NDSOC!

[reverendzed]

Now let me put right up front that this is NOT a post to have a go at any individual or organisation - Now with that out of the way, I'll get to it.  As a zed owner and part of the zed scene for only a brief while I have heard all sorts of differing opinions in regard to the leadership and organization of the NDSOC, it's structure, history etc.  I have chosen to keep a very 'neutral' position in regard to this as I have had absolutely no experience with this club, until yesterday!  Now I'm more confused than ever.

 

When arriving at the cars of the World show we (mayhem and I) moved into position as guided by the officials to an area where there were many fantastic roadsters, zeds and other Nissan/datsun vehicles.  After we had parked and began the mandatory quick chamois down, we were approached by a lady from the NDSOC who asked if we were part of the club to which I replied no, from there she by her attitude dismissed us completely and made sure that we were 'avoided' (at least that's the way it felt) for the rest of the day.  Now I understand that many of the NDSOC members and probably some of those who help steer the club were present, yet not one person introduced themselves or made known any of the benefits of being a part of this club.

 

As someone who has been involved in club or community type activities for many years I would have made sure that there was a friendly face introducing people to the NDSOC, providing information and encouraging non club members to join....instead I had this feeling that we are seen as those 'militants' who are part of that 'dinky' Auszcar club.  I don't know what experiences others have had with NDSOC, but I will close with this, the welcome, help, and sense of belonging that I have experienced being associated with AusZcar over the last 2 years stands in stark contrast to my experience yesterday.

 

Thanks Auszcar!

Rev.

[sco_aus]

Well, its funny you should mention that.  Auszcar was shunned by a member of Sydney club yesterday too, yet here we are, not being biggots, here for a shared interest in Zeds and cars a like.  I think we should stay a non "club" just to spite the others, bugger em I say.  I would much prefer to be part of a free/voluntary group with as much if not more knowledge on the car than a stuck wanker's lot like these "clubs".

I have seen this type of behaviour before Rev, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if you are correct.

[C.A.R.]

I'll be diplomatic in this thread and ask that perhaps Alan would like to comment?

[260Coupe]

I cannot answer for Leah (NDSOC social secretary) and I, as with alot of members often get tied up talking with others we know and "neglect" potential new members or those new members we have not previously met.......(this can be the down side of a large and diverse club).....this is not intentional and should not be taken that way.

 

However I also must be diplomatic and suggest that nobody came up to me to introduce themselves as potential new members.....so I think it works both ways

 

I had the very same experience 20 odd years ago when I first joined the NDSOC.........it was only after I made myself known to members and was pro-active in introducing myself and engaging in conversation that I got to know the crowd

 

Alan

[reverendzed]

Alan, I wouldn't know you if  I fell over you!  I didn't even know you held a position in the club.  I made a concerted effort to speak to many yesterday, but when people stick to their own group with their own conversations it's pretty hard to barge on in.  I did meet some great folk displaying their cars yesterday, my point was more centered around the general feeling that if you were not part of NDSOC then you were out of the loop.  When I see someone with a Zed car anywhere I introduce myself and recommend the ausZcar resource, you could say I'm a fairly active evangelist for auszcar because i know it works.  I guess I thought that NDSOC may be as excited about their club and look for opportunities to introduce others.

Rev.

[chris240]

enough is enough.

Im going to ask our CPA's in our office and get info from ATSIC what it takes to become "INCORPORATED" and/or to become a fully fledged club...

[C.A.R.]

Chris, you also need to get in touch with the "Assoc. of Motoring Clubs" (AOMC).

Also IIRC, the minimum requirements for a committee are: President, Secretary  & Treasurer.

 

[260Coupe]

Rev

 

Yep guilty as charged.......I spent most of the day talking with the Roadster guys and there weren't any commitee members there apart from our social sec who can get a little distracted with other stuff.

I believe I was the only long standing NDSOC Zed owner there so I am one to blame for being "unsociable" so please accept my appologies.

We have our annual Concourse at Southbank this Sunday so please feel free to come along I will make certain we meet (I usually end up judging the Zeds)

 

Alan

[nizm0zed]

im not pointing this at anyone, so please dont take it like that, but,

 

 

My personal experience from some clubs, (and i have seen the same in other people wanting to join) Is that its not easy for a stranger, who doesn't necsarrily know anyone to make a first "hello" when everyone is huddled around seeming to enjoy thier own private conversations/jokes.

 

 

I have found that the best way to get others to join in, is to proactively welcome them in, and get them to join in, make them part of your conversation, grab a couple of other members, and discuss thier car with them, once they feel welcome, they will join in themselves, and its all downhill from there.

 

So far, i have only met scott from here (Sco_aus) and i can tell you he is the kind of bloke that does welcome others in. i look forwards to more meets, once my pride and joy is rolling

[sco_aus]

Thanks mate.

I was maybe a tad harsh, but we shouldn't need to be an official club to gain respect, we try to look after anyone with an interest, not just members...

[XRQTR]

Chris, you also need to get in touch with the "Assoc. of Motoring Clubs" (AOMC).

Also IIRC, the minimum requirements for a committee are: President, Secretary  & Treasurer.

 

 

As well as a constitution, which I happen to have if you want to borrow it you will just need to change a few terms from F6 Owners Club to AusZcar.

 

It's not that difficult just take a bit of time running around getting pepers signed and checked then put in your application and you're their before you know it.

 

I'd be happy to see this club going to an Assoc. Inc.

[zed240au]

Well just my view but ive found every club i have been involved with be it car,swim,surf or even maritial art club very few of them will open there arms to you most are very clicky and you need push your way in and get involved in club before they will really talk to  

 

But if you take the time to get involved most clubs can be very rewarding and great place to make friends if your prepared to get involved

 

I still have some great friends from car clubs and other clubs but remeber alot people get called a offical and become pompus idiots

 

mick

[dazzed]

Chris, you also need to get in touch with the "Assoc. of Motoring Clubs" (AOMC).

Also IIRC, the minimum requirements for a committee are: President, Secretary  & Treasurer.

 

 

AOMC for those that are unsure of the AOMC , who knows? please explain,im lost, whoo???

 

*fixed broken quote.

[gav240z]

I was a member of the NDSOC, but to be honest I never put much time into going to the monthly meetings. I think I went along once in the whole 12 months I was a member.

 

I did meet Nigel (nr240 - now owned by a qld member sexual_sushi) and Matt Drago and possibly a few others there.

 

I also met the old NDSOC president Matty Freeman who was always very pleasant to me and welcoming. He really liked the idea of Viczcar back in the day and was interested in turning it into a register - much like that of the early Prince Skyline's, I discussed the idea with Sulio. However at the time we felt we were not ready for that kind of thing and very much wanted to leave the status quo.

 

Probably the main reason I didn't get more involved with the NDSOC was that there were not many Zeds in the club at that time. I'm not sure what its like now, but as much as I love other cars my main interest was and still is Zeds.

 

I think though as I've stated many times in the past, the idea of Viczcar / Auszcar was never to step on anyone's toes or piss anyone off. It wasn't to say look how good we are, it was just to promote these cars and meet other owners - 4 years ago there was a huge void, I only knew a handful of zed owners. Now I know a whole community.

 

If other clubs feel (not speaking specifically about NDSOC here) we are outsiders who should be treated with caution that is sad. Afterall we charge nothing for membership and if people have asked me for membership or about track days. I have always told them I am sorry but we are not CAMS affiliated and referred them on to their local state clubs.

 

I am guilty of one thing and that is I still receive the NDSOC emails but I must say I rarely get a chance to read their contents. I would be happy to post about NDSOC or other club events on this site, but I am one person - with limited time. I know a few members have posted about other club events here and I'm more than happy for people to do that.

 

One thing I find really funny though is although the Z nationals is coming up in 2009, nobody has directly tried to get in contact with me about it. (Unless I missed the NDSOC emails - sorry), but you would think that someone from one of the Z clubs in Australia would have bothered to send an email asking us to help promote the event!

 

[XRQTR]

This is something that I really find hard to understand, something like a national event I would think that they would want all cars or certainly as many as they can muster. It sometimes looks to me as though they are worried they will lose members to the young shiny new upstart. This was why I was against the affiliation some months ago as it seemed to me as though there only intention was to gobble up AusZcar and eventually have everyone forgetting about it.

 

Diversity is what makes life interesting, I still don't understand why they (NDSOC) don't send emails to the moderators letting them know of events to pass on to others here, rather the members from here I find usually copying and pasting what they have read or heard elsewhere. That to me smacks of contempt, what is it about this club that they don't want around, is it that it's free?? is it that we don't all hold CAMS licences?? is it that we don't all have concourse rated vehicles??. I mean do they think that we might bring them down in some way.

 

From what not just the poster of the thread but some others have said in the past things don't seem to have changed much and the NDSOC really don't care too much for those not involved in there club. It could be a financial thing then again it could be more of a status thing where they see most Datto owners not just Z owners as inferior if they are not a member of there club.

 

Like I have said I personally don't know them but from what I keep reading from members here I don't really think that's a bad thing.

[chris240]

Lurch

Ive checked out the AOMC, which is purely a national spokesman / body for Incorporated Clubs. We must first become a "club" before we go to the AOMC...even then you dont have to to join the AOMC , but it does help.

I believe youd set-up a Victoria "chapter" ...as it clearly has the biggest base, and then state by state "affiliations" ..

As you guys already hold monthly meetings, it wouldnt be that hard to keep minutes , have an agenda for form a basic constitution etc...

Which starts the question of paid memberships  and having a AusZcar bank account.

To latter on enable us to attend and or even host Cams events or sanctioned club runs, motorkhanas etc, wed have to have some $ in the kitty.

Whats the Victorian department that looks after club registrations, business names etc , I might give them a quick call to get some info..

 

Hmmmmm maybe we should get some more opinions on forming a "stand-alone" club before we get carried away here...any reasons not to do it ??

[Toecutter]

We are in the process of opening a bank account. Will have more detail on at the next event Dec 6.

 

Cheers,

Sulio

[260Coupe]

Guys

 

I think we are all getting a little "tense" over nothing, as with all clubs ......you get out what you put in..........if the NDSOC is not for you then that is fine. As far as I'm aware the NDSOC has no malice towards Vic Z  or any of it's members (I for one was happy to support affiliation if that's the direction Vic Z wanted to go in) however as with any club, you need to be a financial member to enjoy the benifits and participate in club activities so blanket invites to join in on NDSOC events are unlikely.

As far as gobbling up any one.....that is just plain rediculous, the Prince Skyline register has been affiliated with the NDSOC for over ten years and still operates as a totally seperate entity, as does the Roadster club.

 

It is the Zed club of QLD who is hosting the 2009 Nationals and they have sent blanket invites out to all registered Datsun Clubs Australia wide (from the AOMC club list) as the internet Z club is not registered as such the QLD Zed club may not know of its existance or strength........so it may be prudent for someone from Vic Z to approach them to volunteer assistance with promotion etc

 

The organiser's email is below

 

greg alderding <gregandmaddie@hotmail.com>    

[620Z]

Well Rev I think you summed up the NDSOC perfectly with your openning comment. Those comments are what I hear from old and current members time & time again. The club in it's current form is run by a very clicky group of long termers which you will never penetrate. I was a member for over 10 years (my brother probably over 15) and that group never made me feel welcome and always snubbed me and many, many others (even when I was on the committee). Truth be known either they have no idea how to market and generate interest from new members and make them feel welcome or they don't want to. I 'm not sure which one.

When Matt was President & I Vice Pres & Treasurer we increased the member ship to an all time high of 400 and at it's peak were getting 90+ members to the monthly meetings at the Jag Club. We left our posts with the biggest attendence to events and the most money in the bank, heeps of give aways, free events through out the year including a free $3,500- Xmas breakup party. During this time Matt & I only copped criticism from the old clicky group so we threw the towl in and left it to them. Since then the NDSCO member ship struggles to get 200 members and hardly get's anyone outside of the committee (clicky group) to social events etc. Obviously I could go on but I won't bore you.

But if a Club this size can get 29 Zeds to a BBQ / Drive on the 6/12/08 by word of mouth then it is clear to me that we are reaching the point where we can form an association. I will have a Bank Account openned by the end of year and look for donations from members ($20 or so) for starters and away we go. We are becoming more structured each year and 2009 should be Auszcar Clubs biggest year yet.

PS: Alan Fields if you want to dispute any of the above or cast dispursions then you have my personal email address I don't think this forum or club is interested in politics.  

[gav240z]

The organiser's email is below

greg alderding    

 

Thanks Alan will get in contact / send email tonight.

[XRQTR]

you need to be a financial member to enjoy the benifits and participate in club activities so blanket invites to join in on NDSOC events are unlikely.

 

 

Joining in is one thing but the whole point of most clubs is to increase awareness of whatever it is they are gathering for to do, whether that be cars or war re creations, it seems as though unless you're willing to pay for the priveladge you're not really invited to find out about the club.

 

I don't see why you would be unwilling to get as many cars at events as possible to show the strength of the overall movement, no one is asking to be considered for club trophies or anything but even if the different clubs had there own areas at events to show the varied cars and associated clubs that go with it. This I think is the problem is that if you allow too many "other" clubs in then you decrease your chance of gaining members by possibly losing them to the "other" clubs, this is the kind of mentality that pushes prospective members away.

 

With what was said in the initial post, all that the secretary had to do was simply to say "Come over and have a chat later if you like" that would have broken the ice and they would have had at least one friendly face to approach should they have chosen to do so. When someone asks then walks away as soon as they don't get the answer they want then that pretty much says "STAY AWAY".

 

From what you yourself are also saying about this person I think it may well be time to find someone else to do it, someone with a more open and friendly approach to potential newbies within your fold.

[reverendzed]

Rev

 

Yep guilty as charged.......I spent most of the day talking with the Roadster guys and there weren't any commitee members there apart from our social sec who can get a little distracted with other stuff.

I believe I was the only long standing NDSOC Zed owner there so I am one to blame for being "unsociable" so please accept my appologies.

We have our annual Concourse at Southbank this Sunday so please feel free to come along I will make certain we meet (I usually end up judging the Zeds)

 

Alan

Give Alan his due fellas, he recognized that things could have been different and at least he has put the olive branch out.  alot of guys I know would have made a heap of excuses rather than shoulder the responsibility.  That said let me reiterate that we should also be real thankful for what we have with AusZcar, and whilst it is predominantly an online forum based club nevertheless it gives much in return.  Should we decide to go to something else and have more structure lets make sure we learn from the mistakes others have made so that we are not imitators of the past.  Too often clubs begin as a 'movement' and then later become an 'institution' and sadly end up as a 'museum' - the next step for Auszcar needs to be taken with great wisdom...Craig, when you open the Bank account put me down for $50.00.   let's give Auszcar a christmas present too!

Rev.

[C.A.R.]

See what you've done Dave? You've started the giant sh#tfight again!

 

In all fairness, it's a bit harsh of everyone to gang up on Alan when he's one of the few NDSOC members on here, and he's left to defend his position.

I've made my opinions clear on this matter in the past, so I won’t be repeating myself...

 

Alan, why don't you come along to our BBQ on the 6th?

That way you can meet us & vice-versa, & see what we're on about Even if it's just for a couple of hours?

It'd be much nicer to have a yak in a social atmosphere, rather than slinging it out over the net.

It'd be good to ad another Zed to the list too!

 

[luvemfast]

he's the only NDSOC member on here

Ahem......

I've decided just to stay out of it.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, and this is a public forum.

Why can't we all just get along? 

[C.A.R.]

Sorry Simon...