Some help / advice for the Ohio Cobra Club

STL-Scott

STL-Scott

Member # 006
Location (City)
Columbus, Ohio
Hi there from Ohio!

I just wanted to take a few mintues to get your guys input, and let you know what is happening here in oHIo. Moderators -please move to another (non-public) area if needed.

We had a meeting last night for the OCC and 2010 LCS planning. First - I want to pass this along in confidence that my brethern in the GCC will understand the difficulties with planning and growing a car club, especially when that said club takes on a big event (like helping with Run'nGun or the London Cobra Show).

For those of you who have attended LCS - you probably know some of what happens at the show. I got to see the action at the scene and behind the scenes last year, and this year. Needless to say, this is a big event to plan for and coordinate, with all volunteers. The charity that we do this for - Cystic Fibrosis, has also become a real PITA to work with.

I'm not sure if I have set the stage very well...but recently, the officers of the club have started to have a bunch of disagreements, and the current president even went so far as to resign, and then step back into his position over the last month. Planning for the show this year is still ongoing, but the organization of the club is a bit of a mess right now.

At the meeting last night, everyone was more or less in control of their emotions, and a lot was discussed, but not a lot was decided on.

One of the points I raised, was that the OCC seems to be going down the wrong path with the club. Too much energy and frustration is focued on the LCS planning, and very little is done with regards to the "social" aspect of the car club. I got a lot of nodding heads from the officers and board members...but how do you transform that into action?

I really enjoyed all of the build parties, cruise get-togethers, and other functions the GCC does. How do you go about getting this entusiam re-infused into an existing club?

I miss you guys, wish I could transport some of you here to show them how it's done!

Anyway...thanks for reading.

Scott
 
I say good luck. I am constantly amazed at how active this group is. I would say start simple, short events then add on from there.
 
We've had some rather spirited discussion about Run N Gun, but I don't think anyone got their feelings hurt. I think it was a focused decision by a lot of people that we are a car club first and like to hang out together. We help out where we could and that's fine, but it sounds like LCS and CF have taken on a life of their own and now it's sucking the life from the club too. Man I hate to hear that Scott. Everyone in a cobra looks the LCS as one of the premiere events, but few people KNOW what it takes to pull off. I agree with CK, start small and have a good time and just don't focus so much on the LCS and instead focus on the get togethers. We have a great group and we enjoy helping one another, along with some good natured ribbing of the BB crowd.

Tell them to remember its a Cobra club, which you did, and have some fun. Get a little "healthy" competion going with a Dyno day. We still rib each other about different numbers on the different cars. We had an open club picnic that we played games at and got a lot of shots of the cars with the drivers. Gary O had a pool party that we didn't all take our cars to, but we got to know each other at a little better over a couple of beers too. A little social grease so to speak. I wish you were still down here, but we all understand, Family First. Tell the family hello from the GCC and your always welcome to ride with us.
 
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Make the events a non commitment event. Snake and eggs, Friday night cruise, etc. But then again Have Mark or Tim chime in. This club has become a club of friends that happen to enjoy the same cars. Not the other way around. IMO.
 
The London Event has out-grown the club in every sense. Commitment levels, monies, time sharing, etc. If it was me - I would hire a professional event planning firm. Sure it will cost. But the event will be able to continue to grow and would probably be better because of it. They would be able to better market the event too - by bringing in corporate sponsorships. And in the end, more money would actually go the the charity. So - hire a Pro.
 
Orrrr, make it a multi club event. Just thinking off the top of my head, there are 4 maybe 5 Cobra clubs that are within 5 hours of OCC. If each one had a part, making it a team effort, maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal. However, I do agree with Mark's statement wholeheartedly. This may raise costs and could possibly have people coming there pay for being there (maybe it already is, I don't know). Anytime you have a volunteer event, there has to be complete buyin by the organizing club. RNG for instance wasn't in the cards for us to take over especially at the venue it was being held. There was absolutely no return in investment offered to the club minus a few passes to the event. In the LCS' case, the return is the donation to CF. If that is becoming a PITA, then rotate the benefitting charity to causes near and dear to the heart's of the members. You may get more or at least different buyin from others in the club.

As for growth of the club itself, Dan hit it on the head. When we have gatherings, it's more than just car repairs, more than a car show, and more than helping someone get their dream back on the road. It's the comraderie that we all get. Much like my duck hunts, very little in the way of shooting ducks the last 10 years, but spending time with my brother and friends is priceless. May I be so bold as to say that they NEED a change in leadership. Maybe fresh ideas to carry them through life withouth London. Sure, a car is nice to build and give away, but hey, tough times call for tough measures. Maybe instead of spending so much time assembling a car, you could help out a fellow roadster/33/coupe owner out of a pinch and buy a used one to give a way. Already assembled and less heartache and time spent by the club meeting a deadline and more time on organizing the event. Snake and eggs is nothing original, every roadster club has them. Build parties, I believe I know someone that will need help soon putting their body back on and getting the car roadworthy before driving season :D My .02 worth.

HTH, Miss ya buddy.
Tim
 
Think of it like this. The Shriners can hold a BarBQue or a pancake breakfast with only the help of the few Shriners that show up. But, they put on a CIRCUS to benefit their network of hospitals. Those aren't Shriners taming the lions or doing the stunts - they hire a circus company. That company knows how to put on a show, market a show, etc. In the end, it's a better product, a better circus, and their hospital makes more money because of it.

Further, an event company will plug in marketing strategies they you guys have never even counted on - like social media, networking, regional and national press coverage, big time corporate sponsorships, various related events like a Rib Fest or rock concert, etc., etc. The end will be a larger more profitable event.

You should call a company now to see what they can do for this year, and spec out what they can do for next year. Let's face it too, they're hungry for work as well.

If we we're going to do RNG ourselves, I would hire a race promoter - a producer that has ideas, knows how to get things done. NASCAR is the best example of promotions. The tracks and drivers are not what brings in the millions - it's the years of promotions - the promoters are what drives their events. Bill France (family) isn't a driver, or a car owner, or a track owner - he a promoter. Hire and retain a pro.
 
Great pointers guys! I'm going to keep "listening"...and start planning/planting some ideas for the future meetings.

From what I have experienced, it takes all the life out of the officers and other key members to pull off the car give-away & show (we start planning in September for the next show...that by the time the show is over and the car delivered and the checks given to charity...everyone is so sick of it and burnt out that nobody wants to see anyone in the club until fall rolls around again.

Here is the way the club is chartered right now:

The Ohio Cobra Club is a 501c(3) not for profit organization registered in the state of Ohio.

Our primary function is to enjoy and promote the classic Cobra sports car. We do this in numerous ways the best of which is driving our cars as much as we can for everyone else to see them.

Our secondary function is to raise money for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation www.cff.org. We do this in several ways, but our largest fundraising effort is the raffle of a Cobra Replica each year.

There is no charge for membership in the club, end everyone interested in the Cobra is welcome.

Scott
 
I am with Mark on this one. Hire a promoter to do the organizing and use the OCC as the main benefactor. If more help is needed to orchestrate the event then seek help from other clubs to do some of the no brainer tasks.
The local people, police, firedepartment, etc seem to do a great job of traffic control, what with the Strawberry Fest going on at the same time.
Almost every club/orginazation I have ever been associated becomes a political entity to be controlled by a few.
 
As I recall when I was at LCS I talked to an Ohio cobra owner who joined the DC Cobra club because the guys were "more fun" in the DC club than the OCC. :eek::confused: What a shame. "Cruising" with our club is my single fav thing to do within our club, but there are other things that are fun also. Arguably the biggest thing that has hurt our club has been political discussions. We lost a member because of it. BUT I suppose it's still important that we allow freedom of speech within the forum. Purpose & goals of the club are important things to not lose sight of. The social aspect of the club should not be sacrificed for the sake of a different goal. That seems to be what has happened to the OCC IMHO.
 
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