I thought the TR Register in the UK had a membership (it is an international
club) of around 5000 but I don't know that for a fact. With membership fees of
around $80 a year that would be around $400k from subscriptions plus any other
income like paid ad's in the magazine etc. The magazine publishing probably
accounts for the bulk of the expenses but there should be enough income to pay
for a small staff assuming they are not all full time highly remunerated
individuals.. Like most clubs the TR Register relies on the many volunteers
that make it work. I think the annual convention (Usually in Malvern) attracts
1000 cars and 2000 people if that is a useful metric. This year the local
river flooded and devastated the area closing many roads. 200 cars still made
it onto the field.
I don't have any info about the membership waxing or waning, there are a few
of the movers and shakers that tune into the 6pack mail so maybe one of them
could comment and help us with some facts about how the club functions, how
the TR Drivers club came to be and what the general state of the hobby is in
Europe.
Stan
-----Original Message-----
From: Shawn J. Loseke [mailto:sloseke@holly.colostate.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 8:47 PM
To: Foster, Stan; 6pack
Subject: RE: [6pack] The Grand Unification Theory
There was a reason that I let my VTR membership lapse and no longer
read/subscribe to their email list. It wasn't really fitting my needs and I
didn't like some of the attitudes that I was hit with. I have been much
happier as a 6-Pack subscriber and member (even though I keep forgetting to
renew my membership - I'll do that next...).
In the UK, the TR Register has been faltering of late as I understand it.
There membership has been falling away to other clubs instead of people
belonging to multiple clubs. That could have changed since I had last heard
though. Also, I have always wondered about some of the bigger UK clubs having
permanent offices, full-time staff, etc... There has to be some government
funding going on there. It can't be driven purely by membership dues and
regalia sales. Anyone have more of an insight on that?
Shawn
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