sccobra
05-17-2004, 07:23 PM
(Warning - long!)
Okay, so here's my first post to the web site. Ya gotta start somewhere . . . :-)
(and I hope this works!!??)
Caveat - These are my own opinions here - if some of these comments and ideas are useful, excellent - if not, then apologies, and I'll keep quiet.
If anyone attended the chapter meeting on the 15th, there were new faces, cool vehicles to look at (sorry mine wasn't washed!), good information on upcoming events, and some spirited discussions on how the chapter is working or not working, depending on your point of view. In fact, some of those discussions were very spirited, and generated some strong emotions. A lot of views were offered by many folks present.
I offered some ideas of my own at that time - I hope they were useful. Time prevented me from seeing the meeting through to the end, but, after thinking about what was said in more depth, I hope I can offer some additional thoughts.
First and foremost (and I mentioned this in the meeting) - though I am new to the chapter compared to many folks, it seems very strongly we are still growing and, as a result, suffering some associated growing pains. IMHO, the chapter is evolving from a small core of less organized but enthusiastic folks to a larger group with much wider views that now demands some reasonable structure to function properly.
Flash - that's not easy to do! It can be hard to hit the ground running right up front, even if several months have passed.
In the short term, the more people join the group, the wider the expectations will be, and the harder it will be to satisfy all such expectations until a flow and structure are established. A handful of folks in frequent communication can organize, schedule, and produce an event much more efficiently than a larger group that is trying to reconcile multiple schedules, wider interests, conflicting goals and so forth.
In my mind the key element is COMMUNICATION - and I think a big problem is that we may not all understand at this point what the "official" communication medium for the chapter is - the schedule on the web site? forums within the website? (not everyone may have internet access) snail mail flyers? a monthly chapter newsletter? a telephone message center? I'm not entirely clear on this myself, although I am getting into the habit of checking the website every few days now.
Suggestion One
So, here's a suggestion to put on the agenda for the next meeting - ask all present to contribute what they think is the best way to get upcoming scheduled events out to the chapter members. Take 10 minutes to solicit ideas, pick the top three or four of them, then ask for a VOTE on the best one. Caveat - unless someone owns the winning idea and drives it forward, it won't happen!
Suggestion Two
Begin posting all minutes from each meeting to the members using the method arrived at above.
Suggestion Three
Establish a ranking system for upcoming events that tells what state the event is at on the schedule. It could be as follows:
- proposed - an idea for an event has been posted, but the event does not yet have an established date, time, agenda, arrangements, chairperson, etc. Provide a contact person for the event so folks have a contact if they wish to help.
- tentative - the event has a suggested date at least 2 months ahead, a chairperson has been picked, basic arrangements have been started, and the membership is asked to say how many will attend. The event could still be canceled or moved.
- confirmed - the event has a firm date at least 1 month ahead, all arrangements are complete, members who want to participate have been notified and have had information on the event communicated to them by the proper means. The event WILL take place on the date listed.
(BTW - The proper way to do these suggestions would be to offer them as motions under new business at a meeting, get a second if others thought they were good ideas, and then be voted on by the members present. That's how it's supposed to work in meetings - everyone contributes, everyone votes, and the more that is done, the more members feel ownership, and things will happen!)
At one time there was an overall Twin Cities car club council that coordinated and/or listed all the many car oriented events that take place virtually every weekend in the Twin Cities throughout the year - does anyone know if this still exists? Could be very helpful in getting our chapter "off the ground" in finding things to do.
And finally . . .
<Personal Rant Mode>
While I never saw it's content, I was disturbed to hear statements about "pornography" on or associated with the web site. I have no idea how overt these postings were, but if they were as I seemed to hear at the meeting, THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING ON, NEAR, OR IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH SVTOATC, THE SVTOA OR ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY RELATED.
Besides the offensive nature this stuff can have for current and potential members, the potential liability for our chapter is HUGE. Like it or not, we are a marketing venture for Ford Motor Company and the Special Vehicle Team. If they get even a whiff of something like this and don't like it, we could be cut off at the knees fast. A club could certainly still exist, but Ford or SVT (or even American Ford, for that matter) won't touch us again.
Have you taken a look at the crowds that go to a NASCAR event? Half the folks are women with families. The fastest growing segment of performance automobile buyers in this country ARE WOMEN. In fact, a majority of the people in this country ARE WOMEN.
For this chapter to succeed, we need to establish a level of professionalism and integrity that folks can be proud of, not things like this that we'll be ashamed of.
</Personal Rant Mode>
Ron Howes black '03 Cobra ragtop
Okay, so here's my first post to the web site. Ya gotta start somewhere . . . :-)
(and I hope this works!!??)
Caveat - These are my own opinions here - if some of these comments and ideas are useful, excellent - if not, then apologies, and I'll keep quiet.
If anyone attended the chapter meeting on the 15th, there were new faces, cool vehicles to look at (sorry mine wasn't washed!), good information on upcoming events, and some spirited discussions on how the chapter is working or not working, depending on your point of view. In fact, some of those discussions were very spirited, and generated some strong emotions. A lot of views were offered by many folks present.
I offered some ideas of my own at that time - I hope they were useful. Time prevented me from seeing the meeting through to the end, but, after thinking about what was said in more depth, I hope I can offer some additional thoughts.
First and foremost (and I mentioned this in the meeting) - though I am new to the chapter compared to many folks, it seems very strongly we are still growing and, as a result, suffering some associated growing pains. IMHO, the chapter is evolving from a small core of less organized but enthusiastic folks to a larger group with much wider views that now demands some reasonable structure to function properly.
Flash - that's not easy to do! It can be hard to hit the ground running right up front, even if several months have passed.
In the short term, the more people join the group, the wider the expectations will be, and the harder it will be to satisfy all such expectations until a flow and structure are established. A handful of folks in frequent communication can organize, schedule, and produce an event much more efficiently than a larger group that is trying to reconcile multiple schedules, wider interests, conflicting goals and so forth.
In my mind the key element is COMMUNICATION - and I think a big problem is that we may not all understand at this point what the "official" communication medium for the chapter is - the schedule on the web site? forums within the website? (not everyone may have internet access) snail mail flyers? a monthly chapter newsletter? a telephone message center? I'm not entirely clear on this myself, although I am getting into the habit of checking the website every few days now.
Suggestion One
So, here's a suggestion to put on the agenda for the next meeting - ask all present to contribute what they think is the best way to get upcoming scheduled events out to the chapter members. Take 10 minutes to solicit ideas, pick the top three or four of them, then ask for a VOTE on the best one. Caveat - unless someone owns the winning idea and drives it forward, it won't happen!
Suggestion Two
Begin posting all minutes from each meeting to the members using the method arrived at above.
Suggestion Three
Establish a ranking system for upcoming events that tells what state the event is at on the schedule. It could be as follows:
- proposed - an idea for an event has been posted, but the event does not yet have an established date, time, agenda, arrangements, chairperson, etc. Provide a contact person for the event so folks have a contact if they wish to help.
- tentative - the event has a suggested date at least 2 months ahead, a chairperson has been picked, basic arrangements have been started, and the membership is asked to say how many will attend. The event could still be canceled or moved.
- confirmed - the event has a firm date at least 1 month ahead, all arrangements are complete, members who want to participate have been notified and have had information on the event communicated to them by the proper means. The event WILL take place on the date listed.
(BTW - The proper way to do these suggestions would be to offer them as motions under new business at a meeting, get a second if others thought they were good ideas, and then be voted on by the members present. That's how it's supposed to work in meetings - everyone contributes, everyone votes, and the more that is done, the more members feel ownership, and things will happen!)
At one time there was an overall Twin Cities car club council that coordinated and/or listed all the many car oriented events that take place virtually every weekend in the Twin Cities throughout the year - does anyone know if this still exists? Could be very helpful in getting our chapter "off the ground" in finding things to do.
And finally . . .
<Personal Rant Mode>
While I never saw it's content, I was disturbed to hear statements about "pornography" on or associated with the web site. I have no idea how overt these postings were, but if they were as I seemed to hear at the meeting, THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING ON, NEAR, OR IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH SVTOATC, THE SVTOA OR ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY RELATED.
Besides the offensive nature this stuff can have for current and potential members, the potential liability for our chapter is HUGE. Like it or not, we are a marketing venture for Ford Motor Company and the Special Vehicle Team. If they get even a whiff of something like this and don't like it, we could be cut off at the knees fast. A club could certainly still exist, but Ford or SVT (or even American Ford, for that matter) won't touch us again.
Have you taken a look at the crowds that go to a NASCAR event? Half the folks are women with families. The fastest growing segment of performance automobile buyers in this country ARE WOMEN. In fact, a majority of the people in this country ARE WOMEN.
For this chapter to succeed, we need to establish a level of professionalism and integrity that folks can be proud of, not things like this that we'll be ashamed of.
</Personal Rant Mode>
Ron Howes black '03 Cobra ragtop