Right time for a Poll on how we run this Forum

As you may know its not all open to the public, but all open to registered users who may not actaully be paid up members of the club, but hopefully have learnt what they have and have joined/planning too.

Im thinking of locking down a few areas number one to improve security so not just any info is posted on the net of our personal lives/ cars etc.

at the moment the only area locked down is the members cars area, which is only visable by registered users, all the rest is open to the public.

First stage is too lock down more areas to just registered users, im currently thiniking the Model specific areas and technical areas and combining both the members cars areas.

leaving general chat and market place and events/meets fully open to the public

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I believe the majority of the forum should remain public, as such details of my car remain the public area.

The forum should be open for all to enjoy, it is often through media like this that new people get attracted to the cars and then desire to join the club. If you limit the amount of public access then you could drive away potential new members of the club or GTM owners.

Just my two pennies worth.

Got to agree with Durbs, I think members only forums are very off-putting to newcomers.

I would say that the "members only" section should be for paid up members, rather than for members of the site. But apart from that I think the more open it is, then the more people it will attract.

What they all said!

Personally I prefer open forums but a club should have it's own section that you can only access if a paid up member.

General chat and technical posts are almost always open while club specific items are usually only accessible for paid up members. Not everyone likes joining clubs (me included), I have been into cars all my life and in the late seventies/early eighties was a member of several clubs but eventually stopped joining as there was nearly always political issues and internal rivalries that upset the balance, this is still going on today (eagle owners club step forward). I enjoy all my cars and go to shows as and when I can and meet people there who have similar interests, some I have been meeting for over twenty years, most no longer subscribe to clubs due to the above. My interests range from classic's to hot rods, customs and kit cars even some modern cars I can take a second look at, so I believe I am fairly open minded.

To subscribe there has to be a benefit of more than an internet forum and that is where I would suggest you look for getting more people to join. The discount on insurance if a member of the Quantum owners is massive and the benefits extended, however mention the GTM club to the same insurance company and you get nothing or next to nothing in the way of discount.

You have to bear in mind that the more open the forum is the more people will browse and get interested in your cars and also that some people (errrhugh!) may have several different vehicles and would have to pick and choose which ones they subscribe to as even at say a tenner a time it can run into a fair bit of money.

Sorry to go on, will step off soap box.

Keeping it public made me stick around, i only came for a general poke around to learn about GTM's but hopefully i`ll be getting my own project coupe very soon

If it were private i very much doubt i would have got myself so hooked, and i will be joining as soon as the car arrives safely in the garage.


Its a bit like Team GTM- I went to have a poke around there too, which i cant without joining! How do i know if i want to join, without having a wee look around? the answer is i dont, so i wont be joining in the foreseable future.

It would be a shame to do something similar here.

I think the forum should stay as it is.

Brian

What Tim said

Yeah! What I said.

Now that is sounding like a cunning idea, as there has to be an advantage/ area that is for fully paid up members, does induce a bit more admin tho but im sure it can be arranged.

It is a trciky balance we dont want too many free loaders but there has to be a benefit of actually beign a fully paid member also in regards to the forum, and hence the newsletter, which does cause its own crossing the forum/newsletter boundaries a little difficult with articles. we dont want teh forum killing off the newsletter.

The point about discounts, once i have a little time ill see if i can arange something. with the info only being released to members via the newsletter for example see if we can include a few more perks.

But as this post is proving it helps us to run the club better for our members and give them what they want/ genrate new ideas.

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If we do have a paid up members only area, the newsletter could also be posted there. I for one would forgo my paper copy if that was the case.

I would be happy with an "E magazine" for those of us who prefer one. Either accessible from the forum, or emailed when the publication is released.

My wife doesn't move things around in "my documents", so I can always find my files on the computer.....

Yeah what Tim said (again ) whoops and Pantera

Seriously that sounds pretty good as long other club members are happy with an E-news letter.

I for one have no secrets in what i'm doing so will continue to leave my disasters in the public domain

Well you would if you could work out how to download the pictures from your camera.

You'll have to pay if you want to see my disasters!!