December 2001

Net Work Home Page

Front Page

MAG AGC & Outline Agenda
AGC Awards Information
Agenda in depth
How the AGC works
Modelling MAG Back to Basics 2002
Building a New Local MAG Branch - ideas to help you run a local MAG group
Action Document on VED - Urgent action needed please!
Intelligent Transport Systems - the worst threat we have ever faced.

MAG Events

Previous Issues
 

Building a New Local MAG Branch
by
Neil F. Liversidge

In October 2001 I decided to relaunch Castleford MAG which had become defunct some six months earlier. I thought about doing a straight relaunch as Castleford MAG but realised that I was really only doing that for my own convenience. A pub two miles down the road would make a nice and convenient meeting for me to attend but would not necessarily be the best base for a group. Thinking about it, I believe that all too many MAG groups are centred in places the choice of which is determined by personal convenience rather than logic. Cleckheaton MAG was the same 15 years ago. This is an issue that all Reps need to address.

The original plan was therefore modified to relaunch as 'Pontefract & Castleford MAG' and I envisaged a split meeting, Castleford one week, Pontefract another. After some more thought however I realised that there was a 50/50 chance of people turning up on the wrong night at the wrong place.  I also decided that I might as well make use of the larger catchment area offered by making the group Wakefield & District. I did think about using the 'Wakefield & Five Towns' label which is often used around here to encompass Castleford, Pontefract, Featherstone, Normanton and Knottingley but did not want to tread on the toes of the Five Towns MCC based in Normanton. I also wanted to encompass other WF postcode areas such as Dewsbury that are within Wakefield district but are actually neither Wakefield nor one of the Five Towns. The end result: the new branch is to be known as Wakefield & District MAG

This might seem like a long-winded discussion of a minor point but I don't believe the name of the group is a minor point. The name can do a lot to define and determine the local group's catchment area. People in Dewsbury and the Five Towns are oriented towards Wakefield just as satellites of Leeds are oriented towards that city. People in Wakefield are not however oriented towards Castleford and would be much less likely to travel to a meeting in the town. Major towns and cities are natural focal points. Having a large enough catchment area is important. It helps your group achieve the critical mass necessary to have a healthily attended regular meeting, to provide enough people for meaningful debate at meetings, and maybe even run an event in the future.

Wakefield & District MAG Launch Plan - Jobs To Do
I have a notoriously bad memory, as anyone on NC will testify. I therefore find it beneficial to make lists and work to them. This is the 'jobs to do' list for the launch of W&DMAG with a note on progress to date in italics below each point:

1. Get list of all WF postcode members from MAG Central. (Done 21/11/01 - 52 memberships in the area, 72 people in all with joints)

2. Get a venue in Wakefield. (Done 25/11/01 - The White Hart.)

3. Contact all dealers to check MAG Discount Deal details. (Need to extend into Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Barnsley etc., not just Wakefield & District to compile a West Yorkshire guide.) (Done - saw dealers in Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield on 15/12/01.)

4. Get Castleford funds returned if possible to fund mailing. (Not possible. Castleford funds rolled into the supposed £35000 'Farmyard Party' donation.)

5. Mailshot all WF members. Mention the reunion night of Saturday 15th December at the White Hart. (Done 6/12/01)

6. Identify all bike shops in W&D. (Done 14/12/01)

7. Get posters in all relevant bike shops and venues to advertise the new meeting. (Done - Posters delivered 15/12/01)

8. Put on a recruiting stall at the White Hart 15th December 2001. (Done 15/12/01)

9. Press Release all papers in W&FT re' planned launch. Ask for bikers with an artistic bent to design us a branch logo and also anyone who can design and create a web page.

10. Contact Ridings FM to generate launch publicity.

11. Identify all bike clubs in the area and get contact details, especially Castleford British Bike Club. Maybe help marshal the Cavalcade for them each year if they need assistance.

12. Canvass all face to face re' Discount Dealer status. Identify which dealers are committed to giving what deal and produce a guide for Members in the area, hopefully sponsored by way of the advertising attracted.

13. Register all branch attendees. Name, address, telephone number, mobile number, and email. Especially email for easy contact.

14. Try to have a minimum of three 'Branch Runs' annually to MAG events plus one Xmas party attendance. (Also evening runs at least two weeks out of four.)

15. Have a standard (but flexible) agenda to ensure a structured meeting. (A sample of the standard agenda I am using can be found at the end of this article.)

Getting Dealers Interested
We often neglect to clarify with dealers what discount is given to members. This can cause ill feeling if somebody does not get a discount that they were expecting. Really we should re-clarify all discount deals at least annually. Whilst delivering StreetBiker I asked dealers whether they would like to go on the 'discount dealers' list. I also took posters and blu-tac to stick up posters for the new branch, thus killing three birds with one stone. So far for reasons of time only Wakefield dealers have been targeted. However it has to be a priority to extend to dealers outside the proposed branch area, as it is common for Wakefield bikers to use shops in Huddersfield, Barnsley and Leeds.

Attracting New Members
As discussed above, posters in bike shops are a must. When the new local 'Clare' poster is done the posters advertising the 'new' branch will be replaced by these more professional items.

Using Email
I am determined to keep costs down in the future and to run the branch in the most modern and efficient way possible. That means using the Internet and email as much as possible. An essential ingredient in the letter I have sent to members is to ask for their email address if they have one. This is already paying off as the 'launch diary' shows. When I 'register' attendees at local meetings (see below) I will make a point of getting their email address.

Registering Members
This is a pretty new concept but I don't know why we've not done it before. Our active membership is a small proportion of our total membership. That is nothing new or unusual. The same is true of all pressure groups and political parties. It would be useful though if we had a nationwide picture of how many people are actively involved in MAG. Attendance at meetings is a reasonably good measure of activism. Registering members who attend branch meetings has a number of practical advantages if done properly. A sample of the draft registration form I am preparing can be found at the end of this article.

Wakefield & District MAG Activity Diary, 1st November - 15th December 2001

In each issue of Network I will update this diary so you can see how we are going along.

1st November 2001
Decided to mail all existing Members in the proposed branch area.This looks like costing me some money. When I handed over Castleford MAG to the new rep about three years previously I handed over the balance in the account. The account might still be open or it might have been paid into regional funds. I'm still trying to find out. If the money is not there I will just have to front it up myself and recoup it later when the branch has some funds. A sample of the letter being used to inform members of the new meeting can be found at the end of this article.

6th November
Planning the launch of Wakefield MAG, identifying bike clubs in the W&FT area and checking out venues.

21st  November
Received an email from MAG central containing a copy of an email received at HQ from a hitherto dormant member in Pontefract wanting to get active and wanting to know if the Castleford branch was still in existence. Phoned this member immediately and had a good chat. He is both enthusiastic and very switched on, so I sent him a copy of my launch plan and asked for any input he might like to give.  I am hoping he will be a core member of the future.

25th November
Formulated launch plan (see above)

5th December
Finally mail-merged my letters to all WF MAG members with more help from a colleague. Spent £19 of my own money on 100 second class stamps and spent an evening stuffing envelopes, licking and sticking stamps. Need to compile a list of forthcoming events to go with the letters.
6th December
Got an event list together, stuffed and posted all by second class post.

12th DecemberA visit to Squires Coffee bar, Sherburn in Elmet to deliver posters for the new meeting. Replied to an email from two members (a married couple) responding to my letter. Both keen to join an active branch.

13th December
Got another email from a member wanting to attend the new branch. Decided to ask Leeds and Huddersfield branches to deliver their own SBs in future as I will have more work on launching Wakefield. Emailed their reps accordingly.
14th December
Produced more A4 flyers advertising the new Wakefield meeting

15th December (Saturday)Delivering StreetBiker around Wakefield area and persuading shop owners to join the MAG Discount Dealers Scheme. Also posted up flyers for the new branch meeting. In evening to White Hart, Wakefield, to give out flyers for new meeting at the 'Bikers Reunion Night'.

Feedback Please!

All feedback gratefully received. Email me on nfl@mag4.demon.co.uk or write direct to me:

Neil F. Liversidge
190 Leeds Road
Allerton Bywater
Near Castleford
West Yorkshire
WF10 2HU

Alternatively phone me on 0113 286 9332 (evenings and weekends).

The point of me doing this is so that I encounter all the problems that Local Reps encounter in the running of a MAG Branch. When I encounter those problems I will overcome or get around them, learn from the experience and share it with you. To be worthwhile and useful I need your participation please.

Points to Address

Now consider how some of the points raised apply to you and your group.

Get the Location and Name Right!
1. Have you picked your local group meeting place for personal convenience, or did your
    predecessor choose it for his or her convenience? Would it make sense to relocate the
    meeting?
2. Does the name of your group make the most of your potential catchment area?
3. Is your meeting location in a natural focal point for the surrounding territory; i.e. is it in a
    major town or city?

Make the Most of the Membership
1. Have you a full list of all existing Members in your local group area?
2. Have you all their phone numbers and email addresses? (HQ records are very sparse in
    this respect.)
3. Do you communicate with all your local members in writing at least once a year?
4. Would you like helping with communications? (I.e. do you need help writing suitable
    letters or mail merging?)
5. Are your members actively informed about MAG events and encouraged to attend?
6. Do you 'register' attendees at your local branch meeting?

PR / Recruitment
1. Have you got a poster in every bike shop and relevant venue (e.g. biker pubs) advertising
    your meeting?
2. Do you make the most of free listings in your local news media for clubs and societies?
3. Do you regularly urge your active members to bring non-members to meetings with a view
    to recruitment?
4. Do you get every member to check their paid-up status at every meeting and if necessary
    offer to take their payment and send it in for them to MAG Central?
5. Have you got a plan to expand recruitment?

Plan for Winter Survival
Many MAG branches decline in the winter months. To cope with this you need to implement a realistic winter survival plan aimed at keeping the members active, paid-up and in touch with each other. Elements in this plan might include:
1. Halloween / Bonfire Night / Christmas / New Year / Post Christmas Blues / St Valentines'
    Day party / parties. (Any excuse for a party is good enough!)
2. Group non-bike activities for bad weather periods, e.g. bowling / go-karting / ice-skating /
    nights on the town.
3. Stepping up political activism on winter issues of concern to motorcyclists; i.e. gritting,
    enforcement by police of laws on headlights (many cars have maladjusted headlights in
    the winter months and others are often missing a headlight altogether. This can be lethal
    if it's the offside headlight that is missing.)
4. Negotiating special deals with local bike shops on winter clothing and accessories.
5. Getting all your local dealer details up to date, especially viz. discounts, and advertising
    them to your members.

STANDARD AGENDA FOR MAG BRANCH MEETINGS

This is an idea of what your standard agenda should look like.
1. New Members to Welcome & Register.
2. Signing in of those present.
3. Minutes of previous meeting.
4. Local Branch issues.
5. Yorkshire MAG issues (including any motions to be dealt with at a regional level and any
    matters that you wish the Yorkshire Regional Rep to take up with the national
    Committee.)
6. National MAG issues (including campaigning work that MAG needs branch activists to be
    involved in.)
7. Annual Group Conference:
    Ensure any nominations and motions are submitted to MAG Central between 1st and
    31st January each year for the Conference to be held the following April.
    Ensure funding is available for the fare pool contribution.
    Ensure at least two branch members (Rep plus one) will attend as delegates, plus as
    many others as can possibly be encouraged to do so.
8. International MAG / FEMA issues.
9. Local media (newspapers, radio stations or TV stations) contacted since last meeting.
    Any coverage of group? Any to be contacted re' group activities?
10. Local bike clubs contacted since last meeting / to be contacted.
11. Review of local bike shops holding MAG membership forms / posters
12. StreetBiker delivery and distribution.
13. Any MPs contacted since last meeting?
14. Forthcoming MAG events.
15. Tickets Wanted (members to tell Rep what they want ordering.)
16. Tickets Obtained (tickets ordered and obtained, to be paid for by members.)
17. Local Fundraising / Raffle / MAG Annual Raffle (tickets for sale.)
18. MAG Products (items for sale if required. Stock can be held of small items such as
     patches and pins. Larger items to order from The MAGStall.)
19. Members bikes and bits for sale.
20. Any Other Business.

All Members please note -
Your input is invited. If there are things that you think should be raised in the meeting then please feel free to raise it when we meet. It is accepted that not everyone is comfortable with speaking in meetings at first so if you want me to raise something as your rep you only have to say. If you are happy with the way the branch is run or you think something should change then again, please say. If there are any other matters of concern to you or anything that you think your local MAG rep may be able to help with, you only have to ask. MAG exists for the benefit of motorcycling and to look after its Members' interests.

National Chairman
Neil F. Liversidge

MAG LOGO

190 Leeds Road,
Allerton Bywater,
Castleford,
WF10 2HU.

Home Tel:01132 869332.
Home E-mail nfl@mag4.demon.co.uk

The Leading Riders Rights Organisation, Founded 1973
EXAMPLE LETTER NOTIFYING NEW BRANCH MEETINGS

«Formal_Name»
«Address1»
«Address2»
«Address3»
«Town»
«County»
«PostCode»

19 March, 2002

Dear «Joint_Salutation»

New MAG Meeting in Wakefield
I am writing to all MAG Members in the Wakefield postcode area. The purpose is to let you know about the forthcoming creation of Wakefield & District MAG which will soon be meeting every Wednesday evening at the White Hart public house, 77 Westgate End, Wakefield.

The first meeting of the new branch will be held on Wednesday 9th January 2002 at 9pm. All future branch meetings will start at 9pm sharp and I would usually expect the 'business' part of the meeting to last around one hour.

The White Hart
The White Hart is totally biker-friendly and Wednesday evening is 'bike night' anyway. Our meeting will be in the front room immediately on your right as you walk in the front door. The landlord is Dave Hobson who formerly worked for Padgetts. Dave has close links with the motorcycling community and the walls are stacked with bike memorabilia. On Saturday 15th December the White Hart is hosting a bikers reunion night - all welcome. Other commitments permitting I am hoping to run a corner table promoting MAG, advertising the regular meetings starting in January and selling MAG merchandise.

On meeting Dave recently to organise this venue I found him very friendly and positive towards MAG. I hope you'll agree with me that it makes sense to support venues that are actively biker-friendly.

Planned Activities
My aim is to create a local group that will enable MAG members to participate more fully and more easily in MAG activities, including attending MAG events and rallies. Hopefully we can have a lot of fun along the way - maybe organise an evening's Go-kart Racing against the other groups in the region or have the odd night on the town. No doubt you like me have a garage full of old bike bits so one regular item on the agenda will be 'Bikes & Bits' for anyone who wants to swap, buy, sell or give them away. Maybe we could even organise our own annual 'Swap Meet'.

I appreciate that you may not be able to make the first meeting or those that immediately follow. January is a dodgy month weather-wise and we might easily be snowed off. Come what may though I am committed to attending at the White Hart every Wednesday evening for the foreseeable future, so whenever you do make it along I should be there to welcome you.

Email Addresses
Obviously postage is expensive. Can I ask then that if you have an email address at home or work, you please let me have it? I can then drop you a line quickly and cheaply to let you know what the branch is up to. Please email me at nfl@mag4.demon.co.uk and I will add you to the branch mailing list.

Forthcoming MAG Events
Please find enclosed some information on forthcoming MAG events.  I hope this may be of interest.

Looking forward to seeing you in the near future.

Kindest regards,

Yours sincerely,



Neil F. Liversidge
MAG National Chairman

Launch Meeting Agenda

1. Opening by National Chairman.
2. Introduction of Yorkshire Regional Rep.
3. New Members to Welcome / Signing in of those present.
4. Local Branch issues.
5. Yorkshire MAG issues (including any proposals to be dealt with at a regional level and
    any matters that you wish the Yorkshire Regional Rep to take up with the national
    Committee.)
6. National MAG issues (including campaigning work that MAG needs branch activists to be
    involved in.)
7. Annual Group Conference:
    Nominations and motions to be submitted to MAG Central by 31st January.
    Funding re' fare pool.
    Branch delegates (Deputy Rep plus one) to attend as delegates, plus as many others as
    possible.
8. International MAG / FEMA issues.
9. Forthcoming MAG events.
    Into the Valley (May)
    Number One Rally (Cleveland) May
    Farmyard Party - all systems go for June as usual
    Heart of England - 5th July weekend
10. Tickets Wanted (members to tell Rep what they want ordering.)
11. Tickets Obtained (tickets ordered and obtained, to be paid for by members.)
12. MAG Annual Raffle (tickets for sale.)
13. MAG Products (items for sale if required. Stock can be held of small items such as
      patches and pins. Larger items to order from The MAGStall.)
14. Members bikes and bits for sale.
15. Explanation of activist registration / attendees to be invited to register.
16. Any Other Business.

MAG Activist Registration

It is not compulsory to fill in this form. The fact that you are a MAG member and that you take the time and trouble to come to meetings is good enough for us; we appreciate your effort.  If you do not want to complete it at all, or you are happy with most of it but would rather not complete some parts such as phone numbers then that is fine. If you do fill it this form out however it will be helpful for the following reasons:

1. We can use it to check our membership records and improve the quality of the data. We
    find that phone numbers in particular tend to change more frequently these days as do
    email addresses. In the case of email addresses we do not have them on file for most
    people anyway. Being able to email you about activities and meetings is obviously useful
    and saves MAG money.
2. Every MAG Branch Representative (rep) should make an effort to personally get to know
    every member who attends the branch. When starting a new branch from scratch with
    people one has not met before a 'potted autobiography' on this form is a good method. If a
    new rep takes over then the Register of Branch Activists will allow him or her to quickly
    familiarise him or herself with what everyone does.
3. If you are looking for work of any description then this gives you a chance to advertise
    your skills, trade or business. You might be a bricklayer, plumber, painter, welder,
    financial adviser - whatever. Many of us in MAG have the attitude that if we are going to
    pay somebody to do a job we would rather pay a friend and fellow MAG member who we
    know and trust. If the rep has a note of what everyone does - and it doesn't have to be
    your main job - then anyone wanting a job doing can ask the rep if he knows anyone in
    the branch who does it. The rep can then put those concerned in touch with each other. It
    doesn't have to be for payment either. This is all about helping each other out. If you
    happen to be an expert on any particular model of bike for example, and in a position to
    advise others, please say so.

Please see the sample form for an example of how this works.

Member Name   MAG Membership Number   Single or Joint Membership   YearYou First Joined MAG   Renewal Date   Address   Email Address   Job / Trade / Profession   Do you have skills that you are happy for other Members to be told about, e.g. mechanic, painter, welder etc.? . Have you ever attended a MAG rally or party e.g. The Farmyard Party?   Telephone Number Home   Work   Mobile

*Only give number if you are happy to be phoned. We would normally only phone you in case of dire necessity or if your membership had lapsed and we wanted to remind you. (Getting members to renew on time counts as dire necessity!)

MAG Activist Registration / SAMPLE COMPLETED FORM

It is not compulsory to fill in this form. The fact that you are a MAG member and that you take the time and trouble to come to meetings is good enough for us; we appreciate your effort.  If you do not want to complete it at all, or you are happy with most of it but would rather not complete some parts such as phone numbers then that is fine. If you do fill it this form out however it will be helpful for the following reasons:

1. We can use it to check our membership records and improve the quality of the data. We
   find that phone numbers in particular tend to change more frequently these days as do
   email addresses. In the case of email addresses we do not have them on file for most
   people anyway. Being able to email you about activities and meetings is obviously useful
   and saves MAG money.
2. Every MAG Branch Representative (rep) should make an effort to personally get to know
   every member who attends the branch. When starting a new branch from scratch with
   people one has not met before a 'potted autobiography' on this form is a good method. If a
   new rep takes over then the Register of Branch Activists will allow him or her to quickly
   familiarise him or herself with what everyone does.
3. If you are looking for work of any description then this gives you a chance to advertise
   your skills, trade or business. You might be a bricklayer, plumber, painter, welder,
   financial adviser - whatever. Many of us in MAG have the attitude that if we are going to
   pay somebody to do a job we would rather pay a friend and fellow MAG member who we
   know and trust. If the rep has a note of what everyone does - and it doesn't have to be your
   main job - then anyone wanting a job doing can ask the rep if he knows anyone in the
   branch who does it. The rep can then put those concerned in touch with each other. It
   doesn't have to be for payment either. This is all about helping each other out. If you
   happen to be an expert on any particular model of bike for example, and in a position to
   advise others, please say so.

Please see the sample form completed by Neil Liversidge for an example of how this works.

Member Name Neil F. Liversidge MAG Membership Number *23660 Single or Joint Membership *Joint YearYou First Joined MAG *1982 Renewal Date *July 2002 Address 190 Leeds Road Allerton Bywater Near Castleford West Yorkshire WF10 2HU Email Address Nfl@mag4.demon.co.uk Job / Trade / Profession Marketing manager for a firm of financial advisers. Do you have skills that you are happy for other Members to be told about, e.g. mechanic, painter, welder etc.? Am reasonably competent with the mechanical and electrical systems of old Suzuki GS's having ridden five different models over the last 20 years and being the current owner of a GS850 since January 1989. Have you ever attended a MAG rally or party e.g. The Farmyard Party? Yes - plenty! Telephone Number Home 0113 286 9332 Work 01484 422224 Mobile N/A

*Only give number if you are happy to be phoned. We would normally only phone you in case of dire necessity or if your membership had lapsed and we wanted to remind you. (Getting members to renew on time counts as dire necessity!)