The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

The SWS badge was never related to the Website which sadly is pretty dead as you have pointed out Dave. As you know once something is released to the internet the electronic signature remains for a long time after, the legacy will live on.

The SWS badge was requested by members to identify themselves when responding on other SN Forums, like MSOC etc and to get it a £1 fee was initiated by IB the SN hosts. It is the busiest Regional Forum but not every Taff choses to post on here, but a few border jumpers pop on every now and then, you don't have to have one but it does help with discounts at certain establishments .

The new SWS sticker should be sorted soon but normal life gets in the way.

johnny2007

iTrader: (1)

Im sure I still have one of the sws polo shirts here

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

My hoody just made an appearance funnily enough!

johnny2007

iTrader: (1)

Maybe a new line in these would help people feel part of an established club.

LuckyWelshchap

Well, where do I start????????????????

Fate brought me into this scene.

I saw the car (advertised) on here (SN), I bought it.

I attended Japfest, CC, having been impressed by this (SN) forum.
I parked the car in the public car park.
I sought out - and walked past - the SWS stand.

I didn't approach anyone but thought 'right, next meet they have I'll go along', and I did.
Bry and I, brand new members and immediately you make new friends, and to a lesser extent with established members. (The reason I say that is because everyone was courteous but I got the impression that people did not want to come over as overbearing, 'pushy' and hence it could have been taken as a cool reception).

Tredegar House presented a great opportunity and I have to say what a fabulous time I had, everyone gelled together and now I attend meetings looking forward to a) remembering names and faces; and b) to having conversations about Subarus and current affairs.

We are a breed apart, us Welsh.
Just like the Scots, the Irish and the English are.

But when it comes down to a common denominator we are all Brits - together !

I regard SN Wales in the same way as I regard Wales itself - with its own identity within the bigger scheme of things ie.SN.com

Other Brits (and ex-pats) are free to come and go, to visit us as we are to them.

The only problem is when - I'll leave it there

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Oooooo you tease!

dave_t

iTrader: (1)

Hi again guys. This thread (like to many) seems to have moved a little sideways as all was asking was am I part of Scoobynet Wales or SWS?

Anyway, i'm trying to read a bit between all the responses here, so please don't think i'm putting people out or stand on toes or anything daft like that.

Its quite evident that Ian & Ty are doing a great job and deserve big thanks of all for their continuing efforts with SWS (and those before them). They have also highlighted that 'its not easy & time consuming' etc and that others should come forward. Other topics have been highlighted such as 'more of a club feel' & 'new members fitting in etc'.

Can I make a suggestion that we at least set half hour aside tomorrow so we can ALL collectively discuss such topics?

I know that a club meet always involves general chat/complaints about running costs/the latest mods/whos selling what etc, but surely having a short 'agenda' will help bind all together (including the new ones) and give us some direction? Any new ideas/thoughts can 'collectively' be discussed including others assisting/arranging rather than it all landing on Ian/Ty's shoulders.

In my eyes 'a club meet' is one of those things that if you get a collective 'all in feel' many more come more than once, many more engage, many more bring ideas to the table and as importantly many more assist.

We could also collectively discuss some event/meet ideas such as a Christmas Blat or other ideas for 2014 such as club shirts/days out etc.

I'm not suggesting re-structuring/re-branding and certainly have no complaints or unhappyness with efforts or members. I am also far from trying to take over, but just suggesting we include "a club chin wag" within the meet, rather than just a "general chin wag" even if its just to chat about if/how we could improve!

Answers on a postcard please!
(if you can think of any ideas to discuss, feel free to post!)

I nominate Bry as tomorrows spokesman as he's far to big for me to disagree with

dave_t

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm, bit of a tumbleweed moment

Was it something i said?

The Stitcher

iTrader: (12)

Most people like it just the way it is and this is what sparked things off before

And I'm sure things will not change as a lot are happy as it is

dave_t

iTrader: (1)

I was not involved 'before' so cannot comment mate, but can understand if there has been previous issues some may be reluctant.

However it is very difficult for people to blend in/step up/join in/assist/suggest/arrange events like a Christmas run if it is not discussed within the group?

All i'm suggesting is we do find time/the excuse to 'chat together'.

A bad thing?

evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

Not a lot of people get on here during the day, only us taking a cheaky 5 from work so nothing to worry about in terms of replies

I do recall when I first found Wales Scoobynet that I wasn't really sure what SWS was and found a dead site from years ago which confused me further. As said, the old SWS site was revived and people made effort but its not needed when we are all chatting in here and it faded away.

As for organising a formal chat around a certain subject, its a great thought but there are so many logistical problems with something like that. First issue will be someone will have to formally set a time for discussion to take place, arrange a venue other than a public carpark and arrange some kind of agenda etc. All this would really need a chair person to control things and formally call people to order ready for discussion to begin and a chair person should really be voted into place.

Its all very possible but things need to be more formally organised for it to work and SWS has never really worked like that. Part of the initial attraction when I attended my first meet was the informal approach. I quickly found another lost sole (DanW) to talk to at his first meet like me and was welcomed by Ian and Si and had a chat. If there was a formal meeting/discussion during the meet I would have felt a little awkward.

I do see your point but I guess what you are talking about is exactly what we are doing right now really. The only down side would be the odd keyboard warrior and the lack of real interaction but you can get ideas and thoughts thrashed out in here.

I don't really go to many big monthly meets these days and I would imagine for those at a meet for the first time would think I was being ignorant or clicky but to be honest I don't know who is new and who has been around for a while other than the real old timers so its difficult to get chatting to new faces.

I tend to meet and get to know more new members at the smaller informal runs we go on from time to time. You spend the day together and have a common story to chat about plus the turn out is smaller as only the die hard petrol heads tend to turn up to these things rain or shine.

To me SWS isnt really a club you belong to as much as it is simply a sign of like minded interest in Imprezas in the form of a name and a badge. Just take Impreza ownership as an example of what I mean, you don't need to belong to a formal club to wave to the other Impreza on the road and mostly they wave back just out of a shared interest.

The rest is what you make of it.............

The Stitcher

iTrader: (12)

And it's not only Cannon fodder and trooper that sort things, there is Matt Scooby that sorts out a few events plus rob with the runs over the mountains so there are a few that do a lot

The Stitcher

iTrader: (12)

Wish I could do a little more but with 3 kids under 5 years old and I work all hours going even as I type never seem to get any time or chance to do more

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

Dave,

We don't have a structure as such it's more of a social thing.
It has served us well in the past and people either like it and join in or don't

We were all new at some point so just come along join in

If you are looking at some sort of formal event your in the wrong place.

You or anyone else is welcome to suggest, organise whatever.

The keyboard and forum are your friend

bry with a y

Dave nothing you said is wrong I just think the feeling is if there is any questions/events and even down to slagging off other peoples cars that people feel better in talking and answering it on the forums,that is fine and a lot of people are happy with that,which means the monthly meets are more about what people had for breakfast and general life than totally scooby business,I do sometimes wish all members would said hello too people new or old and people say their names and also their site names so a name to a face fits better, as far as changing the set up goes I have come to the conclusion that people are happy at SN to keep it the same,however if you do want a more club feel that do the normal chat plus scooby stuff without a big forum then cymraeg scooby would be good for you,so best of both worlds in a sense including the grub..cooked dinner on a Wednesday and coffee and muffins on a Sunday afternoon

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Nooo Bry is a big teddy bear ain't you buddy

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Like!

bry with a y

defiantly

andyleonard55

Being reasonably new to Subaru ownership when I heard of SWS and realised they met local too me I could not wait to attend the first meeting .What I experienced was a warm welcome from all that attended ,but what I hadn,t expected were so few Subaru members to bring there cars to the meeting,I suppose I was expecting that everybody used there cars to come to the meets to show then to other members, to get ideas on where one could go next with their own mods and to stand and stare at some classic machinery, but it is overshadowed by people going in for food cos by the time they come out again the nights almost over. All I have said is not cast criticism on the way the meets are held but a thumbs up for a more structured meeting, I feel I know a few faces that I could speak to at the meets, Ty,Si,Jay, but would struggle to put a name to any other members as mostly their having their evening meal when we are having a chat. I ran the CIPHE in Wales for many years as a secretary and know how hard the planning can be for formal meeting I would not wish that on anybody but I still remain a payed up member as I feel As a Heating Eng I need a place to belong,so the same For SWS.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

The inside/outside thing changes with the seasons as you will find out. The sun brings out the best in people .

andyleonard55

I,m glad that's something to look forward too

Silver Scooby Sport

iTrader: (15)

We had hit a car lean spot as well this year in regards in between and in some respects as myself in parts and some of us don't use them in the winter so it is sometimes a low subaru turnout.

I've been going to the meets for the best part of ten years now and still don't know everyone as there are always new faces and don't always get chance to mingle with everyone, sometimes it's difficult to get around, I know as a new face it can be intimidating but everyone is friendly honest over the years the longer time faces and some who don't even own a subaru still drop down and say hello.... It's led to in some respects the car can take a second place as we have attended weddings, stag do's etc but don't let that get in the way at all to just calling down and saying hello, it all starts with an hello

The Stitcher

iTrader: (12)

I have attended a few meets in my time and in the summer have seen over 30+ cars in the car park and been on a few cheeky little tunnel runs after the meets too

you would be shocked how many actually turn up for the runs that dont attend shows or meets

even when i sold my last scoob I had an rs and then a 350z and still found me attending shows etc with sws even done one run last year in the 350z

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Don't remind me Lee .

The Stitcher

iTrader: (12)

sorry pal forgot about that was good day up until then tho

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

They will return soon.

LuckyWelshchap

'Diplomat' please, 'diplomat'

LuckyWelshchap

I can vouch for that.
We ate outside at least once this Summer

CyprusScooby

SWS were a great ‘club’. I miss those days.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

We all do.