Terry,
No bad blood, just expressing my issue with the manner in which you chose to be critical of the officers of this chapter.
Basically, your original post couldn't have come at a worse time - there were a number of members (myself included) having some opinionated discussions regarding membership and how certain non-members appeared to be encouraging non-membership.
Then, I see your post that was worded in a manner that truely appeared to be a criticism. Your not being a member and posting in that manner just set me off. Especially because it was you - the last guy I'd expect to be critical.
"Yet for some reason you chose to imply that because I wasn't an officer nor a member (yet) that my input didn't matter. ?!"
Input is one thing, criticizm from a non-member on an open forum toward title-holding members is quite another. EVERYONE'S input matters, non-member criticizm isn't gonna be welcomed - no matter who you are. Input is encouraged on open forums, criticizm should be back channel, using private messaging or e-mail.
My school of thought about membership is this: Being a member means you care about the club and about the forums. It shows commitment and an investment. Non-members can come here every day and freeload, spout criticizm, and start flame wars if they choose to. They have the ability to disappear without losing a thing. They could care less about the organization - it's all about what the organization can do for them - for free.
That is total disrespect. I know enough about you Terry to know that you'd make a good member - you care about the club and the forums. You participate in and attend events. You and your Jeep have benefitted a lot from this club. Your being here for so long without becoming a member - to me - seems almost disrespectful.
But of course, all of the above simply represents MY opinion.
If you make it to Moab Terry, I'll look forward to hearing that you signed up. If you can't make it, then I'd love to hear that you took some of your gas budget and applied it toward signing up.
Where you're concerned, it's time. Do the right thing. I wanna see your screen name like this: MMIXJ