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Vote for Me - 928 Owner's Club President (longish)

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Old 09-17-2010, 12:36 AM
  #121  
Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
IIf people wanted the changes I suggested then they would have elected me. Obviously, my platform was not enough to sway people.
Maybe they just wanted to see if you would follow through first, and give you a chance next year. After all, you did tell them:

Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
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.
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:36 AM
  #122  
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Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
What happened to your idea of raising money to support your plans, you said you were going to run events and get funding from vendors, right?

If you refer back to post #22 in this thread you will see I posted "With regards to actual costs, our expenditures normally equal our revenues. Last year was better than any prior year with regard to revenue."

So, if you planned on using money for your ideas, which existing program will be sacrificed?
As for my ideas, At Sharks In Hell we asked non-member to purchase their t-shirts for $20. Or they could join and get it for free. Most (if not all) non-members joined. I beleive the final tally was 9 new members.

As to the budget, I would like to know where the OC spends it's money. I've never seen a financial report. Is it too much to ask for a littel transparency?

And I don't know if anything would have to be sacrificed. It doesn't have to be "either or." I think there are opportunities to enhace the offereing and add value. Maybe you don't see that.

Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
To most members, the day to day tasks are the ONLY thing that matters.

Even if you were president, you can not spend any significant funds without board approval. I can pretty much assure you that the majority of the board members were not going to give you anything like a blank check.
I don't know where you get the idea that I want to spend money? I don't. I just want to make sure it's spent wisely. I understand recently there was a proposal to spend $200-$300 on some recognition plaques. That, to me, is not a wise expenditure.

Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
Out of curiosity, how would you like such information made available?
In the easiest manner possible. Not looking to create additional work. Just publish what you have with a narrative to put things into context. Preferably by email to the entire membership.
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:40 AM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
If elected President, one of my top goals is to make sure YOU get more value than you pay for your membership. I have already spoken to a couple vendors and one plan is establishing a relationship with vendors that provide 928OC members with a special discount. It could be in the form of a discounted price, free shipping, etc. This way purchases stay with our most allied vendors, and most importantly, YOU get more value for your membership!
What funding do you need to do this?

Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
Also, if elected, another of my top goals is to improve the visibility and communication of the owner's club. I think there has been a void in this category over the past few years. I'm not talking about a huge publication, but maybe a regular listing of upcoming 928 OC sponsored regional events, a tech corner, and a listing of partner vendor specials. Short and simple.
What funding do you need to do this?
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:42 AM
  #124  
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Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
Maybe they just wanted to see if you would follow through first, and give you a chance next year. After all, you did tell them:
Yep. Sure did. And I am still willing to do so.

As the 928OC president, show me it's going to be worth it.

What's your vision for the coming year?

What's the state of the club? Getting better? Getting worse?

What are your key initiatives for the year?

What's the anticipated budget for the year and how do you see it being used?




Going to bed now... will pick it up again in the morning. Sweet dreams.
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:44 AM
  #125  
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Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
What funding do you need to do this?



What funding do you need to do this?
Little to no funding needed for either. But I wasn't elected president - so that would tell me this is not a very popular idea. If you like the idea, however, you run with it and make it your own.

G'night.
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:47 AM
  #126  
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
I do not feel sorry for myself - nothing bruised. I was looking forward to leading the club in a new direction - but now it appears that it will be status quo. If people wanted the changes I suggested then they would have elected me. Obviously, my platform was not enough to sway people.

BTW, I never said I wanted to be a dictator or have carte blanche - so you stop that crap right now.
So, you didn't win on the popular vote, and you are upset, understandable. You still have the opportunity to get involved, make an improvement...with conditions. You never spelled out what you would do, how you would do it if you were voted Prez. Now you are given the opportunity to do it, w/o the title. Step up and do it. You had to get board approval before, you have it now, you will also be on the committee, to help make decisions. What is stopping you?

Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
Yep. Sure did. And I am still willing to do so.

As the 928OC president, show me it's going to be worth it.

What's your vision for the coming year?

What's the state of the club? Getting better? Getting worse?

What are your key initiatives for the year?

What's the anticipated budget for the year and how do you see it being used?


Going to bed now... will pick it up again in the morning. Sweet dreams.
All the information you ask for, is there, you just have to take the time to actually look it up, not ask for it to be delivered to you. Do some research.
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:50 AM
  #127  
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
As for my ideas, At Sharks In Hell we asked non-member to purchase their t-shirts for $20. Or they could join and get it for free. Most (if not all) non-members joined. I beleive the final tally was 9 new members.
It is a good idea, I did it twice many years ago at the Wilbraham event, and have advocated it be done at other events as well.


Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
As to the budget, I would like to know where the OC spends it's money. I've never seen a financial report. Is it too much to ask for a littel transparency?
Well, it has been available on the 928 OC website for a month. Sorry, I should remember you don't visit the site often. But really, isn't that where it belongs?

Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
And I don't know if anything would have to be sacrificed. It doesn't have to be "either or." I think there are opportunities to enhace the offereing and add value. Maybe you don't see that.
Then how much money we have in the bank has no bearing on whether you will go forward with your plans, so why is that (suddenly) a condition?

Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
I don't know where you get the idea that I want to spend money? I don't. I just want to make sure it's spent wisely. I understand recently there was a proposal to spend $200-$300 on some recognition plaques. That, to me, is not a wise expenditure.
Wow, didn't you say you were a business development manager? Recognition is kind of a basic isn't it? We have established a tradition of providing plaques to those who organize OCICs. Generally speaking they are a 'nit, considering the big value the OCICs have provided to the 928 OC and our members.

The other plaque was to David Lloyd for serving as membership chair for 7 years. A job so grueling that a recent volunteer couldn't deal with it for 1 month.

In both cases those plaques were approved by the board, so as President you would have had just 1 vote against the majority.

Honestly, I would have paid for them out of my pocket, as what those recipients did is what makes the club what it is.

Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
In the easiest manner possible. Not looking to create additional work. Just publish what you have with a narrative to put things into context. Preferably by email to the entire membership.
Sorry, not sure what this is in reference to.
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:53 AM
  #128  
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
Yep. Sure did. And I am still willing to do so.

As the 928OC president, show me it's going to be worth it.

What's your vision for the coming year?

What's the state of the club? Getting better? Getting worse?

What are your key initiatives for the year?

What's the anticipated budget for the year and how do you see it being used?
I will do what I said I would, you can read about it, as others had the opportunity to at http://forums.928oc.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=135
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Old 09-17-2010, 12:58 AM
  #129  
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
Little to no funding needed for either. But I wasn't elected president - so that would tell me this is not a very popular idea. If you like the idea, however, you run with it and make it your own.

G'night.
Maybe too many people realized just how much of pipe dreams these were...

None of these ideas are new, some have been tried, all require more effort than you care to put in yourself. I understand.
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Old 09-17-2010, 02:05 AM
  #130  
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Originally Posted by Andrew Olson
I have to give it serious consideration. I wanted to be president for one reason - to be able to effect the change I believe is needed to ensure that the 928OC stays relevant.

No offense to Stan, but he believes the day-to-day running of the OC is the most important aspect of the OC Presidency - and I think he's good at it. But I completely disagree. What the club needs is vision, leadership, and communication. The day-to-day stuff is just the follow through. Without being in a position to effect change, I am fearful that my efforts could be marginalized by not being the president. IMHO the OC under Stan's watch has not made itself relevant to its members. I thought I could have done a better job, but I guess we won't find out this year.

Before I can consider taking any other position in the OC, I would need to see a state of the club report complete with a financial summary. The membership has a right to know the health of the club. This would also help me understand what is needed to be successful.

Most of you know I am one of the most evangelical 928 owners out there. I love promoting the camaraderie we all enjoy. I always wanted a 928 as a teenager, and when I bought mine, I got SOOOOOOOO much more than just a car. I got a bevy of friends and acquaintances that truly enhance the joys of 928 ownership. Most of this was developed on my own and through vendor events - namely SITM. The 928 Owner's Club should be the catalyst for this, but in order to, it needs to add value to it's members - and right now it doesn't.

I wish the new 928 board the best of luck as it readies itself for the year. I challenge you to define the vision for the year. Without it, how will you know if you're going in the right direction? Look at the decisions you make over the year and ask yourself, does this add value to the members? If not, it's a bad decision. I also challenge you to communicate with us members on a more regular basis. Doesn't have to be much, just something so we don't feel abandoned. And finally, as I mentioned before, I implore you to give a state of the club report and get the membership involved.

I'm not a member of 928 OC (yet) so maybe what I say doesn't matter. But in clubs and non-profits I've been involved with, what you describe above is called a "membership director". When presidents have taken on this role it's been an unmitigated disaster, with them eventually becoming dictatorial and the other board and committee members getting burned out. Why? I think that it's because this sort of change must be voluntarily bought in to by the membership committee (with support from the president and the board) and the enthusiasm needs to spread naturally, not from a position of authority. It can be successful when the membership director recruits committee members expressly for this purpose and their energy is focused on the vision.
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Old 09-17-2010, 02:22 AM
  #131  
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Man, I want to jump into this, but I'm not an oc member yet (WILL BE JOINING TOMORROW) and I don't have personal relationships with either of you. HOWEVER, I know enough about both of you to know that you two should not be fighting. You two are both way too cool and contribute way too much to be against each other. Please find some way to work this out. Otherwise, it will be a big loss for the rest of us!!!!!
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Old 09-17-2010, 02:26 AM
  #132  
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So far, this has been a great discussion. One that I think should have been had before the elections. I don't see any arguments, just civil disagreements and a discussion of the topics. This is actually setting a great debate next year, and I'm sure that these posts will be brought up at that time. Even if the thread is deleted, the posts are saved so others may see what is said.

This kind of debate is healthy for the club.
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Old 09-17-2010, 03:47 AM
  #133  
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It is late so I am going to ramble. I will start by saying I do not know anyone on this forum or the 928oc

I have been a member of the SVOCA club for roughly 3 years now, it is for owners of Mustang SVO's. We have a members section that is great. I can get discounts at turbo re builders, powder coaters, Spec clutches, Machine shops, Parts suppliers, wheel restorers. I think Andrew has great ideas and think it would be easy to pull off. I have owned my 928 for only 2 weeks but have spent thousands at the big 3, if they wouldn't work with the club and offer some sort of a discount for members I would be shocked. I could have bought my 930 Steering wheel for much less and not had to wait two weeks but decided to support them, business is a 2 way street.

To me it sounds like the club needs to invest in some technology to manage the memberships which would then be an easy job. I would be willing to help out if needed, I run a successful business and know how to handle large volumes of customers.

It seems as if everyone is skeptical of what Andrew could do, I do not think it would be to hard to implement some of his ideas. It would however be impossible without full support which he does not have. So either give it to him or stop asking him to help out just hoping he would fail.

Just my 2 cents, looking from the outside.

Ray
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Old 09-17-2010, 04:47 AM
  #134  
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edit

....nevermind.
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Old 09-17-2010, 07:40 AM
  #135  
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Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
The results are now official, the new board to take effect 9/28/10 will be:
President: Stan Shaw
Vice President: Marc White
Secretary: Greg Nichols
Treasurer: Gary Knox
Trustee #1: Wally Plumley
Trustee #2: Roger Tyson
Trustee #3: Nicole Mossinger

Thanks to all who were willing to serve and to all those who voted.
Hi Stan,
Congratulations to you and the board and thank you all in advance.

One quick concern and maybe this is a growing pain issue-I'd love to have received an email with the results rather than reading it here or even on the 928OC board. As much as I love frequenting this forum and the 928OC forum (lurking on occasion), if I hadn't stumbled back into this thread, I wouldn't have known the results.

For me it's not in fact a matter of transparency (I think the 928OC is about as transparent an organization as I've seen-every dollar seems to be openly accounted for and all votes seems to be recorded clearly) but one of communication. It took me a little digging to find the information on the 928OC Forum. As a matter of fact, me writing this on Rennlist rather than the 928OC is a bit ironic.

Now considering everyone involved is a volunteer and it requires lots of time, effort and dedication, I understand how difficult it is to do these things. In my office I have teams of people but a simple 2 line change to a document yesterday took 6 hours and that is during a continuous workday, not via email, phone or web.

I know most of us have full-time jobs, families and other obligations and I appreciate that completely.

But, just the same, I would love to see an easier way to find out information in the form of a newsletter that was in my email box. Maybe that is the plans already and if so-great! If not, please take this as a constructive suggestion and not as criticism.

I'm just starting to move forward myself as Long Island den-mother. for the 928 OC so I also have to think about these things.

I'll take some other questions offline (well to email).

Now with all that-let me thank you and the old and new board again for the hard work, dedication and support of a car that Porsche has long forgotten but we can never forget--ROCK ON! ]

Michael
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