If we wait until they are in our club demographics to reach out to them, we will have waited to long.
Patmo, I think your post above hit the nail squarely on the head regarding MSTA survival. Especially the last line that I quoted.
I agree that for MSTA survival, the MSTA must make itself known where it can. However getting back to the subject of the original post about
forum activity, that without links to it from all the diversions (Facebook et al) the forum will continue as it does now. I'll admit that I have prejudices against Facebook, and that I never search Facebook for any of my interests. I currently always go to Google as my first choice. It directed me to the MSTA after I saw an ad in an old magazine for the HSTA and searched for it. When I first gazed upon the MSTA it was in the form of the old forum (found via Google, not Facebook) and I chose not to join at that time from what I saw. The content of the new forum wasn't that impressive when I returned for a later visit but I saw progress in that it was in a format that I was familiar with and I knew it was easy (for me anyway) to use. It led me to the main web site and it was at that point I joined because the group seemed much more viable. Perhaps Facebook is the future, but I think Google and the internet search engines in general are equal if not much more important. In my experience an internet search rarely turns up any Facebook content. Local rides could be just as easily arranged on the local sections of this forum, and it is much easier to navigate than Facebook or Yahoo groups, but that's just my opinion and I appear to be in the minority.
It has been pointed out to me (several times) that most MSTA members don't use the forum. I thought this thread was about how to change that. (although I did get a bit off track about the "Touring" aspect of the MSTA in my earlier post
) If more info was presented here about local events and links provided to that information from other sites such as Facebook, then maybe there would be more participation. I live in Texas and I plan on attending the TWiStar in Wisconsin, I learned about the event on this forum, not on Facebook.
Great organization, but very closed and protective. Generally only positive and supportive posts are welcomed. Holds the number of posts down.
I'm too new to make that call, and it's difficult to get a feel for the Association just from the forum as it is currently. If it is true, it isn't unique to the MSTA, it is very common to many forums and organizations. The
love it or leave it syndrome is how I think of it. On the internet I consider it the most negative by product of way too many trolls out there that just love to stir stuff up, and the results frequently just make it harder for someone with legitimate concerns or criticisms to get a word in. I haven't noticed it here, but it's a common occurrence and I wouldn't be surprised to see it, especially in an organization with such a long history.