Young Member section - Your thoughts please

[Steve Swan]

What are your thoughts about having a "Young Member" section to the BB ?

The reason i am asking, i am mentoring a 14 year old young man, Dru Hogle, who is quite mature for his years, very observant, astute in his questions, clearly has a passion for motorcycles. So i felt the energy of this young man needed some guidance. I've had pieces of a 1974 Honda CB750 laying around for years and woke up in the middle of the night, realized Dru would relish this project. Dru and i will meet tomorrow for first time, to begin inventorying the pieces to prepare for the build.

Anyway... Back to my reason for starting this thread. This 74 CB750 clearly meets the AMCA "35 year old rule." And, there is a push on by the AMCA to alleviate their worries of insufficient numbers of replacements to the baby boomer membership crowd.

So... i thought it would be nice if Dru joined the AMCA. And could participate on the forum by sharing his build.

I guess he could share his project under "Member Builds," he wold be a member after all. Or should there be a "Young Member Build" section ?

But... i noticed there is no "young member" section ? A place where younger members can be a part of the forum. Do we need/want a "young member" section ?

All things considered, i feel there should be at least a "Young Member" section. or a section so appropriately named for young members to feel welcome using the forum.

Appreciate your thoughts.

[Spag]

Steve,
I think your suggestion that the Forum add a "Young Member Section" is an excellent idea. I will check with our web master. Thanks for the suggestion.
Richard

[duffeycycles]

I think the last issue of AMCA is a waste of print.Get back to the bikes,limit the space for Foundation and dreams of children restoring bikes.The only great articles recently were from Herb Wagner.If kids are interested they will join.If you start a young members section here make it part of member bike builds.I too am mentoring a couple of young ladies building bikes-Honda's,Suzuki,Bridgestone etc...I am getting them to join the Motor Maids etc.You must include Cafe and customs,not just restored stuff

[exeric]

I agree with Duffey. I've contended all along that if someone loves old motorcycles, they will find the AMCA. Also, I have never met an AMCA member that wasn't delighted to help a young person with any aspect of this old bike hobby. However, at the end of the day, and after you shake it all out; it's about MOTORCYCLES.

Personally, if the 'Antique Motorcycle' was just pictures of motorcycles seen at National AMCA meets, reprints of old literature, and tech tips, I would be delighted.

As for a young members category; what's the point? Does that mean old members can't participate in that category? Feeling comfortable in any group is accomplished by assimilating with experienced members of that group; not isolating yourself in a sub-group. The AMCA is already very factionalized by American, European, Japanese, antique, post antique, custom, and modern motorcycle enthusiasts. When it comes to the club itself; we should all be on the same page, and try to have the same goals.

[fciron]

What would be the purpose of a "younger members" section?

Sharing a build that is of interest to everyone is best done in the more general parts of the forum. Requests for advice or parts should be seen by as many people as possible. How would a separate section benefit either the young members or the AMCA?

[sirhrmechanic]

Creating a new section here costs almost nothing... and there is nothing to lose. It's not like a print publication where there are real costs associated with ink/pages/column inches. So why not? If it is worthwhile for some of our younger members, it's a good investment and really doesn't take much. If noone uses it, it can disappear with the touch of a button. My guess is that it may attract a few people... who will end up contributing far more elsewhere in the forum (which is a good thing, isn't it?)

I would say, too, that after being on the AMCA Facebook page... that the FB presence represents the best 'younger members area' that the AMCA can hope for. There is a ton of stuff happening there all the time and also, surprisingly, a lot of overseas interest. So putting a 'young members' area here on the site may be moot, since the next generation of enthusiasts seems much more ensconced over on the AMCA FB page.

Exeric and Duffy, I'll agree on one hand that the last issue's focus on the young riders was not something I bothered to read in depth... not my thing. But I'll disagree that 'old motorcycles' are just about iron. They're about the people who ride, preserve, restore and enjoy them. I'd argue that you can't have one without the other and it's the community (and characters among its members) that help drive our old bike passion. And our old bikes aren't going to fare well in the future if we don't attract a new generation of 'characters' to feed and care-for them. And who wants their bike gathering dust in a museum or under a spotlight in some un-ridden investment collection?

Just some random thoughts.... Your mileage may vary... as seen on TV... offer not valid in Utah... etc.

Cheers,

Sirhr

[Steve Swan]

Hello exeric, fciron and duffey, i thought the very same thing as you when i posted the idea, but i wanted to hear other member's thoughts. I also appreciate sirhr's point. Either way, what ever we decide, i will be content with.

I am certain, from the sounds of things, we don't ignore the younger members or view them as competition, compared to 35 years ago when i was in my late 20's. I had not only pre-unit Brit singles, but Indian 4's, Chiefs and Scouts. I know this was not everyone's experience, but i have to say with the exception of 2 members, i definitely felt excluded from the "circle." My post was was simply to raise awareness and see if a young members section was something we would want.

Dru will be joining AMCA. Then he will be posting his build.

[shelbyinparadise]

What would be the purpose of a "younger members" section?

Sharing a build that is of interest to everyone is best done in the more general parts of the forum. Requests for advice or parts should be seen by as many people as possible. How would a separate section benefit either the young members or the AMCA?

I agree the drive for Kiddy Korner may be politically correct on a mission statement, but should there not be more effort directed to presenting information, projects or advise in a way to reach the broadest number of people? When people see or read how something is done and understand the principles behind the article, they are more likely to try it themselves. For some of us older folks that learned the hard way how to fix things when we were younger working with our hands, need to pass the information in such a way to peak the interest of the next generation of "do it yourselfers", young or old.

"Personally, if the 'Antique Motorcycle' was just pictures of motorcycles seen at National AMCA meets, reprints of old literature, and tech tips, I would be delighted." to quote Eric, I would add more "how to" or "how it works" articles and/or advise from our judges on how to improve projects or common mistakes on restorations, to the list.

On the Forum all questions should be treated as honest in intent, and answered the same way, encouraging more dialog from the curious of all ages. Shelby

[exeric]

My post was was simply to raise awareness and see if a young members section was something we would want.

Steve, what you and Dru are doing with that 750 Honda will set the hook in him and that is the surest way to bring a new member into the fold. Unfortunately, not a practical recruiting tool. I agree with Sirhr that people are the best part of the AMCA but that is not the initial lure. Promoting the social aspects of a club (unless it's actually a social club) can be a major turn-off for many new members because it just hammers home the fact that the new member is not part of the clique. Not everyone is socially savvy, and most people are quite shy. It's the antique motorcycle that brings people here, and if that person can connect with other members via this forum, or FB, or at a meet and get help, advice, and parts then the AMCA will be another tool in their tool kit. Sharing the challenges of a project (like Steve, and Dru) is how people become friends, and lifetime members of the AMCA.

[Steve Swan]

Promoting the social aspects of a club (unless it's actually a social club) can be a major turn-off for many new members because it just hammers home the fact that the new member is not part of the clique. Not everyone is socially savvy, and most people are quite shy. It's the antique motorcycle that brings people here, and if that person can connect with other members via this forum, or FB, or at a meet and get help, advice, and parts then the AMCA will be another tool in their tool kit. Sharing the challenges of a project (like Steve, and Dru) is how people become friends, and lifetime members of the AMCA.

Point well taken, Eric. As long as there are old motorcycles, there will be people talking about them, fixing them, riding them, getting together. Life's too short and precious to not help a kid along. I know it'll be part of what i leave behind, as was done for me by Bob Paulette and Paul George.