Nearing 400

[Keith Clements]

We are four away from 400 members on JowettTalk even though we lost a few by removing some when they requested (as they had just joined to place an advert).
We just need to encourage more to post and help those who have difficulty so doing., so please try to help, either in a face to face or telphone or email with any of those members you know who have not posted.
Look through the members list (top right), click on a member you know and see if they have posted.

[Chris Spencer]

Keith - Maybe we ought to do an article for the Jowetteer and let them know what they are missing - i.e. Technical problem solving, new finds / Jowetts unearthed, restoration blogs, monthly listings of Jowetts for sale, instant news etc

[Jack]

Keith - Maybe we ought to do an article for the Jowetteer and let them know what they are missing - i.e. Technical problem solving, new finds / Jowetts unearthed, restoration blogs, monthly listings of Jowetts for sale, instant news etc

I think the best way to do that might be to have a policy of Alan passing on all for sale adverts sent to the Jowetteer directly to Keith (or other nominated person) to advertise on the website when they are received, instead of sharing them when the newsletter is published.

Not only does that give those who are online and actively on the board an advantage (if they are looking for a car or parts, at least) but also we know that the demographic of the members who are online here are younger members so encourages them to get into Jowetts over older members who may have 2 or 3 cars already.

We might need to ensure that only a member's name is posted, no phone no or e-mail address - you'd need to be a member with a membership list to contact the seller, which any active buyer is likely to be anyway (given the cost of membership I presume that many sales go to existing members, even if it is their first car).

Just a thought, anyway.

Jack.

[M S G Benning]

Jack
I'm no 'fuddy duddy', but I don't agree with what you say. There are some associate members out there who are probably not on the internet, but would like to have the opportunity to read 'snail mail' & not get 'sorry it's already sold' when they ring up(I accept that this may happen anyway,but...). Also I get the impression that Keith already gets advance copy, by virtue of the fact that he has taken to uploading events into the relevant section whats on.
'Stiffy Byng'

[Jack]

Jack
I'm no 'fuddy duddy', but I don't agree with what you say. There are some associate members out there who are probably not on the internet, but would like to have the opportunity to read 'snail mail' & not get 'sorry it's already sold' when they ring up(I accept that this may happen anyway,but...). Also I get the impression that Keith already gets advance copy, by virtue of the fact that he has taken to uploading events into the relevant section whats on.
'Stiffy Byng'

There are very few young members (the members that the club spends hours talking about attracting) who are not on the internet and use social networking as their primary means of communicating with clubs and societies. So this method helps the club to get younger members in and give them an advantage when looking for a car.

The reality is that this happens informally anyway - it is not a case of the Jowetteer coming out and then the phone starts ringing, I know of one or two members who were waiting, cash in hand, to try and get a good car, every time the Jowetteer came out the word would be out from their local section or elsewhere and a collector sweeps in before someone waiting for their mag to hit the doormat can engage the seller. This way it benefits those who probably don't have a car and who don't know lots of people in the car club already, exactly the kind of people we want to attract...

Jack.

[Chris Spencer]

Jack - I largely agree with your points the only point I do not agree with - is that you propose that they have to be a member first - just leave it as a open market - that way at least the car gets sold and due to the nature of the parts route they will join the club anyway - point in case 'ME' - I purchased the car first then joined the club.

The ad thing is annoying though on several occasions that I have responded to ad's in the Jowetteer - the car has already sold to another club member by word of mouth and long before the Jowetteer has been released for issue.