I nearly added more irrelevance to Alan's thread about sportives. Then I paused for a minute, and decided not to. There are a few comments in that discussion which I've copied out to here.
Jon Camden said: [quote]I've never understood why we can't publicly praise those that do their bit and name and shame those that don't. If you don't do your bit you shouldn't be welcome on the CR, club TTs, road race or whatever! (BTW still haven't have my fiver for marshalling the club road race!!!)
Marshalling - Is it right that we insist?
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Marshalling - Is it right that we insist?
by Snoop Doug » Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:31 pm
Jojo said: [quote]Jon, if you took that stance, you will find 85% of the club would disappear. I know it states on when becoming a member we are obliged to fulfil marshalling duties, but there is a big majority who just come out for the CR and have no interest in racing, TT etc etc and shouldn't have to be pressurised or made to feel they are not welcome because of this. I dont know what the answer is, but naming and shaming isn't one. I do however often read the thank you comments from those riders to the marshals.
said: [quote]As you say it is an obligation when you sign up to be a member, whether you want to race or not. Addiscombe is not unique and you would find that if you joined just about any club in the country then you would have the same obligation, except as most of their memberships are smaller you would have to do more duties than that which Addiscombe require you to.One of the principle reasons cycling clubs exist is to support grass roots cycle sport and without clubs promoting events then the sport would die off. It is due to the hard work done by cycling clubs and its members in promoting events that the likes of Wiggins, Cavendish, Boardman, and any other British pro (past or present) you mention have been able to get in to the sport and achieve what they have - supporting them in their early days. A lot of people take their first steps in racing after having been to an event having not realised that it interested them before, same as they didn't know they liked cycling as much as they do before joining a club and going on a club run.
I think it's very unfortunate that so many people just want to take from the club. When helping at a race you also get to mix with others with the same interest and can meet new friends, and with an early morning TT you could get a lift out from someone who's racing and then have a nice ride home afterwards taking in some new lanes and a different route as you are going point to point and not having to do a loop.
All this stuff got me thinking...
1 - I've previously mentioned name and shame before and Aodan responded with what I think is a much better idea. He suggested having a public list of people yet to fulfil their marshalling duty and use it more as an encourager. Tidy!
2 - I don't get the bit about 85% of the club would disappear if we enforced the rule. For a mere £19 (when paid by standing order) you get a weekly organised club run, alternative club runs, a fantastically organised series of club 10s, darts matches, occasional socials, a club dinner, some excellent discounts from local cycle related stores, and doubtless more than I can think of right now. In return, all we ask is that you help out once a year(ish). If folk don't think that's excellent value for money then do we want selfish (insert swear of your choice here) in the club?
3 -
suggested a few more social benefits wot I forgot 
Good work. Also stated that the marshalling rule is there for all to see when someone signs up. Don't like it? Don't join eh?Kinda boils down to...
4 - Is there any point in having a rule the club is not prepared to enforce? Why do we do this? Beats me, but I think that feels like the crux of the matter. Paper tigers, toothless thingumajigs etc spring to mind. Use it or lose it? Enforce it or divorce it (crap rhyme I just made up sorry)?
Reading this back - it does feel like we have all the essential ingredients for success (or most eh?), so why does the recipe always end up tasting so.....yuck? What do you think folks?
- Snoop Doug
As it would be a form of marshalling then it could count as your contribution 
Good luck ! I don't want to sound confrontational, so please don't see it like that, but half the problem with this club is there are too many big voices on the forum, but when it comes to the doing those big voices cant be seen (Yourself and Snoop excluded of course as I know you both do your bit as do the usual suspects) 
