VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Forum Questions Suggestion to improve VCCA logo

At the risk of....

I'd like to 'talk' about our logo for a minute or two.

I'm out at a lot of non-VCCA auto events with my Columbia River Jacket on or an application in my pocket, or both. And, I am aware there is 'confusion' in prospective member's minds brought on by our VCCA logo. The '4 - 6 - V-8' clearly indicate a wide range of years are 'accepted' by the club. HOWEVER, the 'teens-type' car which comprises a significant part of the logo leads folks to think it's a club of only (really) old cars.

My suggestion would be that we do not have any specific era, let alone specific year, car on the logo. Rather there should be a design or 'art work' that is clearly automobile-like; but not a specific year car.

Further, if the car is going to be 'an artists rendition type car' it should probably be smaller. That would give us more room (space) to make the club name larger or add a word or two.

We do have a terrific club; but 'new blood' is critical to any organization. Especially a 'volunteer' organization like the VCCA. I think we'd have a better shot at new (and 'younger') members with a logo that didn't
seem to so strongly emphasize a 75 year old Chevy.

A key thought here would be 'you only get one chance to make a first impression.' And with so much of our logo space being taken up with a '75 year old car' our logo really does suggest we are a club dedicated to only (really) old cars.

My thoughts have no intention of de-emphasizing the older cars. I'd just like to be sure prospect members understand that they aren't our only area of interest at the VCCA. And, frankly, I think our logo does give that impression.

Errrr.... better change '75' to "85 year old car." Shaky math on Monday's!!! Sorry.

In my opinion the car does not make or brake a decision to join our wonderful club.. With that logic the AACA would have folded many years ago. As they use a 1896 ( I think ) Dureya on their club logo. Have since 1935...

I guess a local VCCA club can make up a special different logo patch for their club to be used on their jackets...

This is what our AACA club did in the 70's, we still had the AACA national name on it but we also had our local club name & contact phone number on the patch and.......wait for it now.......a gator driving a car (what else?).

We had some members with art talent do the logo for us after discussion. We also made coth hanger type door banners (12"x12" or so) to hang on the car doors during local shows, parades, etc. Used long coth ties on the top corners so we could tie it onto whatever to hang it on the outside of the door.

Since there is not a local VCCA club near me, I thought that each differently named local club would have their own regional logos to wear along with the national logo.

I agree with VCCA Son. In our newly formed Keystone Region of VCCA we have 34 members. According to the membership applications, the 34 members have 63 pre-1980 Chevies. Out of the 63, only 19 are pre-war and 44 are post war.

I realize that is only a sampling of Central Pa. but I think that ratio also holds up on the VCCA Show fields.

If poeple want to join a club, they will look beyond the name and logo and will research to see what the club is really about.

As far as attracting young people is concerned, they will join when they are ready. Most of us have only gotten into the hobbie as we became empty nesters and finally have a few extra bucks. So don't rush them.

I live about 5 miles from the Hershey Show field and absolutely hated the "AACA Hershey show week". We would leave town so we didn't have to deal with the antique car crap. BUT, after I bought my first old Chevy and showed it at Hershey in 1996, we got hooked. Now I look forward to having 250,000 Antique car enthusiasts coming to visit each year. In fact we will be inviting all VCCA Members to our 1st Annual Keystone Region Picnic at our house Thursday evening Oct. 6th, 2005. So while you are in the area for "Hershey" stop by and say hello and have a hamburger or hotdog.

I got my May G&D today and I noticed that on pages 3 & 13 there are logos for regional VCCA clubs in their ads.

Maybe local logos designs could entice the more 'modern' Chevy lovers...

It would be a lot easier to re-make a local club logo than the national logo.

Hello All,

In my 65 years I have owned a 1955 Chevrolet convertible full power - a 1958 Chevrolet Belaire and a 1995 Chevrolet Farm truck - and two or three F---'s.
I loved them all!
But now I have arrived! I now own a 1931 CHEVROLET FIVE WINDOW SPORT COUPE.

Even though I loved all the other cars I like the logo as it is. It is VINTAGE like a good wine.

I do feel there should be consideration for all the great guys in our orginization.

The old cars are becoming less and less available.

To survive as an orginization we must accept - ROCK AND ROLL - if we have to!

Best Regards, John

I agree with John and the others who want to keep the current national logo.

Local logos can be whatever the local members want it to show; if they think that makes a difference in getting new members.

*******************************************
PS--John, is your '31 all finished now? How about posting a picture.

Not ready Yet! Dealing with conjestive heart failure. But OK! The heart is an unbelivable mussel. Have been working on the car daily. Soon will be posted a most beautiful "31".

Regards, John

It might be a good idea to 'test' the idea of 'updating' the logo by changing a few regional logos and see if that has any impact on getting new members. Sort of 'market research' like big, major corporations.

I don't believe people join or do not join VCCA because of the logo. If they see a group of Chevrolet owners out having a good time they will think this is a group I would like to join. If they see some nice Chevrolets at a show and come over to look we have the chance to sell the club. We as members can do much more to attract new members than the logo printed on a piece of paper will ever do.

Let's go Touring down the Back Roads.

I agree Back Roads, VCCA don't need to spend money on something like changeing a logo, that isn't the cause for our membership not growing anyway, This is a hobby activity and too many younger familys have to dig and scratch just to keep a float, there is too many things out there to spend money on. We need to admit that everyone don't share our enthusiasms about old Chevrolets in stock condition.

I am a new member to the VCCA, as well as a current member of the Buick Club (BCA) and I can confirm to you that it was or was not either of these club logo's that enticed me to join. I joined these clubs to facilitate my knowledge of the vehicles, to have somewhere to turn to be able to obtain knowledgable advice as I am working on my cars. If the support is there the members will be too.

MONEY!!!!!!!!!

My chapter is in the middle of creating {& paying for the vcca embroidery logo on some hats.........IS this change immanent ??

I'd sure hate to go back to my chapter and tell them the $400.-500. investment we made to make money was all for nothing.

PLEASE OFFER ME A TIME LINE & THE BOARDS THINKING ON THIS ISSUE ASAP!!!!

For what it is worth, I’m a NEW VCCA member I will say that I have heard several times a remark like: “VCCA is for old folks and old cars” by younger people that would be good members. So clearly there IS an Image & Perception issues. And from my 25 years of Marketing experience, any image issue is a problem. AND perceptions are realities.

Mike

MONEY!!!!!!!!!

My chapter is in the middle of creating {& paying for the vcca embroidery logo on some hats.........IS this change immanent ??

I'd sure hate to go back to my chapter and tell them the $400.-500. investment we made to make money was all for nothing.

PLEASE OFFER ME A TIME LINE & THE BOARDS THINKING ON THIS ISSUE ASAP!!!!

For what it is worth, I’m a NEW VCCA member I will say that I have heard several times a remark like: “VCCA is for old folks and old cars” by younger people that would be good members. So clearly there IS an Image & Perception issues. And from my 25 years of Marketing experience, any image issue is a problem. AND perceptions are realities.

Mike

May I add my comments please.

In my experience this issue should be discussed, as we are doing here and then a fast and accurate study should take place with POTENTIAL VCCA members.

The ONLY way to know what people are looking for, is to ask them. And after 25 years of marketing studies, I can assure everyone, 90% of those asked will tell you.

This data could then be used to profile & evaluate VCCA’s benefits and services, develop a priority list and then make some clear and connecting decisions. With out this data, all we will be doing is asking the Fox if his calculator is correct on the chicken count.

And if may aid VCCA in this matter I would be happy to talk to any one about it.

Michael41

I agree, that perceptions are for real. Our mission statement and views on our club's ideals are very well stated. Information that we can add to the mission statement is the social aspect of the club and it's activities. We have found at the Lone Star Region that it is a family affair that keeps our club active. We also need to emphasise that a restored Chevrolet is not a requirement for membership, just a interest in Vintage Chevrolets and associating with others of a like interest will be enough to participate in club activities. We try to balance the social and tech aspects so that no one is left out of our activities.

I don't believe we should change the direction and mission of the club in order to gain new members, just for the sake of numbers.

Hello All,

I have more thoughts on this issue.

The problem here seems to be two questions?

What is acceptable? What is not acceptable?

On the one side there are the purists. On the other side there are the trendie groupe who want modification of some sort.

I personally dislike chopped & channeled. To me it destroys the original look of the car beyond repair.

I do however like resto rods where the drive train is modified without destroying the original look of the car.

These modified resto rods are bringing big money.

I respect the VCCA as a purist oragization and it should always be what it was formed for - To preserve Chevrolets in there pure form.

The only way to please everyone would be to have a seperate division.

ORIGINALS AND MODIFIEDS

I have tried to be as honest as I can without offending anyone - fat chance.

Regards, John

Regards, John

Forget the logo, people make clubs not patches.

My feelings are that any group that is friendly and cheerful and warm to people will grow and groups that are clichés and act 'better than thou' and act like snobs lose members.

If we greet people with handshakes and smiles and in a warm welcoming atmosphere we will not have any problems getting new members. On the other hand if we act standoffish and talk down to strangers or pick their car apart or act superior to them we will not only lose the potential members but current members as well.

We have to go out of our way to make strangers feel welcome; not just stand stoic with our little group of old friends.

Remember the saying, "Honey, not vinegar attracts flies"

IMHO

Gator,

Very well put. You can tell your an educated man.

John

gator: agree with john gill. you got yer s**t, er f**d, together. regards, mike

Thanks John, and you are a handsome devil also...LOL... you are too Mike...LOL

I look at the groups that I like to be in and it just makes common sense to me...

Hope and pray that everything goes well with you and yours.

While I am not a member other than by this forum,
here is my thought.
The logo doesnot make the club, it is the people that stand under the logo. Friendly people make a friendly club (which is what I have found). Changing the logo will make the club (organization) that much harder to be recognized by borderline members.
Gators suggestion of having a local logo has merit.
Tony

Gator,

I almost forgot! I don't like flies!

Now what does that mean!

The "Gator" says it all! When I got interested in the VCCA it was because of the common denominator of Chevrolets, it had nothing at all to do with the logo. If a change in Logo is to be considered it should take the form of the very first "Chevrolet" marketed.