I've just tried joining 2 different clubs in my area, both came back with the reply that they could offer me a joint membership but not as a "single" person. I've been married 26 years so not exactly single!!

The good lady isn't into naturism and I wouldn't push her just So I can join a club, so I'll have to just carry on being an "at home" naturist.

Edited extracts only/
Not being a member of any landed club,
Me neither
I assume each and every club has a committee responsible for the running of the club, setting rules, vetting prospective members, and deciding on what the membership criteria should be.
I would assume so too, Peter.
I also assume that each year there is an AGM where members have the opportunity of expressing theit opinions and voting members onto or off the committee. As such, i wonder why those members who want to "drag the club into the 21st century" don't express their views and stand for election then they can do something about it.
I'm sure that many do, but they could be lone voices crying in the wilderness
I know being a committee member of any organisation is time consuming, and perhaps those who want change are younger and as such don't have as much spare time as someone retired,
nor as much influence either
but with that attitude, is it not likely that clubs will continue to be run in the same way, not only now, but in the forseeable future.
Yes, but I think it is the attitude of the retired members that need to be open to change

I've just tried joining 2 different clubs in my area, both came back with the reply that they could offer me a joint membership but not as a "single" person. I've been married 26 years so not exactly single!!

The good lady isn't into naturism and I wouldn't push her just So I can join a club, so I'll have to just carry on being an "at home" naturist.

That is a very short-sighted attitude in my opinion.
In the end it can only end up one way - the club dies from a lack of new members.
If they had admitted you (and many other "single" men) one of two things would have happened. Either your wives would decide to have a look and then become as keen as their husbands or else the wives would have become the naturist equivalent of golf widows and taken up other outside interests (and possibly men).

IMHO the club would not have suffered from having more able bodied men to do the heavy maintenance and if divorce happened it would have been from adultery by the wife - not the husband.

I assume each and every club has a committee responsible for the running of the club, setting rules, vetting prospective members, and deciding on what the membership criteria should be. I also assume that each year there is an AGM where members have the opportunity of expressing theit opinions and voting members onto or off the committee. As such, i wonder why those members who want to "drag the club into the 21st century" don't express their views and stand for election then they can do something about it. I know being a committee member of any organisation is time consuming, and perhaps those who want change are younger and as such don't have as much spare time as someone retired, but with that attitude, is it not likely that clubs will continue to be run in the same way, not only now, but in the forseeable future.

One other thing to remember is that AGM's, very few members actually attend. In fact, I have just attended one in my capacity as Accountant and of the 200+ member, only 11 turned up (excluding committee) - that's a mere 5%. Then they complain when things don't happen like they want.

The other problem with organisations is trying to get people to join a committee. Quite often they are reluctant over the fear of having to do something, maybe they don't have time, maybe they don't care but until you address concerns and change the terminology, things won't change.

For example, don't call it a committee - people think bureaucracy - and same with council; think of a positive name. Don't call it an AGM, call it something less formal.

Then members need to step up and present an argument for their case; no point saying "let in single men"; you need to say why it would be beneficial and also counter an negativity within your argument so you case accepted.

Just my thoughts anyway.

Filling a committee can indeed be a task. Our committee went down to five at one stage and believe me it was hard work. In a matter of a few months however we've turned it around and have five more members step up to the plate and we are up to strength again. Our AGMs require a forum of 30% (or thereabouts) of the membership to be present. We've not failed yet.

We do keep the members informed of what's going on with a monthly Newsletter and articles are encouraged from members. We've livened it up with a humour section and tell readers about what's going on outside our own club scene. As a club we face difficulties with our venue about to be demolished and re-built. We have a strong committee, a great chair and a good membership so we are optimistic.

Davie  8)

Sounds like you have a great organisation there, Davie.

I used to be Treasurer (and unofficial Chair as the post was not filled) for our local community centre and every year when we had our AGM, we were lucky to get half a dozen residents attend out of a community of around 5k - and this was despite us have a bi-monthly newsletter distributed to all houses.

I had the idea of, instead of stating it was an AGM, informing people it was an open forum where our local councillor, MP and beat bobbie would attend and answer questions. The centre was packed! Or, and we had our 10 minute AGM and picked up a couple of new committee members at the same time  😀

The other problem with organisations is trying to get people to join a committee. Quite often they are reluctant over the fear of having to do something, maybe they don't have time, maybe they don't care but until you address concerns and change the terminology, things won't change.

Hereby lies the rub - people complain about the committee but don't do anything about it. There are parallels with what's happened with a disenchanted voting population and relatively few turning out at the General Election.

People don't vote (or join committees) if they don't think they'll make a difference. If you read the thread (and many others on this and other forums) there's a theme with the clubs that seem to have issues - they're run by the slightly older of us and are somewhat set in their ways. People won't put themselves up for those committees because they know they'll struggle to break into the clique and will constantly be up against "we tried that in 1952 and it didn't work....". It's the same with AGM's where people consider them just "talking shops" (so the idea of renaming them is a good one!).

I used to work in an industry where change only happened when the brown stuff hit the air distribution unit and sadly that's the only way some clubs will change. There are some potentially outstanding clubs which need to have an injection of enthusiasm and an understanding of the modern era - they'll only change when membership gets so low that they face going to the wall (and I have no doubt that in some cases the committee will let it go to the wall rather than change).

But let's remember that there are some great clubs out there - possibly for each club listed in the main thread ("UK Naturist Campsites/Club") each club that's listed should have a star-rating based on our experience - there are reviews to read but if we could see it as a 5* club we'd be more inclined to read and possibly go (and who knows, anyone who's a member of a club getting 1* may just tell the committee they need to buck their ideas up!).

I can hear the howl from some that rating places is subjective and unfair - take it from someone in brand management, there's no bad customer reviews, only reviews that need to be addressed! If a camp gets a bad review they always have the right to reply - if they choose not to then that's up to them.

Contrary to some of the views about clubs that have been expressed, it will be our AGM this weekend and if it follows the example of all previous years the club will be packed, hope it is dry and the meeting can take place outside as otherwise the club room will be packed.
During recent years there have been a lot of new members, and sadly many of the older ones who put so much into the club are no longer with us.

Members are often reluctant to join a committee but ours now consists of the newer members who whilst appreciating all that has been done in the past, have enthusiam and new ideas to bring the club forward, obviously within the financial restrictions of a small  self financing members club.

A lot of work has been done to tidy the site after the winter and get it ready for all our locals and family members to visit at the beginning of July, usually about 120 people.

It is good to see that there are a number of visitors who have already booked to visit the club during the next few weeks, several returning from previous visits. All we need is the fine weather.

While some clubs may have closed, there are still some that are going strong.

they're run by the slightly older of us and are somewhat set in their ways.

That is often the case, especially when no fresh blood comes along. We should not knock the "slightly older" too much (of which I am one.)) because many clubs and societies rely on them as they have more time. I am involved with several clubs and societies and one which covers a very wide age range several of the main managers are recently retired. They still have a bit of business acumen, have not got set in their ways and hopefully are people who know when to move on.

Quite some years ago there was a highly esteemed Churchwarden in our local church who clung on and on and the place went down hill all because no-one had the courage to tell him his time was up and he'd made his contribution. On his eventual demise they immediately made a rule about the length of tenure of office. Moving from an "office" does not debar anyone from being involved, indeed I used to go to an "old boy" for advice years after he'd left his official position. Usually I took his advice, but not always as official positions have responsibilities.

Davie  8)

That is often the case, especially when no fresh blood comes along. We should not knock the "slightly older" too much (of which I am one.))
Davie  8)

I promise I wasn't knocking all of those of a mature age ( :laugh:) - just those who, like your churchwarden, cling on too long. It would be a sad day when we stopped turning to our elders for advice; experience is a great thing!

I do appreciate weren't knocking the "more mature" and I understand your comments. I was merely elaborating on your post and giving an example of how some can entrench themselves to everyone's disadvantage when others will not speak out.

As it happens I can see this very situation starting to develop in a group I know of but am not involved with. Fortunately I think some involved will speak out. This is a guy clinging on after a stroke and out of sympathy and I guess to aid this guys recovery people have held back from speaking out. Some times its very difficult and a balance of when and when not to speak out has to be taken.

Its never easy is it?

Davie  8)

Its never easy is it?

Davie  8)

Tell me about it!! Life's never easy (that's why I have naturism - to escape for a while!).  8)

Years ago in the 1960's Spielplatz in Brickett Wood had the right idea Kitty on the gate charged men 10 shillings to get in but women were free. Ed