Watch This Space

I am hoping that this will be my last blog on the “Wombat Corea” blog page. It may, of course, not be but I am hoping to get a professional site up and running. I have registered ‘www.wombatcorea.com’ as a website (don’t check it yet, it still comes up as empty) and will let you know what happens with it. I still have to learn how to make websites, I have no idea at all how it’s done (blog pages are a piece of piss, I’m guessing web pages are not).

The next Wombat Corea meet will take place on the 10th and 11th of March. Bill will be leading a Namhae ride, keeping it south and at sea level in anticipation of continuing cooler weather a mere 3 weeks from now. We could always take it to the 17th and 18th as well if the weather is looking to be too cool (let me know what you think). Lisa has expressed interest in reviving the Mungyeong ride which was immaculately planned and rooted by shitty weather in November. I am 100% sure a vote will not be necessary for it’s revival, but a vote will be taken on a date. I will be watching 황사 (or Yellow dust) and the long-range forecast and give my opinion on April or May at the March meet. Ultimately, of course, it will be Lisa’s decision when she would like to revive the concept.

It was discussed and decided upon at the inaugural Wombat Tongyeong Ride August 2006 that all discussion of memberships should be postponed until March 2007 when we have a better idea of where we are going with the club. The next ride will be March 2007 and, as forecasted, I am going to raise the idea again at the March meet. I believe it was a good idea to wait 6 months or so to re-raise the concept. I still love the idea, but my thoughts are with a much simpler format. Here is a sample of the (much revised) direction in which my thoughts are heading:
Same:
1) W20 000 a month for members
2) Any expenditure approved by 100% consensus vote (EU style)
3) Membership fees paid (members only) regardless of attendance at the monthly ride

The things I would like to propose as different to my original ideas are, first and foremost,
1) An absence of passive membership. You pay membership fees or you don’t, simplicity at it’s finest.
2) Continuing with simplicity, if you are a member you can be party to the expenditure (and votes thereon) of the club. If you aren’t, you aren’t. Although you would be still more than welcome to (paying your own way) participate in events where club money is being spent, of course.
3) No (compulsory) contributions at all for guests. Even people riding with us 12 months a year can choose to do so as guests. No compulsory involvement at any level, at all.

I think these ideas are (pretty much) what we have been discussing over the past six months. Some riders don’t want to be chained in to paying a monthly fee for something they could be doing for free anyway. That’s understandable. Some riders baulk at the idea of shelling out W100 000 for a ferry ride (with bike) to Jeju or an W80 000 night in the Tirol Hotel, Muju (should we chose to do it), and would much prefer to contribute W20 000 a month and have the club pay for it. Have a think about it and it will be discussed next month.

That said, Iceman is still keen to ridemeister a Jeju trip, I’m thinking August or September. I am also going to propose a Muju ride (with the fantastically expensive hotel) for June or thereabouts.

Another thing that I will raise at the March meet is the idea of having t-shirts and such made (Lisa, please keep that in mind, we may be asking you about details).

The last thing I would like to bring up is about the planning of rides and events for the coming year. Without being too wankerish about it, I would like to see a certain level of professionalism in the organisation of this year’s rides. Don’t get me wrong, I think everyone has done a bang-up job in the organisation of rides so far, more than that, I am quietly amazed at how well such a fledgling club has done in getting so many people on the road with such little drama for the last 7 months. But I would like to see some of the ideas implemented by Lisa in the preparation of the Mungyeong ride implemented in the statutes of Ridemeister preparation.

Firstly, preparation of alternative routes for people coming
A) From alternative destinations
B) Lost
C) Late
D) Stopping for personal reasons (Photography, biker’s arse crack, etc)

Predetermined points of contact for people succumbing to the above ailments.

Ridemeister’s guarantee of route planning. Bill and Lisa drove the Mungyeong ride in their Prideβ in preparation for the ridemeistership. I have driven (yesterday) the Muju route which I will be proposing, and it is mapped out in full. All rides (until winter, understandably) went like a charm. This is not a criticism, it is a desire for a continuance.

For the February ride, I instituted two separate times, one for meeting and one for departure. I think it worked a treat. It’s hard to say because only 4 people turned up due to the weather, but I think it’s a good idea. Meet at 8 and leave at 8:30. Or meet at 8:30 in Miryang, leave at 9. However it works, the idea is the same. In conjunction with the other ideas I have proposed (designated meeting points and alternative routes) I think it should clear up much of the hassle of getting the early morning thing going on.

Finally, I have a mate who needs a good mechanic in Busan. He needs a reasonably intricate weld done on a sensitive part his machinery. Please pass on any information if you know anyone who might fit the bill.

Bonzo