CORSA 2012: Convention Concours schedule (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Vairtec Corporation]

Brian commendably brought an open mind to his observations of the Denver 
concours and his powwow with the key people.

I understand all the reasons put forth for which moving the concours 
earlier in the week.  I don't consider the "cars will get dirty" reason 
to be legitimate, but as regards scoring, tallying et al I understand.

Further, I understand that, to quote Brian, "totally reforming the 
concours scoring system" is not an option readily available to us.

Yet, as far as I am concerned, totally reforming the concours scoring 
system is what CORSA should be doing.  If the concours, by CORSA's own 
definitions its showcase event, cannot be conducted in a single day 
(like very other major concours nationwide), cannot be conducted on a 
schedule that makes it accessible to the greatest number of its members 
(which is a weekend day), cannot be conducted where the greatest 
promotional impact can be achieved (which is as the culmination of a 
convention), then it is the concours that is flawed, not our convention 
schedule.

Scheduling the concours for the benefit of the organizers, instead of 
for the benefit of the participants and the spectators, is wrong all the 
way around.  If it is difficult for score and tally a concours on 
Saturday, then the scoring and tallying process is the problem.

After all, there was a time when CORSA routinely did its concours -- 
with more cars than we see today -- on the weekend, and there are all 
those other major car shows that are conducted on weekends.

The CORSA concours process has grown to a preposterous state.

I had hoped, when at our very first all-hands meeting early last year 
there was near-unanimous support for the idea of a convention-ending big 
car show that included the concours, that CORSA would embrace this 
grassroots support for changing the status quo.  Sadly, CORSA and its 
concours committee, despite what appears to have been a meeting with 
Brian that was largely positive in tone, continues to be a slave to the 
process instead of to the greater membership.

Yes, moving the concours to Friday will be easier.  Yes, we can dovetail 
the concours judging with our planned "Corvair Fun Day" activities.  But 
the show on Saturday will be smaller as a result.  The show on Saturday 
will be anti-climactic as a result.  The convention, instead of ending 
with a bang, will just kinda peter out.

I vote no.

--Bob Marlow