Devils advocate time 
If you want to "assess" a potential member... and you had a choice between (a) a monthly meeting with a hundred people in it, or (b) a monthly open club run with 6 or so Jeeps... dont you think you would "learn alot more" about that potential member on an open run? Dont you think the "potential member" would learn alot more about responsible wheelin by being shown the right way by members and execs?
For the people who are EXTREMELY busy during the week and have a very small chance of making it to meetings... but do want to become members... it would be nice if participating in open club runs & trail projects (all pretty much weekends) could be recognized over and above attending meetings.
I think that was what Ryan may have been trying to convey with his post... or perhaps I am wrong? If so... I am sure someone will let me know 
I agree whole-heartedly with the value of assessing a potential member on the trail. That's why attending sanctioned club trail runs is a hard and fast requirement for becoming a member. What I'm trying to say is that there more to being a member than just showing up at a run that somebody else organized and going wheeling. If you haven't already, maybe take a look at the membership requirements in the FAQ section. This is actually an issue that we've looked at over the past year, and the CJA members have voted overwhelmingly to adopt the current requirements. The tribe has spoken
As it stands, the current requirements for membership reflect all three elements. Attending some meetings, going on some runs, and contributing time to events and trail projects. This reflects the fact that we're looking for people that are willing to contribute...not just show up when there's a club run on a Saturday that they have free.
Because of my work schedule, it took me almost a year to satisfy the membership requirements in terms of the number of meetings that I had attended. The advantage to this was that by the time I was ready to be considered for membership, a reasonable number of club members knew who I was and had wheeled with me. I also understand why that requirement is there. The meetings are the best way to get a look at what the CJA is about, what our goals are, and how we go about things.
As Rodjock said, the seven open runs currently listed on the calendar are by no means the only chances for non-members to get out. The chance exists for prospective members to be invited on a "members" run if the trail leader thinks that they're a good fit. In addition, last year there were two or three runs that ended up becoming open "club" runs when an appropriate number of members were going, got the run added to the calendar, and brought along waivers.
I don't know that we've ever met, but you sound like a very reasonable guy - so I want to make something clear. My response to 2grand4u was not based just on a request for more "open" runs, but on his track record. I'm not going to go into details or cite examples. I will simply state that his conduct in the past has demonstrated very clearly that his current goals and habits aren't compatible with being a CJA member.
For someone like Tinkerer who absolutely positively cannot make it to meetings but consistently finds a way to contribute to the community, I would not be surprised if after a year or so the executives were willing to find a way to let that person become a member. What that would be and how much bacon they would have to provide for bribes is unkown...but except for Dom
we tend to elect reasonable people to lead us.
Topic: 2010 Event Calendar (Read 5113 times)