Club Statistics and Direction

[Roadmaster49]

Was there a membership meeting at the WA National where the health of the club was discussed in terms of membership numbers, funds in the bank and general feeling whether it is stable or still in a decline due to aging membership?

[Gordie]

The club is alive and healthy with membership about the same as last year and we have plenty of money in the bank.  Watch for next months Bulletin which will have great news for our club's future.  Lots of great things are happening!

[Roadmaster49]

That is good news because some of the attrition is clearly the aging issue.  I think some younger members (younger = 30 to 50 years old) gravitate toward KF because they are different. 

[BigDave LM6174]

Got to start them off young.  Just ask the kid who co-owns one or two

[Roadmaster49]

I suppose this is a bad topic to bring up, but what about merging of orphan car clubs, like Hudson, Nash?  Also, the Riviera Owners Association (ROA) and the Toronado Owners Assoc always have their annual National Meet together.  Maybe that would bring out more cars to a National.

I know that many times I see orphan car collectors collect Hudson, Nash, and KF together.  then when they pass, we see them sold together. 

The annual meet of separate clubs mean perhaps bigger, better National meet destinations, more variety and cost sharing.  I saw 7 or 8 Chrysler Airflows (a 1930's specific Chrysler) at the WPC National meet in Michigan.  The Airflow has a club but sometimes 7 or 8 represents all the cars in the National meet. 

[joefrazer]

I'm glad the topic of joint meets was brought up. I have been exploring the possibility and even spoke to the principals of other clubs with mixed results. A few liked the idea and as many did not. Issues with who would host, splitting costs, and location were just a few points that were brought up.

I think the idea has merit but might be best tested at the division meet level.

[boatingbill]

I remember back in the 50's this very topic came up about merging all the independent car companies to
compete against the big three. There was a huge price war going on by the big three. Some people said
it was for market share and others said it was to "diminish" the independents. The head of one company
said to survive they had to share design costs, larger price benefit from parts suppliers etc. The same
problem then was who would be the head of the new Corporation? It all fell apart and look was happened
to these companies.

[Cortes121]

Got to start them off young.  Just ask the kid who co-owns one or two

Beautiful '51. Mine was originally that Mariner Gray, althought with Carribean coral interior.

Any other pictures you could show?

[Gordie]

Got to start them off young.  Just ask the kid who co-owns one or two

How did you do that picture?  The Henry J looks to be larger that the Kaiser!!

[Roadmaster49]

I'm glad the topic of joint meets was brought up. I have been exploring the possibility and even spoke to the principals of other clubs with mixed results. A few liked the idea and as many did not. Issues with who would host, splitting costs, and location were just a few points that were brought up.

I think the idea has merit but might be best tested at the division meet level.

As another example the Peerless Club and the Pierce Arrow Club have started having joint meets.  Both are long gone marques with the Peerless Club having about 50-100 members and the Pierce Arrow Club being larger. A joint meet usually yields 15-20 cars and they tour together.  In the early part of the last Century, these 2 makes and Packard were known as the 3 P's, for their industry leading luxury (and price).   

But the point is that the Peerless Club would never get together by themselves but when joined with the Pierce Arrow crowd, the meets are more interesting. 

[Aeroman]

Once or twice a year here in the Atlanta area, the local Studebaker Drivers Club and the Hudson Es*** Terraplane Club have a joint meet. The local KFOCI members usually participate (both of us). It's a good thing.
Eventually, we may need to consider merging with another club at some point (like the Velie Register is now associated with AACA), but that's a ways down the road. I think, with good money management and influx of newer members, we should stay viable for years to come.