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MAG @ THE NEC BIKE SHOW 2006
Or not - as the case may be.
At the beginning of the year, MAG received a letter from the Motorcycle Industry Association (Exhibitions) MCI (E) stating that it no longer recognised MAG’s contra corporate membership of MCI (E) as a reason for giving MAG discounted floor space at the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC in 2006.
They did in fact offer MAG the opportunity to buy into the corporate membership scheme and retain the right to floor space discount, this same deal was also offered to the BMF.
MAG was put in a position of having to decide whether participation at the NEC show was a viable option or not. It had to take into consideration the falling attendance over the last five years, also the type of customer the show has started to attract.
Most importantly, whether the hard earned members subscription money needed to exhibit at the show, could be used in a better way to protect rider’s rights.
It is a documented fact that the attendance at the show for the last five years has decreased.
The typical visitor at the NEC tends to go there to view the latest bikes and to buy discount products from the traders who attend the show.
These visitors have a noticeable lack of interest in riders’ rights which we have to recognise.
In that respect, the issue of value for money has a large part to play in how and where MAG now exhibits.
MAG or any other riders’ rights group will never make money at shows where the principle objective is to inform the motorcycling public about the latest models and products.
We have found that attempting to renew and/or get new memberships, simply to break even at this type of event has become an impossible task – due to the elevated cost of exhibiting.
Overall, last year’s NEC show cost about the same amount donated by the “Into The Valley” Rally to MAG’s fighting fund. A substantial part of the show costs was in the floor space rented from the MCI (E).
The reduced amount of MAG staff and volunteers who worked at the show stand last year, did their best to keep the expenditure down by living in a caravan in Rugby.
As a result, MAG will not be attending the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC which takes place from the 27th October to the 5th November 2006.
We hope you the membership accept and understand this course of action.
If you have planned to go to the show and renew your membership, we can only apologise and ask you to do so by one of the other ways listed at the end if this article.
Although we have decided not to exhibit at the NEC in 2006, we will evaluate whether this is the correct move or whether we should reconsider our position, based on an assessment of members’ view and other considerations.
Our decision not to attend was explained at the MAG AGC earlier in the year and members were in favour of this.
All members who normally renew in October and November, will be sent a letter advising them that we will not be at the NEC and will be invited to renew their membership by contacting MAG Central.
The easiest way to renew or join MAG is by standing order.
By using this option, the money is taken from your bank account annually on a date chosen by you, eliminating the need to fill in forms every year.
You can take out a standing order by filling the form in this copy of Network or you can ring MAG central on 0870 444 8 448.
Don’t forget all the renewals services are available on line - www.mag-uk.org
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