RoADAR / IAM poll

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

Since so many of you are members of one or both of these organisations, you are a great bunch of people to help me with my poll:

Can you tell me which local group(s) you belong to, and what is your annual sub, please? I'm assessing what the average is to assist our committee in deciding whether to increase ours (it's currently £14).

PS just to be clear I'm only talking about the sub to the LOCAL group. As far as I am aware, current NATIONAL subs are £22.50 for RoADAR, and £32 for IAM. Please correct me if I'm wrong on those.

Some of you may already have answered this for me. I don't need you to answer twice

Many thanks

[GHST]

Birmingham advanced motorists £15

[trashbat]

Southampton £8, although sod 'em, I'm not renewing this year.

[dombooth]

Chesterfield IAM - £9
South Yorkshire RoADAR - Not interested, not renewing.

Dom

[martine]

Bristol Advanced Motorists group memebership has just gone up from £15 to £20 (£27 for joint members). This was the first increase since 2007 and was unanimously passed at our AGM last year.

Inevitably and quite rightly sometimes people ask: 'What do I actually get for my local subs?' - the answer is 6 newsletters (award winning I'll have you know!) and access to our driving events. Our monthly social meetings (with speakers and the like) are free and open to the public.

The other way of looking at it is the local members keep the group running and the subs are a donation to a cause they believe is important. We couldn't run all the things we do without our subs income. For each associate that does 'Skill for Life' with us we get £31 from IAM HQ (out of their £139 fee). We have an annual income of around £9-12k and keep a little more in the bank at year-end (as per charity commission guidelines).

I think if a group's committee have plans and make members aware of where the money goes and what will be done with any increase, most will support it. I think it becomes tricky if you leave the increases too long - like we have done in the past - people object to sizeable jumps even though it may have been several years at the lower-level.

IAM HQ now have a policy of increasing the IAM national membership every year by 50p or £1 - this makes sense if you can take subs by direct debit (which small organisations can't like us) as getting everyone to amend standing orders is a pain.

[trashbat]

I wouldn't try and compare two groups on fees. I don't know much about Bristol but from what I hear, it sounds like you are much more active and much more competent than many local groups.

I'm not renewing locally mostly out of spite, having been particularly annoyed by my group. Otherwise I would see it as a donation to help people like myself.

[fungus]

IIRC the Bournemouth groups sub is £10. The group is not very active in matters motoring.

[martine]

I'm not renewing locally mostly out of spite, having been particularly annoyed by my group.

Oh go on...spill the beans...

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

Chesterfield IAM - £9
South Yorkshire RoADAR - Not interested, not renewing.

Dom

Will you be paying your national sub and taking your 3 yearly retests? (and do you know what SY's annual sub is, just to help me a little? - thanks)

[trashbat]

I'm not renewing locally mostly out of spite, having been particularly annoyed by my group.

Oh go on...spill the beans...

Beans already spilt - the 'failed observer' thread from a bit ago Might give Portsmouth a go!

[dombooth]

Chesterfield IAM - £9
South Yorkshire RoADAR - Not interested, not renewing.

Dom

Will you be paying your national sub and taking your 3 yearly retests? (and do you know what SY's annual sub is, just to help me a little? - thanks)

Yes I'll pay the national sub but not SY. Their sub is £10, due 1st May regardless of when you join and pay your first £10.

Dom

[martine]

I'm not renewing locally mostly out of spite, having been particularly annoyed by my group.

Oh go on...spill the beans...

Beans already spilt - the 'failed observer' thread from a bit ago Might give Portsmouth a go!

Oh yeah...I remember.

[gannet]

East Surrey IAM - £10 a year, we have no plans to increase.

[Mike H]

As Martin has said above, £20 to Bristol Advanced Motorists, and £10 to RoADAR Avon Group, although the group is struggling a bit at present and there is talk of a possible merger.

[martine]

As Martin has said above, £20 to Bristol Advanced Motorists, and £10 to RoADAR Avon Group, although the group is struggling a bit at present and there is talk of a possible merger.

ROADAR would be welcome to merge with us!