tjtank99 said:

I'm thinking a HUGE DDO cookout sometime in June or July, that could be our monthly meeting also, but we can have it like at Paps parking lot or somewhere we can all be outside, enjoying the weather and sun! I'm just throwing that out there

---

I believe we did that at silver lake,

1. Cook out is great idea. Forrest preserve is best location for it. Doesnt have to be near paps.(great for peep that live by there,not so great for those who dont)Mix it up. Could be a great opportunity for show n shine. Maybe spring when weather turns to show off winter mods.
2. any individual trail run with 2 or more ddo members becomes a ddo run(unless other sponsored event)
3.Hardcore/nonhardcore sections of forum…no delete in hardcore section

for starters

I dont like that anyone can show up and pay 30 bucks and get into the club.  We got lucky in the past and have had mostly good people join.  We need to change the critera to join.  Make a meeting or 2 and atleast a cliffs run with us so we can get to know you a little bit.  In my opinion if you really enjoy wheeling and you WANT to be part of a club, you can at least put some kind of effort into the club before joining.  Another REQUIREMENT should be MANDATORY 4x4.  Your in a 4x4 club, WTF are you doing here with a 2wheel drive?  You cant go where we go and I dont want to spend my day dragging you through and over every obsticle we come across.  I dont care if your rig is lifted with the best tires money can buy, your useless if your 2wd. 

Deleting things we say on threads has to stop because you want the website to have a nice appearance to outside people.  Thats all fine and great, but nothing upsets me more when something I posted gets deleted because it might upset someone.  Chances are if I said something like that, it WAS supposed to upset them.  I know that there has to be some type of containment on what gets said here, but the way its done now has to stop.

"Club Runs"… We need support on these, the Badlands trip for example.  There was no flyer, nothing put on the home page about us going.  So it was 3 members that went, would have been nice if there was a little more behind us trying to get people to go.  I know its holiday time, blah blah blah… Im not telling everyone to go, but a little support from club management would have been awesome.  There are always a million excuses why you cant go, thats fine, I dont care about those, Im looking to grow this sport and I want to give people opportunities to go with us.

Minimum requirements need to get enforced a little more. 4x4 (ranted already) mandatory, front and rear recovery points mandatory, good towstrap with OUT hooks mandatory, CB radio I would like everyone to have one, but we can get by without.  For any serious member, it should be mandatory.  Its so nice when you can hear whats going on and where not to drive, or in convoy and something happens, easier to deal with things that way.  I broke a 20000lb tow strap at the badlands with chris, he was hella stuck granted but I dont see why you would want to skimp on something that could seriously hurt you when it breaks.

Drivers meetings before outings.  I think we have been learning a lot as we go with this.  We need to ask questions like who is new, who has never done this before and address some saftey concerns before we get on the trail.  Im not saying like a classroom lecture about it, but management (if they are on the run) or someone else should be having a meeting before you wheel.  Me, chris, josh, and all passangers had a meeting before we went out and these guys are my friends, it never hurts to stress saftey when your going to be doing some potentionally dangerous things.  I dont want to see anyone get hurt.  I know things happen when your on the trail.  I just want to advoid problems.  Simple things like explaining that its one at a time up and down hills and through obsticles.  Dont be afraid to ask for a spotter (very easy with a cb) someone will be more than happy to jump out and help guide you along the trail.  Dont drive across a hill, drive up or down it (John).  Simple things like this.  If things go well, everyone should be sick of hearing the saftey speach every outing.

I think that the 3 managers have done a wonderful job, I dont want them to think Im attacking them or the club.  These are just things I have been staying quiet about.  Im not the only one with these types of concerns, Im just not afraid to say them.  I want to see this club grow and be respected and be a fun place for everyone to hang out.  We have a GREAT start and I'd hate to see a couple of bad apples drag all the hard work down.

Something I would like to see on the weekend runs would be a little more organization with food.  We have all been pretty much doing the family style meals.  Im trying to figure out a way that we can get this accomplished with least amount of effort put out by everyone.  This kinda goes along with the big party… We do it everytime we do a weekend trip so I feel if you want it, show up to a weekend trip.  Im not trying to get down on the idea, I wouldnt mind a show and shine, I love getting together with everyone and showing off the rigs.