Vespa World Club topics

[martin-presid]

Last year Kuala Lumpur, this year Bangkok - very few Vespas and Vespisti there 😔

We've got a public report from Julie (VWC-board-news) and I'm very happy about that sign of live. Especially about the announced progress with the planned regional roof federation "Vespa Club Asia (or APAC)", after nearly five years "one step foward, two steps back"! It would be a meanwhile long overdue move if it would be not longer blocked by some in the Vespa World Club board! As expressed by me (meanwhile) several years; it would boost the aims of and could be a significant support for the Vespa club community in that region (it would be also a tribute to our great local communities there) ! 💪 Let's roll!

[martin-presid]

I wrote an article for the Vespa Club of Canada members magazine regarding the

First Canadian Vespa (World) Days, Kingston 2024 – a background story or a brief overview of how it came to be:

As you may know, the origin of the event was not an easy one. For me, it starts basely 2017. And in detail back in 2019 as I had a few discussions with Jeff (current VCoC President) and Ian (previous VCoC President) about the possibility to hold the first Vespa World Days at the American continent in Canada. Why (or how it came)?

Well, after my (at this time volunteer Vespa World Club officer) initiative and agreement with the responsible Piaggio top-management in 2017 to execute the Vespa World Days with a yearly rotation between our main regions (continents) Europe, Asia/Pacific and America, the VWC board and AGM agreed to do so.

With the implementation of the rotating Vespa World Days, we (the Vespa World Club) implemented the national Vespa Days with immediately effect and the Continental Vespa Days with start of the rotating VWD (2020 Indonesia).

Because of that, I started contemplating about the VWD in America for 2021. We (Uwe and I – both at this time VWC officers) had a good contact to Ian and Jeff. Jeff and Julie attended quite a few Vespa World Days in Europe (in addition to other Vespa events), therefore knew from personal experiences what Uwe and I were talking about. I was certain that Jeff and Julie could implement and "translate" this style of event into a sound local style event which meets the expectations and would excite the local as well as the international Vespisti.

With the South American Vespa Clubs we unfortunately haven’t had such a close contact that everyone in the VWC board could assume that we can handle such an event. And, from our point of view, the VC of US had to develop first Vespa Club wise his own "internal continent", as to execute Vespa World Days which at the stage are maybe to close in style to the AmeriVespa.

Needless to say, that in the beginning Jeff was not really happy to be a player in this game - at this time not an officer of the VCoC and knowing what it means regarding responsibility and work to do. But Uwe and I bothered Jeff with that topic every time we had contact, and, thanks to Julie, he really started to think about to run for it. He went in VCoC internal discussions and Ian send the application in 2020 for the Vespa Club of Canada as host for 2022, the first Vespa World Days at the American continent! The project was warmly welcomed in the VWC board and agreed by the following VWC AGM. But due the COVID pandemic, the VWD in Indonesia were postponed from 2020 to 2021 and finally to 2022. Subsequently the Vespa World Days 2021 in Europe (Swiss) and America 2022 (Canada) had to be shifted as well (Swiss 2023 and Canada 2024). Even under these COVID related difficulties, we were able to organise the VWDays in Indonesia and these VWD were by far the largest (by financial contributing[!] and personal attending participants >20.000) and most impressive Vespa World Days ever - a huge success for the Vespa Club community. That boost still till mid of 2023 our aims and efforts to head for Canada, even we know that the number of participants will be just a tenth of Indonesia – but size doesn’t matter, because the reason to hold this event is to learn about, meet in and simply “taste” another country!

However, in 2021 the VWC board changed and, much to my disappointment, the support for events outside of Europe vanished and finally stopped. Indonesia (2022) was already on track and all attempts to stop it were unsuccessful. Not as lucky was the Vespa Club of Canada.

Jeff, meanwhile VCoC President, reported during my private visit in autumn 2022 a lot of difficulties and problems in the communication with the VWC. He also voiced out his serious doubts about the possibility to execute such an event without the support of the VWC. Despite Uwes and my efforts at all levels plus all efforts of the remaining positive acting Vespa Club representatives in the VCW-board (Laurent, Bart and Rafael) to secure a minimum support through the VWC, the new VWC board de facto denied supporting VWD out of Europe. That culminated in an official statement of the VWC General Secretary during the VWC-AGM 2023 in Swiss, that - and I quote - "the VWC is not able to support VWD out of Europe" and an attempt of the members to dismiss the (responsible) VWC-President, which subsequently stepped back from his position. Under such conditions, Jeff, as VCoC President, had to public announce the cancellation of the Vespa World Days 2024 in Canada (which were given to the Vespa Club Pontedera [Italy] by the VWC board later on!).

That all was a huge disappointment for all Vespisti and a major hit for the Vespa Club community. We all were immensely frustrated and angry.

Adhering to my motto: “nothing good happens, unless you do it" - Jeff, Uwe and I started immediately began discussing possible solutions...

We all were very excited as Jeff signalised the VCoC think about to organise instead of the VWD the first national Vespa Days - my attempt to convince him to aim for the Continental Vespa Days, was rejected by him: "I have had enough of dealing with the VWC at the moment, let's make it within own borders!". A very wise and sensible decision for the time being!

The outcome was for some externals beyond imaginable (and exactly what I assumed 😉)! A wonderful event!

I am sure all attendees of the first Canadian Vespa Days will tell you that it was a fun, unforgettable and memorable event which led to new found friendships, new experiences as well as knowledge about nice places.

The whole organization was superb and the event staff outstanding supportive! A BIG THANK YOU to the team of the Vespa Club of Canada!!!!

It was the right decision to hold it, because as also intended, it personal connects the attending regional Vespa Clubs, it strengthens the Vespa Club of Canada and it encouraged all attending Vespa Clubs to also host such an or a similar event! It was a perfect presentation of Vespa Club, it perfectly demonstrated the values of the Vespa Club community in a friendly, open, positive and cosy manner!

I hope this event serves as a nucleus for the strong development of regional Vespa Clubs, fostering closer cooperation, mutual ride-outs, and possibly an annual regional main event.

Now, I’m looking forward to the Canadian Vespa Days 2025! Again, thank you for the opportunity to attend, to get a better, deeper impression of a tiny part of Canada and to meet you all!

And, from my personal perspective, I learned, beside that said above, that Canadians won't stop for coffee until they've ridden for at least 2.5 hours or covered 200 km, no matter how nice the place for stopping in between might be 😆😉...

[martin-presid]

So, mid-summer now! I had the chance to attend at two events. First, a fabulous event in Northern Ireland - the 70th anniversary of the VC Ulster and second, the first Canadian Vespa Days, also a magnificent event! I'm very glad that I was able to make it for both! A great thanks to the organisers for their great job they delivered (and to all participating Vespisti which make these events so positively unforgettable)!

The European Vespisti Week was held also and the Vespa Club community showed up how to organise and execute a real Vespa Club event - thanks to the organising Vespa Clubs and the Vespa Club of Europe to make it happen. I'm very sad that I was not able to attend (but I was looking to find 😉 some Vespas in Malaysia at this time).

Now I'm looking forward to catch up for one or more minor big Vespa Clubs events, but in any case I look forward to the German Vespa Rally and the Austrian Vespa Rally. For both Vespa Rallies I'm registered as participant and we (VC Vienna) will try to beat 😉 the other teams 😁 with the same effort as every year 😆! Fun is granted! Germany and Austria still back up this kind of event, despite the lacking support of the Vespa World Club (on which intervention the VC Austria and VC Germany started up these events). But maybe the Vespa World Club will awake from his stasis soon...

The upcoming Vespa Club Asia-Pacific, which is now nearly four years "on-hold", had previously (last week) a video-conf and I truly hope they got meanwhile the necessary self confidence to start up now, for the sake of our Asian-Pacific Vespa Club community and Vespisti - I wish you all the best!

[martin-presid]

So, elections are done.

We've a new board and seems like this time we've the chance of a functional one! I guess we've got a very good board with capable and motivated people, I congratulate all to be elected and wish you much success for the upcoming period (it's a lot to do!)!

I'm excited about the fact that our brand owner and solely sponsor changed the majority of the board members he sent in! They will make now the board operations for sure more efficient as we were faced with in the past. A special thank to our Vice-president and since the VWD23 acting president, for his wise and calm interim-management of our association - thank you Riccardo!! (Heading for retiring is sometimes a big loss for the community!)

I'm now confident that we will be back soon on the successful development track which we were in the past. Beside the expected unpleasant actions of some and the deep split of our association, it is obvious hopefully now, that no "party" will win if we do not work together. No "party" won and that should be the lesson for all; working behind the back of others and generally politically behind the scenes, may grant you your seat in the board, but it does not support a collaborative approach (what for a surprise).

We've now people from all parties in, mostly complete newbie's, but that's the chance. Also for Mauro; in second attempt now, with well minded people, unification is the goal and has to be achieved - wish you all the best for!

Now we are curious how fast we will get the, partly since a few years, promised

1) change of our club-statutes to functional and fair one!

2) re-implementation of the rotating principle for the Vespa World Days (America, Asia, Europe).

3) strengthen and development of the continental Vespa Days (if Vespa World Days on the other continents).

4) establishing of the VC APAC and closer cooperation between VWC and VC Europe.

5) re-implementation of a free club-owned and club-administered event and members registration system.

6) an implementation of a public code of conduct (for the board).

7) clear rules for how getting membership for the VWC - to stop the unfair and unclear acceptance of members. I refer to my already asked questions: Why were be accept, since a few years, specific Vespa Club as member if more than one VC exist in a country? Why the board don't care for the development of Vespa Clubs in a country? I.e.; years ago we accept a local Club as national Club, because there were no other Club. Meanwhile we have more and bigger Clubs as the one we accepted, but they denied to accept or collaborate with the others. That's not according our Club and community behaviour/rules and has to be solved with the support of the VWC board! Why we accept as member such de-facto one or a handful people large Vespa clubs, as we did in the younger past? (Just to get votes for specific people who aim for a or try to secure their seat in the board?)

Let's see now, I looking forward, but it is our all obligation to support the board to achieve our goals! Let's roll!!

[martin-presid]

As I had some discussions during the last days regarding the elections on April 6th; a short public statement:

I'm of course in favour of some candidates, but I'm also in favour of some people who weren't promoted as candidates 😉 - with the current procedure the possibility to create a functional team is general limited...

I'm not against anyone of the candidates, because I've to assume that all of them have a positive and altruistic animus - otherwise they would (hopefully) not have been suggested.

My personal opinion about those I know is born solely out of my experience with them. And I do not tell my personal opinion, because everyone can read in this blog what is, in my opinion, needed to get a functional board. Everyone can build his own opinion about that and how some candidates fit to it. Also about their public and 😉not-so-public goals.

Most important is, that our members participate at the elections and vote. Perfectly would it be, if they vote for candidates who fit best to achieve our COMMON goals - the result we will see after the election!😁

[martin-presid]

... and for those who were asking:

To me, it is self-explanatory that the most important goal for the new board, especially for the new president, will be improved relationships with our main sponsor, member and brand owner. The relationship needs, at minimum, to be restored at least to the level we had before the last board elections! That will not happen only with nice words or promises (as some current and will-be board members broadcast), that will only happen through improved understanding, knowledge, straight, honest, discreet and diplomatic work (we need to "walk the talk")! I walked the talk over the last ten years and the relation was with our brand owner was always positive as well as in advantageous for the Vespa World Club (and if anyone wants to deny that, I would like to see facts!). I aim for a good collaboration without to loose a jot of our democratic structure, moreover improve our democracy procedures! It's needed and it's possible!

To deliver (to achieve the goals), we need the right staff for - I know some candidates who are able and willing to do so. But, I also know candidates who are willing but are not able to deliver, as well as some who are able but not willing to serve correctly. Especially those with their own personal agenda in mind, rather than the good for the Club. To be successful, we need candidates from previous boards as well as new ones.

We've other goals too; we need to improve the internal and external communication. Since we lost Baggie (former CommCommissary) , we've not progressed with the external communication. And since Uwe is no longer in the board, the internal communication have also dropped back to ground zero (like the external one).

Another goal is to establish the long time planned historical register. Which stuck with the internal board issues. Now with Mauro, we would have the chance to turn it finally in live!

Technical wise the former and current board ruffled against my approach to elaborate and support possibilities for (temporary) conversation of Vespas with 2-strokes engines, to support our Vespisti. A lot of members are faced with ban of driving 2-strokes engines in some regions (and I assume this type of ban will unfortunately increase). With the right staff in the board, this is a solveable problem (as we demonstrated in Austria).

The global development of our clubs are crucial for our community. It should (can) not happen, that our general secretary has to public state (as happened at the last General Assembly!), that the Vespa World Club is, with the current board and staff, not able to maintain anything out of Europe - that's a shame!! With candidates like Benni, Julie and Enrique we can maintain a truly global association!

We should have a lot of other goals too. We should; maintain the club-owned registration and administration system (NOT using a third parties system!), supporting regional events, developing the VWD and regional Vespa Days, harmonising the international sport rules, do all the work which was not done the last 2,5 years and so on, and so on....

😊💪 yes, I've a plan how to do - let's see if the 🫵 majority is interested in 😉

[martin-presid]

Yesterday I was prompted to have another discussion about what I mean by “capable” in relation to an officer or candidate for the Vespa World Club (or a national Vespa Club Federation):

As everyone knows, we are a Vespa Club - meaning we are an association of people (humans) which use in any way or at least are interested in the famous vehicle Vespa (our common ground). So, we've formed locally various associations (Clubs) to maintain and manage our social live regarding our common interest. For that purpose (managing and maintaining the club live/activities) we elect our club officers.

As everyone understands, every one of us would be able (if she/he would have the financial resources) to be a collector. The most of us are able to maintain their Vespas, but not all are reale interested or technical skilled enough (but that's not a problem, because we have experienced club colleagues or commercial mechanics). The vast majority think, they are good drivers, which is (as all of us 😉know) sometimes not the fact. That's all fine towards our hobby, the Vespa. And towards our Clubs it doesn't matter, as long as you are a person with a minimum of social behaviour who fits in the social environment of the regarding Vespa Club.

For the aimed frictionless function of our Clubs, the social (not the technical) aspect is the most important! It is completely irrelevant (and it is moreover sometimes negative) if officers in general positions, as are Secretary, Treasurer, Communications or President, are a deep expert in or fanatic "collector", "tuning mechanic", "sport pilot", "hard core Vespa fan". Relevant is just the aim and capability to manage the Club as sozial association. Because a Club is not a garage of iron things - some of us communicate with their Vespa but all of us communication with the other club colleagues - and the 😁 response is completely different. A club officer has to manage this "different" responses in the right (social) way. Otherwise he/she is a mechanic instead to be an officer...

That's why in my opinion, a candidate for an officers position should be competent AND interested in managing humans and human behaviours instead to be an expert in Vespa related issues. Additionally he/she must have a strong understanding about the service oriented and equilibrate role of an officer, with the needed talent to motivate people for achieving mutual agreed goals. Only a person who is able to do as described, will be capable to be a good officer! That's what I mean with "capable".

And yes, in a local Club with sometimes more homogeneous interests, the said before is sometimes not as important, but for the function of a national or world federation is it crucial.

And finally, with reference to the given example above, about 😉 "everyone believe she/he is a good driver" - be sceptical towards people who aiming for a club officers position without a compelling testimony of capability...

[martin-presid]

During the last weeks I've heard very often "they" and "we" in discussions about how OUR Vespa Wold Club should be managed, in which direction WE should develop the VWC and, basically, if a development of the VWC is indeed possible.

My answer about that is; YES, IF WE stop the thinking in "us" and "they"!! Every one of us knows, WE are an association -> logically wise we have a common ground, otherwise we personally would not be in this association. In a local Vespa Club the spread of interests is maybe also wide, but easier to oversee and understand. This is more complicated in a national Vespa Club, where the insight (knowledge of all details) is naturally less intensive and the interest of the members in various partial goals of the association is even more diverse.

A real World Federation it is much more complicated and especially in our case, where one member has a total different approach to define and achieving goals - and make a point here; the goals are not(!) different! So, if the goals are the same, but the approach and the idea of achieving the goals are different, why we allow or support discussions with "us" and "they"? Just to grant that we do not achieve our goals, to "battle" (as the winner of the last president election said) the other ones which different opinions? For what purpose? To "form" a "uniform" association? PLURALITY was and IS OUR STRENGTH!

We are in this, current mess, because every member of the current board stuck in the "us" and "they" cage, trying to force the VWC into a shape/form according his particular mindset. Instead to put all efforts in a goal oriented approach to achieve jointly (sense of an association!!) our goals! I did it always, and yes, if you do so, a lot of people criticise you, because you do not deliver what a person or specific group has exactly in his/her/their mind. And yes, no one "win" and get 100% according his/her mind about the way we choose. The best you can achieve is; to do it right for the majority - we are an association!! Achieving a wildly accepted compromise is the goal in solving detail problems, not to "win" against "they"!!

So, if you vote for a new board AND you are truly interested in our association, think carefully about who of the candidates is really able to SERVE in the right way to all our members!

And always remind yourself: In all (former) democracies, dictators got all elected in the beginning and "us" and "they" are always the base for totalitarianism...

[martin-presid]

Looking forward to the VWC-AGM - it's time for a change. The upcoming election of a new board can maintain a change towards a functional Vespa WORLD Club! It can?

Yes, but only if the members think carefully for whom they rise their hand and for which position they vote the candidate in! If we elect just on base of "nice" words and/or "looks sympathetic" and/or "I don't care, I vote accordingly what they other do", it will be the same mess as we had with the current board period.

Knowledge, capability, availability, neutrality (national independence) and unselfishness are the crucial characteristics for a suitable VWC officer! Additional it is not bad to think about what the candidate effectively did in the past to really improve the situation in or for the VWC.

I'm curious what we will get 😉

[martin-presid]

Just a note regarding my post from Nov.13th and the announced start of the registrations for Vespa Club events in January; a few weeks ago the VC Europe changed his mind and decided to use now also the Vespa Club Event Registration System, but independent from the same system of the VWC - the decision to go separate was made 🤓 hopefully because of serious reasons... For sure they all understood 🤭 the aim of the system - one place/process to register, maintain and get an automatic event calendar out of it! It's 🤪 obvious that with two systems we have less maintenance and a more simple and convenient process for our members 🤪. Gosh, boys, is what you did really what you all aiming for?

(I'm part of the developer team since beginning in 2003, but never faced such a political mess.)

[martin-presid]

Undestanding before acting - Vespa Club / Eurovespa / Vespa World Days:

As announced by my previous post, I like to clarify (again) a bit the background of THE annual gathering of the Vespa Clubs, the Vespa World Days (previously named Eurovespa)!

First of all and most important, I have to highlight it here again: it is a Vespa Club gathering! From members for members!

The Eurovespa started as a simple event with the aim to meet other Vespa Club members abroad - to meet members from other nations! This was, next to the good advertisement for Vespa (brand and product) and the Clubs itself, in particularly an important reason after the world war with it's social impacts. People who are able and willing traveled now with Vespa and as friend (not as enemy) trough Europe. And because of that, the gathering of Vespa Club members, the dinner ("gala dinner") became most important! You can image how important, if you picture for yourself, the (bad) roads at this time, the 8inch wheels, the low power, the mostly far distances, the bad equipment, clothing and inconveniences on route - and no-one appeared at the gala dinner without suit, shirt and tie or evening gown! (Who is doing that today?!?) Doing so was a sign of respect and pleasure towards the other Club members. The goal was to establish relationships and find new friends - that was and is very important and we are still successful with it! And beside the dinner there where mostly not much - they needed their vacation for travel tour-/retour and the dinner/meeting was the reason for.

To share the "burden" for organising the event, every year another Nation and Vespa Club organized it. So, one Vespa Club organised the event and invited all other Vespa Clubs to this event! And relating to this important fact, let me clarify another huge misunderstanding: Due the fact that a Vespa Club (Club!!) is always voluntarily and on their own (personal) risk/costs organised it, all Vespa Club members who were willing to attend, CONTRIBUTED with their registration and an upfront (min. 6 months before) registration payment for/to the event! A non-refundable(!) fee from a club member to the organising VC to enable them to organize the event! The participants never paid for entertainment! They never bought a "ticket"!! They simply shared the cost for organizing the place and dinner to be able to meet their - the entertainment were always the participants itself!

It is crucial to understand this to understand the current discussion about this event. We still hold that event and I was focused between 2007 and 2020 with the VWC board, to evolve the event without to loose the sense and soul of the event. But despite all my efforts, unfortunately the knowledge why we do this disappear more and more. And yes, it was easier to organize such an event for 200 to 600 participants in relation to the nowadays few thousand participants. I.e. it is de-facto impossible to get a gala dinner for more than 2.500 people (for the money which our club members like to spend for), but the majority of organisers and members stick to the old format, without to really know for the origin goal. Other ways to achieve the origin goal will be not used, because of this circumstance. A lot of senseless discussion occurs out of that, instead to focus on real solutions.

So, as summary:

Every year another national Vespa Club organize for all Vespa Club members around the globe our annual global gathering - the Vespa World Days! The aim of the event is to make sure that our members have once the year the possibility to meet club members from abroad, establish and maintain relations, find new friends, celebrate public the Vespa Club community, advertise the Vespa Clubs and the Brand (the Vespa).

The Vespa World Days (formerly Eurovespa) are THE global Vespa Club event - public visible, with public impact and public visitors (visitors, not participants!)! To strengthen the global aspiration, we decided a few years ago, to implement a rotating rule between our 3 global regions (Americas,APAC and Europe) and whenever the Vespa World days are hosted in one of the regions, the other two regions can hold "regional" Vespa Days (because of the demand of our members).

There is a lot of more to say, but that would blast the space here 😉

[martin-presid]

Yesterday I learned again how far the "knowledge" about specific topics can vary. A major misunderstanding between the Clubs and some employees of our main and solely Sponsor (and Brand owner) is about the "Eurovespa" and/or "Vespa world Days".

As just a minority in both organisations know, and this is an extremely simplified depiction for explanation, the start of the Vespa Clubs 75years ago, was an initiative from the Brand owner. The Vespa Club logo was protected by and property of the Brand owner, the "Clubs" in a certain way selected. The Eurovespa and other events massively sponsored.

With the end of the 70thies 2 wheelers dropped down (cars grow), the most clubs out of Italy disappeared (in Italy they survive till today because of a specific, law based advantage for the members). The focus of the brand owner shifted to other topics. Result of that was, that in some countries the "standard" Vespa Club Logo become free, because the protection period was not prolonged (whyever) by the Brand owner and the existing Vespa Clubs run solely self propelled and without any support (except from local dealer) nor face they any honest attention from the Brand owner. The unique Vespa Club community was borne - basic democratic, one for all and all for one, Brand loyal but independent. With that culture the few ongoing existing Vespa Clubs out of Italy survived and restarted the club live, grow via the 80thies and 90thies and spread their seeds globally - the result is the existing Vespa Club community with their Vespa Club culture!

We've to remember that the Brand owner aimed (approx. 1988) to cancel the Vespa Brand with the presentation of the "Cosa", which turned later on into "Vespa Cosa" as the Brand owner decided to stick to the Brand Vespa. With the presentation (approx. 2003) and success of the modern GT series the brand owner re-focus on the Brand and restart the origin direction towards the Clubs (stopping the financial support of the mainly Italian focused "international" FIV and founding of the Brand owner controlled Vespa World Club). With this action, a top-down organisation (company, Brand owner) and a bottom-up organisation (Vespa Clubs) where bounded in a Club organsiation (Vespa World Club) with a 6 (Brand owner) to 5 (Vespa Clubs) voting power. That this bear an inherent conflict potential is easily to see and understand. Without a very wise and elaborated dealing and mutual understanding unpleasant conflicts are natural. I don't wanna touch now the topic "wise and elaborated dealing", because only I would have meanwhile contend for a whole book about, I just like to highlight the topic "understanding" with my next😁 post.

[martin-presid]

A lot of our members and club-officials asked me already if I would run again for the position of the president. I will try to lay out my considerations here.

As a few members know, I tried to form a new board before the last elections (2021), because for two reasons;

first, I strongly believe we need a more "global" board and

secondly, I had to accept, that the "old" board, despite all my attempts and actions, was not willing to act cooperatively.

But what I experienced during the discussions with all the people, which I approached, brought finally down my motivation to nearly zero. Knowing that with our current statute it is completely ridiculous to aim for specific position, namely a "voting" position, because the clubs are in any case the minority, (we've in the board 5 of 6 positions with voting power, but an undisclosed number of non-voting positions, if we like), some possible candidates just run with all power to be named for a voting-position. Funny wise those one, which did not fully understand the procedures nor what is going on (partly up to these days!). My aim to motivate people to CONTRIBUTE with their knowledge and availability as well as willingness to WORK in real for the VWC failed, because exactly the people who are capable to act as we need, turned (friendly) away or switched in a passive mode as they experienced the same as I did. The result out of that was, I went in the election with a compromise of a proposed board, exhausted (nearly 10years service and numberless discussion) and very low ambition to really win it - I really like to apologise me for that, especially towards the people who run with me and/or voted for me!!

On the other hand, the people which won the election, the actual board, got their chance to show us that they would do it better than me over the last nearly 10years. Unfortunately instead to strengthen and speed up the successful way (development) we had since 2012, they nearly destroyed the association within 2 years - I'm very sad about, because originally no one of them is evil-minded! But it is difficult to "walk the talk" instead to "talk the walk" and finding compromises is a serious hard job - imho, you've to be a visionary with good aim and knowledge paired with the capability to convince people to find a compromise. If you just miss one capability you easily end up as un-reflected dictator or as dreamer - and that will not be good nor will it run within our basic democratic Vespa Club culture!

I asked myself if I will be able to do the job properly and with ambition - at the moment, the ambition to serve I have, the possible team I would have too, if the team signalise me that they strongly believe we can serve proper, I can answer myself, yes, I can do it also proper! That's now not a clear answer, but it's at least 😉 a hint! And yes, for me, a team member for sure is Uwe (he was doing a great job and he is able to serve again with the same qualities; neutral, democratic, reliable, cool [some says; very dry 😁], global/open minded and honest!).

[martin-presid]

Another chapter of club work:

As every member know, we had a club own, from members volunteering developed, event registration and administration system in the VWC, freely to use for all associated clubs. We had? Yes, because the current board did not like to takeover the responsibility for! Instead to take care about, two club representatives started with the elections 2021 stupid rumours that "some made money with". Sad, stupid, easily to proof that this accusation is wrong, but it's spread now - why they did so? First; those people, who are the spreaders, are the same which where not nor are they willing to take responsibility for a serious activity as our club system is. Secondly; it fires the "we against the others" - negative politics, funny wise from people who always say "it's just a hobby and I don't like to have politics in" (to this point I will post later on). Third: Those people never supported the system and never used it (why ever - because, not their idea?!?). Instead to supporting our own internal system, they force with their blockade mentality their members to use any other system and handover herewith club members data to third parties! That's more then sound stupid, that's imho a heavy violation of the officers responsibilities and basely an action against the members interests. As everyone knows, nowadays personal data are what commercials like to get. That's all just because some board officers do not take their obligations serious and weight their personal issues (ego) for more serious as the club well being - I'm very sorry for that, because I still believe that those people just took the wrong junction and originally didn't plan to damage the club community.

With the VWC system not even Piaggio is getting our club members data! The whole system runs internally, and yes it's not professional (because voluntary members driven), and it is secure as it can be by volunteers, on "GNU" base, hobby work. But it's our own, tailor made for our needs, cheap (fitting to our budget😆) and a typical club approach ("one for all and all for one"). And it is definitely not commercial! So, what is wrong with it and why not using it?

The VWC General Secretary approached now the old team to evaluate a restart of the system and it looks fine (at the moment) that the system will be online for Q1/24 to maintain the registration for our biggest annual Vespa Club event April 2024 in Pontedera and herewith for every memberclub who like to use it. One side effect will be, we will get with again an official calendar of all official Vespa Club event around the globe!

[martin-presid]

Now it's decided also by the members; we will have our biggest annual event 2024 from 18th to 21st April 2024 in Pontedera (Italy). Hopefully we will hold also our AGM during those days.

Till now we heard nothing about the planned change of our statute, but that change is necessary for the upcoming elections of the board. Because which serious member should apply for an officers function, knowing it is pointless to aim for and senseless be obliged to take any responsibility under the current statute in the actual over all situation? Be curious about the progress and submitted already our draft for changing the statutes to the President.

[martin-presid]

Today we will have an eoGM meeting in the VWC. I'm curious how many members take democracy real serious at least in the way, that they will at least attend!! Not to attend is like not to go to an election or official poll - definitely not a smart way to represent oneself or the group which you should to represent (a violation of your obligations and a fraud towards the people which elected you). We've to vote for the place of the next global big event and the proposal is logical and would make sense. How we call the event will be a discussion, but I hope we can separate it from the voting for the place (the name can be given/decided later on also). All other issues are administrative and simple necessary to operate the VWC - except the proposal to elect not now a short time interim president and elect instead early next year a completely new board (see my opinion about in my previous postings).

Anyway - for those who will attend, all the best, discuss honest, straight and without harming anyone personally. Democracy is the culture of peaceful fighting for a specific idea or goal and you won if either the vast majority back you AND/or a compromise is achieved with which nearly all can live with.

[martin-presid]

What is still going on in the VWC board is 😳 amazing and annoying at the same time, and toxic for sure 🤪!

The decision of the majority of the board to not go for an election of a new interim president, because our acting interim president do the job well and do agree to run it till the next regular elections in 2024, upsets the minority in the board as much, that those campaign negative within the members. I just ask WHY?!? Why is it smart or more democratic to elect now a new president just for 5 or 6 months? We will have regular election in 2024 and it is smarter to have a completely new elected board (new people) and a new president as fast as possible to overcome the current mess! I fully agree with the proposal to have an regular AGM with elections end of Q1/24 - and I'm curious about the argument of those who are against this proposal!

As well as the decision to not accept one of the candidates for the next year European Vespa Days - I'm sad about the negative result, because of the great efforts of the candidates, but the reason for the decision taken, I can understand. I can't understand why various colleagues operate with half-truths about and no-one is interested in the real facts (yes, it is more complicated to digging in details as to moan and grumble - but solve that the problem)?

And I'm meanwhile quite pissed about the VCEurope bashing - the VCEurope is per se a part of the solution, not a part of the problem! The problem are the people who missed the goal of our Vespa Club community - bringing people TOGETHER (community!) not splitting them up!