|
Post by Claude legrand on Jun 18, 2007 14:38:38 GMT -5
Monday, June 18 2007 I just wanted to tell all how dis apointed we have been by our very first meeting in TO Friday evening. We never have been so unwelcomed before. Maybe as we are not Californians and too Europeans to understand this kind of attitude.. As a former President of a big car club in Belgium I just cannot understand. On may 15 a local member told us about the Club. The same day we sent our membership application form (with the payment requested - only normal). We already had expected some kind of "welcome e-mail or letter" even plain standard answer. we looked at e-mails everyday as well as watching for the mailman as we were excited about joining the club. ut so far absolute zilch ! We put our hopes in the first local "impromptu" meeting on friday 15 in TO But seems to me that we were far too enthousiastic. It is almost like we were too much. So we have notr received our membersip card yet but it is not worth sending it to us we just do not want to be members anylonger§ Shall we receive the card we will send it back immediately. Please keep the check too. An almost new and now ex Socalm member Claude and Betty P.S. By the way we are sorry we did not shwow up at the impromptu meeting with an XJS concertible, a Porsche cabrio or a Lotus. we thought it was a Miata meeting !
|
|
|
Post by Phyllis Weiter on Jun 18, 2007 15:52:51 GMT -5
You people obviously weren't at the same social I was at. We met a pleasant new couple from Belgium with a red Miata and we were all nice to them and welcomed them with everything short of a red carpet and hugs and kisses. Maybe in EUROPE they roll out a carpet and have trumpets blaring for new folk, but here we just offer a hand shake and smiles and lots of talk about Miatas. If Claude and Betty really wanted more, they should have stayed in Belgium. Too bad for them, it is there loss because I don't intend to acknowledge them if they ever bother to show up again. I have better things to do with my time and my smiles.
Phyllis '02 Titanium SE
|
|
|
Post by gvilbrandt on Jun 18, 2007 16:03:35 GMT -5
I am sorry that you feel slighted and unwelcomed by us. I was at the social dinner and was several people removed from your end of the table, so I didn't get a chance to talk with you very much. But, I and several others at our end of the table did ask about where you came from and introduce ourselves, etc. I kept my ear open and heard nothing but constant conversation at your end of the table and I thought you and your wife were being included and were involved in that conversation. Since you have owned 405 vehicles and have been involved in so many car clubs, would you please educate us as to what more we could have or should have done to make you feel more welcome? Any constructive criticism is appreciated as we certainly do not want anyone else to feel as you do. Thank you. Gwen Vilbrandt Past Secretary Socalm
|
|
|
Post by Claude Betty on Jun 18, 2007 17:41:12 GMT -5
Please do not waste any money in rolls of red carpeting and an orchestra as we will not come back. Hugs and kisses ? Yes, I was in Charge of the jaguar Drivers club of Belgium. What did we do different ? 1 - When a new member joined the Club he received a standardized lettre welcoming him to the club - simple but everyone wants to be welcomed to a club - isn't that the idea of a club ? 2 - When the new member(s) would show up at his (their) first meeting he or they would be introduced by me to the other members present at the meeting. No large size trumpets or miles of red carpeting. Just a warm welcome and a round of had shake around the table 3 - Anyone who would show up at a meeting with another (competitor's) car was "punished" by having to pay a drink to all unless he or they had a good excuse :-). Obviously we had many members that had Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Lotus, Bentley and many more but those did not show up at a jaguar meeting. Thank you to a couple of nice people we talked to during the friday...meeting you said ? Adios Claude and Betty
|
|
|
Post by Hal Jandorf on Jun 18, 2007 18:07:56 GMT -5
WOW! I resign. This world is too much for me. --Hal
|
|
|
Post by Phyllis Weiter on Jun 18, 2007 18:15:33 GMT -5
Hal, they aren't worth resigning over. They were losers to begin with and we are better off without them. They don't even deserve to own a Miata and hopefully they will sell it and go back to whatever land they beamed over from. And I hate Brussels sprouts more now than ever.
Phyllis
|
|
|
Post by Hal Jandorf on Jun 18, 2007 18:37:02 GMT -5
1. Seems like we all welcomed them, at least introduced all of us at one time during the evening. Some people show up late at the socials so it's so difficult to introduce everyone at the same time.
2. It was my fault to get everyone to get up, walk over and shake the new members hands. I'm sorry but I'm not worthy to a social leader!
3. It's my fault for driving the Lotus at a Miata social. I should have bought a round of drinks, since Lotus is a Miata competitor. Eileen didn't have to buy drinks because her Toyota Corolla is not a Miata competitor. Wait a minute...my Lotus has a Toyota engine! Eileen owes me a drink!
4. LET'S GET THES RULES STRAIGHT!!!
5. This club is SERIOUS BUSINESS! NO JOKES, NO LAUGHS HERE!
--Hal
|
|
|
Post by Bud Martin on Jun 19, 2007 3:55:44 GMT -5
>:(Hal, People from Europe are far different then we would expect. They do like to shake hands and be introduced to all. I am sure that you held a great social as you always do. Our membership person has been gone for several weeks and has not been able to respond to new members. There is no excuse for the attitude demonstrated to these new members by Phyllis in this posting - She must be having a bad day and we know what her bad days are all about. Right or wrong Phyllis, that was how they felt. You need to cool your jets lady.
|
|
|
Post by Jack Stanton on Jul 16, 2007 18:08:41 GMT -5
As a prospective member from Ventura County,I recently checked postings to get a feel for the club.Naturally I was interested in the Thousand Oaks meeting. Making no judgement on what actually occured at the meeting as I was not there,I can only say that I found the reaction of the majority of the members to be alarming.No matter what the circumstances I would have hoped established members would have taken the high ground and not let it deteriorate to where it went. I realize I run the risk of meeting the same fate as this couple,but I love my Miata and was really hoping to find like minded people in my area.
|
|
|
Post by konagirl2k on Jul 18, 2007 1:56:59 GMT -5
Hi Jack, I can't image what must be going through your head after reading some of these postings. These postings are NOT a true reflection of the majority of our members. Yes , you may not like everyone you meet, but like in any club or organization there is always a few bumps along the road. If you are considering the club and really love your miata like you do, you should attend one of our many events that are posted in the Event Calendar. The people of SOCALM are truely a fun group of folks who really do love their cars. The runs are well structured and are alot of fun!!!!! If you visit our photo gallery socalm.phanfare.com/ you will get a flavor of what we do and see the fun we are having. I hope you give us a test drive and attend 1 or 2 events before you decide that this isn't for you. Also I encourage you to call any of the Board members (numbers are posted under "Board Members" on the website) and talk with some one personally. Everyone that I know is very enthusastic about the club. Well, hope to see you soon. Lisa Martin SOCALM Webmaster
|
|
|
Post by ttpuff on Aug 16, 2007 19:51:07 GMT -5
I grew up in the Netherlands, a country next to Belgium where people speak the same language as half of the Belgian people do (i was in Gent just last year), and am a new member of the Socalm club (I have only attended one meeting...I keep missing out on all the cool rides!).
May i suggest that I appreciate that Claude was honest and forthright in speaking his mind on this forum, but also that as an incoming member into a new regional place which may hold different customs and traditions he might have considered delaying his judgment on this club and talk it over with some of the board or other members first?
Belgium customs are quite a bit more formal than American; in fact, even within our own country, people from LA are viewed with a bit of derision by other Americans for their relative lack of protocol (I drove around with a California license plate on my Miata for the past give years on the East Coast and got some interesting comments from some of the natives there about Californians).
I am sorry to see the accouncement from Claude to not even bother coming back to the club....the members truly are Miata loving people, who delight in meeting with others who feel the same way. People from different cultures may have different ways of expressing that.
Kiem Tjong 2000 Silver Metallic hopefully soon to be upgraded Miata
|
|
|
Post by Claude and Betty on Aug 20, 2007 21:20:50 GMT -5
Hi to all,
This is Claude and I am coming back to all of you who read this forum.
We went last saturday to the "Social" organised by Terry and Al, here in Thousand Oaks. There was a lot of people and many cars. We had a great time and we will be going to all other events whenever possible. We put behind us our "formal European attitude" So now it is something of the past. I am quite sure thre will be plenty of other fun outings to come and we are really looking forward to each one of them. Thanks to all. Claude and Betty
|
|
|
Post by roadster1200xl on Aug 21, 2007 22:32:14 GMT -5
Hey, welcome back! Glad you decided to give the club another look. Hope you enjoy your time with us...
Brian
|
|
flyin99
New Member
The first Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by flyin99 on Aug 23, 2007 0:46:29 GMT -5
Well Claude - Glad you are back. Again we have to apologize for the earlier reaction to your club entry. You do make a grand entrance. I am sure you are going to enjoy the many functions and some of the people you meet. As my wife Lisa stated, " You can't win them all". Lisa and I have enjoyed the club very much. Some people in the club don't get what the stands for and probably never will. I am sure you will get it and enjoy it as well. I would hope that with your experience in running car clubs, you would consider getting involved as a board member and bring some new ideas to the club. We look forward to meeting you and surely hope you will consider getting more involved. Bud Martin Vendor Coordinator Merchandise Coordinator Greater Long Beach Area Rep Rapper Husband
|
|
|
Post by replica watches on Dec 30, 2009 3:20:14 GMT -5
Shopping for a Rolex watch online can tag heuer make the job Rolex Watches easier but you Replica Watchesso have to be patek philippe wary about the reputation of the dealer Chanel Watches and the brand of Breitling Watches watch you are audemars piguet getting. The more mont blanc watches considerable you are, the less danger you would come to armani watches when buying a Omega Watches gold watch online.
|
|