<VV> CORSA VAN - A BROADER PERSPECTIVE AND CPF ANGLE

[Rod Murray]

A great and realistic idea, but a CORSA van located on the east coast won't do those of us in the west any good, and vice versa.  For this to have some real teeth, I'd suggest having a small fleet of such vehicles located within the various regions of the country.  Put regional directors in charge of the vehicles and have them work with local regional chapters to organize storage, maintenance, appearances, etc.  

Re:  the tent, I know former Western Director Jack Pinard pitched a lightweight EZ-UP at the events I saw him at over the summer - he packed and carried everything in his LM convertible with the license plate "JAX PRAD" (jacks parade).  Jack was never shy about promoting the Corvair or CORSA.

here's another thought re this van involving the Corvair Preservation Foundation...
As CORSA's financial limitations will undoubtedly surface at some point, dare I approach this from another angle and suggest a viable tax-deductable scenario exists that this promotional van concept could also work quite well under CPF guidance.  Under this model and generally speaking, as a registered 501c3 non-profit charitable organization, individual contributors to such a CPF-based program would be allowed to deduct all (or at least a portion of) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with developing and then maintaining this charitable group initiative - that would help take some pressure off any potential participant's economic situation.  The program could be operated same as described above using regional directors, and no reason why the CPF would not be able to incorporate CORSA literature and merch along with their own displays. Moreover, an ongoing non-profit fund-raising initiative such as the new www.berlz.com online shopping experience could help potentially underwrite the program.  For those unfamiliar, berlz.com links directly to amazon.com and donates 4% of all purchases directly to the designated philanthropic partner - and participation is by no means limited to CORSA members only.  Btw, according to Wikipedia, amazon's 2007 revenue was almost $15B (yes, that's a B).  This is a great opportunity for CORSA and the CPF to work together now towards our common goal of promoting and celebrating all things Corvair.  In the grand scheme of things, and imo, one of these days, CORSA and all of its affiliated programs will ultimately fall under the CPF umbrella anyway instead of the other way around.  

Rod Murray
Vintage Corsa
VP, PR, Web
www.VintageCorsa.com


-----Original Message-----
From: J R Read_HML [mailto:hmlinc at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 5:35 PM
To: marpack57 at aol.com; virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Corsa van

Well...   It could be a good way to move that dang pop-up tent around.  You 
know, the one we refer to as the CORSA display or the CORSA booth.  That 
thing is HEAVY.

Later, JR


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <marpack57 at aol.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 7:02 PM
Subject: <VV> Corsa van


> Along the same lines as Caveman Pete's latest undertaking I was wondering
> why CORSA didn't have a club van. I picture an all white panel with the 
> CORSA
> logo on the sides, custom built shelving to hold Communiques,
> brochures,club logo products etc etc. I know "who's going to maintain it", 
> "who's going
> to store it", "who's going to drive it" and on and on. It would only be 
> used
> for conventions, large Corvair gatherings, maybe Carlisle&Hershey and who
> knows maybe the "Toss" and events west of the big river. I'll bet there 
> are a
> lot of members who would and could pitch in a do their part with the above
> challenges.
>       I think it's time we think outside the box. Do things we never
> thought of 10-15 years ago. Your thoughts?
>        Ed in Fla
> _______________________________________________