I’ve been on the planet long enough to experience the perils and pain of various club memberships and I like to think I’ve done my bit to help along the way, starting as a very active car club committee member some 40 years ago.
IMHO you will usually find that:
Committee members/organisers are often unsung heroes. They put in the graft to make things happen whilst less active members (aka the ‘collective’) criticise the outcome.
The things the organisers make happen will usually be to their taste rather than that of the collective.
The published records will usually reflect organisers’ participation rather than that of the collective.
The collective’s view will then be that the organisation is elitist and that is why you only ever read about the same people in newsletters etc.
It doesn’t matter what the activity is whether, sport, motoring, various societies, or anything else, the same philosophy seems to apply, but the reality is that you normally get out what you put in.
That said, my first introduction to Maserati Club UK was not exactly welcoming. I visited the club stand at NEC a few years ago and having asked about membership I was asked “Which Maserati do you have?”. When I said it was an Assetto Corsa the gentleman was clearly underwhelmed and referred me to ‘one of the ladies’ who would take my details. From there on it was downhill really; emails to the club secretary were not answered and I really did form the impression that the club is run for the few by the few; and that is absolutely fine unless they want my subscription to subsidise their fun.
Of course the answer is that if you can’t play with another’s train set you should buy your own.
I assume the club has official Maserati recognition, but my guess is that they do not represent the bulk of UK Maserati owners, so who or what is to stop another club being formed, especially if there is tangible evidence of support, perhaps through a forum……..
The only risk, of course, is that once established some may see it as elitist!
PH