MRC - The Next Generation

[clive]

MRC - The Next Generation

Please ensure you read all of this notice in full - it affects all Club Members, Advertisers and MRC Guests who are registered to use the forum

Welcome back to a new style Mazdarotaryclub.com!

As you are no doubt aware the MRC forum has been offline whist a software upgrade has been carried out. Hopefully this will speed up the forum and cure some of the technical problems a number of you have been experiencing. We have taken this opportunity to relaunch MRC with a new look to the forum and some changes to the way the Club operates. It is important that you are aware of these changes and the background as to why this was necessary.

MRC was and still is aimed at providing a friendly and supportive environment for anybody interested in Mazda rotary powered cars. That has always meant a club for like minded people, sharing a common interest. Of late, we have witnessed a small number of people essentially trying to destabilise the Club in various ways. This peaked when a banned member phoned a moderator at their home threatening physical violence. This is totally unacceptable within normal society let alone a car club.

This has lead to myself, along with all the other volunteers who give up their free time to operate this club for its members, considering why Glenn and I formed MRC in the first place and re-establishing the original goals and values. Now follows a brief history lesson but please bear with me as it explains how we got to where we are today and why the Club operates as it does.

MRC was started in 2001 after another club dedicated to the RX-7 imploded amidst squabbling and arguments between members and the club’s committee. This is one of the main reasons why MRC does not have a formal committee; instead certain members are asked to become ambassadors for MRC. These people are chosen purely for the qualities and attributes they can bring to the moderation team and the operation of the Club.

When Glenn and I first started MRC people were personally invited to join. Whilst advice and feedback on the clubs operation has always been welcomed it was never intended that club members, or even guests, should dictate how the Club is run or try to take over the control of it.

We are proud that these values have led to the development of the only rotary club in the UK that accepts and assists any rotary owner regardless of the type of rotary he or she drives and also regardless of whom the person is friends with or associated with. Today the Club has around 400 paid up members and several thousand who view and are assisted by the online forum which was established for people to hook into the widely dispersed rotary community from all around the world.

After the events in January this year I seriously considered dissolving MRC and returning all monies to its members, but too much effort has been put into the Club over the last six years by many people to let MRC collapse like the old RX-7 club. Many of our members would be left without a club to assist them with their hobby as no other club in the UK offers the same type of community and support as MRC. But something had to be done to return MRC to the happy friendly place it has always been.

Full details of the changes have been updated in Mazdarotaryclub.com’s constitution and the Club’s terms and conditions, both of which can be viewed in full here in full

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=493519#post493519

Here is a brief summary of the key changes:
 
1. The Operation of The Club

The AGM has caused an extensive amount of debate and argument and it was clear that it was no longer serving the purpose it was originally designed to. Holding a meeting which the vast majority of members did not or could not attend was clearly not working. There will therefore no longer be a face to face meeting.

In January each year the posts of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer will still be open for re-election. If there are two or more candidates for any of these positions a members vote via an online poll will be held.

Constructive suggestions for improving the way the club runs are still more than welcome. Instead of having to wait for the AGM if someone comes up with a proposal this can now be discussed and voted upon via the forum so that more members will have an input.

2. Online Behaviour

The primary change will be one of attitude â€" with respect for other club users now becoming the number 1 criteria for being part of MRC. The forum is not to be a platform to disparage others, make accusations or insinuations relating to the character or conduct of others. MRC will be more ready to pro-actively manage the content of posts seen as defamatory or aimed at promoting senseless argument amongst individuals or groups. These rules apply to everyone.

There have been instances of disputes spilling out onto the forum between members, guests and advertisers. We request that all disputes are carried out via email, PM or telephone where possible and not on MRC’s forum.

Any action taken against a member or guest is agreed by all 15 people that operate MRC behind the scenes. The decision will, as far as possible, be kept away from the public domain. As founder of this club I have no wish to see the forum be used to name and shame as we have seen recently. This is something that will also form part of the new ‘respect your fellow enthusiast’ attitude that now needs to operate within MRC.

3. Selling and Group Buys

Individuals’ selling multiple items via MRC has become a major issue. Moderating decisions based on the current rules regarding group buys and trading have caused confusion and clarification is required.

In future a club member or guest will not be allowed to sell more than one of any item, be this a part or a car, per calendar year without written consent from MRC. Only paying advertisers are allowed to trade on MRC.

Group buys must, in some way, be relevant to rotary cars or their enjoyment. Group Buy’s may not be started on a paying advertiser’s thread, or on any other group buy thread already started by another member or guest. All group buy organiser’s must start their own thread within the group buy section only. No group buys organised by a member or guest are the responsibility of the Club.