[tact]

...preferring a model where people who see some need somewhere, something
that is meaningful to them, then getting the help they need to see that
project come to completion.

Encouraging them to take "ownership" of the project will give them a
greater satisfaction than they will get in just dropping "a suggestion in a
box".

of course some people will refuse to be so brave as to take ownership and
take the lead. so flexible lah... if its a good project and others
already showing interest then someone will step in and own it.

[moat]

why not start the database in this thread? n c how it goes

[tact]

that might be a bit too public moat.

I hesitate to publish my mobile number here even (let alone details of my
vehicle or equipment). not because I dont trust the people who read and
contribute here - the active forumers are a great bunch I am sure! ;)

its because ANYONE can read any time from anywhere with any motive....

[moat]

erm i mean... u write some sort of condition or requirement for the volunteer, then who is interested just
supply their nick here to show interes. if there is sufficient volume then can start a closed e-group, else go for
tt only lar

[tact]

Ok lets try this....
If you want to register for this...getting yourself into a database...cut
the text below out, replace the field names with your data, and email it to
me.

Fill in only what you are happy to fill in. Maybe I will call each person
and email to verify numbers and addresses.

ALL the info in the database will be available to ALL others in the
database. The info will not be passed on or sold to mass marketers etc.

I will keep it in a spreadsheet to start with and send an updated copy to
all in the database periodically.

====== cut here =============
Name...email...phone...vehicle...mods...equipment carried...skills/training
=============================

Happy with that? For a start at least.

[endurasoon]

Hi tact your idea is wonderful. I am 101% behind it. But I would like to
make a small suggestion. It will be good to keep this to a small group of
those enthusiastic about 4x4. Not that I am a selfish person but too many
time we have seen when a club or association become too big, the interest
and objective of the group begin to divert for other reason. I am sure the
idea of this is to have fun with nature and at the same time to give/help
nature or communities in any way we can. I have email you my details and
hope to hear from you soon.

[tact]

Thanks for the encouragement endurasoon. I agree with you in that the
group should stay focussed on the simple goal of "giving something back" in
the two types of activity mentioned already - and enjoying ourselves as we
do so.

keeping it small... well I dont mind how big it grows (ie how many names on
the list) but already thinking that there would likely be some sort of
filtering to make sure that only currently willing volunteers remain on the
list. maybe periodically emailing to ensure people want to remain on the list.

I guess there is also room for "crew" too. People who dont have a 4x4 but
are keen to join the spirit of the thing and so volunteer as "crew" to ride
in other people's 4x4.

more ideas?

[BabyGod]

Hey Tact,
what u do propose is a good idea as to date we dont exactly have a
dedicated e group, 4x4 forum just for our local off road scene and i
myself is all up for that to have a malaysian off road forum. Would love
to setup one up too if i have the resources and the know how. To date we
still dont have a real online forum. An example of what i would like to
see is something like this oz forum called www.outerlimits4x4.com

To me i find there`s actually a gigantic amount of offroaders these days
as compaired to the pioneering offroad days in it`s early years in our
local scene.
I guess i`m fortunate enough to be brought up to see the beginnings of
our offroad scene when it started emerging in the 80s when i was knee
high to a grasshopper. Back then my dad was quite an active members and
one of the earliest members of the first officially registerd off road
club in Malaysia. That is the 4x4 Adventure Club of Kuala Lumpur.

Anyway i would like to add a few things to what u mentioned in your 1st
post tact.
WHAT I`M EXTREMELY DISSAPOINTED IS THE AMOUNT OF RUBBISH I SEE IN THE
TRAILS AND CAMP SITE these days. And this is getting from bad to worst.
I feel that every offroader should take the trouble to know about the
tread lightly principle. Basically leave nothing but tracks. What ever
rubbish u bring in, bring them out.For starters i do hope that offroaders
would bring in rubbish bags and everytime u see some garbage littered on
the trails to pick it up. I`m no angel or what to the environment either
as i`m still driving an internal combustion vehicle that emits co2 to the
air but i do make a point to bring my rubbish out of the trails.
Pardon me for my ramblings, just being annoyed today.

As for our fire and emergency departments. I thought i`ve seen quite a
number of done up Ninja Turtle aka 80series LandCruisers, Defenders and
now Mitsubishi Storms fully equiped and running 32inch Extreme Trekkers
shoes? Unless they are there for show and the department has too much
resources to spend...

As recent as 2 weeks ago, the RFC memberes drove up north to bring a big
bunch of doctors deep into the heart of the jungle to visit some orang
asli in a really remote area whom they certainly needed medical
attentione. Same with the LROM guys who took the trouble to go up to
Sumatra to help the tsunami victims. Though there are charity events held
i`m sure on our part as off roaders we still can do more.

Oh btw tact, have u considered joinning the more establish 4x4 clubs that
know what they are doing such as the Rainforest Club or the 4x4ACKL? Not
that i`m promoting them or what as i myself is not a member but i feel
it`s
a start to know the finer points in offroading.

Oh btw pardon me if i do sound like a mr know it all but i`m not.
Just my 2cents views and opinions.
Cheers

[tact]

Hi HeeroHuy,

definitely not a club. more like a "register" - a register of those
willing to join volunteer community efforts from time to time.

So if you want in for that. your name and number etc on a
listing/databaseso that you can be contacted whenever a community
effort/action is being organised.... then see one of the other msgs in
this thread and email me your details...

[tact]

Hiya BabyGod,

On your first few comments - am not really wanting to build something like
www.outerlimits4x4.com myself.

Such a thing would be good and could be of great use for the Malaysian 4x4
community so go for it since you got the interest and resource! :)

Just to be clear... at this formative stage all I am looking to do is get a
list together of those amongst us who have enough community spirit to want
to "give something back".

a. doing things like repairing/building a bridge, some drainage work in OA
village, gotong royong at campsites, etc etc...

b. assist whenever people like bomba put out the call for extra
hands/vehicles.


I agree with you totally that the amount of trash left at campsites is
pretty bad in a lot of cases. Maybe this can be a first project! Choose
a campsite, we get as many as possible to go spend a weekend there. All
bringing a lot of huge garbage bags...and gotong royong!

You want to choose the site and organise the event BabyGod? :)

Oh ya... have been involved in 4x4 organisations before...and other
community groups, committees, blah blah. it all ends up a lot of work for
the committee and issues arise. dont want to go back into that scene.
hence the "NOT A CLUB" concept for what i am proposing.

the only work I am proposing to take on myself (at the moment) is to
collate the listing of names. and as mentioned all who email to place
their name on the list will get a copy of the list (updated to all
periodically)