DeTomaso Mailing List: February 00, Message #129

GREAT idea Mike.  PONE may have to try something like this in the future.

Andy (Always looking for free food)
Copper Pre-L

----- Original Message -----
From: <MikeLDrew@aol.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <detomaso@realbig.com>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 11:43 PM
Subject: Lurker event idea


Hi guys,

All this talk of crashing the homes of lurkers reminds me of a fantastic
event that PCNC put on about five years ago.  One of the newer members of
our
club (Michael Harper) noticed that we had over 100 names in our club roster,
yet only about 30 people ever came to our meetings and events; the SAME 30
people all the time.

Michael figured that if these other folks couldn't make it to see us, we
should go to see THEM!

So he just picked up the phone and started cold-calling them, basically
inviting the club over to their respective homes on a specific day.  Many
were thrilled at the idea but couldn't support it due to scheduling
conflicts, but enough were available and willing that it became a viable
event.

Michael went on a recon and mapped out a moderately entertaining routing
from
point A to B to C, covering something on the order of 200 miles from start
to
finish, and visiting six or seven different club member's homes along the
way.

A group of about 20 or so club members gathered in the South Bay, then
started heading north.  20 minutes later we were at our first stop, where we
all introduced ourselves to the homeowner for the first time.  He watered us
down with coffee and cookies, we hung out for about 30 minutes, checking out
his (awesome) garage, stretching our legs, etc., then we hit the road again.
Next stop, San Francisco; then a home in Marin County (where a nice-sized
contingent from well North of San Francisco came down to meet us), then we
turned East and went into the Napa Valley, visiting a winery owned by a
Pantera owner.  We finally ended on the eastern part of the south bay at the
home of a very enthusiastic guy who unfortunately couldn't ever come out to
play 'cause he had several little kids and a wife who worked odd hours or
something.

The event was a smashing success.  Not only did the participants have a
great
time, but the various hosts had a blast too.  It's a bummer to always feel
left out due to various circumstances, and I think they appreciated the
effort that we all made to come socialize with them, and they enjoyed
meeting
the people that they'd been reading about for so long.  And we of course
appreciated the munchies we ate at each stop!

So anyway, there's a suggestion for you guys out there.  Whether you're
affiliated with a formal POCA chapter, or just an informal club (Mike
Dailey's gang of Atlanta Pantera hooligans), get the active folks together,
and start making your presence known at the homes of the less-active.
That's
how a community is built...:>)

Mike