California Festival of Speed

[vvvince]

The California Festival of Speed is changing!



While started in 2001 by PCA San Diego Region, and run with support from PCA member volunteers throughout Southern California, in just three short years the CFoS has become such a major Porsche event that it's become larger than volunteers from any one PCA Region can be responsible for maintaining. PCA Club Racing, Drivers' Ed, Concours, Swap Meet, Autocross and Vendor Row - this has been a MAJOR effort! Thanks go out to San Diego Region for having the courage to start a tradition that has received NATIONAL attention and participants from across the United States!



To enable this event to grow beyond a single Region’s boundaries, the 2005 event will transfer to Zone 8 management and will be known as the Zone 8 Speed Festival. ALL Regions within PCA Zone 8 are invited to be actively involved!



Continuing at California Speedway in Fontana, CA, the 2005 Zone 8 Speed Festival is scheduled for March 18-20, 2005. All volunteer Regions are invited to share in the management, operation, fun and SUCCESS of this great event.



All PCA Zone 8 Presidents are asked to contact Bev Giffin-Frohm, Zone 8 Representative, as soon as possible, to discuss getting involved. 760-727-6068 or bevfrohm@yahoo.com



Members who would like to get involved are asked to contact Vince Knauf (vvvince@aol.com) or Ron Mistak (mistakcal@earthlink.net)



We look forward to seeing you all at the 2005 Zone 8 Speed Festival!



Beverly Giffin- Frohm, PCA Zone 8 Representative

Michael Harris, President, PCA San Diego Region

[David J Marguglio]

Okay Dan, pursuant to your suggestion in another thread, I have gone back a re-read Vince’s post. And just as I recalled, this is rather upbeat and seemingly innocuous note does not mention the fact that this may be a huge financial loss for the region. It does not explain that there has been heated discussions at board meetings and many that are gravely concerned about the 2005 budget sans CfoS. I’m sure the pat response to this post will be something to the effect of “If we don’t attend the board meetings that we are left out of the discussion.” Well many of us, myself included, are unable to attend board meetings, however, I think that significant issues that have profound affect on the club should be discussed in this forum. But then again, I’m just a member…F what I think.

[Greg Phillips]

Actually, January''s Witess has the minutes from the December meeting where this decision was made.
The short answer is that the chairs for the event resigned over what they perceived as too much interference, control, oversight by the Board and with the late date and timeline the Board did not feel that they could afford to risk the amount of money it takes to put on the event. There were no volunteers forthcoming within the region to manage this year's event at the late date.
The Zone was interested in running the event and now under the previous management it may go forward as a Zone 8 event. I would think that there are still several details to be ironed out in the next couple of months.
Yes the CFOS has made money in the past and if there is no money this year it will have some impact overall on the budget.
On the other hand, it would only take a set of storms like this week to put a very big dent in any financial models.
Is the Forum the best place to discuss these issues Question
Not sure, but on the other hand, what is left for discussion?

Greg

[MikeD]

Is the Forum the best place to discuss these issues Question
Not sure, but on the other hand, what is left for discussion?

Hmm. I dunno Greg. But I for one didn't know there were any issues with the CFoS management. Maybe if the general membership knew the exitisting CFoS management was stepping down they (we) would have stepped up to the plate. As it is, no one knew until it was to late.

[David J Marguglio]

I completely argree with Mike. What is the purpose of the forum if not to discuss issues that affect the club?

[Greg Phillips]

I completely argree with Mike. What is the purpose of the forum if not to discuss issues that affect the club?

I probably should have been clearer. I think that the Forum is a very strong tool for the club and these items should be discussed here. I was just musing if it was not too late at that point in time

Greg

[Dan Chambers]

To Mike D.:

We on the 2004 Board were as completely surprised by the Chairs walking out as you might be now. And, with the short timeline, we, the region, were in a pinch to resolve the issue with less than 4 months to go. So, it wasn't like we knew the Chairs were leaving 6 months or 1 year before the event, and we had time to advertise for a replacement. In the end, the event was picked up by the Zone, and the former Chairs re-enlisted themselves to produce a Club Race under the umbrella of the Zone instead of the SD Region. Those people who were at the December meeting knew about the sudden walk-out, which occurred 1 week before the December meeting.

To Dave M.:

I want to point out that there are very few people who know everything about everything that is going on at the meetings, at different events, on the forum, Regionally, Zone-wide. (Greg Phillips is the exception. He must have a clone, 'cause he's everywhere at the same time. )

As an example, even some of our own Board members of 2004 and 2005 weren't familiar with the rather hot issue discussed on the Forum regarding paid cornerworkers (blasphemy, you say!!), but they were well aware of the conditions of the CFoS. Conversely, the "Forum Regulars" are very well informed of who wants paid cornerworkers, who's trying to resolve Rules in the new 2005 Competition Season (how much does your C2/RSA weigh), who drives what colored car and what class they're in, but they weren't necessarily up on the latest changes going on with CFoS/Z8SF.

So, Some people are "on top of it" when it comes to Board meetings and the various functions, events, committees, etc. and some people are all over the forum, and have a keen sense of the pulse of the forum reader's/writer's opinions.

I think ultimately, we have to be responsible to ourselves for our own knowledge of what's going on in the club. So, maybe the people who regularly attend meetings, and social functions, and committee meetings should read the forum. (Ironically, these people often tell me they don't have time to read the forum. To them, there's not enough time in the day to spend sitting behind their computers reading what other people write.) Maybe the "Forum Regulars" should attend more meetings, get involved in more committees, and go to social events . (Unfortunately, these folks don't have enough time to go to meetings and committee events and other activities. They'd rather spend their time on the things they need to accomplish, and the tasks they need to complete.)

We all need to take the responsibility on ourselves to stay informed.

And to both of you, I think the forum is a fine place to keep information flowing. AND, I think it is only one of many vehicles in the information network, not the only one.

As always, you can write any one of the Board members and simply ask what's going on. We are, after all, here to facilitate your needs and interests as best we can. So, write us, call us, attend gatherings and come up to us with any questions you want to ask.

Finally, I will not insult you, David and Mike, by telling you for the umpteenth time to go to the Board meetings. Obviously, by now you know about them and will make your choices to attend, or not. I would hope you'd attend. That's where all of the Club's information is shared in a very short period of time. (Huh, by attending the Board meetings, I'd have more free time. Hmmm.)

Thanks for your time..... if you have any left .

[MikeD]

We on the 2004 Board were as completely surprised by the Chairs walking out as you might be now. And, with the short timeline, we, the region, were in a pinch to resolve the issue with less than 4 months to go. So, it wasn't like we knew the Chairs were leaving 6 months or 1 year before the event, and we had time to advertise for a replacement. In the end, the event was picked up by the Zone, and the former Chairs re-enlisted themselves to produce a Club Race under the umbrella of the Zone instead of the SD Region. Those people who were at the December meeting knew about the sudden walk-out, which occurred 1 week before the December meeting.

I understand it was sudden. This would have been a PERFECT opportunity to use the forum to help the club. Posting a simple message like the following:

EMERGENCY -- The PCA SDR Board needs your help!!

The CFoS management team has decided to discontinue their services for the 2005 event. If you would be availble to help, or know someone that can help, please let us know ASAP. If we do not get <some number> people to step up to the plate soon we will be forced to hand the event over to the Zone for their management at next weeks board meeting. If that happens the CFoS will not be an SDR event, and will become a Zone 8 event. Please help us keep the event a PCA SDR event.

It took me about 2 whole minutes to write that...

We all need to take the responsibility on ourselves to stay informed.

This sort of attitude was presented by the POC Board at the last "Town Hall Meeting" and was met with lots of opposition. It sounds good in theory because it makes the life of those "in the know" easier. They do not have to be proactive in their communication. They just have to answer questions as they come up. But where this attitude breaks down Dan, is in its practice. How am I, or anyone else suppose to know what issues are being brought to the attention of the Board prior to the meeting itself (or without attending the meeting at all [see below])?

And to both of you, I think the forum is a fine place to keep information flowing. AND, I think it is only one of many vehicles in the information network, not the only one.

Given our current resources, I would propose that it is the best tool for proactively communicating (in detail) what is going on with the club. There are 170 registered users. When was the last time there were 170 members at a Board meeting? Social event? AX? DE? Rally? Concour? Any other event this club puts on?

Not to diminish the Witness, as that is the tool to communicate what has happened. But not that good for being proactive.

As always, you can write any one of the Board members and simply ask what's going on. We are, after all, here to facilitate your needs and interests as best we can. So, write us, call us, attend gatherings and come up to us with any questions you want to ask.

Again, I ask you. How do we know what to ask you if you do not tell us what is going on?

Finally, I will not insult you, David and Mike, by telling you for the umpteenth time to go to the Board meetings. Obviously, by now you know about them and will make your choices to attend, or not. I would hope you'd attend. That's where all of the Club's information is shared in a very short period of time. (Huh, by attending the Board meetings, I'd have more free time. Hmmm.)

Dan, this comment is certainly unfair. I have something far more important to do on Wed. evenings (which I do not feel I should have to explain to you or anyone else). That's every Wed. from now until the end of time. The one or two Wed. evenings I might get off in a given year are not likely to fall on a PCA SDR Board meeting night. It's not that I don't want to go to a meeting, or that I can't find 2.5 hours in my schedule. It's that the Wed. meeting conflicts something more important (as odd as that may seem). If it was on a Mon. or Tue. I could certainly find 2.5 hours to attend and find out what's happening with the club. But I'm not going to ask the Board to change its meeting night just for me. I am going to trust that those who attend are representing me and the other members honestly and fairly. But using the fact that we do not attend the meetings against us is just not right.

Honestly Dan, do you really want all 2,000 members to show up and every meeting?

Disclaimer: For some reason I feel the need to make sure you, and others understand that I appreciate the work you and the Board does. I am not critisizing you personally, or the Board really. I am merely offering my opinion and thoughts in hopes that you and others are open enough to be able to accept it as just that: The opinion of one member in the club.

[David J Marguglio]

Dan:

...the 2004 Board were as surprised by the Chairs walking out as you might be now.

I can appreciate that, but this was a big deal and I think it should have been posted in detail in the forum. (edit: as Mike pointed out above)

So there are those on the board that are not actively involved in the forum? Perhaps that should be a requirement for being elected to the board in the future.

...ultimately, we have to be responsible to ourselves for our own knowledge of what's going on in the club...people who regularly attend meetings, and social functions, and committee meetings should read the forum....maybe the "Forum Regulars" should attend more meetings, get involved in more committees…

This is not viable solution. The board has a responsibility to engage its members in a way that is conveinent for THEM. This club is a corporation and like a corporation, our board answers to and serves at the pleasure of its shareholders (members).

How can members make suggestions to the board if they are not informed of what issues the club is facing. Moreover, too often in this club when a member suggests a way of making the club better the suggestion is received like an insult or a question of their commitment to the club.

Generally, I feel that members make suggestions on this board (and perhaps at board meetings) that are good-faith efforts to improve the club and they should be treated like a valuable contribution. The typical response is "If you want to change it, then volunteer and something about it."

I am tired (and I don’t think I am alone in this) of a few people in this club driving their own political agenda. I thought that we had rooted most of that out, but there seems to be much that is decided behind closed doors and then hidden from the membership. Or perhaps this is just perceived, but in either case, it needs to be addressed.

The board must bridge this disconnect between itself and the large percentage of membership can’t attend monthly meetings. As a suggestion, the board should designate one of its own to glean member suggestions/concerns from the forum and relate them at the board meetings. Then follow up by posting relevant new business and/or follow up information back to the forum. I know that you will say that the minutes do the latter, but because of their long lag time, I feel they fail to keep us informed in a timely fashion (as in this case).

Dan, I hope I am not out on a limb here, and judging by the private messages and outside email that I have received on the subject, I dont feel that I am. I really feel that an issue this profound needs to be taken to the membership at large, and yes, dare I say, in this public forum.

So that's my rant...feel free to cut up my membership card when I present it at the next autoX.

[Ralph]

Even the Forum has a small percentage of the club active on it. If everything is posted here, than the message potentially gets out to everyone, but how many people read the Forum regularly? The best way to get the information out to all members (or most) is still the Witness. I know that this is a month late with news at best, but there are still some active members of this club who don't own a computer. With this information and the fact that we had only four months to plan this event, the $50,000+ commitment was too risky to make. All it takes is a rain out and we can potentially bring the club close to bankruptcy. (We advertised full refunds for drivers before and I believe were still doing it for backing out for any reason.)

It has been a tough decision to make to have this event every year as it is a big gamble. We are fortunate that Ron, Vince, and team have done such a good job with the past events that the risk appears to be minimal. Club races have really had quite an impact on other regions as well and not always for the good. Personally, I think that the zone taking this over and possibly of spreading the financial risk among multiple regions is a good move. We should support Vince and team this year for keeping it going!

Ralph Linares
2004 PCASDR Secretary

[Mike]

Thanks Ralph, that's just about the way Dan explained it to me when I saw him at Mirage the other week. I asked a question or two and Dan gave me a very complete brief on the CFoS status.

As Greg said it is too late to change the board's decision. I can understand the points offered by Ralph and Dan and I can live with the decision. Besides a PCA Fontana event is still scheduled.

I think a heated discussion regarding board member BBS protocol under the CFoS thread is not such a good idea. Perhaps it would be better to do so in the General area or better not at all? I also bet if you guys just called each other and talked it over it might reduce future heated posts.

Let's remember we are doing this for fun.

[Dan Chambers]

[i]"Dan, this comment is certainly unfair. I have something far more important to do on Wed. evenings (which I do not feel I should have to explain to you or anyone else). That's every Wed. from now until the end of time. The one or two Wed. evenings I might get off in a given year are not likely to fall on a PCA SDR Board meeting night. It's not that I don't want to go to a meeting, or that I can't find 2.5 hours in my schedule. It's that the Wed. meeting conflicts something more important (as odd as that may seem). If it was on a Mon. or Tue. I could certainly find 2.5 hours to attend and find out what's happening with the club. But I'm not going to ask the Board to change its meeting night just for me. I am going to trust that those who attend are representing me and the other members honestly and fairly. But using the fact that we do not attend the meetings against us is just not right.

Honestly Dan, do you really want all 2,000 members to show up and every meeting? "[/i]

[i]"This is not viable solution. The board has a responsibility to engage its members in a way that is conveinent for THEM. This club is a corporation and like a corporation, our board answers to and serves at the pleasure of its shareholders (members).

How can members make suggestions to the board if they are not informed of what issues the club is facing. Moreover, too often in this club when a member suggests a way of making the club better the suggestion is received like an insult or a question of their commitment to the club.

Generally, I feel that members make suggestions on this board (and perhaps at board meetings) that are good-faith efforts to improve the club and they should be treated like a valuable contribution. The typical response is "If you want to change it, then volunteer and something about it."

I am tired (and I don’t think I am alone in this) of a few people in this club driving their own political agenda. I thought that we had rooted most of that out, but there seems to be much that is decided behind closed doors and then hidden from the membership. Or perhaps this is just perceived, but in either case, it needs to be addressed.

The board must bridge this disconnect between itself and the large percentage of membership can’t attend monthly meetings. As a suggestion, the board should designate one of its own to glean member suggestions/concerns from the forum and relate them at the board meetings. Then follow up by posting relevant new business and/or follow up information back to the forum. I know that you will say that the minutes do the latter, but because of their long lag time, I feel they fail to keep us informed in a timely fashion (as in this case).

Dan, I hope I am not out on a limb here, and judging by the private messages and outside email that I have received on the subject, I dont feel that I am. I really feel that an issue this profound needs to be taken to the membership at large, and yes, dare I say, in this public forum. "[/i]

To both of you, and all interested folks, I'd just like to remind you that this is a car club run by volunteers. All of us are volunteers in a non-profit organization that is developed for strictly recreational pursuits, surrounded by a common theme: Porsches. We are all trying our very best to do the jobs we have volunteered to do, in our spare time, and with no compensation except a "thanks" here and there, and an occasional " job well done." When we say something like, "if you want more information, step up and get it. Go to meetings, read the forum, write an email to an officer, call one of us up." We are not blowing you off, or snubbing you. We are, as volunteers, trying to find the best solution to a problem under the conditions of being volunteers, as quickly as possible. (I could easily spend 40+ hours a week just answering questions by email, writing updates for the forum, developing information articles for our newsletter [oh yeah, the Witness is a newsletter], calling those interested in the most recent updates on the phone, and other information-letting duties.) If there were a vehicle that would permit me to run my business for pay, and dedicate 40 to 60 hours a week to a volunteer recreational organization, then I could perform the tasks that everyone asks me to do. But the reality is, I can't. The volunteers that are the Board Members can't. The Chairs that run the events can't. We are volunteers, with obligations just like the rest of you, and we have businesses, and lives to manage, as well. So, we ask for your help by saying phrases like "take responsibility...." This is not meant to skirt the issues, or shirk responsibility. It is a way of achieving the best results through a system of volunteerism, friendship, and personal responsibility. It is a part of what a recreational, volunteer club is about, in my opinion.


""This is not viable solution. The board has a responsibility to engage its members in a way that is conveinent for THEM. This club is a corporation and like a corporation, our board answers to and serves at the pleasure of its shareholders (members). "

My feeling is, if we were a profitting corporation where our incomes were based on our performance, and our sole responsibility was to guarentee shares revenue increases to our members, then I would agree with this statement. This is just my opinion. However, as a volunteer, non-profit organization who's objective is to provide the most enjoyable recreational opportunities to the best of our volunteer abilities, I think as an Officer, my biggest responsibility is to the the best job I can given my limitations (one of which, is to earn an income and develope a prosperous future). One way that the volunteer leaders acheive success in developing results, is through participation of other volunteers, and those members who take responsibility for gaining their own results with the resources available.

Remember that not all members read the forum. Not all members read the Witness. Not all members go to meetings. Not all members go to driving events and discuss the political climate. Not all members got to car shows and concours. As volunteer leaders, the Chairs, and the Board have to work with the resources available to connect the dots of all the different entities within a 2000-member group.

I think developing a person to relay information from meetings to the forum is a fine idea. I also think there has been a de-facto condition where this has been going on since the forum got its start. We just don't have a formal program, as such. In our 24-hour news service-instant/real-time information NOW / high-tech society, we're used to immediate information. Maybe, we've evolved to the point where one is needed. Great idea. (Dare I ask...... would someone like to step up to the plate and.....volunteer ) Now, someone needs to make this happen. Perhaps one of the Board of Directors (let's see Bob McLaughlin is Chairing Tech Sessions, Denise Dente is Also SDI, Carl Scragg is also Co-Chairing Treasurer, Michael Harris, Margi Knight, Martha McGowen and I are officers, and dissallowed by the By-Laws from Chairing any programs. So, let's see.... who's not busy enough on the Board....)

Finally, I'm not trying to rebut, disclaim or insult your views, excuse away my responsibility, or run home crying in my beer. I am trying to communicate that we're all trying to do the best we can, and trying to have fun doing it. So, join me, please, in trying to have as much fun as possible, and share the fun and responsibibility of making great programs happen, as only a great car club should.

Thanks for your time.

[Jad]

As stated, PCA is a corporation. As such, the member elect the board to run the corp. We do NOT elect them to pass all decisions to us for contemplation. We chose them because we believe they will make the best choices for the club. If you do not like their choices, then don't re-elect them.

There was no Enron cover-up, no deceptive or improper activity, they just made a decision as we elected them to. I own stock in a lot of companies, yet I don't remember being asked my opinion on any of their daily business decisions (maybe choice of auditor or buying or selling the company, but not business opportunities such as this). Plus, I trust the board a lot more than some of the people on the forum

I am curious as to why anywhere cares? We still get to drive the event, so I don't see how we are really effected. IF and that is a big IF, it made so much money, what benefits did we receive that we won't now? (this is not for the board to answer, just the complainers) Yet, if it is a rainout, and we lose $50k, I can pretty much guarantee no paid cornerworkers for years

PS Anyone else intrigued by what Mike does on Wednesdays

[MikeD]

We are, as volunteers, trying to find the best solution to a problem under the conditions of being volunteers, as quickly as possible. (I could easily spend 40+ hours a week just answering questions by email, writing updates for the forum, developing information articles for our newsletter [oh yeah, the Witness is a newsletter], calling those interested in the most recent updates on the phone, and other information-letting duties.)

Dan: This is the key right here! This is the point I have been trying to make. However, since I spend to vast majority of my time talking to computers, I sometimes (often) don't communicate on the human level very well.

So THE POINT is this: If you spend 15 minutes writing the information and posting it to the forum then you wouldn't HAVE TO spend 40 hours a week returning calls and emails. You refer people to the forum for the answer and sooner or later (people don't like to admit it, but they are trainable) they will get the idea that they can just come here for their updates and questions. It takes time, yes that is true. But eventually (and probably not in your term of office) they will get the idea and we will have 2000+ registered users on the forum instead of just 170.

As a member of the organization I am trying to HELP the Board and you understand that there is a better way of doing what you are doing. But you, and others seem to take it as criticism.

There are vast numbers of communities on the internet that NEVER have board meetings or meet face-to-face with anyone else. The communicate solely via email and forums just like this. And they seem to be able to produce some of the best products in their respective industries. I CAN be done, it's just a matter of getting past that mental block of "This is the way we've always done it..."

But Mike is right, this is probably not the best thread to be discussing this issue...

[MikeD]

Jad: I agree with you mostly. I think though, you need to consider scale when comapring PCA SDR with the corporations you hold stock in. To us the fiscal impact of losing CFoS to Zone 8 could be the same as losing a subsidiary company is to a major corporation. But you know more about that than I do, since it is what you do, right?

For me personally, I'm not irritated about losing CFoS to Zone 8. You're right in that respect, I still get to drive the event at the same track. I have no ill feeling toward Zone 8 nor its management. And it's not that I do not trust the Board.

So what's the point? It is that apparently the Board doesn't trust US, the membership. Maybe no one would have stepped up to the plate. I don't even know that I could have done anything (but I sure would have taken a more critical look at my schedule). But we were not even given the chance. The Board apparently decided that no one else in the region could be trusted with the task so why bother.

If the Board doesn't trust us, how can they reasonably expect us to trust them?