To join, or not to join? The benefits seem obvious. Just wondered if any one had any feedback, negative or positive, or reasons for or against joining.
made very little difference to me, met a lot of nice folk, met some utter bell-ends too, normally with positions within the branch and above. Fortunately the former outnumber the latter. Meetings were piss boring, working the festivals was excellent. I bet not much has changed in the 20 years since I was a member except I see that the bell-ends have climbed the ladder and become regionwide bell-ends.
Try a year and see how you find it, it's nice to get a Beer magazine through the post and you get the vouchers. If you like you Real Ale and believe they try to preserve it then I can't see why not if you don't mind parting with the cash.
If my post came out as overly negative it wasn't meant to, but I can only go off my own experiences. You only get out of it what you put in I suppose so throw yourself in at the deep end for a year and do everything. If there's a position open for, let's say, a brewery liaison officer, or treasurer, go for it. Volunteer to work the local festival from setting up to tearing down, it's a good laugh and you get to work with and learn a bit about beer. I still maintain meetings are as dull as fuck but they do make you go to pubs you may well have missed before and surveying pubs for inclusion in the GBG is fun if you do it as a group. Wanting to throw furniture at certain people when they walk into my local is something I just have to learn to deal with.
No, this is exactly the sort of thing I wanted. Someone with experience sharing their opinion. It's all good stuff. I'm going to have a word with a drinking buddy, before deciding whether to take the plunge. I'll let you know!
I found Camra to be very helpful when we were traveling in the UK. The "whatpub" website was extremely useful. I am now a big fan of cask ale. Each pub seemed to have its own ale brewed locally just for me. ( I mean its patrons. ) Long live cask. And Man U!
I'm currently a committee member at my local branch and started by having the exact same thoughts about joining as you. It's now 3 years I've been a member and agree you get what you put in. The GBG surveys and branch socials can be a great experience as can the festivals. Admittedly (depending on branch) meetings may not be to everyone's taste but since I've been involved my knowledge has increased no end & I've got to visit some great places and meet some good people The way I first looked at it was: First year you get 15 months membership for the price of 12, £20 in Wetherspoon vouchers, CAMRA discounts, magazines & newspapers so nothing to lose really. Give it a go for a year...you never know you may enjoy it and become an active branch member as I have done in my time of being involved.
as a member for over 35 years all I can say is do it. I've only ever attended a couple of Branch meetings but that has not stopped me from working at many Festivals, including a prominent role at GBBF, I've even represented CAMRA at EBCU meetings. I've made friends from around the World and tasted some amazing beers in great company. And anyone can do it, don't have to suck up nor do you have to take notice of bell ends. Beards are optional, but sandals must be worn without socks.
CAMRA Sounds familiar. Wonder what's going to become of CAMRA in the next 20 years now that the craft scene has really taken hold of curious newer drinkers.
If you like cask ale and think it’s important, you should join. If you're not bothered and would be perfectly happy drinking keg all the time, don't join. That's really what it boils down to. As reprob8 points out, the great thing about a voluntary organisation is that you don't have to listen to the bell-ends, they can't do anything to you.
