Splitting Registers

[ianthow]

Our sister Boxster register has been quietly split into North and South regions. Going by forum comments there is some unrest about this. I have never understood why the Boxster and Cayman have separate registers but no sub-grouping by model and have previously suggested a model split following the precedent set with the 911. I have taken this opportunity to float the idea in the Boxster forum with the following reply:
"Perhaps the club should have consulted with members and looked at other options for splitting the register before announcing this change. The more obvious split, rather than geographic (we already have Regional structures), would be by model numbers (986, 987, 981 and 982[718]), mirroring the situation with the many 911 registers. With additional registers, the problem could be finding volunteers to be the Register Secretaries, but then again, there may be members who would be enthusiastic to carry the flag for their preferred model. The increased number of registers could be alleviated slightly by merging same models of Boxster and Cayman. The logic is that there is more technical commonality between each model so general advice and technical support would be more focussed. There might even be scope for a separate GT/Spyder register as with 911 models."
It will be interesting to see opinions from other forum participants.

You will note the suggestion to combine same model Boxster and Cayman into the same Register. I would be interested to hear feedback from the Cayman community about this idea.

 

[SpyderDavid]

This was suggested a couple of years ago and shot down in flames by the powers that be - principally on the basis that it was “too expensive”.
Aside from the threads on the forum I’ve personally seen no other communication from the club on this subject.

 

[Scrounger]

I'm really not a lover of a North/South divide. From looking at the locations of some members, there is a larger number in the South than the North. We all love our cars so why put a wedge between us which may limit the help or knowledge gained through this forum.

I get that a Boxster/Cayman split is a sensible idea as they use the same platform however, many questions or answers could be lost if the question was asked in a particular group ie a suspension issue posted in the Boxster forum may go unanswered yet a Cayman owner may have had the same issue yet doesn't post a reply as they don't read the Boxster forum. Same could be said for the GT product however I can see the benefit in it.

I am a member of another forum specifically for the 718 and there are separate areas for each model but only in GTS/Spyder/GT4 flavours.

It's a tricky one.

Personally I don't really look at specific sub forums, I just click the 'new posts' button.

Dan

 

[Motorhead]

Broadly I’m on the same page as you Dan. Really I can’t see any great benefits of a North/South split, and my understanding is that for the Boxster Register the split is 705/2230 [it’s been questioned whether or not NI and the Channel Islands have been included too!], which sounds like a feeble excuse for introducing the split. Surely all that’s needed is to appoint an assistant to the RS to deal with North-based matters, which I understand is what’s happened anyway.

It seems that the decision was taken at Board level whose communication with the Boxster RS regarding the decision has been very poor, and I’m very surprised that the idea wasn’t put to those on the Boxster Register before a decision was made. All it would have taken is a simple Mailchimp to all members requesting a Yes-No answer, and those who were genuinely interested would have responded. Let’s hope that the Board takes note if it has designs on splitting the Cayman Register!

Perhaps even more puzzling is the decision to split the SocMed groups.

It’ll be very interesting to get John’s input on this.

Jeff

PS: For context we should include the response on the Boxster forum to this move:

North/South

I received an email re splitting the Register on a geographical basis. What was the thinking and objectives? Are there now two separate registers? Was any consideration given to a more granular structure as North and South are both huge areas if the objective was to be closer to Boxster members.

www.porscheclubgb.com

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Jeff
Be interested to hear Johns views on such subjects with splitting.
A possible split and divide social media also.
As it may possibly effect all you Cayman guys.

 

[Motorhead]

Hi Cliff,

I’m sure that John will be along soon with his views.

On this subject, I note in PP that the 997 Register has a Register Assistant, the 992 Register has Assistant Register Secretaries and the Macan Register has an Assistant Register Secretary, although there may be other examples. I assume these are official positions and could cover different geographical areas?

Jeff

 

[BrianJ]

Personally I don't really look at specific sub forums, I just click the 'new posts' button.
Dan

So do I - creates a marvellous opportunity to learn and it's amazing how much commonality there is across everything!

 

[JohnCRS]

OK, since you asked, I will try to summarise my perspective on this.
- To me, the objective of the registers is to provide and share knowledge and experience of a particular model and to help members get the most out of their cars.
- Meets, events etc. are designed to facilitate this process, as are all the social / communication platforms
- Registers are and should continue to be, national. They provide the 'x' axis of the club membership to the regions 'y'
- Any splitting of a national group, serving a national objective, would be counter-productive. By definition it would be divisive at a time when inclusion is the goal. It would also add complexity which we all know has a cost, financial, communication, organisation and 'fairness' (We all pay the same subscription and are entitled to the same level of service.)

The real difficulty lies in the physical meets and events. Most members are reluctant to travel any significant distance. So it is desireable that we have such events in different parts of the country. Where you get a concentration of membership there will be a louder call for events withing striking distance of those members. This is what I think is happening here. It is very hard for one person to manage and organise these from a single location.

In contrast, on-line activities, i.e. technical advice, forums, email, FaceBook, WhatsApp, Zoom etc. can be relatively easily managed from one central point.

I do believe that the concept of a single national register is the correct one. Any membership is then based on where you live (Region) and what you drive (Register). This straight forward to understand and manage, the regions serving the social connections and the register the technical ones. OK there are added 'interest' registers such as modified, GT, etc and the model splits may need reassessing, but stick with the national principles.

It would be very helpful to review and confirm the register objectives. I have my view, above, but the need to organise register events does appear to have increased in importance over the last few years. If that is what the membership wants, then we should organise ourselves too provide it, but it would be good to have the Register Secretary role and objectives understood by all.

My preferred structure would be to have a Register Secretary which is actually 2 or 3 people working together as joint RS's. You would need one to be the lead, behind the scenes, but I personally don't like the assistant or deputy terminology. This could address the issues of geograpghical proximity but still leave the membership experience as a national one.

Having said all of the above, however it is dealt with, success depends on the right people coming forward to do these jobs. We all have our own reasons for taking on these roles and problems arise if our personal agendas conflict with the (national) principles of the role. If anyone is interested in being part of a small team leading the Cayman Register and would like to chat about these and other matters, please contact me directly!