Radio Free Registry

[bbspdstr]

Tom, great to see you post something here.

Sorry I can't attend your second party...but "family first." The first of your parties was great and shows the way toward a full circle effect with the 356 crowd....like the Harley-Davidson saying: "Yesterday's technology....TODAY!"

I will get back to work after taking a minor exception to a comment; "Our Registry parts suppliers put sponsor money to defray costs." I am not a parts supplier, but I happily support your event(s).

Respectfully and just to be clear, like my exception taken to Adam's post, I recommend changing 'Registry parts suppliers" to "356 parts suppliers"...the Registry MAGAZINE merely takes their money for their business and parts advertising... Whenever I have helped host 356 events, those same vendors have been great to work with and always come through. THEY support events and the cars. It's 'business' but they care about the cars, too.

Best regards,
-Bruce

[Meissen540]

Bruce,
Touche, it is "356 Suppliers", not just parts, you are correct. We received a lot of support from people such as yourself and Pat Collins.

I will ditto the exception to Adam.

Thanks again bud
Tom

[Bill Sampson]

" I forgot to mention above that most of these vw events choose a local charity & make a nice donation with the proceeds from the shows. I don't remember reading if the holidays do that?"

Most if not all of the woodie club chapters in California donate the net from their shows (which are really just 3 or 4 day parties) to charities, in some instances into five figures annually. The shows have no entry fee, no sign ups, no reservations, no registrations. National does not "mentor" or otherwise interfere in any way with any of the shows. The National Woodie Club gives several thousand dollars in scholarships annually while still showing a slight net profit for the year. I hope it is obvious that I approve of the efforts to assist charities.

[jstenner]

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[Bill Sampson]

But, there need to be local events that recognize that working people (early or mid-career people) often can't commit 4 days to something like this, or at least, accommodate/encourage their participation.

Jack:

I mentioned the woodie club chapter parties, basically one annually per chapter. Every chapter nationwide also holds monthly meetings, cruises, museum visits, shop visits, parties at members' homes, etc. Also have a look at the Porsche 356 Club calendar here to get an idea of what locals are doing that is nearby (at least to SoCal folks) and usually cheap:
http://356club.org/Calendar.htm

It can be done. It should be done. It is being done. Just not necessarily by the Registry.

[Meissen540]

Jack, all great points. Just so you understand, if you don't book a facility or restaurant well in advance, they will not work with you unless you sign contracts promising xxx number of people, and if they don't show, you are on the hook for the money. Even then, it's difficult to find people to work with you.
Yes 4 days are tough, but most people our age plan it as a vacation as you stated.

Tom

[bbspdstr]

I think the correlation between times involved and any 356 event needs to be summarized.

A local event can be brief, even one day, if it is recognized that fewer will attend. The organizational part is easier, so a 356er could/should expect more minor events than larger 'happenings.'(per Bill's 356 Club of SoCal reference)

Picnics, drives to a destination or just nowhere, etc. (I had a great local turn-out at my shop for a Richard Shilling carb rebuild/tuning demo a few years ago when he happened to be with his wife at a Phila. conference for her business and had some free time to volunteer. Heck, it made me clean up the shop, always a good thing!)

A mid-size regional event takes more planning and logistics, 356ers may need to take a day or two off for travel, but more can be accomplished (swap meet, tech session, etc). Not overwhelming and certainly less expense involved (for everyone).

Obviously, the larger events (of which I, too, am guilty of helping to host) are becoming passe`. Maybe it's the expense, maybe the added time needing committment, maybe it's the huge amount of work for organizers, maybe all of that...but maybe it's just a "ho-hum...been there, done that...what's new?" for those with Registry longevity. Maybe, like so much else "wrong" with the Registry, it's primarily based on growing apathy.

Maybe it's the transitioning of ages, the lessening actual use of the cars, the lack of new people who have no Holiday experience but who wouldn't think of trying one (in any capacity)...I don't know, I just sense the changing of the 'feeling' about it all in the last few years and aptly expressed here.

However, it also seems to be correlated to the online Forum issue(s)....the desire now to do things more immediately with less 'work' involved before moving on to the next (less structured or regimented) thing.....even if the smaller shorter events can be seen as a way to relax and yet enjoy camaraderie with others who really enjoy their 356 and devolving full circle to how 'it' was 40 years ago (but with incredible technology we thought was Sc-Fi back then!).

And here I thought I was the only one with adult ADHD....humm, no, it seems to me now that what I'm sensing is systemic and societal and it needs to be recognized, even in the stodgy, recalcitrantly stubborn (Ford?)356 Registry. (how's that for some Szabo-eze!)

One more thing...thanks to all involved here for getting to real issues and the heart of the matter with good dialogue...and thanks again, Justin, for your benevolent hospitality!

-Bruce Baker

[jstenner]

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[jstenner]

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[admin]

I think local events are important, the local TYP356NE club is very active and I have had a blast doing events with the club. Ever driven your 356 to the top of Mt Washington, no guardrails!
But it is nice to have an East Coast Holiday, see friends from all over the world, different cars.
But yes, an active local club is great!

[admin]

Bruce-
The last ECH was a success, not sure what apathy you are referring to. Heck, we even had a 550 to make an appearence.

[merbesfield]

I understand the apathy Bruce is referring to tho not sure apathy is the right description. I do think that life has changed in America and it is hard to plan long trips and even the next weekend for that matter. At least for our family it is. I don't think I have ever even done anything over a day with my wife and she really could care less. Of course that is just my personal situation, not others. But I have friends and their situations are similar. The thought of driving my 356 to a holiday, mind you I have yet to even start it, sounds romantic if I were 22 and no kids, but reality, not so much. This is why I would love there to be a local group of guys that wants to get together.

[bbspdstr]

"Bruce-
The last ECH was a success, not sure what apathy you are referring to. Heck, we even had a 550 to make an appearence."

Allow me to state the obvious: A 550 is fine proof there was NO apathy at the last ECH? No, those who hosted and attended showed THEY were not apathetic...or they would not have been there.

Where is the ECH this year?

I am speaking of the lapses in Holidays more recently than over the previous decades. More examples? The voting done for a Registry election. The majority who are just fine with getting a magazine as their 'Registry'. The lack of 'doing.'

This is a thread about the Registry and at this point, the digression is about events and passing the torch to younger enthusiasts and the best way to attract "new blood." There has always been apathy, but the percentage of 'members' actually involved with the group as a 'club' seems less.

[Bill Sampson]

Bruce raises a good point about "doing." An example of regular "doing" is the Southern California Porsche 356 Club. They do a lot - I just wish my fellow club members were a lot closer to me - driving across SoCal to get places on the freeways just isn't fun but Rosemary and I are doing just that this weekend.

Have a look at their calendar here:

http://www.356club.org/Calendar.htm

That is a lot of "doing" I think.


Bill

[merbesfield]

Bruce raises a good point about "doing." An example of regular "doing" is the Southern California Porsche 356 Club. They do a lot - I just wish my fellow club members were a lot closer to me - driving across SoCal to get places on the freeways just isn't fun but Rosemary and I are doing just that this weekend.

Have a look at their calendar here:

http://www.356club.org/Calendar.htm

That is a lot of "doing" I think.

Bill

The beauty of living in CA. Perfect weather and lots of cool old cars.