Questions for the Andrew Olson Candidate

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net;10977 wrote: It seems everyone needs a reminder about the 928 OC mission "Our sole purpose is to support owners' in their use and maintenance of the Porsche 928s throughout the world"

There is nothing in there about having car get togethers. Since only 50 of the members attended, does anyone really think the club will survive if 600+ members are paying for an event that only 50 members benefit from? That is *the* issue with the OCICs. Most members will *never* attend one.

The 928 OC does sponsor local events, which I suggest are much more valuable, as then when someone has an issue with their 928 they have people to help them locally. The OCIC does not provide this benefit at all, the members who attend must have a 928 capable of driving thousands of reliable miles, or they fly in without their 928, and how does that make it a 928 club?

People who own 928s have issues *every* day, they need a resource to help them fix and use their 928s. That *is* our mission, and these forums were built to serve that mission.

I would advocate any future president continue to support events, including the OCIC, but certainly not as the main focus of the club.

90%+ of the members will *never* get any value from an OCIC, so why should the majority of the members funds be spent there to benefit the other less than 10%.

Stan,
I absolutely believe that the OCIC should be a major event for the OC. Local GTG's, normally regional, should be a great asset to the OC. These regional events should be where OC members are recruited. The aspiration of membership should be attendance to an OCIC. Unfortunately, due to the global economy, attendance was down to this particular OCIC. Just look within your own organization: James Morrison wishes he could have been there; Brad H. wishes he could have been there. Honestly, due to my personal economies, I really had no business going to the OCIC, but there was no way in the world that I would have missed it. The OCIC would not seem the place to recruit new OC members. By definition, it is the Owners Club International Convention. Only members typically attend.

At the 2009 OCIC, we had several members from other continents. The OCIC is the place that you can see 928s and meet other owners from all over (not just regional to you).

I would venture to say that the 2012 OCIC was the nicest collection of 928s on the planet. Want to see a supercharged 928? There were at least 4 supercharged ones driven there. 2 other cars had superchargers installed during the OCIC. Want to talk to someone about a rear turbo for a 928? It was there to be talked about. Want to talk about Sharktuning? Jim Corenman was there to discuss it. How about new fender liners or new cowl covers? Jerry Feather talked about both and more. Hans could talk about electronic window switches. Mike (ammonman on RL) finished rebuilding his AT in time to attend the OCIC.

I seriously doubt that ANY attendee of the 2012 OCIC is sorry that they attended.

"Our sole purpose is to support owners' in their use and maintenance of the Porsche 928s throughout the world"

There is no better use to an owner than driving a GT car in the manner that it was designed to a meeting of other like-minded owners and being able to converse and discuss about upgrades, modifications, and maintenance issues?

stepson;10988 wrote: Stan,
I absolutely believe that the OCIC should be a major event for the OC. Local GTG's, normally regional, should be a great asset to the OC. These regional events should be where OC members are recruited. The aspiration of membership should be attendance to an OCIC. Unfortunately, due to the global economy, attendance was down to this particular OCIC. Just look within your own organization: James Morrison wishes he could have been there; Brad H. wishes he could have been there. Honestly, due to my personal economies, I really had no business going to the OCIC, but there was no way in the world that I would have missed it. The OCIC would not seem the place to recruit new OC members. By definition, it is the Owners Club International Convention. Only members typically attend.

At the 2009 OCIC, we had several members from other continents. The OCIC is the place that you can see 928s and meet other owners from all over (not just regional to you).

I would venture to say that the 2012 OCIC was the nicest collection of 928s on the planet. Want to see a supercharged 928? There were at least 4 supercharged ones driven there. 2 other cars had superchargers installed during the OCIC. Want to talk to someone about a rear turbo for a 928? It was there to be talked about. Want to talk about Sharktuning? Jim Corenman was there to discuss it. How about new fender liners or new cowl covers? Jerry Feather talked about both and more. Hans could talk about electronic window switches. Mike (ammonman on RL) finished rebuilding his AT in time to attend the OCIC.

I seriously doubt that ANY attendee of the 2012 OCIC is sorry that they attended.

"Our sole purpose is to support owners' in their use and maintenance of the Porsche 928s throughout the world"

There is no better use to an owner than driving a GT car in the manner that it was designed to a meeting of other like-minded owners and being able to converse and discuss about upgrades, modifications, and maintenance issues?

I am not suggesting there should be local events or an OCIC. I am simply pointing out that they are not the primary function of the clubs, so the cost this year was very high at $2800, the equivalent of 100 annual member's fees. So in comparison to other ways the money could be spent, it was *very* expensive with little member benefit on a per member basis.

So far as meeting other members to talk 928, I submit that local events provide many more members with a much lower cost to the club. I have been to an SITM and a number of Frenzy's, as well as more local less known events, most of what you mention I have seen at those.

I respect your opinion, and submit the next president will decide, but if I am paying membership dues (and I do), and all the benefits are to less than 10% of the members, I am certainly going to re-think the value of my membership. I really like the annual mementos, and find them quite useful, they would be sorely missed by me, as well as the other programs I developed.

There are at least four types of 928 get-togethers in the USA...

The OCIC events.
928 OCIC (Majors in 2000, 2004, 2009, 2012, plus smaller events in Denver and Indianapolis)

The continuing "major local" events, scattered over the country, with the date started:
The Frenzy near Washington DC (1997);
Sharks in Hell, near Pinckney MI;
Sharks in the Park, near San Francisco;
Dave Tassinari's Wilbraham MA event;
Sharks at the Lake at Tahoe (dead at the moment, hopefully to be revived);
Boston Shark Party, aka Porschefest;
Third Coast of Texas 928 Event (2002 apparently going to two a year);

The smaller "one-off" local events, usually with a specific purpose, such as a dyno day.

The vendor events:
Sharks at the Lake/Sharks in the Mountains - the 928 Specialists Customer Appreciation Day Event (1998 Originally in GA, now in the NC mountains).
Sharktoberfest - Started 2003 as a SoCal/928 International event, morphed into Mark Anderson's Customer Appreciation Day
Devek Days- 1997 - 2006

Both the OC and the vendors support the OCIC and the local events to a greater or lesser degree.

I strongly agree that the OC should support the local events, and should be the major support for the OCIC. I do think that the OCIC can be excessive. For example, I see no reason to provide lunch and/or dinner to the attendees. Anyone who is taking valuable time to attend, paying for a room and travel expenses isn't likely to balk at paying for lunch...

There are also international events, some quite major. I would like to see the OC furnish at least token support for some international events.

wallyp;10994 wrote: There are also international events, some quite major. I would like to see the OC furnish at least token support for some international events.

If you have contacts with them, and want to let them know about us, that would be great. I do try to remember to let international 928ers know about our sponsorship offer for them to run local events as well. I had interest at one time in New Zealand as I recall, but it didn't happen.

Thank you for the great thoughts on the post!

wallyp;10994 wrote: Both the OC and the vendors support the OCIC and the local events to a greater or lesser degree.

I strongly agree that the OC should support the local events, and should be the major support for the OCIC. I do think that the OCIC can be excessive. For example, I see no reason to provide lunch and/or dinner to the attendees. Anyone who is taking valuable time to attend, paying for a room and travel expenses isn't likely to balk at paying for lunch...

There are also international events, some quite major. I would like to see the OC furnish at least token support for some international events.

The lunch and dinner at OCIC 2012 was unexpected but not unappreciated. Would the lack of either have caused me or most likely anyone else to not attend? Probably not.
I agree with everything you have said here Wally.

And BTW Stan,
I appreciate the fact that you have volunteered your time and efforts toward the OC. I have been involved with large local volunteer organizations in the past and I know how hard it can be to secure volunteers and get things done. No matter who wins the presidency of the OC, I believe we will move forward as an organization. I'm not sure that I share your vision of the OC, but I do appreciate the fact that you did volunteer when the need was there.