<VV> CORSA's Future.

[Mel Francis]

Glad to see your thoughts on this topic, James

Remember that the ACD, or Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Club was formed to ensure 
that
those who valued these fine cars would have a place to gather in numbers, 
suitable for assuring
longevity of the organization. There simply weren't enough original owners 
of each marque
to stay in separate organizations and they all shared the common ancestry of 
being linked to E.L. Cord.

As I mentioned in my previous message, CORSA might do well, to form 
alliances with some
of the other cast-off GM marque clubs, when we show our cars. At each event, 
Corvairs can unite in a central
Corvair Corral, just like Corvette owners do. But having a larger variety of 
cars at events will assure
exposure to a wider group of younger enthusiasts, some of whom, have never 
even heard of Corvairs.

I think it all comes down to exposure and this is a way to get it, 
especially when trying to interest members
of the younger generation. To segregate ourselves away from other car makes 
that aren't air-cooled makes
no sense, especially when you consider that we really have no link to VW or 
Porsche owners at all.

You want to feel really rejected? Try pulling in at a Porsche autocross with 
a Corvair!

That's how some of these other GM cast-off owners would feel, if they were 
to try associating with CORSA,
under the present conditions. Snobbery might be well imbedded in the German 
car ranks, but it really has no place
in the Corvair realm, since to most folks, we are the bottom-feeders, barely 
one notch above Pintos and Vegas.

We don't have to change CORSA's name or mission, just be more inclusive and 
the newer members will begin signing up.

Mel Francis


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "james rice" <ricebugg at mtco.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:32 PM
Subject: <VV> CORSA Future.


> All:  Along with others, I agree Barry has some great observations.  As a
> continuation of the discussion, I offer these additional thoughts.
>
> First off, the e-Communique vs the p-Communique is nothing more than the 
> tip
> of the spear that is poking us now.  Methinks the current "e-Communique"
> should better be called "ol-Communique" (ol for on-line) since it is not
> delivered to your in-basket.  May be some day, but probably not next 
> month.
>
> But this not actually the issue that will make or break CORSA.
>
> The big issue which will make or break CORSA is income vs expense.  Barry
> says this, and we all ultimately know it.  This has been a topic in CORSA
> for at least a decade.  It came up each year I was on the CORSA/CPF BoD's
> back in '99 thru '01.  Income vs expense is really an issue about those
> providing, at a cost customers are willing to pay, goods and services. 
> How
> do we get and keep customers?  The cost of the goods and services has to 
> be
> what customers wants, including by not limited to, quality and timeliness 
> of
> the goods and services.
>
> As Barry pointed out, while stated in different ways, this is a common 
> topic
> within lots of organization.  Following are some examples.  There was a
> article in our paper this week about the local VFW hall's declining
> membership and their need/efforts to recruit new Vets.  Our church is also
> dealing/struggling with the issue, which manifest itself in different 
> ways.
> Similarly, about 6 weeks ago the Peoria paper had an article about very
> large, local church (it may be a mega-church, but I don't know what the
> definition of a mega church is) were only 20% of the attendees (aka: the
> congregation) were members and only half of the volunteer staff were
> members.  But they continue to grow in attendance and their budget is 6.3
> million. I don't know if the ratio of members to the 
> attendees/congregation
> is of concern to for them, but it is with our church, where only members
> (ie: those who agree with and support the purposes of the church by
> identifying with it via membership, with its duties and responsibilities)
> can vote on decisions, serve and provide leadership.  While different from 
> a
> car club in lots of ways, a church at some level is a provider of goods 
> and
> services to a set of customers.
>
> This is not just a issue volunteer organizations have.  Last year, the 
> month
> before I retired from Caterpillar, they announced some new mandatory 
> on-line
> training for supervisors.  Topic: "generational employee engagement". 
> There
> was three or four generational specific groups, each with a different
> on-line class.  I left before I could take any of them.  "Generation 
> change"
> are such wonderful words.  Our internal and external customers have 
> changed.
> Wonderful.
>
> How do we deal with it?
>
> CORSA, as a provider of goods and services, must figure out what the
> generational change means to a car club.  What are the sociological and
> culture make-up of it's current and potential future customers?  How do we
> get and keep customers?  If you don't know who your customers are, you
> cannot get them to consistently choose to use your goods and services at 
> the
> whatever the price may be.  Failure to do so results in painfully going 
> out
> of business.
>
> It has been my experience that every person who has been on the CORSA/CPF
> BoDs wants to make the correct decisions so CORSA & CPF thrive.  Same for
> each Committee Chair and their helpers.    They all want to do something
> positive.  They spend lots of time and money* in service to you, get
> criticized, and get little praise or thank you for their efforts.  Seems 
> to
> me most BoD members start as chapter leadership and want to take on
> additional responsibilities.  This is good.  We hope we take the best we 
> can
> get.  But is this good enough?  Is there, or has there ever been, a 
> business
> or marketing professional among them.  Don't know of any, myself included.
> Is there available to CORSA anyone who can tell us how to shape and 
> present
> our goods and services for the X or Y Generation, and whatever alphabet
> named generation is following in their steps?
>
> I simply do not know.  I hope asking the question will be useful.
>
> Historically Yours,
> James Rice
>
> * SOAP BOX:  How many of you have thought about the expense of being on 
> the
> CORSA/BoDs?  In three years, my cost was about $5K just to attend the
> conventions.  Maybe we are the truly crazies ones.  Some of you need to go
> back in the Communiques and determine how many directors don't run for a 
> 2nd
> terms.  Or complete their 1st term.  There is a reason.  Learn to say 
> thank
> you to the BoD and Committee Chairs, 'cause without them, CORSA/CPF would
> cease to exist over night.
>
>