Frustrated... Really really frustrated with the Bay Area VeloGirls

[Melody]

Nearly two months ago, I joined the Bay Area VeloGirls (http://www.velogirls.com/) after hearing that they were a good group. Due to time constraints because of work, etc., I haven't had time to go on any of their rides, but eventually, I plan to. This is why I joined.

After not hearing or seeing anything after joining, I posted in the group if I should expect anything. Lorri, one of the moderators of the yahoo group said I should expect a package in a week or so with membership card, etc. I said great.

Now another month has nearly gone by. I've tried emailing Lorri and Posting to the group. Though I could post before, now it seems that my postings are simply not going through nor is Lorri responding to my emails. :(

Needless to say I'm a bit frustrated. I've now contacted another random member of the group asking if she could ask for me since I am obviously unable to. I don't want things to escalate since I'm sure this was due to something like spam filtering or somesuch gone out of control. However, if I can't contact Lorri directly and I'm unable to post to the group asking what's up, then asking someone else was really my next to last recourse.

If this doesn't work, I guess I'm going to have to ask both Yahoo and PayPal to get involved since there was a monetary transaction. This means that things will probably escalate and bad feelings may compound, etc. etc.

I do not want that. I just would like to know what's going on. If the new membership packages aren't done, that's fine, but I'm completely in the dark at the moment. *sigh*

A very very frustrated Mel who's just had a bad week, etc. etc.

[Trek420]

Mel, sorry you are having difficulty, Velogirls is a great group.

I ride with them when I can and their Sunday Club ride is great.

Lorri, is the club/team owner and is a TE member too. I know because she told me I'm online too much and to log off and ride ;-)

Lorri if you're lurking I hope you see this. Anyway I'll see you on the Primavera if you're still having trouble we could call her or something.

[Melody]

Thanks Trek. I just really needed to get it out of my system. :)

Mel

[Trek420]

Mel, By now you may have heard that Lorri, founder and fearless leader of the Velogirls is waiting on gift cards from one of our new Velogirls sponsors. The package will be *well* worth the wait. The delay was not her fault, and Lorri and the VG's do a lot for women's cycling.

I'm just a humble club member, not in charge of it or anything but on the club's behalf I apologize that the issue with the delayed gift cards was not announced, Lorri has a lot on her plate right now and I'm sure we all support her. :)

She just e-mailed me, she has been working on the mailing all day and will be sending them out tomorrow and/or Tuesday.

[spazzdog]

Sounds like VeloGirls has grown to a size that they need to hire a business manager.

[Irulan]

..or maybe at least put some additional contact information on thier web site?

My bike club's contact email goes to three different people so we can be sure that **someone** is getting to it if the main person is too busy

~irulan

[spazzdog]

I think, when a group becomes so popular as the VeloGirls, that it becomes almost impossible for one person to handle everything that might come up.

VeloGirls inception was manageable, but with the social group, the race group, PR, membership, etc not to mention the fact that Lorri has a life apart from cycling with needs on her time (I assume), it may behoove others who care for this club to pitch in and help out.

I'm kind of on the wrong coast, but given the opportunity, I would help out. Anything to keep a viable womens cycling club alive.

My 25 cents...

spazz

[Melody]

Now that I know that my emails have been seen, I'm not frustrated. The frustration just comes from not hearing anything at all and not knowing what's going on. All I really needed was "Sorry. Still not mailed yet. You haven't been forgotten." :)

I tend to be very understanding. I know everyone is busy, including myself, so I don't expect everything goes right or always on time. Hell, I'm even easy on the state tax folk when they screw something up, though that can be tough. ;)

I didn't want to place blame on anyone or such. I just wanted to make sure that somehow my mail didn't get lost in the event the new membership mailings did go out. I've had that happen multiple times in the past, especially when I lived in the Santa Cruz Mtns. I can't count the number of times I've left mail in the mailbox that was meant for a different address. Happened at least once a week.

Mel

[Trek420]

Being so popular and successful that demands on ones time and energy get too high is enviable for a bike club or any business. We've all experienced the small neighborhood cafe that becomes popular, expands and then just doesn't seem the same.

My experience with Velogirls has always been good; rides happen as planned, ride leaders appear or we all just fill in, always a safety speach, and on Velogirls rides nobody gets left behind. My experience is that Lorri delegates so well I've learned not to say "someone should do ____" around her or she'll say "ok, Dita, why don't you?" that's how I got involved in Bike Against the Odds and the velogals are the leading fund raising team on that.

I don't tolerate bad customer service well; the rude LBS ~ I'll never go back, overcook my steak ~ I'll send it back to the kitchen.

I am guilty of cutting too much slack for non profits especially when run by friends.

Communication is key, a call to members to help with the mailing etc and I'd try to be there. But I've tried other bike clubs locally and other then TE rides of course I still like the Velogirls, and judging by the calls of "hey, Velogirls!" when I wore my jersey on the Primavera others do too.