VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions VCCA Magazine Ads

Folks,
As an officer of the VCCA, I represented it a few years ago at an audit by the IRS. Yup, the Feds. One of the things that they were concerned with was the services and privledges offered to dues paying members and what was offered to non-members. There are U.S. laws governing not-for-profit corporations and how they deal with members and non-members. I am not suggesting (nor are the IRS or Federal goons) that guests can not participate at VCCA events but there needs to be clear differences in what a member can do and limits to what a non-member can do. It is not just an opinion but law. So we must be careful not to offer too much to non-members. And read this carefully! This does not mean that guests can not participate! Just can't do everything!

That being said we have missed a real opportunity to promote the VCCA and the 45th Meet both to members, the automotive industry and general public. Without positive PR our entire hobby can be eliminated from the roadways, the special licenses, not needing to pass emissions testing. If you don't think it can happen just talk to some from the states and communities that have enacted zoning, storage or other laws limiting the use of our own personal real property. And not of that is the PR to get and keep people interested in the VCCA.

It sure seems interesting to me. We feel that the Chatsite is threatened so are taking action to promote it at GJ. There is positive momentum and many participating with ideas, contributions and commitments. Yet we will not do the same for the VCCA. It is this positive spirit that we need to have when we think about the future of the VCCA. IMHO!!!!!!

Don't give up yet Michael. They will eventually get the message.

Thank God we have people on this web site that care about the future of the VCCA.
Without the constent communication here, (IMHO) this club would just be another tag or plaque to hang on my car.
Our club covers a very large area and involvement to most is rare because of it. I for one rarely see another VCCA decal or plaque unless I attend a VCCA sanctioned member's only event. Maybe once or twice a year.
Because of that, I would like to see a lot more PR and advertising. The costs involved can be worked out through good PR and good ol'fashion politicing. It's worth a shot.
I think what's needed here is to wake up the rest of the members and get them involved in promoting this club. I checked my roster and I was amazed how many members there are in just my state alone. Why don't I see more of them here on Chatter? Why don't I see more VCCA cars at local or VCCA events? Why join a club and not participate?
Mr.Mack's efforts to promote Chatter at GJ is a great. We need more people like him. Mike's PR idea's should be sharpend and be carried out. I wish all the post's here could be read by all members.

Just bin doin' my maffa-mat-icks!

I recon we get an average of 20 new members to this site a week. (3 new site members yesterday. Take a look at the directory)

If by welcoming these people & showing them some friendship, advice & good manners we could get prehaps 15% of them to stay & join the VCCA. That's 156 new members a year, by my abacus. And that is without advertising the VCCA.
OK! I know my figures are flawed BUT.........

K.S. I agree we have done a purty-poor job of outreach (as the modern preachers say). Most of our actions in the past have been inward, it is hard to change attitudes, but really attitudes aren't what causes all the problems, behavior is the key ingrediant to success, we have good outreach behavoir efforts here and we need more.
A welcomeing committee needs to be thought about, thanks for making us aware of the fact that we are not doing a very job.

I shall try harder!

Hey RG:

(I added the bold to RG's thought to emphasize the point I want to address.)

I certainly don't want my thoughts to be construed as negative to YOUR region.....

I suspect RG's region is like many; probably most.

I think it's simply the old "80-20 rule." It's the same everywhere..... any group whether church, work, club, etc.

80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the folks / members / etc.

I also don't mean to be making excuses, I think it's just the way it (usually) is.

Bill.

I just got 2 new car mags.

OVER 34 listing for meets in June, July & August. Every club from Cadillac or Studebaker, to Auburn, to Edsel, to Hudsen, to Buick & 13 others. ALL CLUB meets for members but they are inviting guests and ALL other enthusiast. Guess you gotta have a Buick or what ever to show, but everyone is welcome.

But Not One Mention of VCCA's event. Makes the mind swirl.

Hey Bill, I agree with your 80/20 rule. But you gotta add, 100% pay dues.

Hell !!!!! I laughed all day at the remark; "Pick pockets" Still laughing about that one. That's one of the best remarks I have seen in years....

Michael41

Perhaps some one here will volunteer for the job of listing National Club Events in magazines (with the boards approval)...Would be an simple job as we have only one National event every FIVE years.

MIKE!
One point to consider about VCCA members and membership activity. The 100 % that pay dues break down like the dues are primarly a magazine subscription. It is a fact that $28 of the $30 goes to support the magazine. Less than 10% vote in elections with a ballot printed in the magazine, all candidates known and allowed biographial info, is published in the magazineThe only place that VCCA events are published are in The Magazine The club is built around The magazine There is never a meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, The B.O.D is the Power and control. and they carry the big stick.

To the majority of the VCCA Members they consider the one feature of belonging to VCCA is the magazine, and the items we advertise in The Magazine and the sanctioned events that take place are something to write about and print in THE MAGAZINE for the members to read! The loop is complete, here is my $30 send me the Magazine!

In that situation isn't it apparent to you that what we have here is a Magazine subscription and a small percentile of the members that want something more? which they do on a volunteer basis at practally no funding? I think the active members are quite good, They do manage to have an National Anniversary Meet every 5 years, at practally no outside or internal funding.What else can we do with $28 of $30 going to the Magazine...
How is a advertizing campaign or a large recruiting campaign to be mounted under these circumstances? Eh? The only deep pockets are the ones in your and my trousers,and mine aren't very deep.
Do you think it will be easy to implement any real change in the short run, maybe even the long run? if anyone knows how please clue us in... ( In MY Humble Opinion)

One final point, the person that used the pickpocket example was serious and should not have been ridiculed for the statement. we do not have the ability or the people to insure security of our cars and prevent pilfering of easily removed expensive small parts at our meets.... that is also IMHO

This site is basically a one man setup and operation, and he worked some long hours, along with others, then they proposed some logical changes and some of the needed changes were voted down at Flint.....

Hell man!... we can't even secure the site from the dreaded Active X control bug, nor come up with a good spell checker! When we get this mess straightend out ..then maybe we can work on recruiting, and selling some more magazine subscriptions!!!!

Along that line...as the powers that be say.."why give out the technical restoration information here, to even non-members, on the chat site when it is the club's asset. We can sell more magazines and charge for it!"

..sometimes I get mad as hell and have to pay for it one way or the other.....

Good point Macky. But in My Not So Humble Opinion, You can keep the Magazine. Sure, nice full color cover picture, and an occasional tech article, Junkyard adventure, or "My Story" is about all that's worth reading. Forget the "for sale", most stuff is sold anyway, and if I really need something I'll get it on line. Who's got time to read all that anyway. Reports from the BOD can be a simple flier a few times a year.
I guess I'm saying, The mag ain't worth $28 per year. Maybe cut it down to six issues and put more dues money where it can help our cause.
A welcome page here on Chatter is a good idea and we should try it out.
I have gotten more out of this web site than all the years of receiving the G&D.

I guess I missed something here, if the above is true then what better format do we have to show prospective members what we do and what we stand for and provide a hint that there is also a lot of fun to be had!

Great point RGwiz, it appears to me that even if we get 500 new members and lose 100 members for a net gain of 400 then we would increase the total revenue of the club by only $800 after paying for the magazine. The new dues increase for next year will be to pay for raising postal rates for the magazine. That $800 we would get from 400 new members hardly pays for one Board members expenses to attend their annual meeting.

This site and the VCCA.org site (which is grossly under used) could take up the slack, should the club go to six issues per year. That should increase the cash intake to ...WOW!

One final comment and I am outta here! If one takes a look at the photos of members as shown in the G&D it is very obvious that we have a rapidly aging membership and as a result will soon be having a rapid decline in the numbers of members due to age attrition. We had better stop worrying about what the dues from 400 net new members will do for the club and start worrying about getting that 400 in the club if for no other reason than to replace dues paying members that we are going to start losing soon. Bye.

How do we do it ? {make changes in PR & other general issues}
Simple, by “Positive Planning” which is, Working, Organizing, Sharing, Understanding, Developing Methods, Creating Ideas, Talking, Fostering Support, Forecasting, Communicating, Reviewing, Rethinking, Adjusting and then more work. No free lunch. Old fashion intelligent work.

Ridicule. Sure I do. Any statement made out of fear is just that, fear. Fear statements, like "pickpockets" is at best limiting, and at worst not a team spirited remark. They are simply road blocks in the planning process. Other wise the person would have said something like, "As far as events go, is there {or I have some} concern over liabilities for guests or members at our events?" This type of OPEN ENDED statement/question shows an openness and a desire for information. Then the question could have been deferred to VCCA insurance guy or someone with the knowledge to review and report on such an issue.

At 60, after many years of "education & experience" dealing with internal & external corporate marketing communications, team effectiveness and human development I'll call them like a see them. Silly questions get a silly response.

Clearly that statement was made as a stand against "guests" at this meet. Which is this person right. But it was disguised under the shadow of "liabilities." These type of remarks are known as "Idea Killers"

Just stand up, say what you mean and mean what you say. Some will like it, some won't, but at least no one has to guess what you mean. For me, clarity is the best way to communicate. And if people don't like it, it does not mean the idea or thought was bad or wrong. It simply means it was a thought, remark or idea. Give me 5,000 ideas to ponder, but not one idea killer.

I am a fare and respectful guy, just tell me my idea lacks this or that, ask for clarification or state your position. Then I'll ponder, review & reflect, than get back to you with MORE understanding because of your interest. Called positive team effectiveness. Gets more results than "pic pockets."

Every ones ideas or thoughts have some merit, unless people don't want them to......

Michael41

Speaking about getting a magazine once every two months for the G&D, I for one think that would be a big big mistake that the VCCA could make, For what It costs a year to belong. I belong to another car club and recieve their magazine every month and that magazine, Is what I look forward to, And for one of the reasons why I belong. I think that alot of members that belong to the VCCA, But, Who do not belong to a region club, Look forward to getting a magazine every month, Especially for what they pay a year to belong.
For those members, The G&D Is their only connection to the club unless they are connected to the chat site. Paying what It cost to belong and then getting a magazine every other month, I think the VCCA would further see a decline In membership. Just my opinion.

So then Donald you agree that being a member of VCCA is a whole lot like having a magazine subscription with some touring socializeing and fun thrown in, at your own cost.

Do you agree that a majority of VCCA membership think that the magazine is the primary reason for belonging to National VCCA? The numbers about getting candidates for the B.O.D and voteing show me that.

The Regions also have newsletters and most charge dues. To me the Regions are the working social power of VCCA ,other than the magazine, and the power hold that The National Board and the By-Laws have on the members, but that is not an issue with the majority of the members, since the magazine is their perception of what VCCA is...

I agree that there would be a giant decrease in membership by cutting back on having the G&D only ever other month, But since $28 of every $30 of ourdues go toward the magazine, membership numbers really has little to do with our financial well being. THE MAGAZINE overshadows every other issue pertaining to the club. Let us face up to the that fact, and get on with being a club with a magazine power base. Run by an editor and a group of hard working National Board Directors and 8,499 active members.

Go to Grand Junction, reunite with our VCCA friends, have fellowship, some competition for our cars, enjoy driving the cars on great tour routes...eat together, exchange ideas and skills,and Have Fun.

Make changes as needed later, by learning the rules and working openly within the rules if possible and change a rule or two by the rules if need be. give thanks that we have some visonairies that will have ideas for improvements and who will speak out, and that we have a window to speak out of.... namely this VCCACHAT.org site..

also we have found out that:
To be the editor of the G&D for umpteen years has created a position of great Power!

Based on my years of working with non-profits that publish magazines, do not take the statement that $28 of the $30 dues is for a subscription as being literally true. I believe the statement is a requirement of the post office so that our non-profit club can mail the G&D at a lower periodical rate.

I hope it does not cost the club $28 a year to publish and mail the G&D, because if it does, we are in deep doo-doo, what with a declining membership and increasing paper, print and postage costs.

Does the club know what the real cost per member is? Would a board member tell us what it is, or at least what % of the total annual VCCA budget is for the G&D?

Hey Don,
That is your introduction. Or any other BOD member can answer from the quarterly financial report. Or a person can request a copy of the IRS tax form since it is a public record.

Hey Chipper, I think you are referring to CHEVY50JIMS remarks, Not mine.

Sorry for the confusion. The Don I am referring to in my response is DW not you DB. He occasionally visits the site and is the best to respond.

Well you are as right as rain Ray, I never worked on a meet, especially one as big as the Anniversary meet.

But please let me clarify one point, I did not attack you. I attacked the statement. Which I do separate from the person. Only fair way to do it. BUT I DO APOLOGIZE to you, if my statement was/were directed towards you. That would be my error.

Next for about the past 12 weeks I have been working as a VCCA volunteer and attempting to get some sponsorship & support for the anniversary event. I'm working for John Mahoney.

And so far it is going "Ok." When I volunteered to do this I made a list of potential donors and candidates. The list is made up of typical car part's & service companies.

In total I came up with 74 companies, and then a list of another 70+ Regions. From the donors list I sent out 74 letters, with extra notes and key facts about VCCA, in an attempt to let them know we are real, fun & we spend serious money. In fact, VCCA members spend over $12,000,000. on the car hobby.

About 3 weeks ago I started my telephone following ups. And it's like any other letter/PR/sales campaign, find out where the letter filtered down, reach that person, sell the VCCA story, tell them what's in it for them, tell them how we could help them, offer suggestions, etc., etc., etc. And then ask for support.

When I volunteered for this task I ask for some data or marketing demographics, friends list, facts or figures but I was told there were none.

So in an effort to "sell' our story and get some support I went to work, digging out some marketing info. And I was able to come up with some good data. And like all data it's +- 10%, but none the less still very respectable data and facts. And much of my info/data went into the letter writing campaign.

But what became very apparent, very early is, Not That Many donors/ suppliers know much about VCCA. Like one guy said to me, "Mike I never dreamed VCCA was that big in member count or dollars spent." Those were sad words to me, especially since VCCA is 45 years old.

So after about 45+ phone calls and conversations with companies & people who SHOULD know ALL ABOUT VCCA, I became painfully aware of our lack of "PR" {selling our value}. I'm talking about companies that SHOULD have known VCCA. I mean possibly VCCA members buy {a guess} 25%, 50% or more from many of these companies. It is sad, very sad.

One of the reason it is sad is because on the Pr/Sales/Information path, "re-selling" is a BIGGER & SLOWER job than the original one. Because, what they know about us {perceptions} is NOT correct. So now ANY PR type campaign must first dispel the old perceptions, then create new ones. This job is SLOW, very slow. And there is very little reward in it for a long time.

It can be done, but if I were to guess I'd say a new perception campaign {if the club wants to do it} may take, depending on the budgets and methods about 1.5-2.5 years for the CORRECT VALVE & Perception of VCCA is known.

So on top of this sad news, I am ****ed, because what this means is that for the next 1.5, 2.5 years who ever handles the PR will be making up for other's lack of success, interest or at best errors.

Just between you & I, while I have found some success getting support, I'd say I have missed out on about $8,000.+- of support for this event. And I still have 30+ follow up calls to make. Yes I am getting some support, but no where near the levels we should be getting. So on chat when people says something like, We have our logo in Hemmings, that's enough, I'd like to spit on there shoe. It ain't enough, unless you want to be unknown. Oh by the way, so far Hemmings turned me down flat as far as any support for this years meet.

I've have learned several key facts because of my volunteer efforts.
1. VCCA's value is NOT known in it's own market place.
2. Perceptions of VCCA are incorrect.
3. There's a lack of awareness, information & facts about VCCA.
4. We have lost support & funding because of the lack of awareness.
5. Seeking support for an event is a very competitive process.
6. The "largest" clubs get the most funding/support.
{squeaky wheel process}

So I did, in some ways put my money where my mouth was/is.... And it has been fun.

As to me handling PR for VCCA, I am just not the right person, not enough expereince. And it would/should be a full time position. Not a part time, volunteer effort. In fact I'd go so far as to say any volunteer effort, on a part time basis, would be unsuccessful. To much market place confussion all ready exists. However, IF the person{s} has years of PR experience and understands how it is done completely they may pull it off.

Next my time does not allow me to take on the PR duties as I have more than 3 full time jobs. I go to school {full time}, provide free therapeutical sessions for children and families {part time} and I run 2 companies, both of which require travel. So by the end of the week I am dragging my self around.

So there I am. And once more I do apologize if I in any way offered you. But as you clearly know I detest "Road Block" Or "Idea Killer" statements. They are unproductive, stop all comments and often throw the principals of Managed Team Reinforcements in the gutter.

Sure I know you may not have meant what you said in certain ways. All I know is what I read.

And I am aware Ray of all your efforts and support for VCCA, which I am sure is and has been a great value to the club. But if 20% of what I read about the last BOD meetings, there is not a better group of candidates for some professional team building skills that include "Schedules of Reinforcement" that that group.

Then I see & read all of the "draining comments" on chat. Seems at times people lay-in-wait for any new idea to pounce on. And mostly with closed ended comments that kill 99% of all ideas as, unnecessary, dumb, silly or odd. Then tie that into the clear fact that Change is not a welcome subject with the majority of chat members and I am at my wits end.... So maybe I was lumping you into that group, and that's not fair, not at all, so I apologize.

I do have my fingers crossed that I can go to the Anniversary meet. But I have a big occupational scheduling conflict that I am trying to balance. But hopefully I will be able to attend.

Respectfully,
Michael Welch
Michael41