ClassicCar

Geoff C., N.Z. wrote:

Question - how many of the people posting here are actually in the H.E.T. Club?

I guess what really matters, is the ones that I have seen the most detestable name calling from in recent days, are all members, and they advertise it often, and proudly. I am not going to sit here and list names, but for sure, you can do the legwork, and read the threads.



As far as the board in general, I bet, half of the posters here on this forum, are in fact members of the HET club. It's a small community.



And with the way the world got smaller with the world wide web, this may very well be a large percentage of people's first perception of not only....



The HUDSON community



and



A percentage membership of the HET club.

ME TOO, good move JON

Like I said, you are definately a complexity. Maybe I'll buy you a DOUBLE WHOPPER for an appetiser someday. Your on your own for the main course

This a good move by everyone. I have many times learned the lesson that total honesty is not always the best thing to do. I hate the term politically correct, but our Forum could benefit by a bit of it. I am not sure what the break down is from member to nom member but I do not see that as important. What I see as important is the information and assistance that the Fourm provides. I personally hate to see the name calling and negative posts because in the long run we are all just a bunch of folks drawn by our love of the Hudson engineering. I expect as we all try a little harder to be civil this will become a very good year. Just my opinion here Somewhere West of Salt Lake...

Lots of us are members, so...no use starting a poll so that we can all squabble with each other over the good and bad things with HET, Inc.

I do find it interesting that when you include guests (people not logged in), the Hudson section of Classiccar.com regularly has more people on it than the AACA's entire forum. I would hazard a bet that many of the 177 guests that are lurking here on the Hudson forum are either current or former members of HET.

hornettwinh wrote:

You know,

I find your posting very interesting and would like to add to it.

About 90%, as close as I can figure, of the people who have negative comments about the HET Club are not members. And, unless you have joined recently, that includes you.

If a negative comment is followed by a constructive, realistic suggestion, bring those on!!

Otherwise, what is the value of the negative?

When members have a suggestion and approach an officer or board member they are listened to. Much of what the club is, is because volunteer members have done so much.

Mike Cherry

President HET Club, Inc.

Mike, I appreciate your response. I wish you had more time to stop by, and comment, but such is life, time is never on our side! Just nice to see you peak in once and a while.



I really think that, unless you are reading a different forum than I am, you will find that most of the negativity, that I originally spoke of several weeks ago, when starting this thread are in fact, members of the HET club. This thread was not a discussion on positive or negative comments about the HET club. In fact, it was a generalization about the then current attitude, about on this forum, and the general vibe one got, when logging on, and reading threads.



I don't know, but it seems to me that the current state of what's going on here is pretty leveled out. The air is nice, the tone is friendly, and everyone is pretty well adjusted. Call it growing pains if you will, but I guess it's just a cycle of events.







I'm don't want to go down the road of speaking about the HET club. It seems the topic in itself conjurs up too much controversy, and most people would rather think that nothing needs changed, and honestly, that's great. It seems to me that to even mention the notion of change or new idea, or to think about it, gets you charged as a heretic, so it's not worth the hassle. But I find myself adding to you thoughts above, so here's my reply.



My thoughts about this center on the statements above that you typed, that "90% of those that have negative comments about the HET club are not members" and "Otherwise, what is the value of the negative?"



These thoughts, or generalizations make me think about a couple of things. the first being;



of those 90% how many were prior members?



and of that group, why are they no longer members?



What is the demographic of that 90 percent? (specifically, what is the age group that represents the non member, HET owners, if you will)



and further, of those 90% how does the HET club need to focus it's energies to show them what we think is a great club, and show them the value of membership?



Finally, as a dynamic organization, I would always think the negative holds the most value, especially to anyone trying to grow an organization. This is the single area where improvement opportunity exists, and the one singular means by which you can broaden your appeal to attract the fence sitters, like myself.



I guess we got different ideas on the benefits of negative thoughts. I come from the school of taking lemons and making lemonade.



I don't think that focusing on the idea that 90% of the negativity is from the outside, and that's fine, is quite the right approach. The HET club is a large organization, with a small, finite, appeal. It's membership roster is waged in a battle against time, and from what I can see, it is sad to note that it is losing. (meaning the membership is expiring of natural causes... people are passing on)



I'm sure that none of these ideas are new, and I'm not trying to start another grand debate about the HET club. I come to recognize it as a fine organization, and the merits of the club speak for themselves. The club produces a publication that is second to none.



What I see happening here, is this post will be swiftly followed by several members, saying " I'm a 37 year proud member of the HET" and "because you're not hudsonkid, your opinion on anything about the HET club doesn't count" watch... (talk about missing the boat, on everything I typed...)



and honestly, I think that the time investment by any member is great, the sad part is, that the forthcoming posts don't help this conversation any, it just further illustrates a point. I would be more attentive to hear someone offer something substantial to the ideas presented here, rather than telling me one focused idea, about how great they perceive the HET club, or how it is a wonderful bunch of people. The individual perception is great, guess what folks? I share much the same view. end of discussion.



I don't harbor any ill feelings towards the club or it's membership, and really don't have a valid reason why I decided not to be a member. I guess that in the same hand I need to step back and ask what's the sticking issue? I have had a membership form, filled out, with a check inside an envelope, stamped, sitting for some time ready to mail, but it doesn't seem to make it into the mailbox. I can't answer why this is.



So what do I do? stay in the (as by you, above) perceived 90%, where really, I don't have any issues with the club? or join into the (again, as by you, above) perceived 10% by sending in my dues?



Like I said, I do appreciate the reply, and I thank you for the opportunity you have given me further speak up. I hope you can take into consideration the time and effort I spent composing this reply.



Best!

Rick