SOC Technical Reprints and such ...

[Glenn Merrell <gmerrel@domain.elided>]

Hello John,
	I'd like to throw my he-penny in here about the SOC Technical article reprints
vs the internet, just happens to strike the ol' nerve ending with a steam
powered pile driver.  Been a while since we had a good go on this list, eh?

I like the idea immensely of a new Technical Article reprint, since the first
edition only covered up through Issue 100, and there are now what, at issue
215?  I think it is a good quick reference, and any new Technical Article
Reprint should include all the articles in the first edition and several
missed.  I'd applaud a new collation of articles up through the end of 1999, and
applaud your collation efforts of the first reprints.  Like I stated, it is a
good quick reference tool.

But, mediums change, and so must we.  The internet in the next two or three
years will be THE communication medium, exceeding newspaper circulation and
television.  Test markets of cable based TV modems are being installed as we
toil, and the UK already has the infrastructure in place for them for the past
ten years though never fully utilized.  In order to reach the widest owner base,
the internet should be utilized to its fullest extent.  This includes member
access to all previous articles using a search utility on the internet to
retrieve full color print versions, and a hard copy print version as well to
service those not disposed to using a computer.  

	So, why not an SOC article archive on the SOC web site, accessible by member
number and name?  The articles must be assembled on some sort of computer
typeset machine with computer compatable files?  We all pay our dues, but not
all of us benefit fully from them, many being "detached" from the core group of
beneficiaries.  We pay a premium to be afar members of the SOC, stranded orphans
we, and see little of the spoils of membership.  Tweaks my nut when certain
members ask me to my face "what certain other clubs" offer in benefits over the
SOC?!?.  The answers fall in many ways, lower dues, immediate personal attention
paid to technical difficulties, arrangements for inclusion to other events,
telephone calls made to locate information, and freely offering information to
ALL Stag owners regardless of membership affiliation.  The question then should
be more specifically, how is membership in the SOC benefiting those not on the
Isles, and more over, how can the SOC better serve those members who pay a
premium for membership?  A color glossy monthly, and none of the other member
benefits?  Waiting two months for an answer by mail to a technical need?  I feel
strongly there is an inequity in that, very strongly, and my blood pressure pops
when someone considers cutting out part of the member base in any planning with
such short sightedness.  How about considering a 5 year and 20 year plan for the
Club, looking a bit into the future and planning for technology advances as a
tool to serve the membership?

	So, I suggest the solution is not how to REMOVE service of club benefits to
members, but rather that of how to BETTER serve ALL the membership with services
that will be relevant both now and a scant two or three years down the road.  

Time to stop before I burst a valve ... Sounds just like a good Triumph book I
just read ...

Yours for speculation, In My Humble Opinion.

Regards,
Glenn  Merrell, VTR Webmaster ProTem
Triumph Stag Register USA VP
*J*O*I*N**Y*O*U*R**L*O*C*A*L**T*R*I*U*M*P*H**C*L*U*B**T*O*D*A*Y*
*Member of:
*VTR, RMTC, TSC USA, TSR, SOC
*73*S*T*A*G****************************************************