The REA is undergoing a RE-genesis. I have sat by and watched it set stagnate as long as I can stand to, and as Popeye used to say ""That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!"
I have been working with Kevin and some of the good folks at CMW and have come up with a plan to take over responsibilities for the REA.
At this point in time I have a newsletter under way. I plan to publish the first issue for January 2011. Details to follow. The format will be PDF and will likely be provided via a download link sent to current paid members. I have solicited commitments from some folks in the RE world who have agreed to submit articles of interest for the Newsletter. We are looking for a few more correspondents from around the US and abroad. If you are interested in submitting an item please PM me. I have several ideas for the newsletter but am always open to more suggestions. PM me and tell me what you think. Over the next several days I will post here looking for some specific talents. Today I am looking for any newsletters after issue 1 volume 1 that might exist out there. If you have any and can share them please PM me.
Regarding membership in the REA. When members signed up to join the association their membership was good for one year. There was however no mechanism to contact members to urge them to renew their membership when it expired. So most all memberships (Prior to 11/1/2009) have lapsed. In support of the REA, CMW has graciously offered to renew everyones membership by one year gratis. (you do not get a new patch with this gratis membership) If you have registered for membership between November 1 2009 and today, your free year will begin after your current membership expires. If you had a membership prior to November 1 2009, then all you need to do is re-register and your free year begins upon registration. However, if you are re-registering,
do not register via the NField store. The association membership database needs to be maintained outside of the store. For now that lies with me. Within a few days I will post a link to one of my servers for you to renew your membership through. I will forward your membership information to CMW from the database I have created for this purpose. At this time I will not be taking your credit card info. If you have never registered before then you need to pay your 5 dollars and get your patch please do so at the Nfield Store. They will send me your membership info and I will take care of you from there. The free year offer for renewals will expire on 1 June 2011. So that will give 7 months for those who only log in to the forums occasionally to find this offer. I will also be sending an email to all members whose membership has expired notifying them of this offer. This offer is extended to existing members who have been issued membership numbers. (Number 1 through 150). Much thought has been put into making this as fair and logical a process as possible. We hope you think so too.
When you re-register there will be a field on the form for you to enter your old membership number. I have preserved the numbers of past members and if you have forgotten yours just send me a PM (with your name and the email address you used to register) prior to registering and I will send it to you. This will allow the early REA members who had low numbers the ability keep those numbers.
In further support from the folks at CMW, Kevin has authorized a 5 percent discount for REA Members. This offer begins November 2 2010. To take advantage of this discount you simply need to enter your REA membership number in the coupon code field when you place an order. This code will give you 5% off any order over $100; the coupon is good for one year starting from the issue date of your membership. The coupon can be used 12 times within that time period. The coupons are only valid with online orders. Registration numbers 139 to 150 have been entered and are active now, numbers 1 through 138 will need to re-register to receive this benefit.
So your cost of membership is covered with your first order from the NField Store, Sweet. Above that you can save additional dollars all year.
So that is where we are at.
I have a few more ideas and options to grow this association, but I will hold off for now. Some decisions will need to be made and I would like to have them approved by it members, so I will wait a bit for the membership to firm up.
I feel that it is necessary to do something to jump start this organization. My Grandfather used to say, "See a problem? Fix it. Just do something even if it ain't right, raise their ire and maybe someone smart enough will come along and fix it right". So I will get this started. I decided to do it pretty much autocratically so I knew it would get done and not to get bogged down with committees or boards.
I will commit to it for a year, create the database, set up the newsletter, (plans are to publish it every two months), and put together a process and a package that can be passed on to someone else. I cannot guarantee anything beyond that year. But we can plan a few events, a few meet and greets, some bike runs in coordination with other motorcycle events, (anyone go to Sturgis, Laconia or Daytona?), and maybe, just maybe plant the seeds to make this a great association.
REspecfully
-Quinn
Self-Proclaimed REA Administrator and Newsletter Editor in Chief.
Topic: REgenesis of the Royal Enfield Association. (Read 35550 times)