Sinking Creek 4WD Association

Next year will bring some changes for club membership. The bylaws have not been changed to reflect this yet, but they will be once we've finalized all the little details.



The most significant change is that prospective and current club members will be required to demonstrate their competence and regular participation in 4wd activities to obtain/retain their membership status. A draft of a skills and participation checklist has been created and is attached at the bottom of this message for viewing.

Newbies who initiate the new membership process by paying dues will be considered "probationary members" until they complete at least the first set of requirements (Spotter).

Current members will remain as "full members", and will have one school year to complete the requirements. If they don't do so in that time, their membership status will be removed until they complete the requirements.

The goal of this new process is three-fold:
1. Ensure that those who represent the club are knowledgable and responsible
2. Further empower club members to guide new prospective members
3. Encourage more technical learning and participation in trail rides and cleanups



ALSO,

Dues will no longer be collected per semester. Dues will be $40 per YEAR, with the yearly cycle beginning at the first fall meeting (late August). Newbies can pay their first dues at any time throughout the year. Continuing members will have a certain number of weeks to pay the new year's dues before they lose their membership status.



FURTHERMORE,

There will be some changes to how we treat local and out-of-town trail rides, and the expectations for vehicle equipment and preparedness for each. More on this later.

how do you change an axleshaft?

shmoken875 wrote:how do you change an axleshaft?

Its behind the headlight and held in with a plasma nut

does the stuff we did last year count on the sheet?

Ctrow wrote:does the stuff we did last year count on the sheet?

maybe.........

does this mean that I'm kicked out if I don't get a truck by the end of the summer?

What counts for a "trail ride"?

Just curious how this came about? What situations/actions took place that made us look at this?

I can see the need for minimum qualifications for club members. As we are trying to get more members, but would these requirements discourage people from joining/paying dues?

Brett

There is no specific event that has brought this on. It's an idea that had been bouncing around for a while, and has been a very succesful practice in other organizations.

That said, there have been some occurences of unsafe equipment and poor deciscions on local trail rides which support the need for compulsory learning and demonstration of techniques to gain membership. If somebody is a full member of this club, it should mean they are capable of handling situations on the trail and upholding the ideals of the club...not that they simply paid dues. The opportunity to learn the essentials has always been there.... this will encourage newbies to seek out that education.

tsmall07 wrote:does this mean that I'm kicked out if I don't get a truck by the end of the summer?

What counts for a "trail ride"?

no Tyler, this all goes into effect next school year (beginning August). and you will notice there is a "spotter" designation that does not require you to have a vehicle.

what is a trail ride.... are you serious???

What I meant was...If me and Grubb decide to go run bobcat one afternoon does that count as a trail ride.

XXXLT wrote:Just curious how this came about? What situations/actions took place that made us look at this?

I can see the need for minimum qualifications for club members. As we are trying to get more members, but would these requirements discourage people from joining/paying dues?

Brett

To get more club involvement from all the members. To teach people safety and tech to get themselves in others off the trail. I dont want people saying they are a member of SC4WDA and then be an idiot on the trail. I want everyone to learn things to be able to help people on the trail, side of the road/etc.

I think its a good idea

i think i've done all the stuff for driver, so i can just get it signed off right everyone knows i carry a workshop in my jeep......















because i spend more time under it then in it