VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Forum Questions Business Process

It has been several years since I was a member ot the clubs listed below, so the information may not be current. The Corvair club classes vehicles at the field entrance exam. The classes are stock (like current VCCA judging), semi-modified (some mild changes) and full-modified (lots of body and hardware changes). The NCCC Corvette clubs had at least three classes. "Concours" was like current VCCA judging. There was one class "Street Show" that was a hood closed class that prohibited trailers and required you to prove that you drove your Corvette so many miles a month. They also had a modified class.

For attracting new members, The Mile High Region displays at the big car shows and has a booth at swap meets. We also put on "GM Fun Day" every August. The only requirement to show is that it has to have a GM part in it! We get some wild and wonderful stuff there, everything from a '39(?) Studebaker pickup (with a teapot mounted on the firewall, copper plumbing and faucets, and a small block Chevy) as well as a wonderfull restored '39 Buick Sedan and everything in between. It is a free show for the spectators, and we get lots of families and young people.

One final point: a lot of the people creating hot rods are not "young" (just younger than most of us). I think you will find that most are in their 40's and 50's, largely the same age many of us got into Vintage Chevrolets.

Chevy50jim is on a good path, has some great ideas and lots of experience.

See, all you gotta do is ask, and answers come rolling in.
Thanks Jim.

The way to make change in to make a motion. Conversation doesn't get it.

I don't see that the number of vehicles needs to be liminte because of the public and road conditions. Keep the tours on back roads.

I have been on eleven AACA and VMCCA Glidden Tours where they have up to 400 vehicles 1935 and older. The larger problem if finding facilities to handle a group that large. We get good enough instruction that we do not need to travel in a group and we are asked not th bunch up. Keep a distance between vehicles so the public can pass and if more that three vehicles bunch up behind you pull over and let them around.

The way to make change in to make a motion. Conversation doesn't get it.

I don't see that the number of vehicles needs to be liminte because of the public and road conditions. Keep the tours on back roads.

I have been on eleven AACA and VMCCA Glidden Tours where they have up to 400 vehicles 1935 and older. The larger problem if finding facilities to handle a group that large. We get good enough instruction that we do not need to travel in a group and we are asked not th bunch up. Keep a distance between vehicles so the public can pass and if more that three vehicles bunch up behind you pull over and let them around.

Hope the VCCA doesn't slowly die out....the current leaders should be able to see that the way things have been the last 4-5 years is not going to keep the club alive. If this was a business the stockholders would have demanded a change in direction....how much of a change is up to the membership and it will change, I hope before it is too late....

Remember "Time solves all problems" one way or another.

I have submitted a motion to the BOD, working on some more. Hope you guys are doing the same.

Good points.

I do not know, or have not had much contact with Board Members, but I will look into some motions. Just hope the "odd" posted in G&D get better as far as passing goes.

Tours aside momentarily, what other ideas do you guy & gals have for increasing VCCA growth & participation ???

What do you think of the idea of "going to meet & see" other clubs, and get them interested in VCCA's value.

Louis C, who are you ? No name, address, email address, State ?

Michael41

Ways the VCCA can increase membership, IMHO:

1. Welcome new members better; all I see people getting when they join is a membership card, no welcome to the club letter or information on any of the benefits of being a member, very cold attitude not very friendly. Even a form letter is better than nothing and it would not cost that much.

2. Survey the people who stopped their membership, since these people joined once they must have some interest in Chevys and the club. Maybe they will re-join or at least tell us why they dropped the club. Some maybe sold their car or died or lost interest but until we make an attempt to find out why they choose to leave us it is just guessing at the reasons. This is the best way to find out if there is something the club needs to do in order to hang on to members. I can't think of anything more important than this.

3. When I have tried to get people interested in the VCCA I get 2 replies: 1st reply is that they never heard of the club, 2nd reply is that they were members and felt that it was too cliquish for them, felt like outsiders when attending shows.

4. Has the VCCA ever advertised in some of the national car magazines or publications? If so, how much and how often? It does pay to advertise….has Chatter ever been advertised anywhere? Can we advertise in other club magazines, like the AACA?

5. Look at the successful clubs and see what they have done to stay alive and active, likewise look at the clubs that have failed and see why…usual reason is that they appealed to such a limited number of people they could not stay alive.

6. Members of the VCCA need to be always aware that their behavior reflects on the club and the club is judged a great deal by even one person’s behavior, one negative member can offset the efforts of 10 positive members and one person being negative can and has driven people out of the club and has kept potential members from joining. We should always be on our best behavior at meets, shows and on Chatter.

7. Has the VCCA ever purchased mailing lists from Chevy orientated magazines? If people are buying monthly editions of these magazines I would think they have an interest in Chevys. I have different types of Chevys, a muscle car, several restored to stock cars, and a street rod and trucks and I buy Chevy magazines that deal with each of these types of vehicles and I’m sure others do to.

8. Purchase the mailing lists of Chevy related models if possible, Corvair clubs, Vette clubs, Camaro clubs, etc, etc. and send them something about the VCCA even if it only a post card with our web sites on it.

I agree, Ideas 1. - 6. are good ones. And I'll bet there are 100 more new and experienced members can come up with.

I noted in a previous Post, Any Marketing & or Membership Campaign to grow & improve VCCA should have 10- 20, On Going processes. Each being headed up by a "manager" who has a team assisting in the effort.

Being some what new to VCCA, maybe some of this is, or has been achieved, as far as research data, poling, exit reviews etc.

So Louis C., who are you ?
Michael41

I am someone who joined the VCCA in the 70's and have seen what is happening to the club the last 5 years or so and I think if we don't open the club to include more or diffferent types of Chevy lovers than we will be another elite club on the ash heap along with some other clubs that only appealed to a very limited number of people. Maybe that is what the majority wants; stay pure or die...and if they have the power, then so be it, but I think most of us want the club to stay around.

All we have to do is look at what is happening, if things stay exactly the same, where will the club be in 10 years? Reality is hard to accept sometimes.

PS I added to the list so how do you feel about 7 and 8?

Oh, and the reason for my lack of information is because of #6 above. “Once burned, twice shy.”

Thanks Louis, You do have a lot of experience, much more than me. I joined last year.

specifically, 7. & 8. are great ideas. generally, all ideas should be tabled, reviewed and prioritized. Then the "best" 10-15 planned and put into action.

As far as 6. goes, people have to make their own decision.

For me, it's easy to be me so I don't worry about what other people say. I lead and believe in respect. Period. And there is really no way I can alter or change other peoples views, beliefs, methods or behaviors. And I have seen some pretty odd stuff, even on this site, I have been labeled, "Uneducated" "Unaware"
"Disrespectful" and a few other fun comments. But in the REALITY of life, none of them are true.

And at least from me that when a name is associated with a note or comment, it leads a bit more value. But that's just my view. And regardless of my views, you seem to have some wonderful ideas. Thanks for your followup, response and I respect your anonymity.

So what kind of Chevy do you own ? You may, if you choose respond via my email address. I have a fun 41, spec. Del. Coupe.

Michael41

FYI,
A welcome letter has been sent to all new members in the past and I understand that it is being done today.

Several times the people who did not renew during a period of time were sent a letter enquiring about the reason. The majority were not returned in the SSAE enclosed. The people who responded basically indicated that their situation had changed and that they were no longer interested in the VCCA. It could be done again.

Without visionary leadership the VCCA will founder and eventually sink. It is up to the membership to encourage forward looking people to run for office, elect them with their votes and then support their efforts to modernize the club and direction.

Without inspired and inspiring members we are done. The suggestions (including motions to the BOD) are good and can lead to a temporary reprieve but [IMHO] without true leadership it will only result in a bump in the road. As someone much smarter that I said “If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem!” It is still true! Ignoring it or claiming to not care only helps support the current situation. The silent majority is claimed to support the status quo by those in power.

Is it just me, or are there hundreds of members who know exactly what will happen, but very, very few with active ideas on changing the direction. Maybe it's just me !!??? **

And once more maybe it's me or my ideas, but when I {and others} post a few concepts, thoughts or ideas others line up to say what wrong with them, why it won't work or, the ever popular, that was done before, do-da, do-da!! As I was told once, "Some folks would rather Pee on an idea than their own foot."

Pardon me for saying this but, that method of "Killing Ideas" Quickly & Permanently removes anyones desire or inspiration.

And I say here-here to: “If you are not part of the solution, then you are the problem!”

** Now truth be known, I am SURE there are hundreds of members that could assist VCCA in many ways. Maybe thousands.

Michael41

Michael 41, I think it may have been Gallager or some other smarty pants that said "yesterday is gone, tomorrow is a vapor and too unpredictable to worry about so live for today, actually live for this second."....Maybe The Doers and shakers (The powers that be) are practiceing that theory?

It seems to me that the way the rules, by-laws and regulations are set up We are assured that there will be very few changes, just one every now and then.....Kinda like .... Well I guess we can do another one of those Feel Good things and slow the progress back down to a reasonable low level".

And as a Compassionate Conservative type, I feel that change isn't always positive! Know what I mean?

I just wonder, With the size of the VCCA and the number of members who belong, Could It be that we do not need the number of elected board members to run the club and to spend the money to have them get together once a year or how often they get together. It seems to me that with the problems that have risen, And the computer age we now have, I do not understand why they cannot handle alot of these Issues useing the computer Instead of having to wait till the next board meeting, When these Important problems come up and some action needs to be taken, You mean we have to wait, Many months before It can be brought up and handled. Why should we have such a long delay, This Is the computer age. I also think that If you run for election to be a board member, That you must have a computer. As I understand It, One board member has no computer. One final thing. There has been very few people making comments about all the things going on, Lets hear from some of you others who click on to read the postings and give some of your thoughts on what should be done to Improve and to run the club. :)

Chipper is right when he said:


In order to do this we must know where the canidates stand on the current issues affecting the VCCA.

In order to maybe help achieve this I have submitted another motion which is a:

"Motion to require candidates for national offices to state their views or answer submitted questions on issues concerning the VCCA in the G&D."

Now if this motion makes it out of committee to the BOD they will have to deal with it and we will then see if the leaders really want the general membership to know where they stand on the issues.

We gotta try to do what Chipper said...

I would LOVE to see that happen !!!!

As a former member of the BOD, I can assure you that Louis C's motion will cause a problem for many on the Board. They have voted more than once to prohibit campaigning and limit candidates to the paragraph published in the G&D. Without any written penalty I wonder what would happen if a non-candidate got involved promoting another member? And I don't know a reason why a personal letter to BOD members or candidates asking direct questions on their position on issues should not be sent nor an appropriate answer received. The BOD members are elected to represent the membership not their personal views.

Remember, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Any other ideas?

How about letters to the G&D Editor on these issues? Or to get more people involved? Think they would get published? If not what would be the result? Think it would help point out the control that some people exert over VCCA business.

Any more ideas yet?

Great thoughts, information & ideas.

I feel, and know the ONLY way to make change happen, is to make change happen.

There has been discussion about an "appropriate" process for changes. With that in mind here are my thoughts and the actions I plan to follow through on:
1. List ALL IDEAS for desired Changes & Improvements.
2. Take list to your region meeting, discuss & file motions.
3. Call & Email other regions for thoughts & support.
4. Mail Motions to appropriate person [s].
5. Email a copy of motions to ALL Board Members, and or,
6. Snail Mail copy of motions to Board members w/out email.
7. Follow up weekly, monthly or as appropriate.
8. Check this site & Ask your region members to do the same.
9. Volunteer to help with the changes.
10. Hold people accountable.

I trust these offerings have added some food for thought or value and I thank you for your responses.

As known, Change is slow and involves these 6 primary Emotional levels and Normal times lines for each phase. Some of these time lines are specific to each phase of a change, others will over lap.
1. Thought Phase. 4-8 weeks.
2. Understanding Phase. 4-8 weeks.
3. Integration Phase. 6 - 12 weeks.
4. Transition Phase. 12-16 Weeks.
5. Acceptance & Comfort Phase. 12-16 Weeks.
6. Appreciation. 6 - 12 Months.

More importantly, Each phase WILL cause some levels of discomfort, worry and insecurity. If the change {s} do NOT cause these feelings, possibly they were not worth while.

Over all Change is VERY difficult for ANY of us to achieve. As they say, Change is not for the weak of heart.

Best Wishes, Good Luck & Keep the Faith !!
Michael41

That is a good plan Michael41.

If that plan don't work have a plan "B"...get serious about Change.
Do like the American Colonists and also the auto workers did back in the olden days..organize, organize, organize.....Fight!, Fight for right, Fight... Fight.

Just remember when you go to your Region Meeting there may be a whole lot of opposition to change as you perceive the changes that should be made.... change is sometimes feared and opposed just because it is change....Good, Bad or Ugly

I Totally agree Mack {& others}

And I hear you well, because THERE IS ALWAYS opposition to ANY change. Normal human functioning is to question, oppose and learn, until a level of understanding develops. I deal with every hour of every day with client & every student.

And really, most opposition is a good thing. Makes us rethink & reconfirm our ideas and hone in on the value of the change. And while this process may NOT change our goals, there has never been to much though.

I believe I understand very well your thoughts on Organize, but not on fight. If I bring, pertinent, well meaning, validated, wise, informed, studied, respectful idea to someone, and they do not treat me or the idea with respect, I leave. Life's to short to hang out with "blind" or "disrespectful people." So, no fighting, not for a car club. But I do understand your words.

All of this, as I and others have pointed out is a GREAT reason for ALL current and potential Board members to communicate there goals, clearly and openly, BEFORE the membership votes.

Oh my pan B.? I already have that in the works.

I leave the site with this, NOT all changes are for the good. But we never know which ones are of value unless we openly consider them as possible.

Michael41

Michael and Chipper and I and others have said this and this is THE KEY to keeping the VCCA alive and growing. IMHO.

Asking members to vote for candidates without knowing what the candidate’s goals is anti-democratic; keeping voters in the dark is opposite to our basic belief of having an educated electorate and an exercise in futility, IMHO. Why should I vote at all, the way it is now is a popularity contest not an election.

The things that need to be changed can be changed by the leaders and the BOD in a heartbeat, and if we know what we are voting for these changes would be done by these elected leaders (The basic principles of a reprehensive democracy, IMHO).

The majority of us don’t know all of the candidates personally, so throwing darts at the ballot I guess is the way to vote for me since the ONE PARAGRAPH ONLY blurbs don’t tell me anything important about the candidates.

How about the right of the members to assemble and directly conduct business of the Corporation (VCCA)! change bylaws and make motions, Second motions and vote, adopt resolutions!!!!!

Mr. President, when and where are we going to have a MEETING of the MEMBERS of VCCA?????

and Where??????

a written letter addressed to you will follow.....anyone want to sign it????

It don't seem that is a any concern of anyone but me........

i'll sign it mack,mike

I'll lead a tour to the designated location or
follow anyone else who wants to go..

Well that is three of us, just 8,496 more to go!