Modern Vespa

Hi all,

I'm interested in starting up a scooter club, for my area..any ideas, tips on how to do it? I regularly post on a local forum affiliated with the local newspaper..they are interested in doing an article on the scooter scene, because of high gas prices. I guess I'm willing to associate with the China scooter crowd, out of fear that they will become grease spots because of their unsafe riding practices. Any help would be appreciated.

You can't force a scene to happen. It takes a like minded willingness.

AdveIt might not be obvious. Your Vespa shop. Coffee shops. Livejournal community. etc.

Groups rides leaving weekly (Tuesdays at 8pm for example) from a steady (hip) location might get the spark going. You'll have to commit to showing up.

Or start with trying to organize a trip to a rally (this is how the scene here in Calgary started) looking for other scooterists to share expenses of renting a truck and trailer.

Once you have a core group of riders, you can focus on being a club. But starting with the club aspect first might not draw the attention you seek immediately.

Meet (by chance perhaps) in Real Life - then start a club.

On-line? Perhaps - but the best is already taken.

R/L first, every time.

Very cool - the world needs a few more scooter clubs! Liability insurance for a club is harder to get since 9/11 but it appears to be possible!

http://www.ads-software.com/clubnew.htm

http://www.dsa.csupomona.edu/osl/studentmanual/startingaclub.asp

i've been in and or started six scooter clubs in the last twenty three years... the best thing to get one up and running is to know others with the same ideas as you... stay small and don't be over broad in your membership requirements. the more alike you are the more likely you are to get along...
also print up a flier that states your mission statement and have contact info. place them anywhere that scooter are sold. then where ever you see scooters parked. put them in your glove box and hand them out to scooterist you meet. put them on parked scooters...

it's best to come up with a name first. and make it be part of your 'mission statement'...

good luck.

you must enjoy drama....

just say'n....

lol

R

I'm HURT that you didn't ask me! J/K Chad, the meetup site has really gotten our scooter club off the ground. Once we feel established enough (although we're having 20 people or so a month join now because of noobs buying scooters due to gas prices) we will switch over to our own site (which we already have) and say good-bye to the meetup site. It really has given us huge exposure. You might give that a thought.

Not to worry, California has a lock on the drama...

I too am trying to start a club/group here in the San Joaquin Valley in California.
I've just started a new group on Yahoo.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/sjvscootergroup/

I've also made up flyers and I will carry them with me, place them in Starbucks, scooter/motorcycle shops in the area, and on scooters if/when I see them in parking lots.
Time will tell.

Joyclin

Have Fun! Ride Smart & Ride Safe!

Using the MV boards was a HUGE way for me to connect with other local riders. We're in the beginning stages of actually making it a "club," but the best thing for me was to organize a local ride and see who would show up.

As they say in Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come."

This is probably the only thing you've ever posted that I actually agree with
Cheers to you louisq

You can't miss every ball thrown atcha, eventually you gotta hit one.

persistence!

Well you know what they say...we're the land of the nuts and fruits (Sorry for offending anyone if I did:)

I find that a relief...

I started a Scooter Group, hoping to get 25 members from SE Florida. We now have over 650 members all over the state and beyond. Rides are planned in different locations around the state. We have helped to set up or promote other groups or clubs in Florida too. We are one big happy family.

I call it a group since we don't have dues or officers. That way we don't have liability. We are a group of people, with a common interest that use the Internet to communicate. Our rides are on public roads and our gatherings are at public places, hence no need for CLUB insurance. Keep it simple.

If you would like to see our GROUP, we are here:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthEastFloridaScooters/

With more PICTURES here:

http://southeastfloridascooters.smugmug.com/

If you want more information or want to chat about getting a group going, please e-mail or PM me and we can talk by telephone.

Janine

Club suggestions:



1)Choose quality people over mass quantity of people.
2)Establish club rules and stick to them.
3)Choose your club name before you get too many people involved and then it makes it harder to choose.
4)When riding with new people , take the time to explain how to ride in a group, whats expected of group riders.

Good Luck

please take it all away



Nuts, fruits, fruity nuts, nutty fruits, fig newtons?

To be fair it's all isolated to NoCal. There's no drama in the SoCal.

I was going to say the same thing, but I didn't want to start any drama.

+1

I love San Diego rides because theres no drama.

Cafe Motto rides have no drama either, just nice and fast rides (with bees).

And LONG rides. You can't have a ride if it isn't 140 miles. Come on!
Side bar: Manny, where ya been?

Thanks for lightening it up, guys. Corinthian is right. I should have thought to clarify that. (It's not all of No Cal either but now I'm just splitting hairs.)

And for any one who cares, the eyeball rolling was aimed at the tiresome drama, not the poster.

Just keeping a low profile on my scoot, since its my only ride to and from work. Rode with Collin Friday, riding to VTO tomorrow to have my belt looked at.
Miss you and Kevin

Manny

Agree with all these points, but i'll append rule #2 to include #3 and say Make all your rules early on to set the focus of the club and base the rules on what you as the initiators want out of the club. Create a "who we are and what we do" document so that things like membership criteria and focus are defined. This way things don't get diluted as you add members who are more diverse - they joined YOUR club ..not the other way around.

And rule #1 is the most important. I think most clubs start out as a member grab, trying to establish legitimacy through sheer numbers ... but clubs who come on hard and fast tend to attract a lot of ire and disdain from other clubs. Ramp up slowly, and choose your members carefully. It's a lot easier to be choosy about people BEFORE you let some idiot in then have to worry about about how to kick someone out gracefully.

Well said my brotha.

Manny

I agree for the most part with Eric. However, it works better in situations when you have a certain "niche", i.e. Vintage, or all Vespa riders, etc.., and care more about having a "club" atmosphere feel to it.

When you really care more about getting together and riding and just sitting around shooting the shit with a group of like-minded people, I think the rules should strictly be safety items for group riding. If you are looking for people who will really ride, and like hanging out, you tend to get a diverse group of many. But once the novelty has worn off, you are left with a great bunch of people who come out every week and seem dedicated to your "group". At least, that is how it is playing out in our group.

I really believe it all depends on what your goals are. If it's a club and you want dues, memberships, allegiance, conditions then Eric is on the money and there is nothing right or wrong about it. If you care more about just getting together and riding, then being choosey who your members are to begin with doesn't seem like the way to go.

My 2 cents

Yes.

This is true... but isn't that how a club is supposed to be - like a "club" ?

I guess the distinction here is between "club" and "riding group." Once that is reconciled, then it is easier to figure out which way you want to go as far as formalities are concerned.

I guess we are a riding group that likes to also go to events and hang out every so often. Yes, a club should be like a "club". And more power to the "clubs", nothing wrong with that! I just think rules, conditions, etc.., are a little more heavy in clubs. Not what I was going for, and that's fine too. I know Chad, (who asked the question), and he really wants to ride, and he wants people to ride with, and *that* is why I gave my view on what works for us.

It's all good, Bonnie! There's gotta be different groups out there that cater to all types. Scooterists aren't all the same, and don't all have the same view of things ... different priorities ...different schedules permit differing levels of commitment.

To be honest, Id hate to see a club start up and not be open to all scooters (ie modern, vintage, Lambys, stellas etc.), because I think what happens when you specify "modern only", for example, you can lose out of someone of quality just because of their ride. We need a unified scooter scene.

Whether its Vintage only, Modern only or open to all, no assholes should be allowed period. Ive seen it here, some clubs let assholes in just because of they ride the same scooter type as the club, but yet they miss out on a good person who would be a better fit for the club, because they a differnt scoot than the club.

Now dont get me wrong, Vintage or Modern only clubs have the right to be what ever they decide they want to be, but respect for the opposite should never be lost.

One rule that should be added to a list is: No public disrect and/or bad mouthing another scooter club, name and/or colors. Ive seen it done on Blogs and I think its Chicken Shit to hide behind an avatar.

Manny

No doubt that a traditional "club" should be formed by a relatively small group of people who already know one another personally, but there are a lot of people out there who have not yet reached that stage, and are looking to meet other people who ride scooters by starting what could more accurately be called a "riding group." On the other hand, "club" can be defined in many different ways, including an informal gathering of people with similar interests. I figure that is what the original poster is referring to.

Brendan

I totally agree Manny. And Eric knows I have love for the Rovers, for sure, as I still consider myself a proud member, even if I'm unable to make club nights anymore. AND he knows how much I would love to own vintage if money and time permits (someday soon, I hope). (By the way Eric, I'm coming to you for advice the second I purchase it). But you're correct, that if I had limited our club into what I originally was *thinking*, I would have missed out on some very quality people whom I enjoy very much! I have respect for all clubs/riding groups who are out to enjoy scootering, riding, and meeting new friends.

Get your daughter to buy a whole bunch of tickets at our rally and win the raffle bike for you!

Is it a Lammy this year?

Yeah ... lammy riverside 125cc. It's in my garage as we speak, getting built.

looks like this... with an original, faded robins-egg blue color :

hey eric, can i send you $100 and have you buy me tickets? if i win, can i keep it at your house till i come down to get it?

I would like to start some kind of club in the Flint, Michigan area. And Eric hope to see you at the rally, I wish I could get my kitted et2 down there for it (long ride!). We had such a blast last year!