<VV> Re: 100% Corsa Membership

[vairologist at juno.com]

Smitty says:  I guess this comes under the heading of tough love.  Maybe
10 years ago we voted to make out club a 100% club.  Several in the club
predicted the collapse of the Club, or at least it drying up to a mere
shell.  We lost two members right away who never did much for the club
anyway.  We are doing fine now.  Much has been said about reducing cost
to people to join and the sticker shock of folks finding out they must
also be CORSA members.  I used to think about that and worry about it
some.  There are two things that I think valid to consider.  First, the
under $50 it costs a year to join is not a huge amount of money in todays
world.  If someone really wants to be a part of the club, they will make
it happen.  Second, owning, driving, or restoring a Corvair may be cheap
by comparison to other marques, but it is not cheap.  If a person can't
afford to do it then saving them 10 bucks on  annual dues isn't going to
make them financially well.  Give them the first year free in a local
club won't make them well either.  This is harsh but I have been on both
sides of the fence and I know how it feels to not be able to afford what
you want.  I would rather be in a club where everyone is confortable with
their hobby than be in one that has a couple of people putting used brake
shoes on their car and running around with the seat stuffing hanging out
because they can't afford better.  Guess what guys, this ain't a fair
world.