Waiting list reduction

The tenancies are renewed annually every January and the fees are coming in slowly now Christmas is over but unlike the previous two seasons, the pattern is suprising us here at HQ. Since opening in 2010 and the initial take up of the virgin plots, it has proved quite hard for any new applicant to take advantage of any vacancy, they have been few and far between. The only plotters to depart have been those that have been requested to do so or anyone moving out of the locality.
This coming year there have been several terminations by members for various reasons but one has been that the 2012 growing season was so poor and the toil for another year was too much to take on for so little reward. This disappoints as in my experience in life not often can I recall a poor season has been followed by another although I can understand someone with limited time would be frustrated by their yield last year. Being the wettest year since records began in 1910 really proved to be the last straw for a few, tired of constant weeding and seeing their crops rot or not even have their seed rows germinate at all.
It has not been a problem to fill the vacant plots as the patient waiting list now has the door open to join our community at last and we are to hold a 'newbie' induction day next Saturday, 5th Jan. This entails listening to me for 10 mins about our dos and donts on site, issuing them with a 16 page information pack of all that they can enjoy from the area, a tenancy agreement, the rules and a gate entrance key. They are then shown their plot and once the fee is paid for the year, can get going whenever they want. The previous week, the vacating plots had been cleared of any debris left and a new plot No.sign made to give a good start to making a success of their new pastime.
Talking to other allotment site committee members, this seems to be the norm on other sites that those who are less committed (apart from other good reasons, poor health, etc) have decided enough is enough which is a shame considering the pleasure obtained from growing your own is so pleasing.
The pictures I will put on here asap, two are of soggy times on site this year and the third just a photo of a sunny day, a rare sight in 2012 but hopefully a common occurence in 2013. Optimism is important.