Becoming an active online member, but computer illiterate!

Hi folks, my nickname on the site is "Walt". A few of you may already know me from the forum! This post is really just a summary to date of my experience so far as a member of The VW Golf Mk1 Owners' Club! I have absolutely no experience with computers whatsoever, I bought this computer (my first) in november last year and joined this club in January! I can't be the only computer virgin out there surely  8O ! So for anyone in a similar situation to myself joining up now, this entry may help encourage you to stick with it!!
    I have looked for a Mk1 Cabriolet (Rivage) For 8 years, I knew exactly what I wanted and wouldn't settle for anything less! At the point of giving up, the car of my dreams came up for sale. (The story of that purchase is covered in the chat forum under Walts "find" Rivage) As soon as I bought the car I looked for an owners club. I had been in the Renault 5 GT Turbo owners club back in 1997, I enjoyed going to large events safe in the knowledge that I would belong in a group of like minded people! I also benefitted from discounts on parts and a small amount of useful info from a quarterly magazine! Also it comes accross well when you eventually have to sell your car!
   So I found this club on my search engine, it was early days and listed then as the "The Campaign Register" I Really didn't want to start trying to comunicate on a forum, I found it reall off putting so I managed to find Drew's phone number and gave him a call! He explained that it had all started as a register to see how many Mk1 campaigns there were and that it was now growing into a club (quickly I might add). So I entered my details (both personal and car) and that was it….I was a member! But as far as I could see that was it…It was early days and was more of a data base of shared information as far as I could see and didn't look to be much use at all…It didn't get me any discount off my insurance nor any discount on parts. To begin with i just looked at the statistics of other cars similar to mine and read a couple of entries from other people and that was it!!    
   It took a week or so before I started to use the site. I had a few queries with regards to parts and maintenance! The last thing I wanted to do was break anything cleaning it so I asked for advice on the forum! The response was really good, I was suprised just how many people had read my question and tried to help me! It dawned on me then what this was all about!! I started to read other entries from other members, some were searching for parts, others wanted advice on all kinds of things from maintenance to in car entertainment etc! I tried to help where I could giving bits of advice and telling people about parts I had seen on ebay etc! The system works reall well and is very addictive, you receive an email notifying you of any additions to any subjects you are watching and before I knew it I was on every day sharing banter and picking up useful tips from some of the other members (some of them really know their stuff)!  
   I still have no idea what I am doing with a computer, I still cannot get my pictures on this site myself (thanks to all who have helped me..Prowler, Kins and Drew to name but a few). However in only four months I have made numerous friends and contacts, helped arranged the Nw meet (thanks to Dano and those who attended), went to a car show and met Dubboy (don't park next to him if you want to win anything!)been to the AGM (travelled down with Kins, someone I met on this site and a very nice chap indeed) and even helped Drew with a couple of club things! Quite a lot for someone with no computer skills!  
  So newcomers, fear not, stick with it…This club is the fastest growing car club ever by all accounts, it is changing and becoming more active! Small meets will become large meets and that means great days out!! Meeting people is probably the best part about being in a club and there's a lot to look forward to! Try and get to some meets, even if it's just to support those who created this! …Cheers….Walt!

:clap: Very well said!

I'd say that before I brought my Mk1 I knew nothing of it, when I found it, it looked so sorry for itself I knew it was the car for me to restore! and thanks to this site I'm getting a very good knowledge of the car, common problems and resolutions and some absolutely great comments!

anyone that needs help of any sort with they're mk1 will almost deffinately get a reply helping them in a friendly manor!

Go do a learndirect course!  That'll demisify your computer.  If you were in the Durham area you could come and do one at my centre…

Hi Walt
Cor blimey!! You only had the idea on Sunday midday at AGM and you turned all that out!! Well done Walt.
TC

I agree, nice post Walt! :clap:

Walt gets my vote as most enthusiast newcomer! :y:

Cheers,

Drew.

:clap: Does that come in hardback!

No seriously a touching story and makes me feel proud to a member of our club