BMMC Membership Update

[Stephen Green]

Dear All,

George Copeland, our National Treasurer, has asked me to post the following letter:

BMMC MEMBERSHIP

Sorry if you are still waiting for your membership renewal. We’ve “had a bit of bovver” as Frank Spencer would say.

As many of you know, Sue Whitlock, who has looked after accounts and membership so well for many years, was struck down by serious illness in June 2009, just as we should have been putting the annual accounts to bed. Sue tried her best to keep up but was often too ill or too tired, with the treatment, to keep up. Our Auditors stepped in to get the annual accounts out in time and Fay Crook gallantly took on the membership challenge.

One of the side effects of the hugely successful recruiting campaign in recent years, run by Team Wilson and others, is that the administration burden increases in direct proportion to the new members we take on. Last year we took on over 500 new members; we were also in the first full year of Direct Debit and over one third of our membership took this option. For future years a great benefit but very time consuming to set up in year one. Sue (helped by husband, Chris, I am sure) covered most of this but when she fell ill, membership fell behind.

Fay tried to catch up but she was between jobs at the time; got a new job that meant working shifts and then got a “proper” new job that made it impossible for her to continue with our membership. Now we had a second “bit of bovver”.

Thankfully, the Marshals’ Club never seems to be bereft of volunteers when we hit trouble. Step forward Paul Sutcliffe of North region. Paul offered his help at the Autosport Show and Chris Hobson presented him with a massive box of papers at the end of January. I think he was a bit overwhelmed at first by the sheer volume of work there was to do (all the 2010 renewals!) but with some help and guidance from Sue and Fay, he is now well into the job.

Acknowledgement of new memberships and renewals are starting to flow again and I hope it will not be too long before we are caught up.

Thank you for your patience and again our apologies for the delays.

George Copeland
National Treasurer

[Mike Kelly 1]

Thanks for the update Stephen. I don't think that we realise just how much work goes on with regards to membership renewals, recruiting, upgrading and organising discounts on products. Many thanks to all the "backroom staff"

[yellowspanner]

Thanks to all involved and keep up the good work! Get well soon Sue!

[Sparky-steve]

Many many thanks to Sue Fay and Paul. and to all BMMC backroom people, with out you we wouldn't have such a wonderful organisation.

[Stoowert]

Thanks from me too!

As if Fay doesn't have enough on her plate, living with Alan!

I'm sitting at home with time on my hands and a computer. If I can be of any help to anyone, PM me...

[Guisbro Rod H]

I haven't joined BMMC previously. However, I have decided to join in 2010.

In the light of the above membership backlog, would it be better for me to delay my application (probably with Direct Debit) for a couple of weeks?

[Eric Ridler]

I haven't joined BMMC previously. However, I have decided to join in 2010.

In the light of the above membership backlog, would it be better for me to delay my application (probably with Direct Debit) for a couple of weeks?

Don't delay send it in (preferably with DD) as Paul has cleared the backlog of new members and is steadily catching up with the renewals.

[yellowspanner]

At the risk of nagging - I sent a new membership application back in early Jan and the money left my account approx two weeks back. Should I have received anything in the post as yet?

Thanks!!

[Stephen Green]

As Eric said above, the backlog has almost been cleared so please bear with us

[yellowspanner]

No problem, received today thanks very much, just keen to get a membership number for AWS order......

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by yellowspanner

No problem, received today thanks very much, just keen to get a membership number for AWS order......

I managed to order my overalls while I was waiting for my membership number a couple of years ago, AWS were fine with that.

[Woolley]

Ours arrived today, so thank you to everyone who's been involved on the membership side.

[dave cam]

ours arrived yesterday thanks to all concerned

[Vanny]

My membership also arrived yesterday, well within time for the new season!

Many thanks to those who have put in so much effort

[Sparky-steve]

got mine this week, many thanks Paul for stepping into the breach.

[Circuitmarshal]

I like the new dated window sticker, it shows you are!!
And as a membership Secretary on a smaller scale, please remember that your membership runs out at the same time each year, so at least send your renewal on time or even a little bit early.
Because we know you are helpful people really!!

[Richard Sneader]

Mine arrived yesterday. Stickers look better and has already taken pride of place in my windscreen.
RS