RKD in OKC

Our local PCA region which has 9 board members has an additional voting position of Past President. The past presidents job is to show the new president the ropes of what is required of the position. Basically on-call for the current president as an experienced ear. We found new presidents wasted a lot of time and effort on just learning what they could and couldn't do instead of doing things that needed done before starting up anything new.

AO

I realize that there are other people that feel the same as you - maybe even the bulk of the current multi-year members. My concern is that the 928OC is not doing all it can to attract and retain new members. In discussions with others, they have expressed disappointment in the value they receive from the OC.

There are many ways to address this, as have already been highlighted in this thread. You have to start somewhere and I beleive the low hanging fruit is developing relationships with vendors, and some other strategies that will help drive new members at regional events. I don't think this conflicts with your view. Quite the contrary, I think this reinforces your desire to ensure the 928 has a legacy.

As for a PacNW event, if you build it, they will come.

I agree. Win or lose, I think Stan and I are mature enough to work with each other. If I lose, I'd still be willing to volunteer my time to help develop some of my ideas and work with DaveK ont he membership drive and coordination. Likewise, if I win, I hope Stan won't abandon the OC. I know I will need some help with the transition and can certainly use his advice and experience.

I also want to be clear that I think Stan is a dedicated individual and has always acted with the OC's best interests at heart. However, I think I have some good ideas that I can implement that will add more value.

Brad, not sure what mud you're talking about, but I appreciate your confidence in my abilities.

AO

James-

You're right. I have not organized a DE event. And I don't plan on it. When I said I'd like to see the OC sponsor more driving events, I didn't mean that it would host the event. Instead, I'd like to see the 928OC piggy-back on already organized events, and offer some type of sponsorship (prize for best time, pizza, or some other low-cost/high value offering) that would encourage 928 owner's to get in their 928 and drive.

Gary Knox

The issue of membership renewals has been raised, so I'll chime in here with some real time information.

About 3 years ago, membership renewals were really diminishing. It turns out that the membership chair at that time, a REALLY GREAT GUY to whom I'm indebted immensely with respect to 928 ownership and my enjoyment of it was not really computer literate enough to automate the renewal notices, and was very busy with his real life. As Treasurer of 928 OC for about 2 years at that time, and Stan Shaw was the relatively new President also, I became concerned about the cash flow of the organization. The "slope" of the finances was definitely towards the loss of 928 OC as an organization.

I informed Stan of the situation, and my belief concerning the renewal notices. Stan IMMEDIATELY took charge of the situation, using his internet skills and background to change the system, making it easier for the membership chair to notify members. Since that time, our financial situation has improved dramatically, and we now have about 2.5 to 3X the amount in our treasury that we had in mid 2006.

Stan also initiated the "local meet" support that the 928 OC has been giving to those willing to put together a local event over the past ~5 years. We've distrubted over $20,000 to support attendance at these local, regional, and international meets between 2006 and 2009. As an attendee at 2 or more each year, I find them a wonderful way to connect to other 928 owners in the region and throughout the country.

I STRONGLY suggest any of you who feel you did not get much from 928 OC when you were a member before ~2006, to seriously consider rejoining and attending one or more of these each year (or putting for the time and effort to host one). You WILL find a lot of information there, but most of all, make new "auto enthusiast" friends as a result. After all, it is not ONLY about the cars, but also about the great people who own and believe in these cars.

I believe Andrew has many good ideas, and hopefully some or all could be implemented. And I'd like to see Andrew more involved in Club activities and direction in the future.

I also believe that the current President, Stan Shaw, has done a yeoman's job of rebuilding the club and getting more people connected since accepting the job. Stan is not a frequent correspondent on 928 Forum, therefore is not as well known on this Forum as Andrew. But I believe his leadership is the only reason this Club still exists. He deserves strong consideration for continued support in that capacity, based on his body of work to date.

And, remember that all those who are candidates for an office (including the Membership Chair, who is appointed, and has a large load of work) are volunteers. Their annual dues are the same as yours, and their rewards from the club are the same as yours also!

Cheers guys and gals,

Gary Knox
928 OC Treasurer (current and candidate for re-election)

SteveG

+1 I was a member; The threads were dead and it didn't really seem to have a purpose so I let it go; It would seem they need new blood and Andrew is seeking to revitalize the organization. His efforts here are many. If all OC does is function as a backup to RL, it would justify some dues.

pcar928fan

Unless it is already set up as a TIMED COMPETITION this is not possible. As soon as any prize is given for being fastest or slowest then it is a competitive event and the few folks who still have insurance coverage for on-track fun just became un-covered!

Piggy-backing is fine, but that is not what you indicated in the first note... have you even assisted in setting up a track event? To really do it right is HUGE...as you noted the plan is not to have the 928 OC do it, but to be a "sponsor" so to speak of one that is already happening. I think all it would take is a regional point of contact getting hold of the 928 OC and saying, "hey we have 5, 6, 10 928's coming out to a track event, can you help us out?" I bet the answer would be yes... Back in the first iteration of the Austin 928 Club we did that very thing. We even took the 6 928's present at the track (not all were actually doing the DE) and drove out to the back straight for some pics...good time!

Gary Knox

Regarding "track events". The regions of PCA do a great job in organizing and hosting these, as well as some "for profit" organizations. They are an immense amount of work, logistics, insurance, track rental costs, etc., etc. In 1999 or 2000 David Lloyd, then Track Chair of 928 Owners Club (and Membership Chair, I believe) organized an outing for 928's at Watkins Glen Track in New York. The "owner of the event" was Track Masters, a well recognized - for profit - sponsor of track driving events in the eastern US. Through David's promotion, we had about fifteen 928's in attendance at this event. It was my first track event, one day only (as I recall), but the infection was established, and my MD knows of no cure!

I do not think it is practical either logistically or financially for the 928 OC to sponsor a track event. There was one held at the FIRST (corrected to Second, per James below) 928 Owners Club International Convention at Wichita KS, hosted by Marc White. No one has done one since, and as I recall, that event cost Marc a LOT of personal money when everything was said and done (I was not Treasurere at the time, but I believer 928 OC had established the clubs fixed sponsorship dollars up front).

And yes, James, timing is absolutely "verboten".

My opinion - others may vary!

Gary Knox

PS: James, from my knowledge, Marc was the one who "covered it"!

pcar928fan

Gary,

I know Mark set it up for the 2nd OCIC, not sure about the first. The first was in 2000 and I was off in Germany, the second OCIC was 2004 and I participated in the 1 day DE at Hallett then. It was pretty awesome! Very small group...I have no idea HOW we covered the costs of that event! Probably didn't.

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

Andrew, do you have a new candidate for membership chair? This would be a good opportunity to demonstrate your leadership.

LUCKYJACKASS

Andrew Olsen...Too extreme for 928 OC President.

BTW - I will be joining and voting. Somebody make me a promise I can vote for and get something out of!

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

I promise regardless of whom is elected you can volunteer to help organize an event in your area, is that good?

Of course a mentor can be identified to help you through the process and we could identify the members in your area. Maybe provide a sponsorship, send you a banner to display

LUCKYJACKASS

Stan, I am always up for a challenge, and have no quams about actively participating. I am not in it for just a T-shirt and a banner. I may not impress everyone with what I bring to the table, but damn sure won't come empty handed, looking for a handout. Actually, scratch all that, and just send me the banner and a sponsorship check!

dr bob

Folks, the OC is a perfect candidate for the "ask not what the club can do for you..." philosophy. I have to admit that I'm negligent in my OC attention, brought to a head this morning when I couldn't log in to the website anymore. (Thanks for letting me know so gently, Stan!) Oh, that was upgraded last fall, so I hadn't been there in at least that long.

But here's the deal-- Folks tend not to go to the OC forums for tech stuff. I have answered tech questions there, but the vast majority of folks use this site, JD's new one, and the Pelican site, in that order. At least that's the hierarchy of preference I see. The audiences vary at each, with a large amount of multi-forum cross-members. So is there a need to have a duplicate tech resource site to this one and the others? Three places to search and ask is more than enough, IMHO. I think the OC and the website should continue as is, and the focus of the club should be the social side of ownership, more in tune with sharing the passion, spreading the word, etc.

Right now I generally can't commit to even just attending most 928 events, much less participate in planning/coordinating/hosting them. We do have informal tech gatherings but there's no comparison with holding a SITM, Frenzy, Sharktoberfest event, or even a one-man-organized fun drive or SITP as Bill Ball does.. The OCIC events have been tremendous, and also included tremendous financial and time committments from the organisers, even with OC support. The board and president are also legal guardians of the group, with serious fiduciary responsibilities.

Bottom line is that I salute the efforts of the board, and of the candidates who are willing to commit their time and energy to the group.

AO

Where is this coming from? Is there a problem with the new membership chair (DaveK)? I haven't heard of any issues, but then I never hear about any of the goings on with the club due to the general lack of communication.

If I were running the club, and had a problem with one of the KEY positions, I'd be sending an email blast to the entire membership asking for immideiate help! This is not rocket science, it's management.

Frankly this thread is the most interaction/ general discussion with the OC I've ever seen here... which is a good thing. If the OC is to survive and serve it's mission, this type of discussion is what is needed, but then it needs to be followed up with action.

polecat702

When I joined the OC 2 years ago, there was only one other member here. I believe there are only 7 or 8 other 928's in the Vegas Valley. Vegas would be a great place to have an event, I'll help anyway that I can. But we do need the other 928 owners in this area to join.