DeTomaso Mailing List: May 98, Message #246

Hi everyone,

I decided to put my thoughts to paper.  Bare with me, I am not the writter
that Kent is.  Anyway I would like to discuss several different subjects with
you.  There seems to be a lot of misinformation going around, as well as
confusion about certain things.  I don't know if I can clear things up as much
as I would like to but I am going to give it a try.

1.  Kent and I started the Vegas Fun Rally as you know  17 years ago with Eric
and Linda Cooper.  At that time every member of the POCA board was supposed to
plan and run one event a year.  Kent was elected to the board 18 years ago and
decided to ofter this event.  Everyone at the Los Angeles meeting thought it
would be great.  We were much more a regional club then than now and so most
of the people were of course from Southern California.  The event has grown
into a very large gathering of fun POCA people as you all know.  Now of
course, the worst thing that could have happened did.  Fremont Street was made
into a pedestrian mall.  You can not imagine the distaste I have for that
action by the city.  However, they had to go what was best for them not us.  I
agree with the statement made by one of you that the Fremont Street display
was the glue that held things together.  How can we possibly replace something
as great as that experience?  We can't, but we can come up with some
alternatives.  I am working on one right now, that should be fun if it comes
to fruition and will involve everyone.  It has taken time to readjust and try
and come up with ideas that are feasible. We also have to get the city to
cooperate as well as the police.  You may or may not know that whenever
someone has come to us with an idea we have done our best to accomodate that
idea.  Examples are:  Can we have a babysitting service?  Can we have a dinner
on Saturday night?  Can we have karaoke?  Can we have dancing on Saturday
night?  We would like to see a racing event?  Could we have a display of
Pantera memorabilia?  We would like to have a car show to replace the Fremont
display?  The hospitality room/convention room/club store area is the hub
around which everything else revolves.  

2.  Kent and I prefer to refer to Vegas as the Vegas Fun Rally.  That is what
it started out as and still is really.  However, it has grown to the point
that most people started calling it the National Meet or the Annual
Convention.  We decided to use those words in conjunction with the words Fun
Rally so that everyone knew what we were talking about.  People new to the
club and people who heard about the event through the grapevine didn't know
what the Fun Rally was.  But they knew what the convention/meet was.  Rather
than constantly explaining on the telephone to people, we just started calling
it what everyone else was calling it.

3.  This event is the closest thing that POCA has ever had to a national meet
or convention.  If we decide to have this event become a true convention then
we will probably have to change some things.  However, THAT would involve the
board more than Kent and I.  After all, we are just putting on a little event
for the club.

4.  People don't like the hotel.  Well, I don't dislike it, but there are many
things I would like to see changed also.  However, we can't find a hotel who
is going to accomodate us like this hotel does.  Also, most hotels have
convention space that looks just like our convention room.  Now would you like
to spend all the time doing your visiting, drinking, shopping, awards dinner,
etc., only in that room?  I think it would be very depressing.  At least we
have the opportunity to use the Derby Terrace and the Turf Club, as well as
the restaurant.  That is something no one else is going to have and we have it
only because the hotel made a really dumb decision to put registration on the
third floor and then thought better of it.  I feel that the hotel has the best
to offer for us at this point and don't wish to move hotels.

5.  The POCA Board works much harder than any of you probably realize.  It
takes time to adjust to being a national board.  There are changes that need
to be made in the way the meetings are run, voting is done, changes need to
occur to the board and the by-laws.  We all wish things could be done quickly
but that isn't always easy.  For many years, Kent and/or I were on the board
and I can tell you we have seen your board fight for you the members.  I have
seen the board members stand firm against everyone else to try and do what
they thought was best for YOU.  The best thing of all was seeing everyone go
through this and then be able to put it all behind them after the meeting and
go on being friends.  Everyone understood that everyone was only trying to do
what they considered the best thing for YOU.  So, don't sell your board short.
They put in many hours and spend much time debating ideas and making decisions
to try and give you the best club out there.

6.  "Graying of the club."  Yes, there are many members who have been around a
long time.  Look at your board (both national and on a chapter level).  Who
tends to be doing the work?  In our area, it is common to see the same folks
doing all the work.  However, the club would not be what it is today if it
weren't for those people putting their heart and soul into the club.  You may
not agree with them, but you can't fault their dedication.  And as everyone
else has reiterated, if you don't like the way things are done, then volunteer
or run for the board, or work for your chapter.  You will also be surprised.
The things you thought were not being done are.  How many times I have seen
people get on the board of either POCA or a chapter and then discover that all
the things they complained about were seen in a very different light when they
were responsible for decisions regarding everyone not just their own
interests.  It is a good learning experience.

7.  There has been some comment about the attendance at the Fun Rally.  Our
high was approximately 1100 people.  Prior to that event the attendance went
from around 100 to the 1100.  Since that time it has run anywhere from 650 to
800.  I am sure that the main reason for the decline is the fact that we don't
have the street display anymore.  If you assume that 1/2 of the people
attending are not members of POCA then you have 1/3 of the club represented at
this event.  Not bad!!!  What is your attendance at your monthly meetings/get
togethers?

Well, that is it.  I have to go to work now.  I hope this answers more
questions than it raises.  

Remember you have a good club, keep it that way for the future Pantera owners.

Sincerely,

Sandi Snyder