SRGC- changing name?

[TheOnionMan]

I've just read Mark's comments...
Is this just because it's an "open" Forum such as you describe Mark?

Lesley, we call the change being made to NARGS Forum starting this weekend; "open registration". It means that posting on the NARGS Forum is no longer restricted to just NARGS members, soon anyone who wants to register (free) can register with NARGS Forum and participate.  We look to our Big Sister (SRGC), and Maggi and SRGC Webmaster Fred, who have been very helpful resources to call upon and generously share their experience managing things over here.  It is certainly our hope that NARGS Forum will be a friendly destination as well..

[angie]

SRGC sounds good to me I go with David  If it ain't broke don't fix it.   sometimes I am proud to be Scottish  

Angie

[fermi de Sousa]

"The Hebridean Wee Plants Gang"??
Being over 40 I could say my dislike of a name change is simply that - a dislike of change!
But I can say that changing the name is unlikely to attract younger members because it's not the name that would really put them off joining. The under 25's want entertainment in the main - not a "boring meeting, sitting around with a bunch of people as old as their parents or grand-parents" - at least that would be my impression. I have to admit there are the odd few who would enjoy our meetings (I know I did when I joined my first "plant Group" at 19 but I never said I wasn't odd!). The next age-bracket are the young marrieds or single working age folk who seem too busy to join any thing these days other than health clubs (why do I suddenly feel like I'm doing the voice-over for an episode of "The Grumpy guide to..."!)
Enough griping for now!
cheers
fermi

[TheOnionMan]

"The Hebridean Wee Plants Gang"??
fermi

Fermi, the acronym for your suggestion is HWPG, hard to remember. 

The way a lot of these names occur these days is to start with the acronym right up front, like SNAG, that's a good name, then flesh it out... it could be something like... Scottish National Alpine Group.

[Maggi Young]

Maggi, you wrote "Perhaps that is why five in six of new SRGC members come via the internet?"  Is that a fairly accurate count?  The reason I ask, as you know I've been a big proponent of NARGS Forum open registration, and it shall become a reality this weekend (expect a formal announcement soon).  The sort of numbers you report inspire hope that NARGS can reverse the trend of slowly shrinking membership.

Yes, Mark, the last time Ian discussed this with our hardworking membership Secretary, Graham Bunkall, he reported that five out of every six new memberships were online.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

No change of name needed for my sake !  SRGC simply fits the bill !!  
I agree with most of what has been said earlier in this thread... another name will NOT bring new members - new initiatives WILL !  This forum, although not all that new any more...   is the perfect example !
This club should (an will) never loose it's soul ! (although rock is being advocated...  ... pun may very well be intended here..  )

[Martin Baxendale]

SRGC sounds good to me I go with David  If it ain't broke don't fix it.   sometimes I am proud to be Scottish  

Angie

SOMETIMES???!!! You should ALWAYS be proud to be Scottish! I only lived there from the age of two to fourteen but I still feel proud to think of myself as an honorary Scot, having spent most of my childhood there.

[alpines]

Don't change it. I've only just learned how to spell SRGC

[Paul T]

Out of interest, how much emphasis is the "normal" club regarding "Rock Gardens".  Without this forum I certainly never would have joined, because I don't have a rock garden?  To be honest, I'm not entirely sure the definition of "Rock Garden" (no jokes intended!!  ).  My mental image of a rock garden is generally for an older generation, not something for the young, but that is my impression only.  I joined because I found a community of wonderful people with a miriad of different interests, not just rock gardening.  If they'd only been rock gardening I wouldn't have stayed.  I then joined the club itself (rather than just the forum) as a way of saying "Thank You" to the club for providing this wonderful forum for friends.  I've still never taken part in the seed exchange, despite that probably being why many of the people actually join the club as a paying member.  Maybe I'm just strange!!!? (OK David, Martin, Lesley etc..... be nice!!  )

Horticultural clubs/societies do need to change their images to some degree, if they don't wish to die out, but changing from Scottish Rock Garden Club to Scottish Rock just sounds ridiculous to me.  Is that really "seriously" being considered?  Oh look, I see a boat heading away in the distance.

I'm really not sure whether a name change will make any difference at all.  This forum is probably the biggest drawer of younger clientele, given that it is freely available on the internet.  I don't think a name change will make any difference to that in the slightest.  

Just my tuppence worth.

[johnw]

The SRGC has a very long and distinguished history. Let's not forget or toss out the name for a new catchy one as is the trend these days.  This club seems from here to be as alive and vibrant as when I first joined years ago. Now if the The Rock Garden were to come out in gaelic....

johnw  - another storm barrelling up the east coast, 15mm of rain expected here. We've dodged alot of snow this winter, the burbs have 15cm but here only 1cm that arrived  last night.

[cohan]

I agree with others that the current name is as good as any! In terms of modernising, the initials SRGC are in line with what many companies have used to 'update' names which may have lost some relevance.

As far as attracting younger members, I'm not sure how much that can be pursued? I can envision a series of ads (no idea where such ads might appear--online somewhere? leaflets at garden centres?) with the initials SRGC displayed, followed by several different possibilities for each letter (I'm just giving examples off the top of my head, so I'm sure something better could be imagined):

SRGC
Serious Radical Gardening Club
accompanying photo(s): members hanging off a cliff to photograph  plants


SRGC
Socially Responsible Garden Club
accompanying photo(s): edimental garden (think StephenB)

SRGC
Scottish Rockers Gone Crazy
accompanying photos: I'll leave this one to the Scots  
etc
etc-- with a final slogan for each --The Scottish Rock Garden Club- What Could We Mean To You??

[TheOnionMan]

Excellent Cohan, three serious radical names, I love them all, but so hard to choose!  I'm in a toss-up over Serious Radical Gardening Club, with a photo of Cliff attempting EPPM (Extreme Photographic Positioning Mode), or Scottish Rockers Gone Crazy, the latter one sure to bring in lots of young rockers.

[Paul T]

McMark,

I'm not sure the young rockers would be seen dead with the senior rockers, not matter how crazy the senior rockers had gone.  

Howabout the 'Socially Reprehensible Gardeners Club'??  That would attract some young members I'm sure.  Or perhaps the 'Socially Reprehensible Grandparents Club', or the "Society for Growing Rare Clematis"? (or Cactus, Catfish, whatever other C you would like to insert  )  I can think of a few other really off key ones that I'm sure would attract a lot of new members, but not entirely the membership that I think we'd be wanting here.  

I'll stop now.  I'm sure Cliff will provide a few more uses for the acryonym.  

[cohan]

Thanks McMark and Paul-- I knew there was rich ore in that vein 

[Paul T]

Cohan,

If we blew the vein wide open there would be very rich ore indeed.  You've started me on a whole bunch of possibilities.... the 'Society for Grooming Rancid Cats', for example.    I think I need a good lie down now.