Barbara
No offense is intended, but the new Handbook CD has been on order ever since I was a member. I am no longer a member but never received it in the one year I was a member. I received the newsletter on a regular basis and about 8 months into my membership I received a membership roster and a Bulletin or Quarterly? (a magazine) which was nice.
I doubt I will join the club again without a KF product but I would be more then happy to underwrite a run of DVD/CD's to cover a 2 year period so that we aren't faced with the "coming soon" mantra that has apparently existed for a LONG time. Again I mean no disrespect, you just delivered the message the latest, but if a forum search could have taken place in the past 2-3 years this would have been a common comment.
I am a member of the Buick Club of America and I am not saying this is apples to apples because the BCA is much better funded and resourced. I bring them up only to state that the BCA knows many in the blub simply want the monthly periodical and nothing more. For whatever reason, receiving a glossy color laden monthly magazine is paramount to their continued support and membership.
Perhaps a smaller dose of that concept applies in the KFOCI. So in this way maybe some new members are disappointed with the lack of follow through of periodicals, "extras" and such to the point where they lack interest and drop out. We (as a collective hobby group) may then never know why.
At the time I joined KFOCI I had just purchased my rough Virginian and 8 other cars and joined marque specific clubs for each PLUS the AACA so I was getting 4 club magazines plus Hemmings periodicals and it was just too much. Some months I would not even read everything or just skim it.
My decision to drop KFOCI was made in part because of the almost insurmountable restoration obstacles of my car but also in part because of the lack of a cohesive message from the club. I know Jim Lape from the forum but during my time in the club I kind of felt isolated. I can say that a couple of chapters or regionals sent me newsletters inviting me to seasonal events and that was nice, almost kept me in the club. Perhaps the longstanding friendships and "mini groups" are what is keeping KFOCI relevant and in business, I am not entirely sure.
But to the original point, commitments of periodicals and literature are important for new members, and the communication of the club is also important. I presently own a lot less cars and would like to restore them and enjoy them but if the right 2 KF's cars came along I could sell what I have and jump back in. I still frequent this forum, own signed original books from Jack and Langworth, and most other KF periodicals. Still a fascinating make worth pursuing.
