<VV> The tent & PR/ Tim Mahler

[Bill Sowerby]

Tim,

Most voluntary organizations are currently facing the same financial
pressures as CORSA.   All are negatively affected by the shortterm effect of
the economy and some, like automotive collector clubs,  are also dealing
with  longterm decreased membership trends.  

Here are a few thought starters:

1)   CORSA is not the only car club facing difficult times.   Research what
other car clubs are doing (a) to identify an overall club strategy (vision,
target market etc.), and (b) to generate a list of the tactics and programs
they have initiated to reduce structural costs and increase revenues.   This
could identify the need to sharpen or even redefine CORSA PRODUCT (goods and
services) to make sure it is both compelling and relevant. 

For example, while contacting other clubs, ask other Chevrolet clubs (Nova,
Vega, Chevelle) if they would be willing to form a strategic alliance (i.e,
horizontal integration) at some level to increase revenues and share
structural costs.      
While this is out-of-the-box and at first glance radical thinking,  it is my
experience and personal opinion that single make clubs are having difficulty
surviving, making club consolidation inevitable if our hobby is to survive.


2) Without the right longterm product definition, PLACE PROMOTION and PRICE
considerations will only have limited shortterm impact.    Make sure CORSA
is based on an economic (longterm, strategic, growth) business model and not
a financial (shortterm, tactical, survival) business model.   Basically,
this is the difference between creating value (leadership) for members as
opposed to controlling costs (management).   Besides, doing one is fun and
productive while the other becomes political over time and is not.   

3) One obvious economic measure is a zero base balanced budget initiative.
Confirm club bylaws require CORSA BoD to submit a balanced yearly budget to
its membership.   Every expense item must be justified as essential to
meeting the club's economic business model, and nonessential items
eliminated or marginal ones reduced wherever possible.  There are no sacred
cows - what was done in the past may no longer be appropriate. 

For example, on the revenue side, consider reducing PRICE over time
(membership dues) to keep value received high for current members and
increase the ability of CORSA to attract new members.  

4) PROMOTION and PLACE initiatives (programs, tactics) should only be
addressed after new PRODUCT and PRICE strategies have been defined and
agreed upon.  This can be a fun and rewarding win/win experience for the
club as compared to win/lose shooting in the dark at basically "anything
that moves".   Alignment is therefore a critical element. 

Using my horizontal integration suggestion above as an example, combining
events , newsletters , product discounts etc. with other national Chevrolet
clubs would be appropriate promotion and place initiatives.

I hope my comments help.    I am willing to help CORSA if there is interest
in my suggestions; however, keep in mind that I am a new member and
currently do not own a Corvair.    I will consider any 65-69 convertible
'donations' though ...

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of tim mahler
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 6:55 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Cc: corsabod at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> The tent & PR

This overall discussion makes it difficult to play nice, but i will try.

Would like to thank Jason, James and others for their positive statements --

and for constructive criticisms / suggestions.

The CORSA tent is already in Denver after being used in Iowa and Florida the

year before.
The accompanying magazine display rack is in Illinois. Neither have been 
scattered aroung the west.
I have not seen the mag. rack up since it was used in Illinois back in 2000.

A banner being shipped has been mentioned amongst board members, but not 
formally proposed.

As mentioned by Jason, the board is looking at long term goals to reduce 
expenses, increase revenues (not dues) for the long term.
For 2010, the numbers currently look good. 2011 projected numbers are fair 
to good. Projecting further out gets harder , and more worrisome. It is the 
long term -- more than 1 year, that keeps the board on its collective toes. 
So we are looking at fewer board members (more nimble, but fewer minds to 
find solutions); re-looking (again for the nth time) at 100% membership vs 
the insurance and benefit filing fee for nonCORSA members (per chapter or 
per non member ); and other bigger cost reduction items -- Some day in the 
future CORSA will need to rely more on volunteers like we did in the early 
days (70s early 80s).

I still firmly believe CORSA will survive -- even with all this negative 
banter on VV.

Oh,  a new membership chair is being sought. maybe two.  Needs to be 
energetic, willing to work with multiple personalities <the general public 
as well as the board>  Pay is terrible (no pay)  Contact president Jamie 
Reinhart.

Think positive to get positive results.  <if you think you are losing, you 
have already lost>

Have fun -- enjoy your Corvairs -- and the great people that are associated 
with them.  I will be visiting the Route 66 festival here in Springfield 
Illinois on "historic Rte 66"   the vehicle registration fee, on-site is $50

($35 plus $3 service fee pre-registered). so mostly the high dollar hot 
rods. Is a free cruise tonight that has everybody in it -- 1,000 plus cars 
of all makes and models -- except the high dollar ones.

tim mahler





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jason Cesana" <jacesana1 at cox.net>
To: "'James P. Rice'" <ricebugg at mtco.com>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Cc: <corsabod at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 9:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Corsabod] <VV> The tent & PR


> James said:
> "And let me say again, unless you are on the BoD, you do not know what 
> their
> thoughts are.  You do not know what sequence of "ought to be's" they are
> working on.  Unless, of course, you know how to bug their phones and tap
> into their computers.  Expecting the BoD to respond to any of us with 
> "their
> plans for bringing CORSA to fiscal solvency," or any other of the "ought 
> to
> be's" expressed here is simply ludicrous and unreasonable.  Even if you 
> are
> like Mark, a former President of CORSA, back in 197something."
>
> I have said time and time again IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE
> THINKING/DOING CALL US!!!!
>
>snip<


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