TRF Forums

I know a lot of older members who don't come out anymore

Maybe they're doing different things now, my friends who are TRF life members are

But without Trail there is nothing to link them to the TRF and they could pen articles etc

Tear out the glue from the club, which Trail was and the oldies have no link

I'm not sure we can keep all the older members - maybe some, but not all.

The TRF has changed I think. When I joined my local group the meetings were an hours discussion on rights of way issues, 5 minutes on ride outs, good night! Many new members came and went- I hung in there, gradually getting on rides and making friends. It was very much a group focused on retaining and securing more access rights to lanes.

Now we have changed massively, monthly meetings are now packed, the group is probably up from 50 to 160. We talk about bikes, adventures, trips, ride outs, exciting stuff. Rights of ways is now 5 minutes- but we do mobilise the troops when we need to contest a TRO, etc. But to most it's simply not the real interest anymore. That said, I think most pay their membership fee to help fight lane closures, etc.

I have friends in other groups and it is a similar story. And I think that is why the current directors were voted in overwhelmingly - people are enjoying trail riding and friendships but they are not so driven by rights of way issues.

Thank God the older members who were interested in rights of way were around during NERC etc but I just think the TRF (at grass roots level) has changed.

Totally agree with the above , I can only speak for my self but I feel our Dorset group has made a big step forward lately to move with the times and is flourishing

[quote="blackflyer"]why aren't we (the TRF), Working harder to retain members instead of just ploughing money into new memberships?. Perhaps we should be offering A discount after every 5 years or so?.[quote]


Hi Steve

Firstly thanks for your help on Friday. It was great working with you and thanks for putting your thoughts forward.

To help answer your question better, can I understand the issue and a pose a few relevant questions.

Do you mean old in age or from your 5 years comment, old by length of membership?
What do you believe is being done at present to retain older members?
How much effort and resources do you feel are currently being expended by the TRF in this area?

Happy to answer when this is clear – but just checking I am answering the right question before we reply with what we are doing

Hi Mario,
Thank you for your response, as with everyone.
Didn't mean to start an age war.
What I meant by old members was not age related, Think I will leave every else to fight that battle (THEY SEEM TO BE DOING SO WELL).
What I meant was members that lapse, I talk from experience. I have lapsed my membership 2 times over the last 7 years and never even had a reminder email etc. There should be some sort of incentive to encourage old and young to stay.
What I don't know, it is just some old git's observation's.

(Mario,I will give you a shout if I find any indicators for your Honda, and thanks for Friday it was a laugh).

Thanks for pointing out my indicator was on the blink

Sharon replied overnight to a request to summarise the current renewal process - which hopefully members having trouble will find useful.

Meanwhile I will collate the list of actions we are doing to the address the wider issues raised and respond shortly.

And I then extended it to all members over 70.

Did this ever get approved / passed / whatever, as I do not recall this ever being offered to me?

Rod Jackson

Bump

Suppose it could be an administrative error and I'm a life member without being aware of it

Rod