Rained last night so between episodes of patching holes in the bunker I jotted down some thoughts.

ACMOC BB Suggestion (Epistle)
This post is not meant to criticize anyone in particular but to sum up many of the comments on this board regarding Members and Guests. I consider those guests that also contribute financially to the club as “Members” for this discussion. Those contributors, as do the Members, realize there is no such thing as a free lunch and their participation makes ACMOC clubs and bulletin boards possible.

The world is made up of “givers” and “takers”. Thank goodness we have so many “givers” on the club and the BB. It humbles me to see all the unselfish dedication and information supplied by so many knowledgeable enthusiasts on this BB. I wish to emphasize the term “unselfish dedication” as the information provided by these individuals is priceless and they spend many hours freely sharing their information and knowledge. They do it because they feel the love for the old iron and the love of helping their fellow man. Their experience and invaluable know-how are graciously shared with all in the club and the BB.

Not withstanding financial issues that many of us have from time to time, there are numerous excuses for not contributing financially to the BB. The most popular one is that other BB’s do not charge guests and their participation on the ACMOC BB should also be free. Although some guests have suggested the BB charge a small fee for guests, most guests indicate that if they are charged a fee they will go elsewhere. For us Members / contributors it is tempting to say “so what, leave” but our club and BB is bigger than that. We cannot let the “takers” unduly influence our club and BB. The “takers” will always be among us. Their excuses for not contributing may sound flimsy to us but to them it is reality.

The “givers” will keep on giving and the “takers” will keep on taking. The “givers” are the ones that have made this club and the BB successful, not the “takers”. We have a provision for the “takers” to donate to the BB and club and if they are driven to it in their heart, they will. Most will not as they believe the board should be free. It is much easier to be a “taker” than a “giver”.

Because we have such a strong nucleus of “givers”, it might be best to continue to fund the board by Members and contributors and let the guests continue to have the free ride. It is difficult for me to comprehend why frequent guests would not want to participate financially in the operation of the board but so be it. “Takers” are accustomed to taking and mandated guest fees ETC are going to do nothing but cause more distractions. It should not be allowed to detract from all the time and effort given to ACMOC and the BB by the “givers”.
It rubs some of us wrong to have to pay for more than our fair share. However, it is because of people willing to step forward and go the extra mile that make clubs and BB’s possible. The “takers” will always be with us, but we should not and cannot let them influence and detract from the overall good done by all the dedicated “givers”. I firmly believe that we have so many dedicated individuals within this club and BB that they eagerly will continue to fund the BB so all, including the “takers”, can enjoy and benefit from its existence.

Very well written D4Jim, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts, many of us agree 100% and I am really worried that ACMOC is drifting away from saving old Cats, Holts and Bests, to become simply a free technical resource for repairers of newer Cats of the 1960's onwards, tractors too new to be considered "Antique" by our members, but too old to be properly supported by the Cat Inc Dealer network.

It seems the past few months we have seen a influx of new Guest Members, most seeking answers to a pilot motor issue, and our dedicated experts like Edb and Old Magnet generously continue to scan and upload and share their wealth of Cat knowledge free of charge to all who ask, but they are not youngsters, and the Club has been heading for bankruptcy the past 2 years and there is no guarantee it will survive unless the "Takers" can step up to the plate and help.

We are losing more "Givers" every day as older members pass, or others decide not to renew their membership, times are tough for sure, and we need to be generous enough to support the "Takers" who come through our door, it's just the Takers who continue to come through our door 30, 50, 100 times looking for free help, often without even a please or thankyou, that fry my brain.

I am confident our new Board led by Wombat will find a way forward to save the Club, there are interesting, and challenging times ahead for sure.
All the best
Mike

Very well said JIM!!---as with any group you have the same situation--I see it in my Fire Dept---a small group of DOERS and a larger group of spectator members--but we do it for the love of the job and think of the greater good accomplished!

Post #1 and #2 say it very well. I am a previous caterpillar technician and still need help from time to time and this is the place to get the help!! There are those that truly love this old equipment and those that like to want us to believe they do. Please help us to keep this Bn B going by financially helping all of us. I can spend more going out for a meal that I do not need Than it costs to donate to this BnB, but I need this BnB.
Just my 10 cents.

"Mike wrote:

Very well written D4Jim, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts, many of us agree 100% and I am really worried that ACMOC is drifting away from saving old Cats, Holts and Bests, to become simply a free technical resource for repairers of newer Cats of the 1960's onwards, tractors too new to be considered "Antique" by our members, but too old to be properly supported by the Cat Inc Dealer network.

It seems the past few months we have seen a influx of new Guest Members, most seeking answers to a pilot motor issue, and our dedicated experts like Edb and Old Magnet generously continue to scan and upload and share their wealth of Cat knowledge free of charge to all who ask, but they are not youngsters, and the Club has been heading for bankruptcy the past 2 years and there is no guarantee it will survive unless the "Takers" can step up to the plate and help.

We are losing more "Givers" every day as older members pass, or others decide not to renew their membership, times are tough for sure, and we need to be generous enough to support the "Takers" who come through our door, it's just the Takers who continue to come through our door 30, 50, 100 times looking for free help, often without even a please or thankyou, that fry my brain.

I am confident our new Board led by Wombat will find a way forward to save the Club, there are interesting, and challenging times ahead for sure.
All the best
Mike

Sort of parallels this sighting.

"juiceman" wrote:

Sort of parallels this sighting.

I love that. Very well said.