Just for clarification,

The original intent of this proposal was to connect disconnected existing members.  Of course if this concept in any way stimulated new membership I do not believe anyone would consider this to be a problem.

Tks,  Chet?

I was a POC member for a year but didn't continue for many of the reasons listed below. I would rejoin the POC if there was an internet region as I do appreciate the club's philosophy. I also think it would increase the traffic on this forum or whatever forum was set up for the new region. This forum is like molasses in January. Very slow. Time for new ideas if the POC is to move forward and be valid in the 21st Century.

New blood?  Why would a POC region want that?  Some body may actually want to do some thing car related like actually drive them some where!  Regional gatherings are supposed to be a bout eating lousy food and talking a bout the grand children, not cars.  250 miles to visit a car-related site is too far and a waste of time, but it is an annual event to drive 350 miles to eat some one else's lousy food and brag a bout your grand children to them.  "I'm not even sure where the keys are to my old Plymouth or even where I have it stored any more."

I think this is a great idea. I live on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I do not know of any other Plymouth Owner Ckub Members in my area. I know there are old Plymouths in the area. Maybe we could get together and participate in car shows.

John,

You bring up some excellent points.  Yes an internet region would be much different then a traditional POC region in that the participants are geographically separated.   So yes activities would be almost impossible other then some alignment of members at a national event or an occasional meeting of small groups.  But the goal of the Internet Region is to bring dues paying members together who today only have the Bulletin and possibly this forum for contact with the club that they support.  

As a POC forum my expectations are that this place should be the premier authoritative place on the web for information concerning Plymouth.  Why else would someone seek out this place but to receive help with their hobby and their car?  Talk about club values maybe the club should strive to provide the most traditional value of all.., and that is help to a fellow Plymouth owner modified or not.   Would you not help a starving man just because his beliefs were different?   Maybe some might consider this blasphemes but I don?t believe that they are a majority.

I think it is an embarrassment to this club and its members that Plymouth owners go to other web forums because they can not find the help they need here.  

What I would do if I were King.  

I would change this forum into a place that Plymouth owners would migrate to for technical help.  The way I would do this is by breaking up the forum into three boards.  4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, and Post war 60 & 70.

Discussions about originality & judging would be forbidden unless the question was asked for validation rather then argument.  Good will goes a lot further to influence people then beating them with a hammer.

I would make it a requirement that those who were elected technical advisers check this board at minimum once per week.  If they are not internet savvy then someone must be positioned to take their place.  

My other suggestions were in a previous post.

So again if the forum can?t provide the connection to the club then maybe a region of disconnect people who are interested might.

The way I look at it is if you don?t try then you can not fail.., but you also can not succeed.  

Respectfully, Chet

You should not be able to vote twice.  The option to vote goes away for your user profile once you vote.  The board tries to keep it honest.  I would guess most people don't understand the "Pole" idea and just skip it and read the messages.

Yes, it could be multiple visits by the same person ... I've been "back" several times to check on views and I don't always wait for a notice of a new posting either.   Habit I guess.   

One counter-point thought.   Any time you create a new "group" you create new opportunity for devisiveness simply due to the fact that you have now painted a new target on yourself (the new group) AND you have made statements of mission or purpose that will certainly differ from the other group or groups whom you have "separated" from.    I have seen this to be true in any number of personal situations over my career.       

I think another point that always jumps into the world of reality is that anything that costs ... and I include in my consideration of costs anything beyond what is perceived as free be it time or $$$ .... creates a barrier and helps paint that target that I describe briefly above.   As soon as such a group starts charging dues and have those who pay and those who chose not to pay the group would find itself being challenged with some of the same issues that prompts this discussion in the first place.  At least I postulate that as a likely outcome that would need to be considered if such a region were to be given further serious consideration.   

Now, in this case I personally believe that the goal of such a distributed, internet based, region would be something akin to this:  to provide opportunity for Plymouth owners and friends to participate in a POC group that they otherwise may not have the ability to participate in due to geographical location, time availability or other social or physical constraints.   However, I do not believe that such a group would preclude having real "drive-to" meetings periodically.  Nor would it preclude judging competitions or any of the other traditional activities of a geographically based group.   Regional reports could include gatherings of small subsets of the membership OR larger more location based gatherings similar to those already being done within the rest of the POC structure ... I'm thinking regional meetings.   In fact, I suspect that it might actually encourage such a situation and one in which new friendships might evolve between the current geographic based regions and at least some of the members of such a distributed region.   

Anyway ... some thoughts for this mornings consideration.

John

Lets hope so, better to think the glass if half full instead of half empty :)

Quote from: RC Drown on October 27, 2010, 07:29:14 AM
out of 48 views, only eight votes

Bob,  It could be 8 voters viewing the post 5 times ?

out of 48 views, only eight votes

Quote from: 49plymouthclubcoupe on October 26, 2010, 12:11:22 PM
Chet ... I like the idea.   I assume it would also be ok for a person to participate in multiple "regions" if they so chose?  

I wouldn?t think there would be any objection for a member to belong to two regions.   Of course under the present structure I don?t believe this question has ever come up.   The real question is why anyone wants to connect to a region.   After all in most cases there is an additional regional membership fee.   So what does the region bring to the table?  I believe the Pros & Cons below sum this up.

Regional Pros.

1.)  Connectivity to other members. (camaraderie)
2.)  Organized local events.
3.)  A voice into the national club leadership.

Regional Cons.

1.)  Meeting Schedules
2.)  Organized events require that members donate time.
3.)  Only available to members who are close enough to an organized region so that they can participate.

Why an Internet Region?

In my opinion the place where potential new members and disconnected geographical members should be congregating is the POC forum.   I believe this place should be the gateway to connectivity within the POC organization, unfortunately on the board today there is a basic lack of leadership presence both technical and administrative.   So if enough people feel the same way then maybe the need for an Internet Region might be an answer to fill this need.  

Suggestions that could help change the board and eliminate the need for the above suggestion.

A user group setup as ?POC Member? ? this would identify a POC member vs. a non member.  Helps eliminate the anonymity of the user.  

A user group setup as ?POC Officer? ? this would identify any of the regional or national elected officers.

A user group setup as ?Tech Advisor? ? this would help a user value the resulting advice posted on the board.

Also a ?Members Only Board? where only POC members can access.  In this area discussions could be had that span many of the issues the club is faced with today without heckling from non-members.

And Please an online method for paying dues.  These days the only reason I have stamps at home is so I can mail my POC dues.    PS Jim,   The check is in the mail.

Just some ideas.

Chet ... I like the idea.   I assume it would also be ok for a person to participate in multiple "regions" if they so chose?   

I have toyed with this idea for a number of years.  I would like to create a POC region of disconnected POC members who for geographical reasons are unable to participate in POC structured meetings.  Basically what I believe to be the silent majority.  This region would serve those POC members who have yet to establish a voice within the formal mainstream of this long standing and respected organization.   Within the chaos of the internet this forum and others have brought together many POC members who do not have the luxury of having an organized group within our hometowns.    I think it is time to unleash this voice and move from the back burner to a place that is recognized and respected by the POC leadership.  We are Plymouth owners and if any club is going to carry the monogram of representing Plymouth owners then our voice must be heard?, must be offered?, and must be reckoned with.    Please don?t get me wrong I believe in the basic principles of the POC but I also believe in Plymouth owners.  Those of us who keep these old cars on the road and enjoy the camaraderie of others who may modify there vehicles but this doesn?t make them any less then Plymouth owners.   If you are a POC member and have any interest in this crazy endeavor please vote yes to this poll.  I have been told by the membership that you need three members to create a region.  I believe there are enough members out there to create a difference.

Thanks & best regards,  Chet?