<VV> Director`s Comments in Communique

[aeroned at aol.com]

If nothing else, Jackson's column got us talking.

The 2011 convention was just the tip of the ice berg. We still don't have a bid for 2012, which should have been due this year. The board has done some begging to no avail, yet. 2013 isn't looking that great either as no chapter has requested the bid paperwork. There are some talk and rumors about 2012 and 2013, but nothing official. So if you're East or Central chapter has ever dreamed about hosting a convention this might be you chance.

Now as far as Jackson's column, it was a bit harsh for my tastes but I have to agree with the gist. Along with the convention situation, look at the last couple director elections. They were uncontested and there was some begging to get the one candidate for some seats. Is our membership becoming the apathetic? We're 6 months away from the next election, please prove me wrong (take my seat, please).

CORSA is in serious financial times mostly because of the dropping membership. IMO things are going to have to change. Kent suggested some like ending or big changes to the annual convention. There could also be changes in the Communique, fewer issues or electronic delivery. There are some other things in work, nothing is "off the table" at this point. Some things won't be liked by some members. I can say that most of the current board is doing their best to preserve CORSA and make it better and that includes Jackson. There is just no way we can continue doing things like we have and anytime things change, there are going to be unhappy people. The only thing I can recommend is to run rd so you can have some first hand input in the changes that will come.

Ned
Central Division Director



-----Original Message-----
From: Kent Sullivan <kentsu at corvairkid.com>
To: 'VV' <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 11:56 am
Subject: Re: <VV> Director`s Comments in Communique


Let me start by saying that I am a friend of Jackson. He restored his '65
orsa coupe in my shop. So of course my comments are going to be somewhat
iased--unavoidable.
Jackson and I did not talk about his column before he wrote it but I have to
ay that I agree with a lot of what he wrote. CORSA is in serious trouble,
olks, and there is no magic way to right this ship. Membership is declining
verall, and it's unclear how to reverse this trend. We have to have a plan
hat deals with this very likely reality.
Jackson's language may be a bit tart, but I certainly prefer it to another
ound of "well, things aren't that bad--we only need people to get out there
nd recruit a few new members". Articles like that are not telling the real
ruth about what's happening and do a disservice to the CORSA membership.
The hardest thing for an organization to do is to have the courage and the
oresight to reinvent itself before the landscape changes so much that it
as become irrelevant. That's what I see is happening to CORSA. The
business model" is one that has been around for 100 years or more for a
on-profit club--but I believe it's clear that this model is going by the
ayside, and fast. We can either choose to take the risk of changing before
t's too late or essentially do nothing, and accept the risk that the
rganization will continue to lose members until it can't survive.
So, specifically--I think CORSA has to take a hard look at the wisdom of a
early rotating national convention. I don't think events like this make
ense in a world where gasoline is $4 a gallon (which will be back--we are
ust having a temporary reprieve) and where there are far more efficient
ays of having smaller, regional get-togethers that use the power of the new
etworking tools to connect people. A yearly face-to-face convention made
he most sense when the ways of people staying in touch when they weren't
ace-to-face were primitive. That's not the case any longer and the
ophistication of social networking tools is increasing. And, an additional
actor is the spread-out-ness of clubs in the Western Division. The clubs
re overall smaller and are very far apart compared to the Eastern Division.
ust getting a club to take on the task of holding a national convention in
he West is a challenge now--we almost didn't get a bid for 2011. Denver
ook it on, and I don't consider them a Western club geographically. They
re certainly in the Western Division so their bid is valid. I just mean
hat the fact that they are doing the convention is illuminating--no clubs
est of the Rockies submitted a bid, from what I can tell.
Jackson and I both work in the tech industry and we are all too familiar
ith how rapidly-changing demographics are affecting what people expect an
rganization to be. Mike says "lead, follow, or get out of the way" and I
ee Jackson trying to lead. It might just be that the direction he is
roposing is one that is pretty radical and therefore shocking to some or
any current members. I can tell you that it's not at all shocking to people
nder the age of 30; in fact, it's becoming the expected way of doing
usiness.
--Kent
P.S. For those of you who don't know me, I served 7 years on the CORSA BoD
nd am a past president of the CPF.
P.P.S. If you send Jackson private email, please be respectful. He is only
rying to help CORSA and if people fly off the handle at him, it's not going
o help.
----Original Message-----
rom: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Michael Kovacs
ent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 7:28 AM
o: John Howell
c: VV
ubject: Re: <VV> Director`s Comments in Communique
I was of the same opinion after reading his "comments" last night. All
egative, not positive. 
"LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY"
 I'll contact his email and make my thoughts clear to him too. 
MIKE KOVACS 

----- Original Message ----
rom: John Howell <32chevy at 0306.org>
o: VV <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
ent: Thu, December 3, 2009 12:44:50 AM
ubject: <VV> Director`s Comments in Communique
I hope the Western Director Jackson Dell Weaver is one that is being
eplaced in the next election. After reading his comments in the December
ssue of the CORSA Communique I would like to see him replaced, we don`t
eed officers with that attitude. So I say Jackson you are part of the
roblem not part of the answer, if you don`t like CORSA just LEAVE !
John Howell

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