What happened?

I'm lurking around just in case there are any free beer offers going :-) .

More seriously, although I'm not a member, I recognise CAMRA as one of the most successful consumer groups, if not *the* most successful, ever. To take on the might of the big brewers and win, they must have done something right. Pity they can't deal with the Government's economic situation as well - then the pubs might not be shutting down quite so frequently.

Agreed - but why not join? It's not a costly sub.

E.

Because you will just end up involved in internal CAMRA in fighting. It's better if you spend the money supporting pubs by drinking in them.

It's difficult to find a question to which that is not the correct answer. Cheers!

"They also serve who only stand and drink!"

:o))))

You jest I'm sure. Far better to support CAMRA - you do not have to go to meetings. You also get reduced entry to festivals as well as a couple of mags. Cost is only £28 a year for my wife and I.

E.

I do not jest. I was once a CAMRA member and attended meetings - never again!!

You also get reduced entry to festivals

And you also get a "special" discount on the Good Beer Guide which results in you paying more than the rest of us from Amazon (even more if you consider the free postage you can get from Amazon)

Reduced entry to festivals? The dozen or so pub festivals I've been to in the couple of years have all been free entry. A discount on zero zero. These days given the choice between a CAMRA festival in a sole-less hall and a pub festival with a few dozen beers I would always go for the latter.

Having admission charges at CAMRA beer festivals, and the beer at pub prices, just tells the people you are wishing to convert that real ale is very expensive. It's not grass roots campaigning to get more people to drink Real Ale.

So, you've been along to meetings in a variety of branch areas and speak with true experience then?

No? Thought not. Between myself and the wife the coverage of branches and members met/talked to and argued with (on gentle points rather out-and-out war) and I can honestly say that the people I've met are as varied a bunch as you will get in a large family. That's because they are all different and yet all similar both at the same time. Like members of our own birth families there are people we would rather not be with (go on tell me you can't name a family member, married in or whatever that you don't particularly like) just so in CAMRA.

Some branches have mouthy pedants and would be politicians but the only way that normal people become common in those meetings, as in any organisation, is when the average bloke/woman turns up regularly and tells a different story. CAMRA needs more normal people in some branches.

You're a cheerful soul aren't you. Are you a member of UKIP?

Happy Christmas.

E.

Ice Witch - rather nice !