Current state of the NWC?

[HilltopXJ]

x2 :thumbup:

 

[GI-John]

Free Beer and a 404k / yr job....


Please.

I must have missed this comment.

I expected a little more insight from our Vice President. I understand that you have some very unique issues at home, but damn.

 

[Avanteone]

I must have missed this comment.

I expected a little more insight from our Vice President. I understand that you have some very unique issues at home, but damn.

X2

 

[mojojojo]

This has been mulling through my head since the thread started......"

well put.:cheers:

 

[IXNAYXJ]

well put.:cheers:

I said it first! :bawl:

I've been mulling over this thread all weekend.

Oh, and I do apologize for over looking the Portland M&Gs. You guys are doing a great job getting people involved down there.

-----Matt-----

 

[MY92XJ]

:clap: Very well said sams88.

As with others I am just voicing my thoughts

I haven't been a member here very long or a very active member but, I have been out wheeling with a few of you and I have been friends with a couple other members for awhile.

There is a BIG difference between belonging to an association and a club.

I have been a member of both the Seattle Jeep Club (SJC) and the Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association (PNW) for eons. Actually since 1968

We join in the runs/events that our finances/time allows.

Quote
"part of being in a club like ours is having official events and gettogethers"

Why exactly do we need events and get togethers to be "official"?.

The Naxja Bylaws state

Article IV - Purposes

Section 2: Specific Purposes
The Corporation shall provide the world-wide community of XJ and MJ owners with a legal and operating structure to facilitate:

• Technical XJ/MJ discussion and provision of related resources;
• Coordination and hosting of off-road Events;
• Development of XJ/MJ regional chapters;
• Responsible use of public lands through membership in land use focused organizations;
• Exploring, maintaining, preserving and enjoying OHV trails with our fellow club members;
• Providing social, educational and family recreational activities for its membership;
• Promoting the continuing and renewed use of public lands for Highway/Off-Highway Vehicle (HOHV) recreation;
• Participating in, and supporting, activities to further the causes of OHV enthusiasts and users of the outdoors;
• Improving the status of our sport through the development of better public image and association with people who are interested and active in the sport;
• Publicizing and promoting the ideals of the United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA) and Tread Lightly.

Correct me If I'm wrong but, I don't see any where on here that the events are to be official
In fact I read through the bylaws entirely and don't see anywhere it states that the chapters are required to have a certian amount of official events per month, year or whatever.

As far as I'm concerned if the run or get together is posted that means its an invitation for all Naxja members and does it really matter if it's an "official" run/event?

Personally I would like to see something fun planned, other then a run, ie: trip to the zoo, drive to snoqualmie falls or something

Keep in mind everyone this is a large group of 4x4 enthusiats.And as was said It is VERY hard to get a large group of people together for an organized event. When planning a run/event always think of the amount of members we have. In short if you want to post a run and post it plan on having several show up. If you only want a few then keep it small by not posting.

ok now I've added my 2 cents

Diana

 

[mojojojo]

I said it first! :bawl:
Oh, and I do apologize for over looking the Portland M&Gs. You guys are doing a great job getting people involved down there.

-----Matt-----

that means i said it second.

eace:

 

[IXNAYXJ]

As with others I am just voicing my thoughts.

.....

Diana

Now why'd you have to go cite the bylaws?

Seriously, thanks for your (and everyone's) input on this important issue. It seems like we're having an identity crisis; I think a lot of members have very diverging ideas on why they're a part of the "association," as I guess it is to be called now.

I don't think anyone is saying it's our legal responsibility to have meet and greets or semi-regular events, just that we'd like them. If we're not doing things "officially" what is the point of having an association? To sell t-shirts and make money off a one-time per year event?

Why are you (as it seems you are) opposed to having official events, or at least supported by the Chapter?

I think having more things for people to get involved in would make our chapter a great deal more appealing to new members. If they thought they got something for their dues beyond a message board...which they can access for free anyway, we might see an increase in membership and involvement. It might be a cliche, but "if you build it, they will come."

What is the point of , I guess is what I'm asking.

-----Matt-----

 

[MY92XJ]

I'm not opposed to "official" events I was just trying to ask why do they have to be official?

Does it have to be official to be fun?

Personally I think anytime any of us get together its a blast so what makes the difference if its titled official or not?

to me is a web based group of xj owners that like to talk and make new friends, share ideas, learn new tricks and go out with our rigs to play once in awhile. Is there supposed to be more then that or am I missing something?

Diana

 

[red91]

I think we need to put all the past drama/bullshit/negativity/comments/dislikings behind us.

Take it for what its worth...

My .02.

I try to be "polite" to those who I don't know well or who don't know me well. The people I do know well I can nudge and they can nudge me. In general I think this site is "reasonably" PC, I guess we could all be a little more careful what we say and how we say it.

Michael

This has been mulling through my head since the thread started. And like the others, this isn't intended to offend anyone, rather just some thoughts from an old fart that's been around a little in this world. Also pardon me for the length of the reply.

My interpretation of what eckjay's statement is flows like this. First off this is an "association" not a 4x4 "club" per se. An association has many many different people in it that are united in a general direction. Take the Shriners for instance, they all work towards the funding of the Crippled Children's Hospitals. But, people being people, everyone doesn't dance to the same tune, so the organization/association has "clubs" within the group. The clubs are composed of Shriners, and they also have their own club officers and events/projects. The clubs fall under the guidance and regulations of the parent Shriners's Temple or Chapter for explnation purposes here. As with the NWC, the local/area Shriner's Temples all fall under a National body.

So what the clubs allow is for various members to join with other members that more or less dance to the same tune to go off and do their version of their "thing" and thus you see Shriner Clowns, Motorcycle Corps, go-karts, and so on.

My two bits worth of comments here is that I think our NWC and maybe even the whole national needs to take in the function of "clubs" within Chapters, or even at large. The other thing ecksjay was alluding to in his comments were that everyone in the Association doesn't dance to the same tune of what 4X4ing is. Everyone doesn't build up their rig with 44" tires. Some people's rig is their daily driver. Some people don't have the money or equipment/tools to build up an offroader's showpiece. Some people don't mind beating the crap out of their rig on a very difficult trail. Some people are content to run on forest service roads/trails that aren't liable to damage the body of their vehicle. Some people are in to mud bogs, or sand dunes.......... Some really worry about how they will get a broken rig back to a home that's hundreds of miles away as they don't have a trailer or twoing rig. The point being we are all different. We don't live close together, we are really spread out. It is hard to get people from a large spread out area together. And the farther the event from their home, usually the harder it is to get the people together. Personally I'm overjoyed to see NWFest this year at Liberty. However I also realize that is it more or less a "bummer" for a number of the Oregon crowd due to the distance... sort of like the NWFest last year in TSF for me, due to time distance and money. We don't see people from Spokane generally running over to the coast.

From where I sit in the Tri-Cities, many activities look more like a Portland or Seattle thing. Not that that's bad, that's where the people are. I think the purpose of the NWC Chapter is to get a couple activities a year in as neutral a place as possible to allow the maximum number of people to attend. If there are wheeling activities there should be multiple kinds of wheeling. I also think that if intends to grow, the time has come to form "Clubs" within, that are more aligned with members doing their kind of wheeling. Then members can align with other members that are more in to "their" tastes in wheeling. And that's where the "diversity" statement comes in in eckjay's quote above. I think he was trying to say something to t he effect that we (NWC) need to associate as an Association ( NWC) keeping in mind the diversified jeeping and 4x4ing tastes of the general membership at large.

With clubs you can have the "rough riders" or the "senic cruisers" or whatever. Other members could join a club activity if they wanted and their vehicle met the clubs requirements for the run. No one would have to feel then that they just didn't conform, and end up drifting away and dropping their membership which the National Association doesn't care to see I'm sure.

And last but not least. Because some members spend more time here posting on the BBS site than wheeling with others in the chapter is really pretty insignificant. If they have paid the membership fee, they have shown their interest in XJ's. Many members wheel with other groups and organizations because they are close to where they live, or their close friend wheels somewhere else. One of the true beauties of this organization is that it is a place where an XJ owner can go to meet others that are also in to XJ's. There's things called friends to be met, and enjoy their company, and offer and receive help. There's some really cool people here. Lets try and keep them interested and *here* and not unintentionally alienate some of them because they don't think or do the same "wheeling" as others may or may not do. Let a wheeling club be where "birds of a feather flock together."

I expected a little more insight from our Vice President. I understand that you have some very unique issues at home, but damn.

Look at the above statement. You want better than that? Your not going to get it.
Not out of anyone here. This is the most “ coherent “ statement in this whole thread.

And to everyone else…the little power plays and the West Side story drama bullshit is old. Someone in our chapter loses a “very good friend” and family member, and get bagged on in little cutesy sig line attacks.

How nice it must be to have a good stable life….not me…not this year. But hey…I’m not bagging on those that have it well. Congrats.

Typically the NWC has not had an “event” during this time of there year. Usually a small one in the spring and our big one in the fall.

Slush fund? DO you realize that we rarely make ANY kind of money at these events? There is a reason they call it petty cash…because that’s the amount that we have.

Some of us like to wheel more than others because their family are their friends they can wheel with. Some of us choose to spend our time with our family And some simply don’t want to get involved with the little games that go on and shouldn’t be expected to.

The crap that has been going on around here for years John is just old and busted.
The “nothing” is ever good enough crowd wont shut their yaps. HANS never had any of these problems, so you should look into why that is. Or do you already know?

The 4th grade playground turf war needs to come to and end. Plain and simple.

“Why hasen’t our VP said anything???” Because it’s easier to watch the little turf war…and laugh at the pretense that is going on. But hey…Here’s your response.

Sam hit the nail on the head in more than one way…Some members are satisfied, some are not, some want more, and some don’t. Deal with it.

If you can’t figure out a way to get along this will continue. You know WTF I’m talking about.

Down here in Portland we have a good core of guys, many of whom I’d like to meet. They know whats up. They have their things going on. Funny to see that NONE of them bitch nearly as loud as the PNW Seattle / Metro area crowd.

So to those that “know”…. I’m not playing sharks and jets. I’m not playing playground turf wars…I’m not going to attack people with little bullshit sig lines…

You want games? Go see the Sonics before they leave town,or play your Nintendo.
DON’T bring them in here.

When life hands you lemons, shove them up your ass and stop whining.

BTW…It’s good to see that Diana gets it as well as Sam does. And a welcome to her.

 

[ECKSJAY]

OK...now that this discussion has gone the way it has, which I think is OK in some respects, shall we wind this down?

John's timing was impeccable, being that I was just getting back and settled in from a trip and formulating some of the future events. NWFest thread is a teaser, I know, but at least the dates are up. This is the info I've got already and I've prioritized these events so that they'll get taken care of.

I've had a lot of time to think about this and decided to let the discussion go on. Knowing everyone in this thread I *really* don't think the intention was to piss anyone off, though there wasn't much of an indication of that. Before I had a family I was out wheeling every weekend and was SUPER enthused about organizing runs and getting people to go out wheeling. I brought a lot of new folks into the sport and turned on to XJs in general. I would LOVE to get out every weekend and wheel with everyone, but it's just not possible. I envy those who are able to, but I've also got something that a wheeling trip can't replace. I can only hope that those of you NOW who are into it as much as I was will do your best to help organize what YOU want and ask us for help. Most of you know how to contact me beyond the private messaging system, so feel free to. While I may be dealing with family, very rarely am I unavailable by telephone. Just because I post here or am lurking the site a lot doesn't mean my spirit isn't in the right spot.

I can't speak for Mark and Scott, but I humbly thank you all for bringing to my attention the HUGE number of people who live inside the borders of our Chapter. The last year's growth is phenomenal and exciting! I've got some socializing events being worked on at the moment that I sure hope to have details on in the next few days. I'm sure you all will like it.

Perhaps we should take a few moments to let things slide before they get completely out of hand. It doesn't solve anything to get to the point of accusations and flinging mud. Hell, it's not even election time! :scottm:

Hope to see you all soon. Hunting season is winding down this weekend and there's nothing going on until the Fall as far as that goes. Let's go wrench on our rigs and get them ready for Spring, OK? Or drop them off at the shop for tuning after the weekend's events. What have you? You're all a wonderful group and it's neat to see such varying opinions. Great reminder that we're all human.

- Phil

 

[IXNAYXJ]

...shall we wind this down?

Yes, but before we do that I'd like to thank you for responding in a constructive manner. That was all I or anyone else who posted in this thread can expect. Now that we know where you stand, have dates for NWfest and sweatshirts I think we'll be content for a while.

However....

Scott, I think you're a great guy whom I've had the pleasure of meeting several times and chatting with at length about our Chapter and our individual lives. That being said, you're waaay off base and out of line, not to mention being blatently hypocritical. To infer that the only thing going on here is some sort of personality conflict or personal vendetta is inaccurate and insulting. It just could be that some of us actually give damn about , and more specifically about the NWC. Then to insinuate that you're the only one who has any personal challenges is pretty arrogant, and again inaccurate. The guy who posted this question is going to be jumping on a C-5 in a few months and driving through downtown Bahgdad for the next year...not exactly low-stress or idyllic.

This is not a "game" and if the membership has issues, it is their perogative and obligation to bring it up, not just "deal with it" as you suggest. Again, this is said with sincereity and respect with the hope of making our club or "association" better.
Feel like lunch next time I'm in Portland, Scott? Hooter's again? :cheers:
-----Matt-----

 

[CanMan]

Scott, I was wondering when you quoted my first post, how that played into your response. Or anyone else get it? Am I missing something? Is he agreeing or disagreeing with me? Im kinda of lost in his response.

Thanks, Eli.

 

[ECKSJAY]

Scott, I was wondering when you quoted my first post, how that played into your response. Or anyone else get it? Am I missing something? Is he agreeing or disagreeing with me? Im kinda of lost in his response.

Thanks, Eli.

I think he was saying that Mom was calling us all for dinner.

 

[red91]

Scott, I was wondering when you quoted my first post, how that played into your response]Thanks, Eli.

I agree with you. I'm in a pissy mood.

Matt I understand your points as well, and no disrespect either, it but you and i both know that our chapter covers 3 states and only 10-12 people in it are involved in this discussion...

I think that does say something. That while I would like to see our chapter grow, I have seen others disappear. Its all ebb and flow, we gain a little and lose some.

Now please don't tell me that their are NOT any personality clashes. Becuase you, I, and anyone with an IQ over 6 can see into it.

It just needs to be let go....its tiring. And I never implied that others have it easy...some do, some don't, some will. Everyone is working at their own pace twords their own goals and if this is the focal point of your life and you have kids and a family let me be the first to say something is wrong. It is however an excellent outlet for our single members.

Like was said...we are an "association" lets associate as our personal tiime allows. You know better than anyone how much time some of us would like to have, as opposed to the reality of it.

PM your number again matt, please. I got no problems hooking up again when its a good time.

IF I over reacted I apologize to those that read it that way.


Happy camper I am not...may cooler heads prevail...mom is calling us for dinner...out.

Say no to Zima. :gag:

 

[PDeeXJ]

While I don't have anything of importance to relate to this discussion I thought it a good time to mention that though four wheeling is fun, also caters to those that want to learn more about their ride and learn how to care for it and fix it. I do enjoy four wheeling with you all but I like keeping my daily driver just that, so like those that don't go out much perhaps that category is me, I like my rig the way it is, poser and all.

 

[red91]

While I don't have anything of importance to relate to this discussion I thought it a good time to mention that though four wheeling is fun, also caters to those that want to learn more about their ride and learn how to care for it and fix it. I do enjoy four wheeling with you all but I like keeping my daily driver just that, so like those that don't go out much perhaps that category is me, I like my rig the way it is, poser and all.

Man you can do more shit with a stock open diff rig than half the guys can do with it lifted and all the fancy accessories.

Kudos bro. Proud to be in your neighborhood.

Hope your 07 goes well.

 

[mojojojo]

While I don't have anything of importance to relate to this discussion I thought it a good time to mention that though four wheeling is fun, also caters to those that want to learn more about their ride and learn how to care for it and fix it. I do enjoy four wheeling with you all but I like keeping my daily driver just that, so like those that don't go out much perhaps that category is me, I like my rig the way it is, poser and all.

yeah baby! snorkle power for life! :worship:

 

[CanMan]

Man you can do more shit with a stock open diff rig than half the guys can do with it lifted and all the fancy accessories.

Not True!!!



http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n187/12GaugeXJ/100_3194.jpg

In all reality, Brian has done quite a good job hanging with the more modified rigs. Props to ya!

 

[railroadjeep]

Reading why Red91 posted got me pondering. I realize what I'm going to say probably has absolutley no value or constructive input as to what's going on (as I think I understand what's goin on). But I'll say it anyway, that way at least ya'll will know that some of your more dormant members do indeed observe what's going on.

Honestly, I haven't done squat with NWC since I went to a M&G think at the Southcenter Denny's like 2 years ago. Mainly due to work, and the lifestyle it imposes on me. I regret it, really I do. I'd like to be more involed, but it's just not something thats been an option for me.

Since I'm quite sure none of you know me, I'll point out that aside from typing away on here, you'll rarely hear anything out of me. I'm the quiet type, I know it, and I don't think that's gonna change. Once I get to know people, sure, I start talking. But aside from that, I find my niche and keep to myself. Doesnt mean I'm not paying attention, or listening. For instance, how many of you knew I was there on the Sunday run up at Walker Valley? Yep, that was me in my typical orange apparel. Now if I didn't say anything, how many of you would have known I was there? Not saying that I have a problem with that, it's my own fault, I know. Just saying thats who I am, I observe, and when something perks my attention enough, I say something. Aside from that....I'm content just lurking.

Anyways, I'm done with my pointless ramble. Carry on...