"-The ones like MHJC with a schedule of events for the season are busy because, in my opinion, people have something to join in with instead of having to initiate which can be a lot especially for a new person."
As we've discussed before, I do think this is the big issue. But it also takes someone's time and effort and pre-planning organization. Just to ask, do those other groups have dues or some sort of fees to participate with? Obviously we are essentially free...I recognize I am not really in position to participate anymore on a consistent basis (move out of state), but its not that hard to kind of put together a a schedule of say 6 runs during the summer months and get them posted on the schedule. There are 4 that always happen - the two anniversary runs and the two clean-up runs. Add in a couple of usually very popular runs - say MSV/Coney and a Gulches run, and you that should be one run per month that is on the schedule EARLY - like March early. Having set runs on the schedule early is a big deal to me - those with busy family schedules have a chance to plan around it. All the standard, plan the week of (or a couple weeks out), can fill in the other weekends - and once people get out on the primary monthly run, I bet the side of trail conversations will lead to more runs as people get to know one another and discuss wheeling etc.
As a side note, I also think that the 'big group' runs would have a different feel - a bit more social (like the clean-ups and anni runs). One of the reasons some of us really like this site was option to throw together a quick run with a small group at unusual time/day - mostly because many of us prefer wheeling with a small group on harder trails, and don't necessarily love the structure of more formalized clubs. But I think these kind of runs are built from the relationships and conversations developed at the big group runs.
"-The ones that allowed political discussion during the crazy last few years have had a lot of attrition, we're all sick of that ****."
If people are comfortable discussing, how big of an issue was this topic for FR4x4?
Finally, I am realizing how cyclical life and nature is....Life priorities, situations and families change on a somewhat 5-10 year cycle. Normally this turn-over is evenly distributed throughout the membership, with some moving on, and others joining in on at evenly distributed rate. Seems as though we've had a lot of active membership turn-over recently, and lost lots of previously active members (such as myself). Even my own client base in Montana has a sort of cycle to it - often tied to school age children eventually graduating HS and all of a sudden, the family's typical schedule is completely different with different priorities. Add in the affect of Covid where a bunch of families changed typical travel routines all at once (stopped coming), and it seems like instead of the usual slow rate of turn-over, all of a sudden I lost 80% of my client base, and am creating an all new client base. Three years in, and it seems like its starting to stabilize once again - but with all new clients. I kind of feel like FR4x4 membership is doing this - lots of the classic members have moved on (possibly accelerated by covid and politics) and lots of new members signing up, but without much 'leadership'....and by leadership, I just mean experienced members posting runs and sharing info and helping organize based on their experience, which makes it much easier for new members to jump in and participate.
Last topic along these lines....there is a history of wheeling clubs not just for shared experience among those interested to wheel, but also as a safety net. Always go with a group just in case, etc. A lot of the common experience of these clubs included wrenching a bit on rigs and trail repairs and whatnot. These days, a relatively new 4x4 is pretty much 99% reliable, and in most places say in Colo, its not that hard to find help if needed (being in MT now, I am again aware of what its like to truly wheel in REMOTE areas without easy access to help). With my Tacoma - Jen and I used to wander 60-100 miles out into the Utah desert on back dirt roads and whatnot without too much concern - don't think I'd take one of my old jeeps there without some other vehicles along. And it seems almost everyone has a new modern rig in Colo these days! Whats the point in inviting a group of other rigs along if you can just go yourself on your own time schedule etc....There has to be an additional aspect that makes you want to have others along - initially for me, it was the classic old jeep isn't necessarily all that reliable concern (and some of you all helped me out with that when needed - hopefully the jeep has proven itself reliable after the first couple years). For others, its either social (which is possibly where topics like politics and religion etc can be helpful or a turn-off), or just sharing trail knowledge the old fashion way (but even that is limited - there is more info online than anywhere else). Hard trails can be a draw - its nice to have extra support for winching, strapping etc - but not sure we have that much hard-core crowd anyway. What else is there?
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