VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions July G&D

Miracles do happen.
My July G&D arrived today (july 2). The new system certainly has improved the delivery time but I realize there is a cost which may prove to be beyond my finances.
Tony

Heck, you overseas dudes are doing great now on getting your G&D's. Looks like you are now receiving them before some of us here on the west coast of the USA. Cool!

:grin:

Skippy,

I got mine Mon or Tues, don't remember for sure.....

Don't you have yours yet???

Bill.

I just recieved my first G&D, all I can say is Wow!!

Nope, don't have mine yet and it is very unusual to get my G&D this late.

:( :cry:

I'm thinking of using an overseas address to get my g&d delivered sooner...


epi

Hey Guys,

Check out this great 'recommendation' for joining the VCCA!!!!

The G and D is a great pub. We should all be proud and appreciative we have it!

Bill.

Hey! epi

Look at it this way......I got your copy by mistake in June, now you'll have to wait to receive my copy!....In September! :grin:

On a serious note, I've received my notification for my subs at the old rate. Do I pay them & wait for notification for the extra?
Or
Should I wait a pay it all at once?
My membership renewal is not due till September.

I recieved my G&D yesterday, July 6th...This is about a week sooner than usual.

I finally got mine yesterday. That is pretty late for me living as close as I do to the Finks in LA.

kipper,

I don't know the answer to your questions, they should be directed to the membership secretary?..

but, I did receive your july copy of the g&d yesterday, months earlier than normal, wouldn't you say?.. :grin: just proves the new system is working!..


epi

Kipper,
You might want to contact the membership secretary or VCCA Pres at the address in the G&D. My understanding all International Memberships are on hold while the mailing options are being worked out. I know that there are several people trying to get the cost as reasonable as possible. It will take some time to make a decision on the best option.

The new opportunity to get classified ads just at the same time as all others will make the international members calm down on the time of delivery as to G&Ds in the future. If we have to pay a triple cost to stay as members of VCCA, some will stay, but I am certain we will loose quite a number of International members in the long run. They will compare the price of the annual fee and what they get for that amount, not being able to use most of the other services. I think I would choose "a slow boat to China" = G&D deliveries, not first class to get a reasonable fee and still get the ads 1st of each month as now.

Now the classifieds are on the Chat, I agree with Solan.
Given the option I would go for a slow delivery, it is only the classified ads that make the G&D time specific.

Kipper
I agree, now the ads are online the delivery time is not important.
Tony

Here is an update for our international members.

We have in the past few weeks discovered some private international mail houses that can distribute to international addresses for us. The delivery time is better than the "Old Way" of US Periodical Rate (the service we used historically that is no longer available), and the cost is less than half of the present First Class (the only option, we thought, that existed).

Saturday, the Board approved a trial shipment for the August G&D using one of these services.

Here’s a summary (excluding Canada):
(1) Old way - delivery time was around 2 months, widely variable - but inexpensive.
(2) First Class - extremely fast delivery, but very expensive.
(3) This new trial company - probably 2 to 3 weeks delivery, cost of less than half of First Class, but somewhat more than the “Old Way.”

Canada is supposed to be 10 to 15 days delivery, at about half the cost of the First Class method.

The net result to our international members - faster service than in the old days, but slower than First Class in the past 2 months. More cost than in the old days, but less than First Class.

We do not yet have firm numbers to allow us to calculate exactly what this will do to membership costs for international or Canada. It will be less than double the old rate - much better than the triple cost we feared if First Class was the only option.

We are now debating if we should also offer the option of First Class and receive the G&D very fast, but at high cost; or using this newly discovered option as the default method.

As you say, with the Classified Ads being posted on the website on the First of each month, perhaps speed is no longer so important as it was.

The unfortunate reality is that we will almost certainly loose some international members as a result of this whole situation, no matter what we do. But now there is at least a good hope that the increase will not be so dramatic. We will keep you advised as we get more information.

Don Williams
President

Thanks Don,

This case cannot be easy to solve as long as quite a lot of the domestic regions have their ads for meets, rallies etc. in the G&D and to some extend are depending on the time of delivery of the magazine. Perhaps those ads could be treated the same way as the classified = Put on the webside, and in reasonable time both for club/region and participants???

We also have to remember that the International members are only 5% of the total, so the BOD must think more of the interest of the US-members.

Hopefully the problem is divided in one transport method for the domestic and one for the International??? That would help much.

The Old periodic is not an option any more, as far as I understand. This will leave us with two options;
First class delivery at a (too) high cost, and a reasonable, fully acceptable, but slower transport.

I will vote for the not so fast delivery as to G&D to the International members.

Don thanks for the update so far ,I agree with Erling the option that you discribed sounds more affordable and will help our financial situation especialy when you consider the exchange rate and the money order on top of the membership fees and the postal rates. I have been a member since 1979 and it would be great to continue.Jim 20372#

Ozjim
I agree with your comments except the time I have been a member.
Tony

I for one hope that the VCCA can find a solution that will acquire and retain the maximum International membership. These people are a valuable part of the VCCA Family. It truly is stimulating to be able to meet and greet [both in person and online] folks from other lands. Their contributions are substantial. And it is part of what makes the "world go round".

As an example Cathy and I will always cheerish the memories of Erling and Kari with us and our '19 FB last year in Colorado.

The tour in the FB last year was really a hightlight above Pikes Peak. Even if some trouble goes on with distribution of G&Ds we will renew our memberships in the years to come and certainly join the Anniversary in Flint. :love:

We are planning to get more people to join there. Be aware: we will bring a new sing-along-song for you.