<VV> Joining Corsa

[levair at aol.com]

I had intended this a Communique article , but it seem approiate now:
Solo Is:

 

                                            A Part of Something

 

   There’s an old song that goes “Belonging to someone is a wonderful, wonderful thing”.  I think that “ Being a  part of something” is a very close  analogy. 

    Going to a recreational activity alone is sometimes a neat experience akin to “the out of town gunslinger”.  However if you go more than once than you are starting to become a part of something. If you contribute of your efforts and money (dues) then you are definitely “a part of something”.  When you have achieved “ownership” then you care about the progress and growth of the organization.  

    It is when a groups of enthusiasts have ownership and therefore care about the future of an organization that it begins to grow. SCCA became a large national organization when the “out of town gunslingers” small, organized  local groups formed bigger and better things.      

    If the loners don’t combine and organize then there won’t be any events to be an out of town gunslinger at. 

     I recently made a “born to be wild” road trip—“out on the highway looking for adventure” to a site and club that I hadn’t visited before.  I loved it, but it only happens for the first time, once. If every one did what I did on a regular basis then there wouldn’t be any large cub’s events to visit. We would be parasites. I’ll gladly pay my dues and contribute in any way that I can to ensure the continuance of these events. 

   I’m reminded of a Corvair Track event at VIR a few years back in which all participants contributed in a big way with organization, promotions,  pictures, articles, etc. it resulted in an event much larger and more successful than any  individual person could have dreamed of. We were all very proud of ourselves and each other for it. We could all say “ We were a part of that”. We were a part of 

 something big. 

    Many of us who have a modicum of foresight have mailed in entry fees to events that we couldn’t attend. We did this gladly so that the event would succeed and so that there would be an event sometime that we WERE able to attend.

     This brings us to the subject of internet chat groups. All of us are thrilled to have Corvair/any marque clubs grow by introducing ourselves to prospective enthusiasts.  However these “out of town gunslingers” need to know that the club won’t grow of even continue to exist if all don’t’ contribute to the health of the  base club. Soon there could be no group to visit. 

     We should constantly remind our chat groups friends of the benefits of belonging to our organization—being a part of something.  The strength and experience in varied fields  of the organization contributes greatly to the wisdom which is given freely to our internet friends.   I personally  won’t do it,  but businesses  would be justified in charging for information that it took years and money to develop. We club members freely contribute info to other members because it is an equal exchange.  We should gently remind internet friends that no hard to achieve information is really  equal or free and you are  getting this info from dues paying members. 

 

    Of course we still want to help in reasonable and friendly  ways to prevent discouragement of prospective members.  Just to remind web friends  of where the info is coming from:

 

Warren LeVeque

Corsa/Corvair club member #004099
SCCA member # 83027
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