<VV> membership

[Mike Jacobi]

-- 

One of the major impediments to club and / or CORSA membership iis one that
challenges all organizations.  When we do get someone to visit our meetings
or inquire about membership or actually take a leap of faith and join us, we
fail to engage them in club activities and shortly afterward, lost them.

The newbie shows up and pays his club dues.  Then, unless he has brought his
own circle of friends with him, we let him sit off by himself while we get
on with news of our own lives and club happenings.....unless he has the
determination to push into our largely closed, very clannish organization.

He sees that there is really no welcome with us.  No one makes it a point to
personally speak to him or call him up or invite him to club  activities.
It is left to him to try to break through our reluctance to make him part of
our circle.....and all too often that individual gets tired of being outside
looking in..gives up and doesn't come back.  So he never gets to see our
good side, never gets to be in on the inside.

Yes, we smile and shake his hand at that first meeting, but then we go right
back to our own tight little circle of friends.   Net result, no new member,
or one who doesn't come back.

Not everyone is gregarious.  Many find it difficult to break through these
social walls.  I think we need to help.

We need to make sure someone...maybe ourselves..get him on the phone before
the next meeting or activity, to make sure he comes out.  We need to be
alert to the new guy at the meeting who is sitting off by himself and to
make a place for him at our table or in our discussions.  If a few members
plan an informal get together at an A and W drive in or Sonic or other car
type event, we need to make room for him.  Give him a job at the flea market
or autocross.   Get him active with us so he becomes part of the group.

Our clubs are a lot more than gears and lifters and sheet metal.  They're
social organizations.  Most belong for the SOCIAL part.

If we can build the local chapters up by being more welcoming, we will
better be able to sell the national organization...perhaps one day requiring
that all local members be CORSA.  But that cure can't be imposed
successfully from the top.  It must start at the local, individual member
level.

But social stuff is hard.  Maybe it's easier to live with the problem
instead of trying to cure it.

Mike, back to mid-winter in Michigan