Posted by Scott Andrews on August 30, 1999 at 18:31:49 in 192.11.221.98:
In Reply to: Re: Positive and Negative posted by James Pepper on August 30, 1999 at 16:31:44:
Like James, I have to agree with Bob and Bill on this. I've seen enough of groups that started out as this one has turning into something that few of the original participants cared to be associated with any longer.
The region of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America that I belonged to when I lived in NJ was just such an organization. What started out as a group of old Chevy enthusiasts who gathered to BS about our cars and to get together on occasion to take trips places with our old cars turned into a part time or second full time job for a core group of members.
We had one fund-raiser per year - a local antique car show that we ran - that supplied the finances for our club outtings. It started innocently enough - "you know, we could bring in a few extra bucks by doing x...". Soon, it seemed the club's main focus was club business and had little to do with the enjoyment of the very thing which brought us together in the first place. That's when I said "enough" and bailed out. Had I wanted an extra job, I'd have gone out and gotten one that paid!
Like the aforementioned motorcycle club, last I heard, this region of the VCCA is still going, but with fewer members and in a manner closer to it's original purpose. Some of the original people have even come back.
I'm all for us having an "official" sounding moniker that may hold some clout when dealing with the likes of H&W, (though, these days, even THS can't get the time of day from them without flashing cash) but I'd be wary about this group becoming any more "official" than it already is. I've yet to see anything good come out of bureaucracy.
Regards,
Scott