintain our bit of the lake ourselves and each member does one club (as a whole) duty on one Sunday per year. This usually means helping in the galley, although in practice some do more – for example Mrs F regularly doing the 'cookhouse rota' as they like a female to be in charge and we also are now committed to the catering for the chidrens's (and their mums and dads!) Xmas party. As always, do it once and you have the task forever! Other model boat section members run a BBQ for the Fireworks Night party and a summer evening party, so it works all ways.

The point of the whole thing being, that for £50 per annum, we have full use of the clubhouse, its bar and galley, the FGSC social calendar and can operate our models Saturdays and Sundays in the winter and any day in the summer when Sail UK are running dinghy sailor training courses. The sailing club are happy to have extra members and linking ourselves with them has mutual benefits and the whole 'club thing' is attractive to potential new members with families.

Having said that, there is no obligation on members to come along every week, but usually there are around 10 or 12 of us on a Sunday morning, even in winter. A few come every week, others from time to time as their work and family life allows.

So yes, clubs are a good thing, as one can learn a lot from others and seeing their projects take shape.

Paul Freshney.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul F

We are just about in the same boat as your club!

We share the same facilities as the yacht boys and the running costs too

The yacht boys have their own lake and the model boaters and wildlife share the other lake

On regatta days we sail on both lakes……On special occasions, one member gets the chance to demo his IC powered boat ( John Goddard ) a friend of Dave Wooley, but the noise is definitely unwelcome!

On the down side, the area is too popular at times!

On sunny Sundays the 100 space car park is soon filled!

With model boaters, big yachters, anglers, dog walkers, ramblers, bird watchers, photographers, picnickers, duck feeders etc

So it's a case of first come, first served!

There are a few overflow car parks, but too far away for humping heavy tug boats etc

There is an excellent cafe on the park, which also serves as a meeting spot for the army of dog walkers

The country park was once a private estate run by George Andrews, who built a waterwheel powered cotton mill, on the banks of the river Etherow. He also had his own canal system, with coal mine and gas works in early Victorian times, the whole area is full of historical artefacts and scenic walks

So who wouldn't be an Etherow club member?

Bob

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

It's a long drive, Bob.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

'Fraid so, Dave

It wasn't until I got involved with this thread, that I realised how fortunate and lucky we really are!

I've been taking it all for granted

Sorry EMBC

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I have been thinking of something to post on this matter , and all I can say is that if there was a club like Ethy anywhere near i would join, but there isnt, so i dont.

Any modeller can benefit by associating with fellows of a similar vocation, whether you need to join a club really depends on whats local to you . Our pond has a good selection of chaps and we all get on well, and this is very important.

Ashley. Will stop now while the going is good.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just been looking at Bushey Park on Google maps, Ashley

No wonder you haven't got a club, like ours

I can't see any water!…….lol

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. Did you google Bushy park, Saudi ?? Ashley

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.411964,-0.332798,3a,75y,60.8h,82.14t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sA1gsyrGURr97hjQRD_V73A!2e0!3e5

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Can't use your link, Ashley…..It's too long and isn't active ( Coloured blue )

Is it near the Thames at Hampton Court?

If it is, then there was no obvious expanse of water…..We can let you have some of ours?

Buyer collects!

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

boating pond, bushy park. Google bushy park, find the triangular boating pond and drag and drop the little man over to the car park next to it and you will see the vast expanse of water wot we boat in (just about, anyway)

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Found it, Ashley

At least it's called a boating pond….I always thought you sailed on a stretch of river?

Nice countryside and you've got a decent car park too

Looks ok

Bob

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Hi All .I,d like to say I would like to be a member of a club but.

9 years ago I was flying with my grand daughter who was quite capable and flew a trainer with limited control and consummate ease .Members were receptive and encouraging until at the Annual general meeting I asked if she could become a Junior member in her own right

Uproar ensued, Health and Safety went mad Child Protection was next .A 12 year old asked the question? granddad do they think I would walk 10 mile with a plane and radio ect ,Come on granddad lets go home . I never went back . The boating fraternity seem a more moderate kind of people so maybe Michael

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

I can only answer using my experience, and I think it's fair to say if I hadn't joined our local club I would not have continued in model boating. In many ways our club seems similar to the group Dave Milbourn sails with, mainly old(er) people sharing a common interest. Yes, we have regular business meetings, we have a president (me), a secretary and a treasurer, but the meetings are over in about 15 minutes, then we get on with the business of sailing – we have our meetings at the lake side before sailing commences. We used to have our meetings at night, and usually only the same 4 or 5 would turn up, but since deciding to hold them at our lake, everyone joins in -. very much better.

I think that belonging to a club or group broadens one's knowledge, as well as creating new friendships.

Peter.

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