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RE: Scirocco.org a club?
Sorry in advance. I had no idea this post would be so long-winded!!
There are certainly benefits to be had for a "chartered" club. But do you
think that there is a large enough group to warrant something like this? As
much as I know we all love our Sciroccos, I'm not sure there are enough of
us to make something so grand happen. I know my earlier post was might not
show it, but I have actually thought about it a bit:
I own a Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. www.i-club.com (formerly www.impreza-rs.com)
has taken off with a complete life of its own over the past couple years as
these cars become more popular in the US. Though they haven't started
getting paid for it yet, and never intended to make this a profession, the
originators of the web site (the "Imprezidents") are already headed in that
direction doing just the things you mention. There are two things that make
this a possibility for the i-club, and difficult for scirocco.org:
1) New Car
It's a brand-new car that is already huge world-wide and is just now
becoming popular in the US. There are already 4400 registered members on the
message board, 3000 of which are official "members", meaning they actually
own Subarus. The 2700+ Impreza owners (nearly all RS') represents about 15%
of all RS' sold since it came out three years ago. That means roughly 1 in 7
RS owners is an Internet-connected enthusiast. That's an impressive hit
ratio. The future will only get brighter as the WRX is released.
2) Manufacturer/Dealer/Industry Support
While it is just beginning in the US, Subaru has a greater reputation for
supporting enthusiast communities and motorsports world-wide. Subaru USA
actually paid for the Imprezidents to see the WRX unveiling at Detroit.
Subaru is also putting out contingency money for rally and solo races. In
fact, all new '02 WRX owners will be given an SCCA membership. My friend
actually received a congratulatory email from the local dealership for his
3rd place STS finish at the ProSolo last week...can you imagine that? Parts
departments (the smart ones, anyway) are doing everything they can to get
Euro- and JDM-spec parts shipped to the US. Subaru is already hinting that
it may even start bringing in STI and/or Prodrive badged cars as factory
hot-hotrods.
Anybody seeing these sorts of things happen in VW circles? Didn't think so.
The VW Owners Club caters to socially-aware yuppies who like pop rock and
"cute" new cars. This isn't bad, and I don't blame VW for tapping a great
market, but it does mean they don't give a rat's patooty about us Scirocco
owners. If they were to change their mind, it'd be a different story. With
the success of cars like the Impreza and the Civic, you'd think they'd try.
Without this sort of phenomena, the idea of Scirocco.org supporting a
chartered club, much less a full-time staff to support it, is difficult. I'm
behind anyone who wants to try, though!
Neal
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MIKE BLAIN [mailto:reptileis@home.com]
> Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2001 7:38 PM
> To: Neal Tovsen; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> Subject: Re: Scirocco.org a club?
>
>
> Largest benefit: Club bennies- deeper discounts are offered to accredited
> organizations. Sure there are dues- but with those dues we could hire an
> individual to condense the best tech advice per month into a hard
> copy letter,
> with current or localized event releases. In the newsletter we could sell
> advertising to parts suppliers- with the profit we could begin
> and maintain our
> own custom parts "supply house" for Items like euro bumpers, CF
> components,
> Clear MK1 signal lenses, Or how about install ready relay kits
> for lights? These
> will also create revenue.
>
> For an individual this could become a full time job- souring
> parts, maintaining
> list quality- updating their site, and editing the monthly
> newsletter. Paid
> for by dues, discount specialty parts (mentioned earlier), and ad sales.
>
> I belong to several Herpetological organizations run in this
> manner. It seems
> to work- and I certainly like the added organization- and
> discounts that comes
> as a result. Local chapters are fine- they are simply tech days and beer
> swilling with friends. I don't see a Localized club happening as
> an offshoot of
> a larger club- just not enough finances to permit it. A few
> areas already have
> their little groups and "meetings."
>
> The biggest problem in this venture is the limited growth potential of the
> Scirocco market-
>
> If Dues are a concern- then those unwilling to pay them are
> simply excluded
> from the monthly mailing. I, for one would like to be able to
> reference back to
> hard copy issues- for tech advise I knew I would need later but
> was unable to
> hold onto through my email program. Not to mention the time it would save
> answering redundant list questions. "See Volume 2 issue 7 page 9
> for benefits
> of Knife edged cranks. Oh- and look there is an ad of a machinist that
> specializes in VW 's- cool."
>
>
> :^)
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
> Neal Tovsen wrote:
>
> > I'm with Jim on this one. We are one club. The Club. Getting together
> > locally is awesome, but what is the real purpose of a local
> chapter? What
> > would the benefits be? I'm not sure that it really does
> anything for us as a
> > group.
> >
> > Besides, if we start talking about chapters, then we need to
> start talking
> > about Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, blah, blah, blah. Then we get
> > into insurance issues, yearly dues, name copyrights, etc. Yuck. I really
> > like the "autonomous collective" bit myself. [insert Holy Grail
> references
> > here]
> >
> > Neal
> > Scirocco.org Member
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > > [mailto:owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of Jim Jarrett
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2001 6:12 PM
> > > To: Ryan McCarthy; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > > Subject: Re: Scirocco.org a club?
> > >
> > >
> > > At 2:53 PM -0500 2/25/01, Ryan McCarthy wrote:
> > > >Has anyone ever thought of starting local chapters of scirocco.org?
> > >
> > >
> > > I think by our very nature, coming together via the list and the
> > > website, that this idea doesn't really make sense. I'm not dissing
> > > you here; I just think that there is one Scirocco.org, and we're all
> > > members.
> > >
> > > > I think
> > > >that would be a great way of bringing this club into the "real
> > > world", so to
> > > >speak.
> > >
> > >
> > > Now, what IS cool is when you can actually get together with other
> > > list memebers. Not just ND, Cincy, Waterfest....other car shows, or
> > > just get a bunch of people together. I've done this several times at
> > > my place; the infamous "Tech Procedure Weekends" where we put the
> > > engine in my Convertible, or Dyno Day...
> > >
> > >
> > > I've made some really good friends off this list, and that's how -
> > > start by getting your "local" listers together. Then branch out to
> > > the adjoining states. :)
> > >
> > >
> > > /===============================================================\
> > > | Jim Jarrett http://www2.rpa.net/~jarrett |
> > > | mailto:jarrett@rpa.net |
> > > | |
> > > | Any problem can be solved with the proper application of |
> > > | Force, Heat, Chemicals, or Money. |
> > > \===============================================================/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
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> unsubscibe send
> > > "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to majordomo@scirocco.org
> > >
> >
> > --
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>
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