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Joined over a Month ago - yet haven't seen a thing

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MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/21/2010 : 04:17:48

I joined the C-25/250 National Association on February 16th via paying with Paypal. Today is March 21st, and I have yet to receive an e-mail, letter, or anything saying that I'm a member or that my dues were received. No Telltales Newsletter, not even the last issue of the quarterly magazine. I opened a dispute with paypal over the matter.

Just a quick question - is this Association viable? DO you get your Telltales and Mainsheets? I have no idea as I'm a new member. I have written (e-mailed) SEVERAL times over the past year the "contact us" address address for membership to ask this exact question. I've also asked if I could have a sample of either BEFORE I joined. I never got a response. So... being naive, I sent in my paypal payment anyhow.

I ask this question, because I'm also a member of the Moto Guzzi International Association, and about 6 months ago that club stopped publication of it's magazine and is now pretty much internet based only. I knew then that things are tough for these types of organizations, and thus the reason I wanted to know if this Assoc. was viable.

Any heads up with the status of the C-25/250 Int. Assoc. would be appreciative. Any one else have trouble with getting answers from the "contact us" e-mail?
Sincerely,
Murphy

Edited by - MurphyPeoples on 03/21/2010 04:21:12

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2010 : 09:51:45

As former commodore for 2 terms, vice commodore, web master, tell tale publisher, let me tell you that the association is real. The magazine comes out only 4 times per year. We just got one so you'll have to wait a couple of months. There is no mailed Tell Tale, during my term as editor, we moved to an online version. Ity's not much, just the minutes of the Association officers meetings. When you get access to the members only part of this web site you'll get some codes for discounts.

You should be receiving a mailed letter from our Association with your password to the members only area. Once again, don't expect much. The vast majority of our content is right here on the open forum. Free to everyone. Your modest dues go to the quarterly magazine and to support this site.

As to why you have not received the letter yet, wait a minute for one of the current officers to look up your payment and reply. But be patient, this is a volunteer organization, things don't run like its UPS. We all have jobs, boats, families. Hang in there!

Thanks for joining, it is worth it. Just be a little patient with the volunteers.

Any questions, PM me or Russ (Commodore) or John (current Vice Commodore). These are stand up guys and will take care of you. We also get spare copies of the magazine and they may be able to get one sent to you.

Edited by - on

MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2010 : 17:17:17

Well, I did finally get a reply from "LuAnn" - who admitted that the Association DID get my payment via Paypal more than 35+ days ago, yet I somehow fell through the cracks, and have not had a membership processed in my name. All for the better, though everything "sounds great" here on the forums, I never received replies to my direct e-mails requesting, information, or a sample of the clubs Mainsheet. I think it best that the Association NOT process my membership and simply refund my money. That's what I've requested, and hope it will be honored. We're both better off without each other.
Murphy

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2010 : 17:44:26

Murphy,
I hope you reconsider, it's very unlikely that anyone was actually ignoring you and as Jim said all the staff are unpaid volunteers. The email function in the forums has it's problems that are being worked on. It's entirely possible that your emails never got to the folks you sent them to (I know this is an ongoing problem for me and lots of other folks) and this post may be their first indication that anything's wrong for you. While this sucks for exactly the reasons you state, there is so much more available on the forums that's worth the dues and the headaches you're currently experiencing. Give the staff folks a chance to make this right for you before you decide to quit the association.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2010 : 17:56:57

Although we are managed entirely by volunteers except for the paid accouting, it's rare that anyone falls throught the cracks. Sorry to here you are having issues contacting us Murphy, generally you'll receive responses from multiple officers to any contact.

Would you please email me directly to the britinusag1 at gmail dot com.

Thanks.

Paul
Association Secretary.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2010 : 19:19:11

Gee Murphy... Were you disappointed in the responses to the 15-or-so threads you initiated? Is this forum, this community, or the other things on this site not up to your expectations? Are these volunteer staffers not earning their salaries? Do you plan to tune out? If the answers are "yes", I wish you well. But we'd rather have you as part of this perhaps less-than-perfectly-administered community!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 03/21/2010 19:20:33

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2010 : 08:44:48

And an awesome community it is. The information available here is worth many times more than the annual fee. I know there's been some problems with on site email, so that could have played a part in your lack of responses from "contact us". But these people work very hard for free to keep this Association up and running and I for one (in my 4th year here) am appreciative and happy with it.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2010 : 18:50:40

The value of this forum and the dedication of our volunteer staff are unquestionable. The information shared here has and continues to help both the novice and experienced sailors and the continual efforts of the staff has made this an outstanding Association. Arguing these values here, however, without addressing the issue at hand is inappropriate. The slow response or lack of a protocol to acknowledge new members is a serious issue to an Association encouraging new membership. Moreover, this is not the first time this issue has been brought forward. We all understand the printing schedule of the <i>Mainsheet </i>,etc. but newbies do not. I strongly encourage our officers to examine this issue and implement protocol that will both acknowledge new members in a timely manner and outline more explicitly what they can expect in return. In the short-term, however, some action is needed. It may be as simple as a sticky note or disabling of the association email function....IMHO

Edited by - on

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