What's the point of CAMRA ?

These days or ever? I can't speak about peoples motives for joining these days and the days of me having joined are so far back that the grey cells have lost it in the mental floor sweepings.

However the reasons you listed as what you thought are valid, but not all there is. If someone wants to be part of a social group then that does the job too - if only by the fact that they become part of a large crowd making the same noises in demand of something. Stealth campaigning if you like.

Looking back through non-expired posts I note that my reply could have been taken as criticism when in fact I was pointing out that the opinions voiced by some, which you had clearly heard, were "tosh"

The ropey dives bit is possibly valid in one respect - that the beer quality is the item of first choice and sometimes the decor etc leave more than a little to be desired. Still, the title is "Good Beer Guide " rather than good Pub guide.

For all the reasons you have outlined above - it campaigns for good beer, organises beer festivals, and offers people a social network.

On a national level it is often in my view wrongheaded (for example in its support of transferring licensing from magistrates to local authorities) but on balance I still believe it does far more good than harm and is also a lot of fun locally.

There's no compulsion to take part in local activities, and I accept that for many people paying their annual subs is their form of commitment.

--

"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

CAMRA was formed in the days of Watneys red (barrel), Worthington E, and other apologies for beer. Real ale was a dying breed - apart from a few independents.

Had it not been for CAMRA, real ale might well have been a thing of memories, rather than being (multilationals apart) the thriving beer genre that it is.

OK yes, there is a lot of vacuous debate about marginal issues like cask breathers (look at any issue of the national paper What's Brewing AKA Wotz Bruin). However a lot of good work goes on behind the scenes. And there is much work yet to be done, especially in the area of trashing pubs so that they conform to the latest trend.

CAMRA is not just about social events and beer festivals - although the latter do a good job of spreading the word.

Brian

I don't think you should take our discussions here as criticism of those who can't get to branch meetings. Probably the great majority of CAMRA members join with no intention of going to a branch meeting.

The point was just that those members who do not ever turn up at meetings and socials might be a little more restrained when the GBG comes out and they start listing a load of pubs which should have got in.

I joined it becasue it's the only organisation where being politcally active and self-intoxication are intimately linked :)

Personally , I joined because I broadly agreed with what CAMRA stood for and every little bit helps! Only when a local sub-branch was formed did I become an active member

- it has been most rewarding and the benefits to me far outweigh the time and effort spent.

Following up to Manky Badger

I joined for the reasons you gave, my wife and I have been in from early days, went to a few festivals then and we had a branch in out office that had a Christmas drink, other than that never fancied organised trips or branch meetings, nowadays I just pay sub to support a pressure group (non pressure group?) and to get the guides.

Following up to Steven Pampling

I can still remember, it was because the beer in all the pubs round me was being replaced by "Red Barrel".

I don't know - you could say the same about being an MP.

d.

Hmmm. "Roll out the barrel." Brings back far from fond memories. I remember going to a test match at Lord's and being forced to drink the stuff. It tasted awful, but I was young at the time ;-) and I guess I thought that was what beer was supposed to taste like!

BTW Don't forget Worthington E. (See my earlier post.)

Now it's all creamflow. The big difference is that these modern apologies for beer don't actually taste of anything much at all...

Brian

You just can't get proper keg beer any more, can you?

--

"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Hi

Why not start an organisation called CAMGA - Campaign For Keg Ale.

Regards

KGB

Following up to BrianW

oh for the metallic taste of a "party seven"

Following up to KGB

with an unfunny cartoon called Cask Buster?

Well I'd have called it CAMKA. However I can see that there may be a correlation between dyslexia and the drinking of Geg beer.

Brian

To me, the point of CAMRA is the same as that of any comsumer organisation - to represent the interests of the consumer (that's you and me), sometimes, but not always against "big bizness".

For the politest form of rebellion ever seen - asking the landlord for a top up is a form of empowerment.

Hi Brian

I am trying to figure out where the G came from but I can't (possibly Grotty??) - however I was drinking homebrew at the time I typed it so that probably explains it.

On a more serious note (and risking a flood of protests), for most members does there actually have to be a reason for CAMRA. My OED defines a hobby as "An individual pursuit to which a person is unduly devoted". For the vast majority of members therefore, CAMRA is merely a hobby, i.e. it is an activity they indulge in without getting any payment (in fact it costs money to join)and pursued outside their normal working hours purely for enjoyment and relaxation. In other words, it is a hobby society in the same way that a model railway club or a stamp collecting club, - or even homebrewing - are hobbies.

As long as a person gains relaxation and enjoyment pursuing a particular leisure time activity then, no matter how odd it seems to another person, good luck to them - there doesn't have to be a reason for their hobby; they just enjoy "doing their thing".

Regards

KGB