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Re: Organize Yourselves

To: "vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net" <vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: Re: Organize Yourselves
From: psr@mnw.net (psr@mnw.net)
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 10:47:46 -0600
Alfred wrote:

 >As I suggested once before, another way is to organize yourselves... =
Then
>wherever you go to race, you'll be racing with your rules.  You'll also
>find out, in the process, how many of you there are of like mind.  But =
even
>if there's fewer than you think, 100 voices speaking as one can be a =
whole
>lot more influential than 1,000, each speaking alone, most not speaking =
at
>all.

-Alfred

At 08:30 PM 11/27/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>
>>The VMC would be the logical place for any unity to begin, but having =
been to
>>a couple of meetings, I can tell you that each club tends to defend =
its turf.
>>In most clubs there is a fear of offending the guys who spend a lot of =
money,
>>be it to sponsor a party, or to bring a load of cars. Racers tend to =
resist
>>change, even when it may be in their best interest. I don't know how =
far
>>reaching this net is, but if enough racers speak up, maybe something =
will
>>result.
>>
>>Vote by attending the events that are run the way you want them to be, =
and
>>stay away from those that aren't.
>>
>>Jack Woehrle, SVRA=20
>
>

The 200 or so SVRA members who owned Group Six eligible cars in 1990 and =
1991 did almost precisely what Alfred suggests.  With two surveys (93% =
response and full statistics returned to participants) and a ballot we =
went from the "outrageous cheater group" to 95% compliance, closer and =
larger fields, more fun, and safer, smarter racing.

What we learned (emphasize "we" since all respondents saw the complete =
results of each survey and ballot) is that almost every question had a =
75-95% majority opinion.  We also learned that the 5-25% minority tended =
to be much more vocal.  Therefore if you base rules on what you hear in =
the paddock, read in the mail, or now read on this list, you MAY be =
going in an unpopular direction.  Armed with the knowledge that they =
were in the majority, the "peers" exerted their new found authority =
(peer pressure enforcement was at the heart of our new self-determined =
rules) and within a year or two we were at 95% rules compliance and, =
though it seems to be slipping a bit, we still are.

The surveys and ballots took a bit of effort and several months to =
complete because of the nature of mail and mailing return times.  In =
today's world of email and web pages it could be done much more quickly =
and there could be public discussion between each step.

This was done by SVRA members, with SVRA approval and assistance, but =
not by SVRA.  It was an indirect result of their then new "Group =
Representative" concept.  The member adopted rules were then approved by =
the Group Representative Board and the Owners Board and became official =
SVRA policy for Group Six.

I have been active over the years with Group Six, the SVRA board, VMC =
meetings, etc. and I am constantly amazed at how much time and hot air =
gets wasted while racers, groups, clubs and businesses debate "the right =
way to do it", each trying to "protect their turf".  If they would only =
involve and consult their membership, most decisions would be quite =
clear, and the "right way" would become obvious.

Staff enforcement is impossible in any VR group because none of us is =
willing to pay for it or stand for it.  Peer pressure enforcement is the =
only option.  Peers, when empowered, will enforce their own choices.

If you are influential in any kind of VR group please try to involve =
every effected member in your racing rules decisions and then use their =
input in an organized way, reminding them that they made the rules.  =
They will then comply with and enforce the rules and everyone will have =
more fun.  Yes, you will chase a few away, but more often than not they =
are the ones who will not be missed and each will be replaced by two =
others who fit better and contribute more.

As Alfred points out, if the clubs and businesses don't figure this out =
soon, other organizations like Monoposto will do it for them.

Please, no more organizations just a bit more organization.

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