Post by Admin on Jan 27, 2016 14:56:41 GMT
CHANGE – A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE by John Bedford
For those newer members it may be of interest to see what progress has been made since I joined nbctc about 32 years ago, though I make no claim to many of the changes. In those days there was only a Saturday afternoon ride and a Sunday all-day ride. The Saturday ride always started from The Yenton. What an awful place to start, but ‘We’ve always started here’ was the reply if change was suggested! The Runs Secretary devised the programme for both Saturday and Sunday. There were also some informal mid-week rides supported by retired members that were not publicised, but which were eventually incorporated as official club rides on the Rides List. There were occasional YHA weekends away, with its own Weekend Secretary. We had a clubroom meeting at Shenstone every Tuesday, which was very well supported. The recently instigated Tuesday evening Pub meetings have not been a success. There were more regular committee meetings than now, but they were more like a social occasion and not at all business like. Some of the riders were not CTC members, which lead to controversy within the Club. Joint rides with other CTC clubs were introduced. Members did support the Birthday Rides, the New Forest Rides and Meriden etc. Nbctc introduced the first Audax at the Meriden Memorial weekend.
The Club funds were topped up by collecting 5p from the riders on each Saturday ride. Consequently there was little money in the coffers. The Rides List was financed by advertising, but eventually this source ceased and fresh advertisers weren’t found, such that new sources of income (Cycle Jumble & Audax) were very welcome. These were also valuable recruitment events. Whilst we had a Christmas Lunch there were no other social occasions as far as I can recollect.
The defunct Northern News was revived and I edited about 180 issues every 6 weeks. This was a useful means of informing members of events and issues before emails and websites were common. As computer technology improved coloured photos were added to illustrate a steady stream of touring articles.
Articles were written for the local papers, posters put in libraries and leaflets distributed to increase the membership. As a consequence a steady growth in membership took place, such that new rides were added over the years, so instead of 2 rides a week we now have 16 graded rides a week, three of which have been added recently. Further growth is being hampered by a lack of leaders on some days. Perhaps we need to consider Leader Training. First Aid courses have also been held recently. There have also been other changes: for instance, at one time we had a strong Family Section, but as the kids got older they found other interests. At least they have experienced club riding and may return to cycling one day. As we grew, the concept of Day Organisers was introduced with the aim of providing a democratic organisation where decisions can be made as near to the action as possible, rather than remotely or centrally.
One major campaigning initiative stands out. There were problems crossing from Little Hay towards Weeford. This originally meant riding along the A38 and taking a right hand turn, a very unsafe manoeuvre. Firstly, pressure was put on the relevant authority, leading to a crossing and cycle-way being established. Further site meetings lead to the new bridge which has been welcomed by all local cyclists.
Nbctc has now been established for 96 years and has undergone development and changes over the years to meet various situations. One thing I have learnt over the years is that it is very easy to talk about change, but it is not at all easy to find somebody to lead or undertake that change, most particularly in a voluntary organisation such as ours.
For those newer members it may be of interest to see what progress has been made since I joined nbctc about 32 years ago, though I make no claim to many of the changes. In those days there was only a Saturday afternoon ride and a Sunday all-day ride. The Saturday ride always started from The Yenton. What an awful place to start, but ‘We’ve always started here’ was the reply if change was suggested! The Runs Secretary devised the programme for both Saturday and Sunday. There were also some informal mid-week rides supported by retired members that were not publicised, but which were eventually incorporated as official club rides on the Rides List. There were occasional YHA weekends away, with its own Weekend Secretary. We had a clubroom meeting at Shenstone every Tuesday, which was very well supported. The recently instigated Tuesday evening Pub meetings have not been a success. There were more regular committee meetings than now, but they were more like a social occasion and not at all business like. Some of the riders were not CTC members, which lead to controversy within the Club. Joint rides with other CTC clubs were introduced. Members did support the Birthday Rides, the New Forest Rides and Meriden etc. Nbctc introduced the first Audax at the Meriden Memorial weekend.
The Club funds were topped up by collecting 5p from the riders on each Saturday ride. Consequently there was little money in the coffers. The Rides List was financed by advertising, but eventually this source ceased and fresh advertisers weren’t found, such that new sources of income (Cycle Jumble & Audax) were very welcome. These were also valuable recruitment events. Whilst we had a Christmas Lunch there were no other social occasions as far as I can recollect.
The defunct Northern News was revived and I edited about 180 issues every 6 weeks. This was a useful means of informing members of events and issues before emails and websites were common. As computer technology improved coloured photos were added to illustrate a steady stream of touring articles.
Articles were written for the local papers, posters put in libraries and leaflets distributed to increase the membership. As a consequence a steady growth in membership took place, such that new rides were added over the years, so instead of 2 rides a week we now have 16 graded rides a week, three of which have been added recently. Further growth is being hampered by a lack of leaders on some days. Perhaps we need to consider Leader Training. First Aid courses have also been held recently. There have also been other changes: for instance, at one time we had a strong Family Section, but as the kids got older they found other interests. At least they have experienced club riding and may return to cycling one day. As we grew, the concept of Day Organisers was introduced with the aim of providing a democratic organisation where decisions can be made as near to the action as possible, rather than remotely or centrally.
One major campaigning initiative stands out. There were problems crossing from Little Hay towards Weeford. This originally meant riding along the A38 and taking a right hand turn, a very unsafe manoeuvre. Firstly, pressure was put on the relevant authority, leading to a crossing and cycle-way being established. Further site meetings lead to the new bridge which has been welcomed by all local cyclists.
Nbctc has now been established for 96 years and has undergone development and changes over the years to meet various situations. One thing I have learnt over the years is that it is very easy to talk about change, but it is not at all easy to find somebody to lead or undertake that change, most particularly in a voluntary organisation such as ours.