| Written by Editor 'arris on Sunday, 09 November 2008 |
 You may have noticed some subtle changes to the look of the CMG homepage today. Well, that's the result of the latest tweaks to CMG to serve you better.
No, not in the usual way of the phrase when what they actually mean is that they're cutting services and hiking fees, more in the sense of more stuff and better layout.
So what exactly has changed?
 Well you'll notice that the Features section now includes "Stickies". These are links to sections that are not new articles but we think are of enough interest to the average CMGer that we should make them easily accessible at all times.
You'll no doubt notice (as you must be intelligent and have a keen eye to be reading CMG) that this now includes the CMG "Classic Archives". A full listing of all the feature articles we've done between 1997 and 2007 before switching over to the new CMS system. Yes, it's no longer limited to RC members but is now open to all.
Other Stickies include a link to the 2009 NMBG and the Mad Bastard Scooter Rally which we'll be running again in June 2009.
The biggest change though is the addition of a new "CMG Community" section which we intend to use to enable CMGers to become part of a larger Canadian motorcycling community. This is also the first step to us introducing a new forum system which will be integrated with the Community section and so allow better cross-communication between members.
Good times had by all ...
The good news is that it has a free level (wisely called "the Freebie")
to ensure that even the cheapest of CMGers can participate. There is
one other level that we're calling "the Supporter" which comes with a
$15.00 annual subscription and will show your superior status to all
and sundry on the new forum.
This not only allows you to feel vastly superior to the Freebie oiks, but you can also berate them for being cheap and sleep soundly knowing that you have helped contribute towards the all-important coffers of CMG.
Please note; the new forum will be using your Community
username as your username in the new forum. If you have established a
handle in the current Soapbox and you wish to keep that in the new
system, please register in the new Community section ASAP!
CMIG will help you avoid this ...
In order to reward people who take the time to sign up to the CMG Community we've created a new section of articles called the Canadian Motorcycle Information Guide, or CMIG for short. In here we'll be putting all the how-to style articles that will help you to keep safe, warm or you bike in good running order.
To kick it off we've got a timely article on how to winterize your bike and another one on how to survive winter riding for all you die-hards who want to keep on two wheels for as long as possible this winter.
But wait, that's not all. We've also resurrected the popular Discover Your Roads (DYR) section with six suggested routes (with mapping) on some of the finest roads in Canada and the northeastern US. All part of the new CMG Community!
With the new Supporter level comes a change in the set up of the CMG Riders Club. There will no longer be a "Basic" level of membership. All current Basic members will be converted into the new Supporter status.
After 4 years hard work, Pat gets a pint of fizzy from 'Arris
This leaves only the "Plus" level of membership. We'll now be including
the Supporter package into every Plus membership as well as access to
the CMG-RC discounts and a resurrected Monthly Giveaway, where we'll
pick one person a month from the current membership base to chose an
item of graft that we've accumulated at CMG over the years as an
additional thanks for your continued support.
AFORE WE GO
As with all things CMG, this is a work in progress and we'll be adding new elements as we go. We're quite excited where this will take CMG and look forward to any input that you may have on what we've done and where you think we need to go.
To enable this new push, we've hired on two new techies to assist our current Techmeister Patrick Shelston. Pat's been a major influence in getting CMG to where it is right now, so I'd like to give him a personal thanks for taking my calls, finding the time to keep CMG running and being so integral on making CMG what it is.
Thanks in advance for your participation.
Cheers, Rob Harris
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