<VV> CORSA II & Other Thoughts

James P. Rice ricebugg at mtco.com
Sun Dec 6 22:59:36 EST 2009


All:  I've been off line for awhile, so this is tardy.  And long.

When I read Jackson's column early last week, I sucked air and thought to
myself, "This is either treason or exactly what we, the members, need to
comprehend."

As I've been clawing thru all the postings, I keep having a thought.  Making
a diagnosis is one thing, fixing the "problem" is another matter.  I don't
know Jackson, but I know Kent Sullivan, who I respect and who's opinion I do
trust and value.  We served on the combined BoD's 10 years ago.  Kent and I
haven't always agreed, but I know his heart is in the right place when it
comes to CORSA and CPF.  So if Kent says Jackson's heart is in the right
place, that is good enough for me.  My trust and respect for Kent transfers
to Jackson.

Anyhow, my question to Jackson is this.  After you tell your customer to
blow up his business, what do you tell him to replace it with?

I'd like to suggest Jackson announce a ad-hoc committee to produce what they
think CORSA should be.  He does not need anybody's permission to do so.
Form your own e-mail group and go from there.  I don't know if you want to
start with a clean sheet of paper or review/revise CORSA's By-laws and
Process and Procedure manual.  This could also be the basis of CORSA II in
our current organization does not make it.

Other things:
- I think Ray the III asked about what pay contributors to the Communique
get.  I've been contributing to the Communique since the mid-70's and have
yet to receive any compensation.  If what I've done is a multiple page
article, I get some extra copies if I ask for them.  That's it.  BoD and
Committee members use to get some help many years ago to help cover mailing
and convention expenses, but that practice died a really long time ago.
Like back before some of you were born.  I have four articles for the
Communique in various stages.  For the one on "Corvair Racing: 1959 to 1969"
I have spent over $400 getting period photographs from various people I've
had to track down.  I will never get that investment back.  That's a real
cost beside my time.

- Allen Bristow has offered to run for the BoD again, but with a proviso we
agree to his plans before he'll run.  Or at least that's what I think I
remember he said.  If not, I'm sorry.  I've only had lunch with Allan once,
at Detroit, so I don't know him well.  But we all know there are  no
pre-agreements to anybody's plan(s) before you run for the BoDs.  But I hope
Allan does nominate himself.  Those in the Eastern Division deserve a chance
to embrace his leadership again.

-Dave Keillor briefly discussed M&P leadership and/or the need for a full
time CEO for CORSA.  Now a full disclosure: I've know Harry and Mike almost
as long as I've been in CORSA.  Mike and I swapped Corvairs many years ago.
(I don't want to tell you what they were, as I don't need Mark dumping on me
because I don't use his understanding of the correct nomenclature that only
he seems to care about.  Sorry Mark.  Ok, so I'm not sorry! VBG!)  I'm
thankful for their friendship, and have appreciated all their efforts above
and beyond their contractual obligations on our behalf.  Some of you don't
know they are the third service provider CORSA has had.  First two may have
lasted 5 years between them.  Having sat in three BoD meetings and read BoD
correspondence for almost 4 years, I know some of the unreasonable
expectations BoD members (you know who you are) and CORSA members (you know
who you are) have tried to place on them.  When I heard they've taken on
another club, I thought to myself, "They're gone and we are in unbelievable
deep do-do."  For those of you who question the selection process, go read
the Communique and/or discuss it with your local director.  M&P was one of
four management firms the CORSA BoD consulted with and had presentations
from at Jacksonville.  M&P won the competition.  I was so relieved.  Only
true Corvair people would do what they do.

- Making the Communique electronic as a cost saving is a zero sum game in my
opinion.  It is zero sum because it transfers the cost of printing to the
end user.  Of course, I'm a "paper never crashes" kind of a guy.  The IT/IS
folks at Caterpillar hated that when I use to say that to them as they
worked on my PC.

- Some one ask what additional goods and services do I get if the dues go up
again.  That may be the wrong question.  Is the right question "How much do
I have to pay to keep what I've been getting all these years?"  For me that
consist of the publications, the Conventions and the contacts and in many
cases friendships with other Corvair enthusiasts.

Thanks for your time.

Historically Yours,
                   James Rice
                   CORSA member since mid-70's
                   Former Chairman of the Competition Committee
                   Member of original CPF Advisorary Committee
                   CORSA/CPF BoD member and CPF Liaison 1999-01
                   Occasional contributor to the Communique
                   PCG member







Message: 1
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:55:56 -0500
From: aeroned at aol.com
Subject: Re: <VV> CORSA future
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org

Why isn't that leadership coming from the paid Staff?

We are not paying them for "leadership." The board has relied on Harry and
Mike to do more than they are supposed to for years. The results have been
both good and bad. One of the bad things is that the board, in general, has
forgotten that they are the leaders of CORSA. That is my opinion based on my
time on the board.

Ned

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 15:02:27 -0500
From: <kaczmarek at charter.net>
Subject: Re: <VV> CORSA
To: aeroned at aol.com, virtualvairs at corvair.org

Perhaps you should sit back and listen, or resign your seat.  Nobody likes a
smart mouthed punk who can't back up what he says.   Give that some thought,
youngster.

---- aeroned at aol.com wrote:
>
> Sorry, but I can hear my Mom saying, "and if everyone jumped off a bridge,
would you?"
>
> Ned
>
>



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:09:55 -0600
From: "Dave Keillor" <dkeillor at tconcepts.com>
Subject: <VV> FW:  CORSA future
To: "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>

From: Dave Keillor
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 2:09 PM
To: 'aeroned at aol.com'
Subject: RE: <VV> CORSA future

Then the first thing that needs to be done is to revamp the Corsa
operating model.  This is a major part of the problem that has to be
changed before Corsa can change.  I have NEVER seen a committee or a BOD
provide leadership in either the for-profit or non-profit world, and I
have experience in both.

A good BOD can provide goals, objectives, and oversight, but leadership
has to come from someONE in charge.  Corsa needs a full-time, paid CEO /
Executive Director who isn't micro-managed by a part time, volunteer
board.  If M and/or P can't fill that role, then someone who can is
needed.

Dave Keillor


-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of aeroned at aol.com
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 1:56 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> CORSA future

Why isn't that leadership coming from the paid
staff?

We are not paying them for "leadership." The board has relied on Harry
and Mike to do more than they are supposed to for years. The results
have been both good and bad. One of the bad things is that the board, in
general, has forgotten that they are the leaders of CORSA. That is my
opinion based on my time on the board.

Ned


------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 15:10:00 -0500
From: "Clark Hartzel" <chartzel at comcast.net>
Subject: <VV> Future of CORSA
To: "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>

Hey, since Mike and Harry also work for the Vintage Chevy Club of
America, maybe we can just make CORSA a chapter of VCCA.
Maybe there is a point when a "stand alone marque club" just can't make
it anymore.  Joining forces with a bigger Chevrolet club could be a good
thing.
Clark Hartzel (flame suit on)


------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 12:16:34 -0800 (PST)
From: corvairs at pacifier.com
Subject: Re: <VV> CORSA future
To: aeroned at aol.com
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org

Totally correct Ned! - As with City governments etc the "staff" (In this
case Harry and Mike) are paid to do the work - and the Board of Directors
is exactly that - The Board of Directors - the leadership.

You are also correct about the Board often just piling more on Harry and
Mike just because they think they can. I don't know how many times I heard
Board members state that "I've got a great idea that Corsa should do and
Harry and Mike can "implement" the idea. No big deal".

Lon Wall
Former Western Director (In fact Jackson's predesessor)


>
>
>
> Why isn't that leadership coming from the paid
> taff?
>
> We are not paying them for "leadership." The board has relied on Harry and
> Mike to do more than they are supposed to for years. The results have been
> both good and bad. One of the bad things is that the board, in general,
> has forgotten that they are the leaders of CORSA. That is my opinion based
> on my time on the board.
>
> Ned
>  _______________________________________________




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