Hey, just wanted to say that I finally got a USA membership. My dad just sent in the money and the form, so I should get my magazine and membership card here pretty soon. Just a little note… BTW, what does the member card look like? Does anybody have a scan of it?
Re: Got a USA membership!
After almost 2 years of riding, I finally sent in my membership application back in November. A couple weeks ago, I got a July 2004 issue of the ON ONE WHEEL magazine but I did not get a membership card.
i let my membership expire…it wasnt really worth renewing, the last issue i got (july 2004) had a story of the 2003 muni week-end, almost a year after the fact!
if you read this site OWW is pretty much a pointlless read unless you like JJuggle poems or unicycle.com adds
check out this link, i was happy like you once
ex-member # 6437 signing off.
Jagur,
You are still a member in good standing of the USA, Inc. Your membership will not expire until the next issue of On One Wheel is published.
You are correct that the July 2003 issue of On One Wheel contained an article and pictures describing the 2003 CA MUni Weekend. It also contained an article and pictures describing the 2004 Moab MUniFest, which was more recent history; and article and pictures describing how to pack unicycles for air travel; an article describing a unicycle convention in France; and more.
I’d like to have seen something published about the 2003 CA MUni Weekend much sooner, but nobody sent in any articles and / or pictures of the event. The fact is that up until late May nobody had sent in any materials for On One Wheel Volume 28 Number 1 other than the article about the unicycling convention in France. We would not have had an On One Wheel Volume 28 Number 1 at all if it had not been for John Foss’s four articles and a new volunteer layout person who stepped in when the editor had to bow out due to time constraints.
We are in much the same boat right now. The new editor told me last month that she had not received any materials from our 1200+ members for On One Wheel Volume 28 Number 2. She is currently working with John Foss (again) to try to fill an issue.
On One Wheel is entirely comprised of articles and photographs contributed by members of the USA, Inc. When our members send in nothing, there isn’t much the editor can do other than to keep asking. The only good news (and those who know me know that it kills me to say this) is that your membership is currently based upon receiving four issues of On One Wheel. If the magazine is not published, your membership continues.
The other major benfit of being a USA, Inc. member is the privilege of participating in the annual North American Unicycling Championships and Convention (NAUCC). MUni riders who didn’t attend NAUCC 2004 in Salt Lake City missed a great experience (except for the non-air conditioned gym - but that’s another story for another time). Rolf Thompson led outstanding MUni rides every day. NAUCC 2004 ended with an unforgettable day of MUni competition (trials and off-road racing) and a road race at Soldier Hollow. Our members were treated as serious, world-class amateur athletes by the staff of this Olympic venue.
I have been exploring ways to promote local, regional and specialty (e.g., MUni) events that would serve USA, Inc. members who cannot (or are not interested in) travel to NAUCC. I am currently working with two event organizers in this regard. Our initial involvement may be relatively small (i.e., helping these organizers obtain general liability insurance for their events). In the future, we may be able to offer other services to organizers such as handling pre-registration (maybe on-line), supplying trained judges and / or other officials, etc.
You obviously feel that you did not get $15 worth of value from your USA, Inc. membership. I agree with your statement that a quarterly magazine can never have the immediacy of an electronic forum such as r.s.u. The contents of the On One Wheel would probably be of more general interest if our membership (including you) were to take more initiative in sharing their unicycling experiences in a format other than their brief posts here in r.s.u.
In closing, I believe that USA, Inc. membership, like membership in many organizations, is more fulfilling if one participates in the organization and feels a sense of accomplishment and pride. I’m truly sorry that you did not have such an experience. I hope that you will change you mind in the future.
Tom Daniels
President, Unicycling Society of America, Inc.
brief? what-ever, i’ve given many long explanations…i dont just post brief things here.
anyway, good on ya for the magazine but i wont be re-newing.
i’ve shared many unicyling experiences
Re: Re: Got a USA membership!
OOPS. Never mind. I did get a membership card. When it came, I put it somewhere safe and then forgot about it. I stumbled across it this morning. After all, I am almost old enough to claim “senior moment” status.
Tyler,
We received your membership application today and entered your information into our membership database. You are now officially USA, Inc. member #6820. Your application missed the closeout of a batch of new memberships and renewals by two days, so you may not receive your membership card for up to six weeks (hopefully sooner).
By the way, you did not put an e-mail address on your application. Send me an e-mail if you would like to have an e-mail address included along with your other information.
Tom Daniels
President, Unicycling Society of America, Inc.
tadaniels AT usa DOT net
I sent you a pm with my e-mail address.