November 2001 

Well firstly my apologies for no article in the October newsletter. I had an Inferior Myocardial Infarct (Heart attack to you and me) in the middle of the month which put the mockers on the article AND my planned holiday to Florida. Unfortunately, for those who my articles seem to hook and irritate, I'm back.

Membership (Chapter 2)

"Jings,Crivvens....Help ma boab!" Seems I've done it again.

Firstly ....... DAVE URQUHART......there you go

Out of the murky shadows and into the limelight. No longer the "Anonymous Pen in the North" I feel so vulnerable now because I'm not known for voicing my opinions face to face and prefer anonymity as I'm sure some of you know. Let it not be said I wont put my name to an opinion.

Thanks Ali for the reply on why to be a Dunedin Member. It's nice to see I can elicit a response so quickly. However......since non-members won't get the newsletter I guess It's up to people like Fred Henderson and myself to spread the good news. Having been a member since the early days when Fred first got a ramshackle posse together I was merely acting as the messenger and providing feedback as I hear it. Still nice to be noticed.

The invitation for further feedback at the AGM is welcome but I'm not sure feedback, such as given in my last article, is always seen as constructive. As a member ...indeed I feel I am a "founder" member for the North Section I would love to see membership increased. My recovery progress from my current infirmity will probably preclude the 275-mile round trip to the AGM so I'll say more here. I hope the comments are not written off and treated in the constructive manner in which I mean them. Remember feedback is a gift......like a pair of socks as a Christmas gift...you can chose to use them or stick them in a drawer and forget them.

The points raised by Ali are all valid. However it still feels like a "them and us" and that the chapter is still weighted towards the South. This is quite understandable due to numbers and population density. However if the aim is to recruit and retain members in the North it needs to be addressed not swept under the carpet.

Ali states that there are meetings with food. Due to distance its not that easy for us in the North to attend the Edinburgh meetings so we miss out on this benefit. As far as I'm aware no offer of similar facilities have been offered in the North and to be honest I think most would find this unnecessary. A small point but an illustration of something which wrankles and causes division. 

In the North we have our own summer meetings, we organise our own European trips, (two of them this year), charity events, fortnightly ride outs, rides to rallies, our own Christmas party and while I agree the Aviemore is superb you don't need to a member to attend. My point is that we are an inclusive bunch who welcome Harley owners for who they are and not which club they chose to be in. We don't have the numbers up here yet to do anything else and the additional benefits of Dunedin membership need to be sold. Perhaps a discount scheme for accessories and/or clothing from the sponsoring dealer might be enough to make membership even more attractive.

On a personal note, I feel we have a very strong "North Paragraph" which has developed into a close social unit with strong friendships, some able to withstand 5,000-mile trips round the USA. Witness the success of the North end of season bash in Granton. Looks set to be even better this year so good we have a Yankee flying over for it!!

I'm not sure we will ever be a totally integrated chapter due to the geography and the natural close social ties which have developed within each separate groups in the North and South. However I feel this year there has been a move towards mixing more. We had a great time be at the American Car Club event with a few up from the south and the trip north to Portsoy with the overnight stay in a force 8 gale certainly made steps towards closer ties.

Finally I have this mental picture of someone trying to forcibly remove an illegally worn "Dunedin" patch off my big mate John Milne. I'd like to be there for that one but only to hold the jackets. Hehe!!

 The Next Generation

Well damn me! "Young" Denver Milne, son of John has really got the bug. Not content with riding pillion with Dad and trying to outdrink him at Aviemore he's going one stage further. So impressed is he by the fun we have he's gone and ordered a Harley of his own. The small detail of passing his bike test is still to be overcome but by March next year it's fairly sure the group will have a new young whippersnapper of a member.

 Monthly Meetings

The group meets on the first Wednesday of every Month except January at The Red Garth Hotel, Kirkbrae, Oldmeldrum at around 7.00pm