Is it a club or are we just paying members?

ScreenNameA4C43ED3A8 replied on 27/08/2017 17:28

ScreenNameA4C43ED3A8

Posted on 27/08/2017 17:28

My interpretation of a club is that the club and its members help each other out. I have been members of many clubs, a cycling club, a climbing club and the Caravan Club are just a few.

As a cyclist I have stopped to help others with mechanical's or punctures, as a climber I have helped injured walkers or those lost in poor weather and as a Caravan Club member I have helped other members when I can, including replacing a broken clutch cable in an elderly members tow car as he had no breakdown cover.

This to me is all part of being a member of a "Club".

So in my moment of need due to the hot water and heating failing on my 2015 Swift Corniche caravan, whilst stopping on a CL during this bank Holiday Weekend I thought, I know, I'm a member of a club they can help me out.

So I called Penrhos Caravan Club Site, Brynteg, Anglesey ( the nearest club site with facilities) to ask, as a club member, would you mind if my wife and myself came to your site to use your showers on just one occasion, and of course we would pay a suitable fee, whilst we are trying to sort an engineer (with some difficulty as its a BH weekend, and on going warranty issues with Swift) to repair our Truma heater.

The Warden I spoke to, whilst very polite explained that no we can't use their facilities, as it is against the rules and only members booked in to stay on the site can use the facilities.

This is in now way a criticism of the Warden as if they're the rules then so be it. However are the rules created by the Club and its Committee so strict that wardens are not allowed to use some personal judgement based on individual circumstances to help members out?

As I sit and type this post there is a banner on the right hand side of the page with the statement "Our Guide to Club Together".

The quote below is from the Caravan Club website.

"One of the reasons we’re making these changes is to better reflect our broadening membership; embracing our diversity and reinforcing our sense of community."

Are we clubbing together, reinforcing our sense of community or are we just paying members who get access to your facilities when we hand over the cash, because to me it doesn't really feel like a club.

Your Thoughts please.

Jeff Lloyd

Moderator Comment :-

Jeff I am not quite sure this fits into the remit of stories so I have moved it to Club Membership in the discussion area

2 people like this

38 replies

Takethedogalong replied on 28/08/2017 15:57

Member

Takethedogalong

Posted on 28/08/2017 15:57

Always considered it as a Club in name only. Paying a fee allows me to stay on CLs that have been inspected and advised by a reputable organisation with a degree of expertise in this area.

No matter what kind of site we have used, we have always found other like minded tourers helpful, whether in tent, caravan or motorhome.

Interestingly, we stayed frequently on a CL very close to a Club Site. On production of our membership card, we could purchase Gas Bottles and other items, and use the visiting Fish and Chip van. I also dropped into another campsite local, and was allowed to use their laundry facilities, and had a swim in the pool! All for a fee of course.

compass362 replied on 28/08/2017 16:32

Member

compass362

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2017 15:57 by Takethedogalong

Always considered it as a Club in name only. Paying a fee allows me to stay on CLs that have been inspected and advised by a reputable organisation with a degree of expertise in this area.

No matter what kind of site we have used, we have always found other like minded tourers helpful, whether in tent, caravan or motorhome.

Interestingly, we stayed frequently on a CL very close to a Club Site. On production of our membership card, we could purchase Gas Bottles and other items, and use the visiting Fish and Chip van. I also dropped into another campsite local, and was allowed to use their laundry facilities, and had a swim in the pool! All for a fee of course.

Posted on 28/08/2017 16:32

Lucky campers .....keep it to yourselves 😜

Oneputt replied on 28/08/2017 19:21

Member

Oneputt

Caravanner

Posted on 28/08/2017 10:47 by Kennine

THe CMC ceased to be a proper club many years ago. It is a multi million pound retailer of goods and services relating to the leisure industry. There is nothing wrong with that, the CMC is successful at what they do.

I see nothing wrong with the CMC adding value to their income by allowing M/Homes to call in to fill and empty their tanks for a fee.

Unfortunately there are still too many elderly caravanners who are against motorhomes using "Their" CMC sites, This can be seen by the huge negative response to including "Motorhomes" to the company name.

K

Posted on 28/08/2017 19:21

K that's the second pop you have had at elderly folk today, do you have a problem with them?

to be honest I probably wouldn't have ask I would have walked on site at lunch time an used the facilities, but then I'm a youngster

young thomas replied on 28/08/2017 20:55

Member

young thomas

Motorhomer

Posted on 28/08/2017 15:54 by moulesy

You're a real trooper, BB!

First day on holiday, not 12 hours into the journey, stopping for a late lunch in glorious sunshine and you still have time to check in on CT. Mrs BB must be such a patient woman!

Enjoy your "vacances en France" - keep in touch.

Posted on 28/08/2017 20:55

ah, cheers, damned if i post, damned if i dont.....oh well...she was collecting her mails so.....

as youre keeping tabs, M, we've just had a lovely three course dinner (incl steaks for main) for €12.50at a great restaurant in La Bernerie en Retz.

still lovely and warm (though it was last evening at home for a family dinner) and just caught the last rays of the sunset over the Bay of Biscay.....lovely.

as we're an hour ahead of you, it'll soon be time to read my book, if thats all right with you (it is with Mrs BB, ive already asked for you) ?

bon nuit.

MichaelT replied on 29/08/2017 10:00

MichaelT

Motorhomer

Posted on 29/08/2017 10:00

3 questions.

Why did you not move to the Club site?
Why did you expect the club to help you out if you were not helping them by staying on a club site in the first place?
Why didn't you ask the CL owner if you could use their shower and pay a nominal fee, after all you were on their CL?

1 person likes this

ScreenNameA4C43ED3A8 replied on 29/08/2017 13:48

Member

ScreenNameA4C43ED3A8

Campervanner

Posted on 29/08/2017 10:00 by MichaelT

3 questions.

Why did you not move to the Club site?

Why did you expect the club to help you out if you were not helping them by staying on a club site in the first place?

Why didn't you ask the CL owner if you could use their shower and pay a nominal fee, after all you were on their CL?

Posted on 29/08/2017 13:48

1. It was full.

2. I do help the club by paying my membership, booking ferries etc through the club. I didn't book into a club site and chose a CL because my haematologist only managed to plan a break in my cancer treatment two weeks before.

3. It's a working farm and they have only a family bathroom.

dreamer1 replied on 29/08/2017 20:52

Member

dreamer1

Caravanner

Posted on 29/08/2017 20:52

Can you imagine how many members would abuse this sort of use of a site that has facilities near a cl site that has none, if you were having ongoing problems would it not have made more sense to book on a site with facilities until your heating issues were sorted out especially when you were well aware you had problems.

1 person likes this

ScreenNameA4C43ED3A8 replied on 03/09/2017 17:18

Member

ScreenNameA4C43ED3A8

Campervanner

Posted on 29/08/2017 20:52 by dreamer1

Can you imagine how many members would abuse this sort of use of a site that has facilities near a cl site that has none, if you were having ongoing problems would it not have made more sense to book on a site with facilities until your heating issues were sorted out especially when you were well aware you had problems.

Posted on 03/09/2017 17:18

I wasn't aware of the issue until after our first night on site. When we arrived it was working perfectly.

Where in my original post do I mention previous issues???

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