BMWMOA Not Very Attractive to Some

[ncstephen]

Has our society changed to where joining things to become an official part of a group isn't seen as something that needs to be done? What perception does 'joining' offer someone in positive ways. What is the perception of negative things about joining hold.

I see many groups struggling with this, churches, civic groups, bike clubs.

What was offered in joining 30 years ago compared to today?

No answers here, just pondering the phenomenon of needing to join vs not needing to join.

In many ways it comes down to a perceived WITFM (Whats In It For Me) vs at what cost.

For sure the closeness of contact via electronic means is one thing. I know when considering something I can easily reach out and touch a number of folks about a ride, going out to eat, joining me for an event, ask for help or advice on a project. I think that a new model of 'clubs' will have to be understood in order to help any group successful evolve to how things are done with those several generations behind me.

[mika]

Has our society changed to where joining things to become an official part of a group isn't seen as something that needs to be done? What perception does 'joining' offer someone in positive ways. What is the perception of negative things about joining hold.

-snip-

In many ways it comes down to a perceived WITFM (Whats In It For Me) vs at what cost.

-snip-

I think that a new model of 'clubs' will have to be understood in order to help any group successful evolve to how things are done with those several generations behind me.

My fuzzy thoughts on your interesting comments

I don't think the herding nature of our species has change. What has changed is the way we go about it and how the herds gain structure.

Cost benefit analysis plays a role in analyzing this but, in my opinion, is father down the list of key factors than we tend to think and give importance too.

I am not certain it takes that much of a new model as it takes understanding the who what and why that is causing people to herd in any given time. In any time you can point out organizations, parties, clubs etc that did not adapt to changes and became irrelevant to a large enough population to keep themselves viable.

[PGlaves]

On the loners/joiners theme, today's instant communication and electronic interaction has a bearing on the issue. When BMW MOA was formed it was partly a social group but inherently a way to share scarce technical information about these bikes with a less than perfect national distributor and a scant dealer network. Those needs were the Genesis of the local clubs, and MOA was formed almost as a club of clubs.

Today the parts fiche is on line. So are service manuals. Email lists, Forae (plural of forum in Latin) and numerous web pages provide tech info and support. Some groups, Long Distance Riders comes to mind, announce and get crowds at local or less local rides-to-eat and other events without having a club structure to go with it. A note on an email list or forum might get 50 or 150 folks together on a Saturday for lunch or dinner. Face time! Then there is Facebook.

Times are changing and any organization needs to run to keep up.

[crazydrummerdude]

On the loners/joiners theme, today's instant communication and electronic interaction has a bearing on the issue. When BMW MOA was formed it was partly a social group but inherently a way to share scarce technical information about these bikes with a less than perfect national distributor and a scant dealer network. Those needs were the Genesis of the local clubs, and MOA was formed almost as a club of clubs.

Today the parts fiche is on line. So are service manuals. Email lists, Forae (plural of forum in Latin) and numerous web pages provide tech info and support. Some groups, Long Distance Riders comes to mind, announce and get crowds at local or less local rides-to-eat and other events without having a club structure to go with it. A note on an email list or forum might get 50 or 150 folks together on a Saturday for lunch or dinner. Face time! Then there is Facebook.

Times are changing and any organization needs to run to keep up.

Nailed it.

Signed,
A 25-year old with many forae and a facebook account.

[PHMARVIN]

Forae (plural of forum in Latin)

Hi, Paul,
Forum is the singular, a neuter gender word in Latin. The plural of forum is fora. If it were a feminine gender noun and the singular were fora, then the plural would, indeed, be forae. Just like the singular is medium, the plural is media. I could be wrong, of course. I studied Latin 50 years ago (Latin I in the '61-'62 school year, Latin II in the '62-'63 school year. So, as I said, I could be wrong. (DamnedifIknow, DamnedifIknare, DamnedifIknavi, DamnedifIknatus sum)

[barryg]

I knew I should have taken Latin back in high school. What was I thinking?

[ncsonderman]

Nailed it.

Signed,
A 25-year old with many forae and a facebook account.

I agree with both. I've been involved with many groups that weren't "formal", yet we'd end up with fairly well organized gatherings for rides and meals without any true club status.

One way to get S1000RR riders to be involved in rallies would be to offer those at sites that offered a track close by. I think that many, myself included, would be more likely to attend a rally that had the opportunity to attend a track day or two during the day and enjoy a rally type atmosphere at night. There would be plenty of locations around the country that could accomodate such an event. Would that be out of the question?

Just an idea that would seem to satisfy both types of riding interests.

[Visian]

Signed,
A 25-year old with many forae and a facebook account.

what... no Google+ account???

get with it, you old fart.

[JavaD]

I agree with both. I've been involved with many groups that weren't "formal", yet we'd end up with fairly well organized gatherings for rides and meals without any true club status.

One way to get S1000RR riders to be involved in rallies would be to offer those at sites that offered a track close by. I think that many, myself included, would be more likely to attend a rally that had the opportunity to attend a track day or two during the day and enjoy a rally type atmosphere at night. There would be plenty of locations around the country that could accomodate such an event. Would that be out of the question?

Just an idea that would seem to satisfy both types of riding interests.

Hmm...this may be a possibility for the future...

[Visian]

Hmm...this may be a possibility for the future...

[Visian]

Some groups, Long Distance Riders comes to mind, announce and get crowds at local or less local rides-to-eat and other events without having a club structure to go with it.

this is the heart of my joiner/loner question.... how much do people feel a need to belong anymore vs. just get some info and go do their own thing?

we have two primary appeals: timely & relevant info, and community.

one appeals to the need to be informed about a person's bike and activities surrounding it.

the other appeals to the need to feel as being part of a group.

yes, the Internet has pried open the timely & relevant info box.

but i am not sure where the sportbike crowd stands on the group thing. if there still is a need, what is it centered upon? Brand of bike? Type of riding? Other? Does belonging require meat-space interaction or does an avatar and an on-line reputation do the trick?

And... if there is a need to belong, is there a perceived value equal to a club's annual dues?

ian

[Jogitu]

I've got an idea. If you want a younger crowd then fix the tap-a-talk issue. Since most people have smart phones now this an issue BMW MOA needs to address. Sometime this fall the Apple devices will go to OS 5 with cloud. This will do away with the need for a PC. Other devices will follow and some have already gone this direction. Tablets and smart phones will take over at some point. What this means is that not fixing whatever the issue is with the old security software means people will not be able to access the forum to post. Essentially you can access the forum now but cannot participate. How is that possibly good? This issue has been ignored by MOA and needs to be addressed soon. When you sell suspenders and trucker hats on the web site it speaks volumes. You are not trying to attract younger members. You must keep up with tech in this world and you must attract new and younger members. BMW has a plan, does the MOA?

PS. Don't jump me I am just the messenger. I am a member but reality is what it is.

[dancogan]

...PS. Don't jump me I am just the messenger. I am a member but reality is what it is.

I believe a lot of what you have to say applies to members other than the sport bike crowd ... regardless of how old we are! lol

[Visian]

I've got an idea. If you want a younger crowd then fix the tap-a-talk issue.

yup. i am not a huge fan of Tapatalk, but it sure would be nice if it worked for those who use it.

wish we had moved to a modern AAA solution years ago.... it's really dogging us now.

When you sell suspenders and trucker hats on the web site it speaks volumes.

[64729]

Well, I just noticed that I'm the author of the last post in this part of the Forum and its dated June 22. Today is July 13.

Doesn't look like MOA is of much interest to the generally younger riders of sportbike which is the most successful launch by the brand in a long time.

RA is at least trying- don't know if they're doing any better, yet, though.

Anybody ever ask themselves why this group has a headquarters in the middle of nowhere re motorcycle culture and an approach that is apparently without any results in reaching a large group of BMW owners? I'm too old (nearly 65) to want one of the sportbikes but I sure like those kids- I've taught their car culture equivalent for a long time and they are just plain fun to be with...

I can see the point your trying to make.

The ONLY way we keep the MOA going is to offer something for the 'YOUNGER' riders.
The last (2) Rallys I've been to, I bet the AVERAGE age was 50+.
That would be the 49er and, Autum Beemer Bash.