Club Direction Poll

[Smartiepants]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I would just like to jump in and say. Thanks Blair, you have done an awesome job, you shouldn't take this personally, I believe for the most part that everyone would remain around regardless of the decision we take. I think we should do something along the lines of change to a more general name, but still call ourselves a VAG club. Sure we would have other members with different cars, but that shouldn't be an issue. I mean people could show up to the meets regardless, I wouldn't care if they drove the biggest POS. I mean by changing the focus of the club slightly, and opening it up, things will be gradual, it would be harder for the non vw people, as we have already a solid core of VW people. So why not open things up slightly?

I'll stick around regardless

[liquid]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I am also worried that if I was to end my position as President of NVD (to start another club or to just leave) that things here would not survive, that is why I have continued to do as much as I can even without owning a VW

Exactly the point I mentioned. There is a "core" group of NVD that does most of the work to keep this club running the way it does. Sadly, and embarrasingly I'm not one of them (hopefully that changes after December)..... but if you look at the trend, alot of the people who keep this club organized are not going to own VW's 1year or 2years from now.

[Kor]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I genuinely wish to know why you assume that making a less specific, less exclusive club is considered "progress".
Khyron

How about because:

- This club is shrinking at worst and stagnant at best according to meet sizes
- We apparently can't put together a successful show, buy or event
- We could get more sponsorship which goes directly back into the club
- We could meet new people and make new friends (you need all you can get)
- There would be less confusion over why there are 2 clubs in a small city
- Many old friends would feel welcome with non-VAG cars

As for starting a 2nd club, that is a terrible idea that just further divides us rather than unites us.

...we should already have another section for mk1/2/3

What makes this club different from CVD really? They have places for Mk1/2/3/4 to post on a forum. They actually have successful shows with Mk1/2/3/4 cars too. Its lame to just be CVD2.

[Khyron]

Re: Club Direction Poll

Khyron: you make it sound like if we change to euro format that the floodgates are going to open and all of a sudden this place will be full of bmw/merc. drivers and you will be a minority. forchristssake it is just a title, or designation if you will. realistically nothing will change except the url you enter into your browser to get here.

If that's all that was to change, they yah you're right - I wouldn't care. But once the "50% core people" all switch to various other brands, you can't deny that the focus will dilute. You forget that VW owners tend to be a bit more rabbid about their cars - they're the ones meeting behind the ice cream shop or approaching people at gas stations to talk about their cars. Other brand owners don't often share that passion.

And Liquid/Blair might be right - there may be no one who's willing to step up if Blair and company take off. I know I'm not willing to do it.

So how about this: Come September, you hold elections for all positions. If the same people win (or no one even applies) then it's pretty clear that Blair was right and there's really no one willing to take the reigns. Then I won't really have any leg to stand on and will support the change.

But consider Duffy in CVD - he's a good pres and has been pres for a long time. No one feels the need to really oppose him. But if he left, there'd be several who'd be ready to take the position. Maybe it's the same here, but maybe not. We've only ever had 2 presidents so maybe there is no one else willing to do it. Making a policy of having elections every few years isn't a bad idea anyway especially if the goal is to get bigger.

Khyron

[R-Audi]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I voted for an all euro club...but am having second thoughts and leaning towards a VAG orientated one.. not sure why, maybe I am addicted to VAG more then I thought... he he he.
I guess my reasoning for the Euro Club leans towards having more people, and the ability to have enough support to have a big show, attract more sponsors and ultimately give the club better opportunities. Some people dont like change, and some people have other interests that require a greater # of people --(Our own show, our own track day etc have not been possible with current memberships, but if we have more members, these events could be possible!-- Even at current shows we attend, we usually have a tough time filling all of the spots for various reasons.)

[Mr. Burns]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I would hate to see the current "administration" change. I think that Blair is doing an awesome job, if he left the whole thing would fall apart.

[James]

Re: Club Direction Poll

ya blair is a kick ass mod...

I mean what other site can I say some of the things I say here, unedited?

None. thats what.

[kuhli]

Re: Club Direction Poll

As a light user of the boards I appreciate that everything here is focused on VW, almost every technical discussion is relevant and meaningful. Having said that, a wider focus is fine.

However the challenge is to keep the board discussion focused enough that it's as useful in the future as it is now. Blair and the administrators have done a great job of that so far and I see no reason why that would change.

Give'r

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Club Direction Poll

Thanks for the nice remarks guys!

This is what I propose will happen, we will have an election at the end of the month as I guess I have been doing this for nearly 2 years now so we will see who else would be interested and maybe we could fill a couple of other positions too.

Then after we have the administration we will submit a proposal to you the paid valid members of this club about the change for the club. The change will most likely be a new name but with most of the focus on VW & Audi with a general section for other Euro cars. The boards will be tweaked to reflect this change and then we would just evolve into this new form of NVD. You will all be given time to review the proposal and then we will hold another vote of valid paid members to either accept or reject this new plan.

I think this is a fair and real solution for the stress that we have found ourselves under over the last couple of days and I once again stress that I am not doing any of this because it works best for me, I am doing this for the club. I am not really 100% sure about a change myself but I think we could improve things without too much being lost in the process if it is done right.

[Smarty39]

Re: Club Direction Poll

Sounds like a perfect solution to me. By the way, I think that you have done an excellent job of running this club....even though I have only been here for a little over a year

Kyle

[R_Ethug]

Re: Club Direction Poll

yea blair don't worry you don't have to go anywhere dude.. i'll help out as much as i can to make the club run good but i've been doing this for a while ..

and yes everyone.. just because its a new domain doesn't mean the people are going to change.. its just a name for gods sake.. like if my name was santaclaus would you be hating on me?

[Aleks]

Re: Club Direction Poll

Blair, I agree, you have done a great job of pres! I like the election bit, create some positions to help ease and spread the load, I know I would be first in line for the opportunity to take on a role of somesort to help the club.

Thats neither here nor there, I would like to say I like your last solution the best. I voted for VAG orientation, because of focus. Its not that I don't like BMW's or benzes, I had one, but I didn't come here when I had it! Perhaps a small group would be ok, to test the waters, but please, lets not lose our focus!!!! Our membership is small because I think all of us may be guilty of not generating enough interest or drawing enough attention to the club...there are thousands of VW's and Audis in calgary, there can't just be 60 of us interested in talking about them??

Now, I have been through a number of club changes, trust me. I was a member at a beretta club for a long time, and the grand am owners club, and team GA (a smaller local group)....but you know, when I sold my car, my interest changed, and I moved on...I had no trouble doing that!! I have developed much better relationships with members of this club, but I feel that is a VW owner thing. I was approached more than a dozen times in the last week by random people wanting to talk VW's, thats what we have here, lets keep it...

I don't know what I will drive or buy next, it may (most likely) be a VW, but if not, I'll roll with the change myself, not force everyone else to change with me, thats just plain selfish.....

EDIT: just read Ryans post, and to answer your question, yes, yes I would...

[Kor]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I think we all did learn a lot from this thread despite it getting a little hotheaded at times... I am very glad we are going to move ahead with a proposition for change.

Although I have been advocating the euro-club position, I will be very happy to see a compromise move towards a VAG (VW/Audi) focused club instead!

[R-Audi]

Re: Club Direction Poll

I hate you Santa Claus!

[Smartiepants]

Re: Club Direction Poll

like if my name was santaclaus would you be hating on me?

I would like you better as a matter of fact