Wow, Lotus 7 Club's quiet ... how can we help it recover
Discussion
I was going to say any constructive and positive responses are likely to get drowned out by the usual diatribe of dross from the vociferous minority of ex-club members with huge chips on their shoulders, who wade in on any thread which happens to mention the L7C; but it seems Bob has jumped in already in under 4 mins 
Just for info, if you're not logged in to the Club site then the number of active threads on blatchat seems to be fewer than it really is, which doesn't give the impression that it is as active as it actually is. In my view that's not a good thing.
I don't know what the actual stats are compared to the old site, and it's pretty pointless guessing, but it seems a little quieter to me.
There are bits of the new site I don't like, and bits I do, but you'll never please everyone all the time.
Having said that, it has improved an awful lot since launch, and the Club is also so much more than the forum alone.
As for how to improve things, there is a members survey in the pipeline so hopefully that will provide some feedback as well.
So, any positive and constructive replies to the OP's question?
Just for info, if you're not logged in to the Club site then the number of active threads on blatchat seems to be fewer than it really is, which doesn't give the impression that it is as active as it actually is. In my view that's not a good thing.
I don't know what the actual stats are compared to the old site, and it's pretty pointless guessing, but it seems a little quieter to me.
There are bits of the new site I don't like, and bits I do, but you'll never please everyone all the time.
Having said that, it has improved an awful lot since launch, and the Club is also so much more than the forum alone.
As for how to improve things, there is a members survey in the pipeline so hopefully that will provide some feedback as well.
So, any positive and constructive replies to the OP's question?
Helluvaname said:
I was going to say any constructive and positive responses are likely to get drowned out by the usual diatribe of dross from the vociferous minority of ex-club members with huge chips on their shoulders, who wade in on any thread which happens to mention the L7C; but it seems Bob has jumped in already in under 4 mins
All that from a picture of some popcorn? And I'm the one with a chip on my shoulder?Wow.
Speaking as a Caterham owner for the last two years, a week before I got my car I downloaded the membership form and was looking forward to joining The Lotus 7 Club. I also contacted a local L7OC group but never received a reply. Once I got my car I went along to their advertised monthly meeting for the local group but there was no-one there. I think the local group web page was out of date. Since then I have seen the in-fighting from BlatChat spill over into this forum, which decided me against joining for the time being at least.
The owner's club was one of the things I was looking forward to, and I would still consider joining, but there are plenty of alternative means of meeting like minded owners of Caterhams and similar cars and finding information on the cars. This forum being the best of them in my experience.
Perhaps I should join for this year just to find out first hand? Any thoughts from existing members?
The owner's club was one of the things I was looking forward to, and I would still consider joining, but there are plenty of alternative means of meeting like minded owners of Caterhams and similar cars and finding information on the cars. This forum being the best of them in my experience.
Perhaps I should join for this year just to find out first hand? Any thoughts from existing members?
I've been a member on there for 2 years.
I've not seen any "in-fighting", but then, I only really read the technical section to solve my own problems and occasionally to chip in if I've had a similar issue to someone else.
The site has been very useful in sorting out some of my technical issues on the car, but I have to say the new Facebook pages seem equally good with questions answered quickly.
I enjoyed the Taffia trackday last year (though I gather this is run separately from the club). I'm unlikely to go to meets as I'm probably half the age of the average Caterham owner and feel a bit out of place if I'm honest! In fairness, I don't go go PH meets either as it's really not my thing, I'd rather just go for a drive.
I've not seen any "in-fighting", but then, I only really read the technical section to solve my own problems and occasionally to chip in if I've had a similar issue to someone else.
The site has been very useful in sorting out some of my technical issues on the car, but I have to say the new Facebook pages seem equally good with questions answered quickly.
I enjoyed the Taffia trackday last year (though I gather this is run separately from the club). I'm unlikely to go to meets as I'm probably half the age of the average Caterham owner and feel a bit out of place if I'm honest! In fairness, I don't go go PH meets either as it's really not my thing, I'd rather just go for a drive.
Camoradi said:
Speaking as a Caterham owner for the last two years, a week before I got my car I downloaded the membership form and was looking forward to joining The Lotus 7 Club. I also contacted a local L7OC group but never received a reply. Once I got my car I went along to their advertised monthly meeting for the local group but there was no-one there. I think the local group web page was out of date. Since then I have seen the in-fighting from BlatChat spill over into this forum, which decided me against joining for the time being at least.
The owner's club was one of the things I was looking forward to, and I would still consider joining, but there are plenty of alternative means of meeting like minded owners of Caterhams and similar cars and finding information on the cars. This forum being the best of them in my experience.
Perhaps I should join for this year just to find out first hand? Any thoughts from existing members?
Don't rely on opinions spouted on the internet. Go to your local meeting and make up your own mind as to whether it's for you or not. The owner's club was one of the things I was looking forward to, and I would still consider joining, but there are plenty of alternative means of meeting like minded owners of Caterhams and similar cars and finding information on the cars. This forum being the best of them in my experience.
Perhaps I should join for this year just to find out first hand? Any thoughts from existing members?
Eric Mc said:
Don't rely on opinions spouted on the internet. Go to your local meeting and make up your own mind as to whether it's for you or not.
Camoradi earlier said:
I also contacted a local L7OC group but never received a reply. Once I got my car I went along to their advertised monthly meeting for the local group but there was no-one there.
I'm also a member & plan to remain so. I enjoy receiving the monthly magazine as it keeps me connected with the L7C community although I personally don't get involved. Membership does not cost much & you can get discounts, however I have never used any. I went to my local club meet in the UK at a pub once when I had the car there, however I just turned up unannounced & found it awkward as I did not know the group and they did not know me. I did not make much effort after that as my schedule & geographical location changed. So now just enjoy the car on my own, but still proud to be a member.
I never used the old BC, didn't find it easy to use, plus I was on PH before owning a Caterham & being a member of L7C. At the time there was only so many internet sites I could keep up with at once. I have posted on the new BC and I like it. I find it more user friendly. It does seem a little quieter but I'm sure it will pick up again. Yes there was loads of technical info on the TechTalk page but you have to spend a lot of time filtering out the rubbish imo. Something I realise now from owning a Caterham, experiencing issues and talking to trusted individuals whose careers are associated with these types of cars.
Now the community has split three ways L7C, PH & Facebook & the technology today allows you to scan them all regularly where ever you are on lots of different devices, I will probably now post on all three at once.
I never used the old BC, didn't find it easy to use, plus I was on PH before owning a Caterham & being a member of L7C. At the time there was only so many internet sites I could keep up with at once. I have posted on the new BC and I like it. I find it more user friendly. It does seem a little quieter but I'm sure it will pick up again. Yes there was loads of technical info on the TechTalk page but you have to spend a lot of time filtering out the rubbish imo. Something I realise now from owning a Caterham, experiencing issues and talking to trusted individuals whose careers are associated with these types of cars.
Now the community has split three ways L7C, PH & Facebook & the technology today allows you to scan them all regularly where ever you are on lots of different devices, I will probably now post on all three at once.
Camoradi said:
To be honest you are probably right Eric, but I wonder how many other potential members would have done the same as me?
Anyway, I've joined L7C this afternoon as this seemed the best way to find out what the club is about.
I think it's worth joining just to find out for yourself. If you don't like it then you can leave and the money you've spent can easily be made up wit the discounts available through the club. Anyway, I've joined L7C this afternoon as this seemed the best way to find out what the club is about.
Good chap.
The Caterham section of PH has become the Lotus gripe section of late. There are obviously a few people on here who have, for whatever reason, fallen out or at least fallen out of love with the club at some time or other and who am I to speculate as to whether their feelings are justified or not?
I am no fan of the new website and in fact, because I was having troubles logging onto it a few months I very nearly threw in the towel with the club as well. However, I actually received an unexpected phone call from a Committee Member who helped me through the new registration system to get my access to the new site up and running - which I thought was very considerate.
The Caterham section of PH has become the Lotus gripe section of late. There are obviously a few people on here who have, for whatever reason, fallen out or at least fallen out of love with the club at some time or other and who am I to speculate as to whether their feelings are justified or not?
I am no fan of the new website and in fact, because I was having troubles logging onto it a few months I very nearly threw in the towel with the club as well. However, I actually received an unexpected phone call from a Committee Member who helped me through the new registration system to get my access to the new site up and running - which I thought was very considerate.
Camoradi said:
I went along to their advertised monthly meeting for the local group but there was no-one there.
Same problem here. It's something that I have seen with the L7C all too often. Those owners that are at the meeting in my experience, always 'stick' together and it's very hard for a newbie to feel comfortable. I have also noticed the same thing when attending other 7 events. If you're not an ego freak then the whole event can become a very lonely affair.It would be nice if the 'old' owners were more aware of newbies and made them welcome and integrated.
Of the three sites (BC, PH and FB) that I use, BC is the one that seems most active to me. There are certainly more posts on BC than PH (despite today being one of the busiest on PH for a while) and while FB seems busy, I find it hard to follow discussions and i find it impossible to find anything that hasn't been posted in the last day or two.
There are some interesting stats on FB usage here: http://www.lotus7.club/forum/chitchat/old-blatchat... . These show that usage of BC (in terms of postings) has been on a long term decline for the last decade, which suggests that it is a social trend more than something that was triggered by a single event (such as only allowing members to post or some spectacular spats - which still have echoes on here).
What is noticeable is that the number of posts made by the top 20 posters accounts for 15% of all posts and that many of these are no longer on Blatchat.
There is certainly a lot of noise around that makes it difficult to understand what is driving the long term trend
Steve
There are some interesting stats on FB usage here: http://www.lotus7.club/forum/chitchat/old-blatchat... . These show that usage of BC (in terms of postings) has been on a long term decline for the last decade, which suggests that it is a social trend more than something that was triggered by a single event (such as only allowing members to post or some spectacular spats - which still have echoes on here).
What is noticeable is that the number of posts made by the top 20 posters accounts for 15% of all posts and that many of these are no longer on Blatchat.
There is certainly a lot of noise around that makes it difficult to understand what is driving the long term trend
Steve
HolbaySS said:
Same problem here. It's something that I have seen with the L7C all too often. Those owners that are at the meeting in my experience, always 'stick' together and it's very hard for a newbie to feel comfortable. I have also noticed the same thing when attending other 7 events. If you're not an ego freak then the whole event can become a very lonely affair.
It would be nice if the 'old' owners were more aware of newbies and made them welcome and integrated.
I agree with this. More should be done to invite & welcome in new members to the activities of the club & local area meets.It would be nice if the 'old' owners were more aware of newbies and made them welcome and integrated.
HolbaySS said:
Same problem here. It's something that I have seen with the L7C all too often. Those owners that are at the meeting in my experience, always 'stick' together and it's very hard for a newbie to feel comfortable. I have also noticed the same thing when attending other 7 events. If you're not an ego freak then the whole event can become a very lonely affair.
It would be nice if the 'old' owners were more aware of newbies and made them welcome and integrated.
I agree with this. More should be done to invite & welcome in new members to the activities of the club & local area meets.It would be nice if the 'old' owners were more aware of newbies and made them welcome and integrated.
I agree entirely with that.
The Club set up Area Mailing Lists for each Area, that includes ALL the members in the Area (as well as any others that have signed themselves up to additional Areas).
This was as a result of feedback from members who said they never heard from their AR.
Many ARs have embraced the mailing list (not least as it requires no management by the AR as it's updated daily from the membership database, so new members are automatically added, and any address changes updated).
Sadly there are still some who don't use it for various reasons, and in many of those cases they are often the areas that are dwindling or inactive.
If you are a member and experience this, all I can suggest is that you try to contact another nearby Area, and/or drop me a message on here as all feedback is much appreciated.
The Club set up Area Mailing Lists for each Area, that includes ALL the members in the Area (as well as any others that have signed themselves up to additional Areas).
This was as a result of feedback from members who said they never heard from their AR.
Many ARs have embraced the mailing list (not least as it requires no management by the AR as it's updated daily from the membership database, so new members are automatically added, and any address changes updated).
Sadly there are still some who don't use it for various reasons, and in many of those cases they are often the areas that are dwindling or inactive.
If you are a member and experience this, all I can suggest is that you try to contact another nearby Area, and/or drop me a message on here as all feedback is much appreciated.
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