Why has your U4WDA membership expired?

[Mug]

I was at the U4 Board Meeting this Thursday and the membership numbers showed that there are nearly double the amount of expired member accounts as there are current members? This is just not how a successful group should be opperating. We should see the numbers increasing annually and have only a small percentage of lapsed accounts.

<--- This is what the board meeting looked like!

Please participate in the poll for yourself (or for someone else if they're not on RME) and feel free to add comments as to why you or someone you know has let their membership expire. MULTIPLE ANSWERS ARE ALLOWED.

Remember not to bring up personal gripes against others if you where offended by someone in the association, but positive feedback is always welcome.

I'm sure your comments and participation will lead to a better relationship between the Association and it's past, present, and future members. Thank you for your help.

~Marshall, UTAH Powder Coatings
U4WDA Member and Business Sponsor

 

[BCGPER]

I'd would have to vote "other" when mine expired.

In my case, I had no idea it had expired. Every other group I belong to sends out renewal notices, but I guess U4 doesn't. Ok, maybe they do, I'm not sure. They somehow lost my address, so I wouldn't have gotten one even if they do send them out.

Anyways, when mine expired I was clueless. Maybe that should be an option in your poll?

Now, if I may get personal, MEAT is the single reason mine is renewed. He went above and beyond to get things straightened out. His is a thankless job, and probably the single hardest job U4 has to fill. I've had the pleasure to get to know him a little doing a service project, and a time or two just out having fun. He's a he11 of a guy, and my hat's off to him!

 

[bobmed]

Mine doesn't expire anymore
It's $10 a year so a lifetime membership is like 25 years all taken care of

 

[BroncoMama]

I realize this is opening a ginormous can of worms, but why is the number one reason so far the leadership? If that's such a big deal, why aren't people fighting for spots on the board of directors? What I find so curious is that we all claim to love rock crawling, but so many refuse to put a mere 10 dollars towards helping our cause because of the people involved. It's $10 people!! I understand not liking the people involved, but if it's that huge of a deal for you, YOU replace them and make it a better organization.

 

[Mug]

Now, if I may get personal, MEAT is the single reason mine is renewed. He went above and beyond to get things straightened out. His is a thankless job, and probably the single hardest job U4 has to fill. I've had the pleasure to get to know him a little doing a service project, and a time or two just out having fun. He's a he11 of a guy, and my hat's off to him!

Thanks for getting personal!

Mine doesn't expire anymore
It's $10 a year so a lifetime membership is like 25 years all taken care of

Good to see that level of commitment! And, I'd like an invite next time you take the Cherokee out!!

I realize this is opening a ginormous can of worms...

Open away! Thank you for the thoughts. That is what we NEED to do. If there are issues, they should be brought to the forefront and we can come up with a solution.

If that's such a big deal, why aren't people fighting for spots on the board of directors? What I find so curious is that we all claim to love rock crawling, but so many refuse to put a mere 10 dollars towards helping our cause because of the people involved. It's $10 people!! I understand not liking the people involved, but if it's that huge of a deal for you, YOU replace them and make it a better organization.

AMEN!!

 

[Tacoma]

"The leadership" has led the poll for a number of years, and I have personally not really ever gotten much of an answer out of anyone when they say it, except "I don't like ___________ and I'm not going to join as long as they're president/board member/allowed to live".

I'd like to hear more specifics on this particular issue. No one is perfect, and the entire organization is a volunteer group that can always use suggestions. If you as a member or potential member have an issue, it WILL be considered and discussed, whether you believe that or not.

As far as Marshall's post, those numbers have stayed pretty close to that for quite a while too-- for various reasons-- people forget, move, change addresses, lose jobs, gain jobs, etc etc. 5-600 members, which is a shameful and pathetic number (which I've written about here in the past... ) have been about par for the course, with the notable and commendable increase while Steve Jackson was president-- which if memory serves was after a gargantuan effort to get those other 300 members.

My stance on all of this is probably pretty well known-- I want everyone on RME to be a member of U4WDA, but if you hate all of us, join BRC or United, or USA-ALL even, but join some group or groups and let your name mean something. I'll say it again:

THE POWERS THAT BE CANNOT HEAR THE INDIVIDUAL, that's just a fact of dealing with bureaucracy.

anyway, I digress. Carry on LOL

 

[Bear T]

Marshall, thanks for posting this up. Maybe with someone not on the board getting involved, other may follow suit.

Ms. BroncoMama, you are a wonderful person. I can't wait till I finally get to meet you. Your comments on this situation are always spot on.

As a member of various clubs, and associations, and a board member of the U4, it troubles me why more people don't get more involved, or atleast pay the $10 to give us a larger membership base to present to the powers that be. It would look a lot better to politicians if we came to them with 10,000 members instead of 500. I promise we would get a lot more accomplished if we had the backing of even 2000 members.

RME has over 3,000 members, Red Rocks in the 100's, not to mention the 1000's of other members of small clubs in Utah. If every club was able to say that all their members were members of the U4, it would be a wonderful day. And this is something that is not unthinkable.

Please step up and do your part to help keep Utah open to the public. If you even drive one mile on a dirt road, then you are effected by the land use battle.

 

[TheBigSgt]

You all make me so proud!

 

[Meat_]

Thank you Brian, it's nice to be appreciated.


I make mistakes. When I do I own them, and then fix them.

One of my mistakes was letting my hectic "real" life get in the way last fall/early this year and I did not send out the renewal notices like I was supposed to. That was remedied in April when along with the help of a volunteer I sent out 511 renewal notices..... I expect to see a substantial number of those in the U4 PO Box when I get the mail from Steve Edmunds this upcoming week.

 

[anderson750]

As long as I get a notice I will renew. Without out that, I have no idea when it expires and will just assume my membership is current.

As for the people who say they are not satisfied with the leadership or management..........All I can say is............

JOIN-DONATE-PARTICIPATE

 

[snccoulter]

I am a member, but I know of a few former members that have stated that when the board members are asked what needs to be done the response is well come up with something, but who knows what falls in-line with the plan of U4WDA if it is not advertised. The question is what is the plan of U4WDA where is it going in the long run. Why is it when U4WDA is asked what is in the works the response is we don't want to tip our hand. When the EnviroNAZIs are planing stuff you see what the agendas are proudly posted on their sites but for the 4WD association it is pulling teeth. Why not make it easy for the people who want to help find the info needed.
I know you don't want to tip your hand you will never get people to assist either because the people who want to help will never know what is going on.
Personally I get my 10 bucks worth out of discounts.

 

[Meat_]

I'd like to remind everyone that their member card has an expiration date on it

I am a member, but I know of a few former members that have stated that when the board members are asked what needs to be done the response is well come up with something, but who knows what falls in-line with the plan of U4WDA if it is not advertised. The question is what is the plan of U4WDA where is it going in the long run. Why is it when U4WDA is asked what is in the works the response is we don't want to tip our hand. When the EnviroNAZIs are planing stuff you see what the agendas are proudly posted on their sites but for the 4WD association it is pulling teeth. Why not make it easy for the people who want to help find the info needed.
I know you don't want to tip your hand you will never get people to assist either because the people who want to help will never know what is going on.
Personally I get my 10 bucks worth out of discounts.

Good question.

 

[Tacoma]

I'd like to get in touch w/these members, and personally invite them out to things like NPLD, the Pritchett Canyon repairs, etc.-- seems like we can never get enough bodies on the ground...

But much more than that, I would like to personally invite anyone with these issues to come to the meetings and ask these questions. I happen to agree with that sentiment, and it would be great to have our members directly involved, and address their concerns directly.

Seriously.

I am a member, but I know of a few former members that have stated that when the board members are asked what needs to be done the response is well come up with something, but who knows what falls in-line with the plan of U4WDA if it is not advertised. The question is what is the plan of U4WDA where is it going in the long run. Why is it when U4WDA is asked what is in the works the response is we don't want to tip our hand. When the EnviroNAZIs are planing stuff you see what the agendas are proudly posted on their sites but for the 4WD association it is pulling teeth. Why not make it easy for the people who want to help find the info needed.
I know you don't want to tip your hand you will never get people to assist either because the people who want to help will never know what is going on.
Personally I get my 10 bucks worth out of discounts.

 

[Skylinerider]

But much more than that, I would like to personally invite anyone with these issues to come to the meetings and ask these questions. I happen to agree with that sentiment, and it would be great to have our members directly involved, and address their concerns directly.

Seriously.

There lies the issue, this is a statewide organization, and many cannot attend due to distance, or have conflicts like work, or family. It creates a disconnect between the BOD and the individual member. I know many who would like to know what is going on, but are absolutely unable to attend the meetings.

For the record U4 gets my money, and I will always be a member and will help out wherever I can.

 

[Tacoma]

You're right. I didn't mean to exclude those of us not living within driving distance, or who have other obligations on the last Thursday of each month.

For the rest of state, please use THIS forum, it's one of the reasons it's here.

 

[anderson750]

I'd like to remind everyone that their member card has an expiration date on it

.

When I get mine, it gooes in a drawer and I forget about it. I probably could have saved some money over the last couple of years with the discounts, but never think about it.

Out of sight, out of mind. For me, how do you make renewals idiot proof?:busted:

 

[TheBigSgt]

I would think we could do a auto renewal with a credit card, but that will work only for a year or 2. Maybe a auto draft? at the price, a option for multi year?

 

[rockreligious]

my membership has lapsed before only cause I didnt know when it elapsed, then I would re-up my membership at the next event or next reminder such as this thread. I just checked my card and it expires next month..but with out this thread I may have forgot to check and had it lapse for a month or two. reminders would be great, but I think Im just going to get a three yr membership or something. I have no issues with the leadership so far. NoEcoNaziAmmo

 

[anderson750]

This discussion got me looking for my card, and I can't even find it. Who can tell me if my membership has lapsed........Meat?

 

[Bear T]

Thanks for all input guys. Another way to stay up to date with the happenings of the U4 is to be involved with a local club that has a U4 delegate to the board. If your local club does not have an assigned delegate to U4 that doesn't keep you up to date, make a suggestion at the next meeting to change this. the BOD is limited on volunteers, so it can be difficult to make sure everyone is informed.

Thanks again for all the input. We are working on some items to make it more member friendly. We do not hide anything. All information is public information, just ask someone that knows.