VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Events, events & more events !!

I was reading my May 2007 issues of Hemming's & Classic Car Magazine last night and I'm amazed at how many car "functions & events" there are for us car guys. Yes!! the car hobby craze is here, and in full swing.

One of the things I notice is between Hemming's & Classic Car they have collectively listed over 300 events {+- a few}. Then add the events taking place in Southern Cal. and it's mind blowing. Maybe as many as 500, not to mention over 100 planned auctions and charity events. Wow!

There were events listed such as car shows, raffles, drive-ins, drive to’s, general meets, tours, swap meets, club events etc., etc., etc. All sponsored by or for car clubs, cities, towns, states, Car product co's, or car groups like Fords, Lincoln's, Mustangs, Packard's, Oldsmobile's, Willies, Pontiac's, Corvettes, Cords, T-Birds, Cadillac's, Hudson's, Tuckers, Allard's, Cobras, GM’s, Trucks, Convertibles, multiple “Chevy” listings, Woodies, Hot Rods, Rat Rods, Stockers, Vintage, Classics and more.

And many listings by car clubs like Mustang club, Muscle Car club, Comet club, El Camino club, GM Truck club, 55-57 Chevy Club {s}, Mopar club, Hemi club, N. E. Chevy Club, Impala club, Ford club, Model T & A club, Chevelle club, Corvette club, AACA and about 25 more. Wow !! just pick your venue & go have fun.

Funny though, out of the 300 + events and 50 + club listings there was just one ad for a VCCA and NO event listings. Yet there are 30+ VCCA events listed in the April G&D. Hmmm ??? We must be the quietest car club in the history of America. And PR notices are free, go figure!

Oh well, to late to do anything about it now, summer’s here. So get the kids/grand kids, filler-up, take to the highways and have fun. As Ms. Shore says, “See the USA in Your Chevrolet. America’s the greatest place of all.”

Michael41

Mike, one thing I have noticed is that many of our local Lone Star Region is that many have not been reading Hemmings for the last several years, including myself, due to all the internet sites and eBay.

I recently renewed Hemmings and I am reading it again.
15 years ago I didn't think you could restore and maintain a Vintage Chevrolet without reading Hemmings every month, I ordered many parts and catalogs from there and checked all the Texas events.

The internet is ok, but, I still like the hard copy of Hemmings and the G&D and VCCA Region newsletters for some good relaxing reading.

Umm, OK. Not sure you got my point...but!

Mike, I see where you are going with this and I agree. Other than G&D there is very little mention of VCCA events in other publications. We did a little better in the June edition of Hemmings Classic Car with 4 VCCA events noted on page 12 on the "Club News" page, but every one of them should be announced and maybe some one should be bugging Hemmings to visit some VCCA events and do some write ups.

I absolutely agree!


Who wants to volunteer for the job of getting our "Upcoming Events" items (one at a time, of course) sent in to Hemmings, etc, etc? And then stay on top of sending new events in, to all possible publication sources, as they are announced?

I believe Hemmings can be posted via the internet, not sure if that also translates into being published in the paper edition. But both are free.

Let me hear from you, we'll probably give you a position on the Marketing & Publicity Committee, to go along with the effort.

Don W.
Prez

It should be the responsiblity of the region, host or chair person of the event to seek the publicity by getting the event listed in Hemmings or wherever. Not the responsibility of a committee. However, the Publicity Committee, Touring Committee and Board Members should encourage this to be done.

If you look at the June 2007 issue of Hemmings Classic Car Magazine, turn to page 12, this page lists June events (June issue). It has a Ford section, Touring section, General Motors section, Chryslers section, etc. Under General Motors four of the five events listed are V.C.C.A. Did a V.C.C.A. member submit this to Hemmings Classic Car or did the editors seek the information so they could have more then one event listed under GM compared to 9 FoMoCo events ??????
Does anyone know ???

If a V.C.C.A. member did the submission, then that is a GREAT member.

I don't want to be a killjoy here for a position on the new Marketing Committee but I have a suggestion for the VCCA policy manual. Each region or touring committee should have a person responsible for publicity and advertising any event that you want to advertise, be it local, regional, or National. At the Lone Star Region we have a Senior Advisor Emeritus, that does that for us.

He is the one and only Roy Chambers (Oldchevyman), I would suggest he is the best.

Oh Mac.........Really.

Ok VCCA PR: It's my view that VCCA desperately needs PR. And when it comes to PR, there are some "givens"

1. Notices of [i][/i][b]ALL VCCA EVENTS must be presented to the PR
committee from each region, or region rep. [/b]

2. Information MUST be presented in a format {yet to be designed} that offers as much info as possible.

3. Information MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE PR COMMITTEE AT LEAST 2-3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE. This time line is REQUIRED by most publications.

4. Once PR forms are designed, they will be sent to each, region presidents, BOD & area reps.

Costs: As a wild "guesstimate" I project that THE PR committee will need about $250.00-500.00 per year. {Postage, data base, supplies, copies, time etc. etc.} If it does cost us aprox. $500.00 per year that would reflect a savings of about 100% from a typ. PR firm.

If any one feel this may be a good idea, let me know. I may have some one who would volunteer.

BUT-I say BUT, it will REQUIRE FULL & COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING of EVERY VCCA MEMBER ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING & WHY. And THE SUPPORT OF EVERY SINGLE MEMBER, REGION & BOARD PERSON.

So what do ya think? Good idea or shall we continue to be the Wolds most undiscussed car club.

As a newer member I'm not sure if this is already the responsibility of someone in VCCA. If it is please call me by midnight tonight. We really must talk.
Thanks
Mike41

Mac says, "Each region or touring committee should have a person responsible for publicity and advertising any event that you want to advertise, be it local, regional, or National." NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I do agree about 10% with Mac. BUT first, The best way to predict the future is to look at the past. And simply stated VCCA PR IS NOT WORKING CURRENTLY.

All you gotta do is look at VCCA PR to realize it's NOT working. And there's never a reason to ask people to do a job they are not willing to do. Simply doesn't make since and if you do it should be titled, planning for failure.

Now!!! {Mac's 10%} ALL REGIONS SHOULD & MUST SEND OUT info/pr/notices/pictures etc. to ALL LOCAL news-papers, city organizations, charities, community folks like elected officials, community bulletin boards, schools, colleges, local radio & TV folks, camera clubs, bands, local supporters & or donors, other car clubs, etc. etc. etc.

If VCCA ever has a PR Committee they will/should spend time attempting to get the events covered in larger/national magazines, trade publications, industry professionals, writers, authors, VCCA supporters, "partnership Co.'s" etc. etc. etc.

That's my 2 Cents
Mike41

Cordman, MrMack......I agree that it should be the resonsibility of each region to post an advertisement locally, regionally or nationally for their events..........but think about this......

For the sake of discussion, let's say there are 100 VCCA regions. If we left it up to each region to advertise their own events as we have to date, and say 75 regions were having an event in a given time period, and 25 of the 75 of those regions decided to advertise, that would only give the VCCA 33% of the possible publicity if could have. Not a very good advertisement for VCCA. Advertise in national publications.......so what if a region's event was relatively local and we didn't really expect a lot of people to attend.......our name is still out there.......and it shows that we are active and real and doing things. The public, the car collector world knows we are alive, well and doing things.

That's what it's all about, to let the world know what VCCA is doing.....whether it's a local 10 car tour or a national Grand Junction hoopla. We, the VCCA, should want the collector car world, the car restoration world, the car preservation world to know that VCCA is out there doing the things they like. Come see us, big or small, and come join us. We're doing what you like to do.

My humble opinion..........we should have a central person, a clearing house approved by the BOD, to disseminate the information to the national hobby publications.

The more our name is spread and seen, the more people are apt to join us and support the preservation and restoration of Chevrolets. That is what we all want, isn't it?

So I must agree with Mike in this respect and I have to say apparently it has not been working well, so maybe we should fix it. We apparently need more presence, this is a way to get it.

EXACTLY, Ken48.

And why expect 75 or 100 people to re-invent the wheel for each event - versus one central person who knows all the contacts and publications, etc.

So like I said before, who wants to volunteer????

I happen to differ with your opinion and let's judge the argument by what is working, not just something that is being dreamed up, one size that fits all.

You can differ all you want Mac, you have that right. But just do the math.

1. For the past 3 years I've been in the club I have seen LESS than 20 notices about VCCA events in major publications. The SAME publications people with money and potential members READ.

Tally:
Past 3 years.
National Publications noting VCCA events, aprox: 20
Actual VCCA events, aprox: 125
Score:
Mac 20
PR Failure 105
Checkmate!


2. Regions & members WILL BE INVOLVED. They will simply send event information to a central person. It's called Team Work.

Game Over! But always nice chatting with you Mac. You share a different perspective that makes me think.

Michael41

MrMack, I respect your opinion and your right to express it. I would like you to do the math though.......look in the latest edition of G&D and count the number of VCCA events listed there.........then look in the latest edition of Hemmings Motor News, or Hemmings Classic Car, or any other national auto collector magazine that lists club events and count the number of VCCA events published in them for the same time period......then tell me what the ratio is. That's how many fewer people are seeing what VCCA is doing or even that there is a VCCA. I think we need to let more people know there is a VCCA, and what VCCA is, and what VCCA is doing. Don't you?

The VCCA regions, such as yours should continue to advertise their events locally and in G&D as you have been doing, but should also notify a point person to advertise the event on a national level in the recognized collector car magazines so everyone sees it. This may not bring one single additional person to your event, but it will raise the awareness of a lot of people that VCCA is out there doing things.....being active.....maintaining it's heritage.........being progressive by accepting Chevrolets up to modern years....being there for all Chevrolet lovers willing to restore and preserve Chevrolets to exacting standards.

Come on MrMack, it can't hurt anything, can it?

I would like to take the opportunity to add a comment on direction or target.

The person we wish to contact with our outside ads are either, VCCA members that do not attend a Region, or a prospective member.

For insurance purposes anyone attending a VCCA function MUST be a member of VCCA, therefore we are not solicitating people to attend functions, but to join the National VCCA and then our local Region. When that is accomplished he will be subjected to the local tours and activities by the G&D and Club newsletters.

A note from my perspective here and some clarification from where I sit.

PR does NOT help of gain us members. {as a direct effort}
PR is NOT a Sales tool.
PR is NOT an Advertising process.

PR does get a bit gray, but over all it's a clear and separate process from sales, recruiting, or advertisements.

Another way to see it is, PR offers information on the process's, strengths, events and over all condition of the club in it's connection to the car hobby industry. It also exposes us for who we are, and or want to be know as. This is known as Brand Strength & Market place Image. Done effectively that will build and secure our "position" within the car hobby world. so next time someone takes on the role of seeking donations for the anniversary event the caller will not here, "VCCA who ???"

As mac & or other say, "what could it hurt to keep it that way it is ? Well, for one, the entire club. Then the members.

I did a we bit of web surfing this afternoon, and found about 60 "Car" Show websites and they listed over OVER 3,000 events. Then ran a search for VCCA on each site if allowed. I found about 39 VCCA listings. Mostly for a specific region {s} {nice job folks} connections. By my math that about around 1%. No one can survive on 1%.

So if Mac was the boss I am sure he'd look at 1% effectiveness and yell, "Guys, fix this and fix it fast." And off we'd go.

I back up my views by repeating an experience I had less than a month ago. I talked with 2 really fun guys who write articles for car magazines and publications, specifically about classic cars. Both cool guys and each with about 20+ years experience. Neither of them have ever seen a PR release from VCCA or a G&D magazine. This can not be allowed to keep up. Makes VCCA look weak and disconnected. And we are neither of those.

Also today, about 75% of Publications want to get PR releases via on-line or through web mail, so we may need a PR Listing on our web site and some tech help & ideas.

So a central "clearing house & PR communications center" is the right way to go. And if I can aid in developing our documents or data base for contacts I will be happy to help out.

It's time we are known for what we truly are, a fun group of Chevrolets owners who know a LOT about classic and vintage Chevy's, support our hobby and do our part for charity.

And everyone should thank Joe, he's done the best he can with the tools he has.

Please let me know how I can help.
Mike41

I have been doing the math of a VCCA Region for several years, and I do not believe that our own cause will be improved by having a National or a central point of advertising for events conducted by a Region or a Touring Committee.

Who will decide how much advertising will be done?....Where will our events be advertised?....Which local newspaper, which regional websites and trade magazines?.....When will the advertising be run and for how long, will you contact our vendors list for the swap meets and lastly...

Who will pay for the advertising?

We do our publicity and advertising directly after years of study, research, surveys, interviews and we are sure that we get the most for our money.

We are not hunting public participants, other than vendors and customers for our local Swap meet. We have ample contacts with the local population and regional associations also from our local events, our members' contacts and we have a person well versed in the process, and it is passed down from one year's leaders to the next.......

I think I may see a fundamental misunderstanding of what is being proposed here, MrMack - and what is leading to your non-support of this concept.

We are NOT proposing any "nationally managed Advertising" - nor spending ANY of your Region's money (or anybody else's).

Rather, the plan being discussed is "PR" - simply getting The Word out to places that will publish it - announce it - FOR FREE. This is a very different thing than Advertising. If your group or tour or whatever wants to advertise an Event, go ahead. Nobody is talking about interfering with that activity.

We are talking about doing other - free - things in addition to that activity.

Can I add my tuppence worth?
IMHO

I'm not so sure "Big is Beautiful"
I don't hold that we have to become the big...BIG!.. VCCA or what ever!

The "Bigger they are, the heavier....& so Forth!"
I like this little ol' VCCA!
It's special because it's small & I'm sure that long after we've all gone it'll still be here, as long as there's someone tinkering with old Chev's they'll be in contact with someone tinkering with old Chev's.....Now ain't that what we're about?

OK let's get big!
We'd have MrMack2345, Kipper banquet, 2345Bill, Mike9678 & the like, All faceless posters & the old guy fixing his old Chevy won't get a word in between the rodders & such like. He then becomes a "Lonely old fool tinkering with his car" No longer part of the VCCA!

That'll be when the VCCA dies!

Ok so that sounds somewhat different than some of the earlier postings.

We draft up our copy send it to the places where we want to advertise our event, We send our copy to the G&D, then it is eligible to be placed on the VCCA website. Your new PR department will then include our copy in a series of publicity sendouts? This sounds better already.

There ya go MrMack...........I don't think anyone was trying to take anything away from how each region does business......just trying to enhance it a little bit for the good of the VCCA as a whole.

A VCCA PR dept will need region help.....how the heck would someone in Illinois or California or Maine as a PR guy have any idea where to advertise locally for an event in Texas or Oregon or Georgia?? The regions gotta do that....I certainly wasn't suggesting anything different. I just think VCCA needs, and should have, a little more presence and visibility in the hobby.

Seems as if everyone is getting a point across here and that's a good thing.

One word stands out to me however," BIG" So for the record, PR is not about BIG. It's general goals are about IMPORTANCE. PR adjusts itself and it's methods to secure or broaden an Image, values and overall goals of the organization. Not the other way around.

So getting the VCCA message out to more people increases VCCA's value and importance.

PR CAN also have a goal of altering or changing "perceptions" and that's a good thing, if that is necessary.

I will say that being Irish I am not always the most tactful guy, but to my memory this is the first place {chat-site} where I have read so much criticism for any ideas. Mine not with standing. No questions, clarifications, base support or observations, just fire-back criticism. It's like everyone immediately understands the idea 100% and is immediately against it 100%. No review, cutting slack or respectful interest, just instant judgment.

So at times this strikes me as not the place to foster support, discuss issues, or ferret out new ideas. Kind of funny or is it sad ? Maybe the market place's perceptions that were expressed to me are more accurate than I was willing to accept.

Thanks to all of you who responded with openness and understanding to help with this [i][/i]potential PR idea. Which does not mean you were in favor of it. Simply means you were respectful.

In the world of people science we say, "People go where they we are appreciated and treated with respect."
Adios,
Mike41

Mike ,That is the thing about being a teacher to old geezers, We aren't your usual receptive class that paid good money for the oppurtunity to learn the subject matter you have to dish out. But once we really understand the nitty-gritty of your lesson and get it down to words and information we understand we do catch on. You just need to learn to be more understanding of us and a leddle bit patient!

..After all we ain't the enemy, unless you believe POGO "We have found the enemy ...and it is us."

I have been reading this thread and the one about the VCCA name change over the few days and a few thoughts come to mind.

1. I really like the current name of this club and don't think we need to loose the good will we have built over the years by changing it.

2. I agree we need to be open to the changes and on a local basis have been echoing the same kinds of ideas for our Region. We should invite the rodders to our shows and meets. Many of them have never seen some of the original cars that a few of our members own. It is not uncommon for a rodder to take an old rusted car and rod it. But, if that same person happened to run across an original car in good shape he might just leave it as is. So, they might appreciate our cars too! You will never know unless you extend a warm welcome to them. If they aren't interested, they won't come, but if they do, you might find out they have two cars, one they rodded and one that belonged to their father or grandfather and they plan on keeping it just like it was. That is PR. That is the point of getting our message out.

3. I love the idea of a national PR event coordinator that assists Regions with getting their event published in the national publications. The local guys know the local media outlets, but let the national guys develop a consistent message for than national publications and lets get the word out we are not a club of 30 folks but of 8000 plus!

4. Mike, Gene, Ken and Mack all want the same result, a strong VCCA that continues on for years to come. The best way for that to happen is to keep talking about the things we don't have consensus on, because through those discussions we will develop a better understanding of the true challenges ahead.

5. Most of all, lets keep having fun and enjoying each other’s company and these fine old Chevys. .

Finally, Gene, I am willing to help as one of the folks to assist local Regions with national advertising. I have been trying to do this on the local level for our Region's car show for last year and this year and I can see it takes time and effort, but can be done. Send me a note if you want to talk further.

I don't know much about national advertising. Never been involved on that basis of Advertising, Nor will my background aid that process much, except for being a soldier. I was taught that PR & Advertising and very different tools, used in very different ways. I can only speak to PR.

My back ground and interest is more on bringing more value and importance to VCCA, possibly thought but NOT limited to PR. Image development is part of that background and a place/task where I could share my experience. Which I am willing to do.

Now the odd thing about PR is, when it works, over all not much would change in VCCA except the image may be "brighter" and more people will know about us. PR just carries a message to the Public.

Mac, This is as kind and gentle a statement as I have ever written. I've never had any trouble trying to find ways to make my ideas work better or be more valuable or more insightful or even more effective and I do not need you to aid me in that process.
Mike41