<CORSA Chapters> Re: Conventions <tad long -- no really long >
Richard W Thompson
Richard.W.Thompson at usa.dupont.com
Thu Apr 6 21:46:27 EDT 2006
Hi Tim and All,
On the public relations side of things, involving marketing, I would have
no problem in looking into trying to field inquiries or requests for
information from magazines, etc. related to CORSA. Maybe we should talk
about that off-line. But with an extremely compressed schedule because of
my career, travel schedule, young family, now chair of concours, my own
hobbies, etc., I am stretched beyond belief.
I was a member of VV some years back when it was in its infancy, but my
e-mail became absolutely choked with diatribes that were nothing more than
flame suit sessions, complaints with no suggested solutions or views that
were complately self serving and not with the good of CORSA as whole in
mind. Frankly, I have no time for that. There has to be a point where I
push back and that is one of them.
Unfortunately, insights and requests for PR thoughts for local chapters,
like Jacks, which are good ones, are few and far between and get lost in
the shuffle of what I used to view.
I agree that we need a more solid and even way of spreading the faith of
our love for the marque in order for the club to survive. The local clubs
have to be open to that and use methods they did not think of or try
differently. The National Chevelle Association suffered greatly from this
and failed because their members got older and more splintered. That is one
reason why they don't exist anymore. We, like they did not, have to grow
organically as well and still attract new members with there own
thoughts/needs/wants.
Best Regards,
Rich
"Flat6Vair"
<Flat6Vair at insigh
tbb.com> To
"Jack Pinard"
04/06/2006 07:07 <corvairjack at verizon.net>
PM cc
"CORSA Chapters"
<chapters at corvair.org>,
<sarahvair at juno.com>, Richard W
Thompson/AE/DuPont at DuPont
Subject
Re: Conventions <tad long -- no
really long >
jack, please note, i included the chapter list, and Pres Sarah and BOD
member Rich Thompson.
It was a long day, and late for me <Illinois, early riser> Tried to stay
positive in my comments. and ounced between your emails -- not a good
thing when tired. And I usually need to re-write whatever i write 2-3
times to get it to make sense.
In short, I do tend to wander in my writing.
Contradictions? haven't re-read what I wrote, but yep, most likely.
Rich Thompson -- central division director, not known for monitoring VV,
is the person who could probably best handle PR correspondence. Marketing
is part of his game.
Statistics - CORSA has 5,000 members, 600 attend when held east of the
Mississippi <CORSA demographics, population is mostly eastern US, plus
California, similiar to US population demographics> CORSA average age is
not known. But we do know that the Large number of non-renewals are
because of age <death, actually> I have not gone to the library to do
additional research, like I would when I did my economic research>
Local chapter meetings, attnedance numbers are kept, at the convention,
not. But if you had attended any of the 3 "business" meetings, you would
have noted the small number of participants. Not necessarily a bad thing
-- too many on a committee means no action will get done. too few, and the
wrong action MAY get done.
I don't object to a "business session" at a convention could teach you and
chapter officers about how to develop a strong local public relations
program. HECK, that is a GREAT idea. It may not be "tech" session for
the masses, but it would be a good session. Could it be put on the agenda
for 2008? 2007? PR and Marketing session <get Rich Thompson involved> ?
The club is not large enough to have run-offs like the SCCA. And that is
OK. Everyone wants to have a good time and most attendees are not chapter
officers. If only officers, would be a small convention.
Editors now get together to share ideas.
Having the Chapter officer meeting be something MORE than a prelim to the
CORSA "business" meeting would be could and eventually get its attendance
up. <it was held late in the day at Portland, and those still suffering
from jet lag just had a hard time>
Locally, our chapter has a good PR person who has tried diligently to get
some press for the local Car show, club meetings etc. Free press is hard
to come by. Need to but column space <local paper now charges to list
anniversaries, weddings which were once free>
returning to your original posting.
CORSA purpose is the Preservation and Promotion of Corvairs - part of our
by-laws. The convention IS the the highlight and focal point of the year's
activities for many members. <not all> The business meetings do try to
inform the membership about things that affect them -- the Communique is
the other main resource for communications the same as the local
newsletters are for the local chapters.
Workshops for Officers and for PR/Marketing -- I like those ideas.
getting them scheduled and finding presenters is another topic.
The competition events are not so large to require pre-qualifications. And
some members busy with family, simply outperform others who otherwise would
qualify (myself included, that is Mike Kost is busy with family and beats
my behind in autocross and econo-run in a heartbeat)
The cost of attending, time and money, will supercede the desire to
attend. Too many other interests in everyone's lives. Plus many of us
still must work and get limited time off. God, Family, work then
hobbies.
A side issue mentioned by Lon, is Sales tax collection. This will
discourage mail-order vendors from vending on-site -- lots of paperwork,
lots of hassle. Mail order houses, for the most part, do not have to
collect "use" (AKA Sales) taxes. The buyer is supposed to report those
purchases on form xyz. Vendors at the convention usually is a draw -- we
all like to see what we are buying, and like the instant gratification of
having it hand when we pay for it. < the internet will not replace the
department store entirely, at least not in the near future>
I feel like i'm taking just part of your message and emphasing it, but the
PR/Marketing (plus better business meetings) seems to be the focus of your
post . Business meetings are hard to make better. Adding a PR session
may be good. Especially if it helps get the word out to the baby boomers
about CORSA <my focus is the 40-60 year old crowd> and the under 40 and
under 30 crowd.
At least, that is a good place to start the discussion and keep it focused
so something happens. I may repost to the chapter list that last part --
PR/Marketing. a little later just to help get Q/A started on that
specific topic.
tim mahler
Central Div Bod member
Local chapter President
local chapter editor
a "baby boomer"
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Pinard
To: Flat6Vair
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 2:33 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Conventions <tad long>
Tim -
You wander a lot and contradict yourself.
I would enjoy a conversation with you.
But everyone seems to be making assumptions without supporting facts.
What are the demographics? Where are the statistics?
I don't have any problem getting PR. I know how. Most chapter officers
don't.
Corsa doesn't know or doesn't care.
I have discussed this with Harry and Mike, but it is not their job.
A "business session" at a convention could teach you and chapter officers
about how to develop a strong local public relations program.. You won't
get it online or hanging out in a parking lot kicking tires.
There is an old adage, "What if you threw a party and no one came?"
Jack
Flat6Vair <Flat6Vair at insightbb.com> wrote:
In the last few years, several new chapters have been started. A few more
are trying to see if enough members are in the vinicity. And yes, a few
are faultering. Part is the changing demographics that the entire country
is
experiencing, part is the lack of the few dedicated ahrd working members
that every chapter needs. Most days I really enjoy it. others, well, I
take a deep breath, count to 10, have a beer, try again kids!>
Most of this discussion probably should be on the chapter list -- and all
the chpater officers adding to the discussion. What do we need to
strengthen the local chapters -- encourage more shows, find auto-x sites,
participate with SCCA as a group? I know that IF i could encourage enough
club members to do the local auto-x, the locals would put us in our own
class, hasn't happened -- too many other things conflict - and its a long
distance - 100 miles.
The Business meetings for CORSA are not well attended. Portland may
acutally had more in attendance than the last few years. The CPF meeting
even had an impromtu tech session. Cool set of heads. making more of the
convention a business meeting will reduce attendance -- and make it a
boring
businees meeting. Most of that could be covered via the internet -- the
Corsa Chapter email list as well as sending requests/suggestions to the
Corsa BoD.
At the business meetings, the same questions are usually asked that have
no
good answers -- what to do with an aging membership. Most concentrate on
the under 25 crowd, and we tend to forget the other younger crowd -- 40-60
that will be around for a few years too. myself, hoping to best my
granddad's 93>
Convention partipation in events is intended to allow everyone to
participate. The best IS class driver at Flagstaff had not driven in an
autocross in several years. But he is a dang good driver and proved it.
(even though the car had a failing valve guide AND only 3 brakes so it
pulled hard to one side).
The Car display the same day as the Concours is a good example of trying
to
get ALL the convention corvairs on display at the same time -- to promote
CORSA and Corvairs. Lexington had a cool opening day parade that received
some good press. Detroit is the week before the big Cruise week. Portland
got some air time. St Louis was featured on "My Classic Cars" . try as my
club has, we cannot get a pragraph about a local event in any of the local
newspapers, small town or large. sigh. We have tried and will continue to
try to get good PR but it is tough, delay the start home to make it home
and I was driving a black interior vair w/no ac> -- and I like Iowa,
visit often plus it has interesting hills and bluffs there own>
I'm reading all the posts; taking note.
Oh -- don't forget the new "central" chapter - Stock Corvair Group --
interesting stuff, the basis for all things modified as well as stock. and
At Buffalo, Thursday. Should be avery interesting
day. Stock evaluation and discussion after the autocross followed by a CPF
presentation that evening.
just some thoughts after a long day. I'll re-read things over the next few
days and likely have other thoughts -- but think I'll post them to the
chapter list instead.
tim mahler
ps: if you are not on the chapter list, and would like to join -- check
out
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