[DeTomaso] fun rally

[John Taphorn]

Mike

A good first step would be to join the organization whose help you seek. 
Don't confuse it with a charity, it is established to support it's 
members.  Then look at the Board of directors and figure out which 
volunteer has the extra time to help you.  After you figure out 
everyone's plate is already full.  Run for a leadership role and steer 
the present team to support your initiatives and recruit new folks to 
implement your vision.

POCA is a lean organization of a very few volunteers who step up for 
Board and Chapter leadership.  It is not a government bureaucracy with a 
bunch of people on payroll getting fat on dues.

Honestly, it is not practical for POCA in it's current structure to 
organize multiple Fun Rallies each year on the scale of it's current one.

As a chapter Presidents in Texas, Kirby Schrader, past Space City 
Chapter Prez and current member, and I rotated annually hosting a track 
and driving event at Texas World Speedway.  Eventually, I got involved 
at a National Level and with Kirby out of the country, the event was 
discontinued.  That said, Our Chapter organized and sponsored the event, 
not POCA national.  We didn't ask or wait for POCA blessing. Dennis 
Quella and Gary Hall also came out for the fun for several years.  We 
never complained that POCA didn't christen it a National Event.

If anyone believes POCA should play a larger role, they are simply out 
of touch with the available volunteers at the national level.

You can continue to criticize those few who have stepped up to run the 
Club or you can do something meaningful.  Run for office and using your 
charisma, recruit more volunteers and build a larger and better 
organization.  Or, start a local Chapter and host your event.

I was President of POCA for 4 years and on the Board for eight.  I can 
assure that the volunteers are all pretty smart people with many good 
ideas.  It reminds me of a time when I was on a driving event in Las 
Vegas during one of the Fun Rally's.  The Pantera driver that I was with 
owned a business and spent much of the time regaling me with terrific 
ideas for the club.  At a certain point, I had to stop him.  I apprised 
him that his ideas were excellent.  Frankly, the Board was not lacking 
ideas or a checklist of items to make the organization stronger.  What 
it lacked were volunteers who were willing to step up and give their 
time to implement these initiatives.  To which he responded that his 
work kept him to busy for that.  Well, I work full time and a half as 
well, but it is important enough for me to at least try to help.  it is 
said that vision without execution is hallucination, POCA needs more 
boots on the ground.  It will take charismatic leadership to make that 
happen.

Unfortunately, it is rare that someone steps up to the national level of 
the organization to make a difference.  It is time for another to make 
the leap.

JT




On 10/14/2012 6:37 PM, michael at michaelshortt.com wrote:
> I'm moving forward with two projects, I hope to have the support of POCA
> with both, heretofore, aside from the use of the forum ( which I appreciate
> ), neither of my Summer Summit events in 2011 or 2012 have had any support
> whatsoever. I hope that those in positions of influence will realize that
> there are benefits to inclusion and assistance with regard to membership
> and Pantera awareness in general.
> Project ONE.  2013, June.
> Summer Summer #3.  A touring 4 day Pantera event that covers points of
> interest and amazing driving roads in
> GA, NC, VA and SC. Dates and Itinerary TBA.
> PROJECT TWO. 2013, June
> FUN RALLY - East
> Savannah, GA
> 5 Days - 2 Road Courses, 1 Drag strip,  1 car show and a lowcountry driving
> tour
> That includes the course of the Original United States Grand Prix from
> 1908-1916
> http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Grand_Prix#section_1
>
> I will not have a 2014 Summer Summit.
>
> Savannah will be first because I live here and foresee doing the majority
> of the work ( that should in no way imply that help would not ne
> appreciated ).
>
> I would hope that the POCA would asisst me in promoting FUN RALLY EAST
> As either THE only Fun Rally in 2014 or one of two.
> It would be unfortunate if these events were seen as competition, I would
> love West Coast and Texas, etc. to attend both events, of course I hope
> that we really draw many from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and
> Rustbelt who may have, like me, felt less than included ( based on distance
> and expense, moreso than any negative outward comments or actions ) at
> previous events in Reno and Phoenix.
>
> So there is it, my plans.
>
> I will develop a website for each on the coming months, if you want to
> help, I'd love it.  I need to be decisive to make these happen, so please
> understand that I'm not changing the month or the locations, not trying to
> be a dick, but somebody needs to lead and I organize for a living.
>
> More to come,
>
> Michael Shortt
>   On Oct 14, 2012 6:32 PM, "Bob Lehmann" <bob at longwood2.com> wrote:
>
>> You know there is no law saying you couldn't have two rally's per every
>> third year.  I would like to go to one on the east coast, but wouldn't go
>> to the west coast, too far and way too expensive.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
>>
>> Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
>>
>> DeTomaso mailing list
>> DeTomaso at realbig.com
>> http://realbig.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
>>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
>
> Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
>
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at realbig.com
> http://realbig.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
>