Hi all,
I am a relative newcomer to the List and to Tigering in general, but I've been
involved in the canadian motorsports scene (at least on a regional level) for
the last 14 years or so, and I've watched a few national and regional
organizations auger into the ground because of infighting and because of the
various disciplines each deciding that their needs were more important than the
others. I don't know if there is anything that can be done about that in the
traditional 'club' sense when it's applied to a national or international level.
Enter the Internet.
Isn't this mailing list the _international_ Tiger club? It's a little
disorganized, but every level and aspect of Tiger appreciation is presented here
on an equal level, and everyone's voice is equally heard and considered. Various
individuals maintain their own websites to reflect their particular vision of
Tigering, and maybe they and others will jointly participate in contributing to
an edited, 'master' Website, where a consensus view or all views can be
presented. The distribution of knowledge and information was never this easy and
could never be as complete as it is in this forum.
Theo Smit
tsmit@novatel.ca
B382002705
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vonski@aol.com [SMTP:Vonski@aol.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 07, 1999 11:37 AM
> To: tigers@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: National club
>
> Okay.
> I still feel Tigers, and Sunbeams at large deserve a National Club. I also
> feel that the regional clubs, who have carried and supported the marque
> through thick and thin over the years deserve the continued support of their
> memberships. Many of these clubs were founded with the hope of becoming the
> 'national club', but were limited by regionality, and the success of
> competing clubs. How do we get a national club then, and not destroy the
> membership base for the regional clubs? Remember, that CAT, STOA, and TE/AE
> can only survive with membership dollars. If they go, so does CAT Parts,
> STOA's TAC Program and the Technical work of TE/AE.
>
> A national club HAS to support existing clubs. So, how?
>
> The National Club is formed from the existing clubs-all members of regional
> clubs are AUTOMATICALLY members in the National Club. A "Confederation", if
> you wish. Thus, no need to jump ship from your regional club, you keep your
> local orientation, the clubs keep their members and dollars, but we finally
> have a National Organization. Have a National Board of Representatives from
> the member clubs, which then vote in leadership. The National Club would
> then send a two page "National Update' to each regional club for inclusion in
> its monthly newsletter. Dues would increase per member by a small amount to
> support the national club activities. Sunbeamers would finally have a
> unified voice nationally-without gutting the local clubs.
>
> National would be a 'clearinghouse', where plans were coordinated, yet the
> regional clubs would maintain their local control. This way, there would not
> be the huge overhead of a full fledged organization. Also, the local clubs
> could 'franchise' their various specialties to the national club-CAT Parts
> could be available to all national members, if CAT so chose...possibly with a
> nominal charge per order to 'non-CAT members' to allow CAT to get something
> too.
>
> I have talked about this since I was the newsletter editor YEARS :>) ago for
> the Pacific Tiger Club. This was tried years earlier with the STAC Accord,
> but was never empowered. Many feel that SUNI could do this, with enough
> effort...they already run the national meet-why not? I suggest ALL of you
> going to MT next month, especially who have a role in your local club, talk
> about this-this is ultimately going to have to start with the clubs in
> agreement.
>
> A national organization would make it easier to pursue the advancement of the
> marque in the eyes of the public, as well as speaking with a much larger
> voice to government, vendors and the media.
>
> Hopefully brighter minds then mine will turn their attention and efforts to
> this cause, and work to form a National organization. I wish them every
> success.
>
> Von Levandowski
> former owner of a '65 Mark I with faded paint, torn upholstery but shiny LAT
> 9s...
>
> P.S. Seems this is the only topic that ever gets me going enough to open my
> yap and speak. So, count your blessings!!
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