View Single Post
Old 04-09-07, 02:40 PM
  #27  
Bill Kapaun
Really Old Senior Member
 
Bill Kapaun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mid Willamette Valley, Orygun
Posts: 13,822

Bikes: 87 RockHopper,2008 Specialized Globe. Both upgraded to 9 speeds.

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1774 Post(s)
Liked 1,230 Times in 851 Posts
Iv'e belonged to a couple non bicycle groups that have held various events. These events were designed to generate revenue and also expose people to our club in hopes of gaining new members.
We are all volunteers, and sometimes you just wish some of your volunteers would stay home!

Our rifle club holds an annual sight in days before hunting season. Many of the participants are brand new shooters. The last thing they need/want is someone "smirking" at their skills. When the "volunteer" makes the "customer" feel uncomfortable because of their lack of skills, you lose a potential member and may get additional "bad advertising" about your club. We've had a very few "volunteers" do that. A little bit of "nurturing" can help the "customer". We have gotten MANY new members because of simple kindness & help.
You experienced ONE JERK! I admire your resolve to eventually lead a ride.
You might give that club another shot at the "Beginners Ride". It could be a golden opportunity to smooth the waters.
Maybe you could get a group of "Novice Beginners" from that ride pool to do a separate ride. Not to compete with the club, but to add another option. Maybe without the "JERK", their Beginners Ride actually IS what you hoped for??
You have to remember that you posted your experiences on the internet for all the world to see. That's because of ONE JERK that you happened to experience on ONE DAY! Does the club really deserve that?
Give the club another opportunity to prove that it was a one time occurence. I think that's only fair.

Hopefully, you can post back in the future that it really is a good club, and MAYBE you'll become one of their better members. You have the insight of what a beginner DOESN'T WANT.
Bill Kapaun is offline