Getting rid of the post count has to be our strongest and best idea yet but
unfortunately with the phpBB we are using for our Online Forum it doesn’t
allow us to choose if we want it on of off. Anyone say use a better Forum Program?
I could probally hack the phpBB code to prevent displaying of the post
count. It can keep it internally but it just won’t show it.
What I find funny in this thread: those that have actually put some deep
comments regarding the body kit poll…lol…shakes head…
I’m not very knowledgeable about forum programs, but I’ve been an active member and moderator at www.hondaprelude.to for the past 3 years… we’re using vBulletin Version 2.3.0.
there’s a few good features it has such as:
it allows you to leave a redirectory link in the original forum when a thread is moved… this way it doesn’t appear that the thread was deleted.
it also allows u to ‘merge’ threads/posts that are reposts, instead of locking/deleting them.
we also had a problem with ‘whoring’ so we disabled the post count feature.
our forum also allows us to download images to the server… we recently took away the priveledge of downloading/viewing attachments as well as the use of signatures for non-members. it kinda gives paying members more incentive… we are however considering allowing non-members to view attachements in the ‘tech’ section cuz it aids in helping others with problems.
I gotta give kudos to the mods for deleting the ‘garbage’ and low quality posts… I’m sure that’s a handful on it’s own.
This is going to be a little long.
Well I am not part of you club, but I come here to read info about the 240. I am just interested in drifting and like to read about it on your board. I am part of a team who runs a local mustang club in the GTA.
This is my 2 cents on the topic.
Any club needs fund to be able to operate. They do this one of 3 ways. First is obtain sponsors. This would be hard with this club as its not very large. In a big community this would work well. Sponsors wan to make money off the club by selling them there products. Second; clubs charge a fee to become a member. This is usually a small amount on a yearly basis. Third; the club asks for donation from members.
My club is membership free, but retains enough sponsors to fund our events, internet costs, trophies, advertising, and much more. People don’t realize how much it actually costs to run a club. What do the people running this club get in return? Nothing, they do it for the love of the club.
If the members of this club love there car and club as I love mine, they would not mind donating $20.00 a year for a membership. What is 20.00? It’s a very small amount to insure that a thing you care about will continue.
In return for your $20.00 you get a local community that will continue to grow. Hopefully as you grow sponsors will notice and maybe sponsorship money can replace membership money.
Hey throw me a couple of 1/4 window stickers and I have no problem paying 20.00 bucks. I will wear the stickers proudly and know that I have contributed to a sport that I love.
Some of you may agree some may not. One way or another by adding a membership they will divide the people who just bought car to drive and the real 240 enthusiasts.
Speedtospare what is the average age of the members in your club?
all ranges. anywhere from 15-54 is out range. Theres 820 registered members so we dont have an exact number. Not all members use the online part of our club.
See the thing the majority of our members are between the age 15 - 19
and most of them have the mentality of a 4 year old so its kind of tough
for us to get them to understand that we are a club that has a lot to offer
and a donation of ~$10 is a great help to our club and not that big of a hit
in your wallet who am I to tell them this.
by making this a members-only forum, you are basically closing the doors and saying “that’s it, no more members.” how is someone to find out where to go for a meet, or who to talk to if they want to join, if they can’t even see the site?
how are potential sponsors who might stumble across the website supposed to gain interest in this club when the only posts they can read are those made by non-members?
for that matter, how is ANYONE supposed to gain interest in the club or want to join when they can’t even see what it’s all about?
opening the forums, but making it read-only, is a great idea. this way, people can see what the club’s members are like and can gauge whether or not they’d like to join. also, information regarding where to join or where to inquire about sponsorships should be made readily available so those expressing an interest in the club may do so to one of the members.
maybe you don’t want every little whiny poser kid to join your club. so for this, make some sort of screening process to weed out the wannabes and losers.
the way you’re doing things now sort of seems elitest…like the existing members are the only ones good enough to read anything. it should seem more like you’re helping the club out while also gaining the privalege to post. it should make you WANT to help the club out and gain the right to post. right now, it just seems like “oh, they don’t want me to post and don’t want me as a member, so why should i help them?”
i think a donation process is in order, where anything over say $10 gets your forum access.
the ball’s in your court guys. i love this site, and i want to become a part of this club in the near future, but i really think that closing the doors like this is the wrong idea.
btw, i am a moderator over at www.automotiveforums.com and i can vouch that VBulletin is way better and easier to work with.
yeah I run vbulletin on my site also. And hows the club suppose to pay for Vbulletin? it costs 225 US to buy now I believe.
I dont tihnk they have to make it a 100% private club. Your club needs some money injections. Out fisr sponsor gave us 500.00 for the year. This was out first money thay we recieved. We had a good car show (about 28 cars) and gavce out a few trophies and prizes. We spent the rest on upgrading out webpage package made some t-shirts.
The biggest problem I see is the car you guys chose is not a very popular choice. Its not thats it a bad car, there just not many of them. The 240 is also out of production. I would suggest maybe you enlarge you clubs members. Maybe make it a nissan club or nissan sports car club. I have looked at some of there cars including the sentra SE-R. My wife like that car and it will probably be her next vehicle. This way maybe you guys can score a couple dealerships. My club has 2 dealships as sponsor. One in the east end of Toronto and one in the west. In total our club sells 4-5 cars from each dealership and lots of parts like rims and afermarket items from Ford racing. I will give you an example. One dealership gives us $1500 a year. We advertise them on out webpage. If they sell one car they have made triple the sponshorship back. To top it off many of the dealerhsips need tax write offs. Resister and a non profit club and you can write them reciepts. All monies go back in to club events to make them bigger and better.
I think this is a good idea. Niissan is one of the big three now.
just for the record my veilside kit is authentic, and real, i waited alomst two months for it. And thats cool if ppl dont like the kit, But ive been asked a couple of times if im a drifter, which is funny as hell
farmer
Because this was between me and you. I didn’t come to you representing SON.
hey applesauce…If I may ask. How old are you?
really…
And what connection do you have with the 240sx? Do you own one, do you aspire to own one?
And what attracts you to these forums?
AppleSauce obviously likes to lie and think he’s Mr. Funny Man. He is not
34. He told me on MSN he was 20, but I dunno if I wanna believe that either. :squint:
He currently own’s this bad boy.
Sorry I could not find a more up to date pic…
NICE CAR…
My question is, why does he talk so much smack?
Why not ask him, you guys have yet to see his point…
it just seems like hes a bitter person, i dont think well ever get his point
farmer