Board Meeting - Paid Cornerworkers at A-X

[Dan Chambers]

Greetings all!

I want to thank all of you who showed up at last night's meeting. There were some "warm" topics discussed. I want to summarize a couple.

Paid Cornerworkers at A-X's

The issue of paid cornerworkers was on the agend of last night's meeting.
the Board heard quite a few issues regarding this item:

- Instructor's burden of double cornerworking
- Fiscal impact to the annual budget
- logistics and possible loss of laps from system failures presented by the cornerworker contractors
- The Board's responsibilities in recommending actions to Chairs of events
- Driver's interest in Paid Cornerworkers
- Safetry issues related to Cornerworking
- etc (those issues I can't remember)

The result of the discussion was for the Board to recommend the Chairs of Autocross and Cornerworking evaluate, and find possible alternatives to the current Cornerworking system. After completing this task, the Chairs are to report back to the Board for comment and implementation.

Below is a copy of the recommendation/action requested by the Board to the Autocross and Cornerworking Chairs:

"At the January Board meeting, last night, Corner Working and Paid Cornerworking was discussed as part of the Autocross Report. Much debate was held regarding:
- The considerations of Instructors and their duties, including Corner Working.
- The Fiscal impact of Paid Cornerworkers on the annual budget (it was estimated that annual fees for paid cornerworking would run around $10,000.00 to $12,000.00 per year; conservatively). The Treasurer reminded us that, with the loss of the CFoS income, we would be on a much more strict budget in 2005.
- The Board's responsibilities in managing Chairs, and in allowing Chairs to determine the appropriate management of their designated events, versus dictating from the Board the required actions to be initiated at their events. (The Board agreed that the events were the responsibility of the Chairs directly, with support and recommendation coming from the Board, but not dictatorial edicts.)
- The impact of unpredictable conditions from the use of Paid Cornerworkers (late arrival, under-manned teams, time lost to insufficient management of the paid team by the paid team captain/leader, etc.) and its effect of possible lost track time for the drivers (less than the 12 laps - typical of our current practices).
- Consideration of adjusting, re-structuring or leaving the same, our current cornerworking practices.

The final decision by the Board was to recommend to you, the Autocross Chair(s) and the Cornerworking Chair(s) for you to decide upon evaluating the current system, find a method of change in the current Cornerworking process as it relates to the Instructors and participants, determine your preferred course of action, and relay back to the Board your decision.

Therefore, the Board of Directors asks that you evaluate the current cornerworking system and consider the options of:
- Paid Cornerworkers
- Re-structuring the Corner Worker System to better accommodate the Instructor's needs
- Devise a solution not listed, and of your choosing
- Leave the system as is

Please respond to our request within the next 60 days with your plan of action.

Thank you for your continued volunteer contribution to the PCA-SDR Driving Program. The Board is eternally grateful for your efforts and enthusiasm in the driving program.

Respectfully,
Dan Chambers, Vice-President
PCA-SDR"


Proof of Active Membership

The other "warm" issue was that of non-Porsche participants at recent autocrosses. Concern was raised several months ago by the Registrars regarding drivers that may not have been active PCA members participating .... yes driving...... in our events. Because of the popularity of the A-X's, and the impact that non-members could have, the board has recommended that proof of active membership be required to participate at the Qualcomm events, particularly Autocrosses.

Therefore, proof of active PCA membership will be required at Autocrosses. Please be prepared to present your membership card (yeah, that thing that comes with your renewal), or documentation of active membership, at upcoming events. There will be a box on the Tech Inspection sheet for this. So, have your doc's read in tech inspection.

One more thing ..... I'm just the messenger. Please don't shoot me!!

Those of you in attendance last night, thanks for showing up and voicing you opinions, issues, and concerns. Rest assured your voices were heard last night. For those of you most vocal on the forum, who did not show up, I'm sorry you missed what was a very good and productive topic - Paid Cornerworkers. We tried to represent what your interests were to the best of our ability.

Any information, interest in helping, or constructive ideas regarding these topics should be sent to the Autocross Chairs (ax@pcasdr.org). Or, if you'd like to vent ....... to me: DWChambers@hotmail.com. I'm listening.

Thanks for your time.

[David J Marguglio]

Err..how exactly did we "lose" the CFoS? Did I miss a thread about that, or maybe that issue of the Witness never made it to my box. Anyone care to elaborate???

[mnettles]

So how do I get a copy of the long-since thrown away card? Or do we have (can we get) a current SDR PCA membership list at the trailer for verification of forgetful people like me?

mj

[Dan Chambers]

Err..how exactly did we "lose" the CFoS? Did I miss a thread about that, or maybe that issue of the Witness never made it to my box. Anyone care to elaborate???

David, the CFoS is now the "Zone 8 Speed Festival". It has "moved" to a Zone 8 responsibility, and the Chairs of the event are working with the Zone 8 Rep., Bev. Frohm, to put on the event.

Go to the Announcements portion of the forum and read Vince Knauf's post, or contact the Zone 8 rep, or Vince for more info. The festival will continue under Zone 8 management, and the profits will be used as they see fit.

See the things you miss when you don't attend the Board meetings?

[ttweed]

So, have your doc's read in tech inspection.

Does this mean it is the responsibility of the tech inspectors to verify the current PCA membership of each driver for each car? If so, I see a bottleneck developing in the tech line in the morning....

TT

[Dan Chambers]

So how do I get a copy of the long-since thrown away card? Or do we have (can we get) a current SDR PCA membership list at the trailer for verification of forgetful people like me?

mj

MJ:

It's my understanding you can have a copy of your card issued by National. You might also ask for a "written statement" from our Regional Membership Chair stating your status. How 'bout a cancelled check or credit card statement showing renewal payment? Also, those of you who paid for multiple years of renewal ... RELAX!! You're record of payment and status is in the database .... unless you paid in the last 2 or 3 months (in which case a copy of your cancelled check or credit card payment can be aquired on line .... like I did .... as a back-up ).

We're working on having the membership database and/or print-out available to the Registrars for the first A-X on Jan. 30th, and thereafter. We'll try to have all the possible backup data, for ease of verification, as possible. This is not a punishment.

For me, I have an email from the PCA-SDR Membership Chair dated in November 2004 confirming my renewal, since I haven't even gotten my new card yet. So, I feel your pain. (BTW: I always carry my membership and competition cards with me at all times .... A.R. habits have their own rewards. )

(Bear in mind, DE's and TT's have not had the same problem/issue as A-X's. Verification at those events are going to be monitored, and enforcement will be the Chair's and Registrar's task as they see fit.)

[Dan Chambers]

So, have your doc's read in tech inspection.

Does this mean it is the responsibility of the tech inspectors to verify the current PCA membership of each driver for each car? If so, I see a bottleneck developing in the tech line in the morning....

TT

Thomas:

What I see is a person at the table who hands out the envelopes, asks to see verification, and gives people their wristband/color sticker envelope.

If there's an issue they send the person to the trailer to verify, write down the name of the person sent to the Trailer, and give the list of ??? persons to the A-X Chair and/or Registrar at the Trailer before the Driver's meeting.

Since Tech closes at 7:30AM, and the Driver's meeting doesn't start until aroound 8:30AM to 8:40AM, there's time to straighten it out, and if needed, call the ??? person/people to the Trailer to verify status on the Database sheets.

And, no, we don't want to make any more work for the Tech Team than necessary. Hopefully, just a quick "show me your membership card/paperwork" and they're done.

[Kim Crosser]

Many people showing up at the January 30 AX will not necessarily have read this forum. Also, it will be near impossible to verify membership of walk-ins from other regions.

Can I suggest that for at least the first few AX's that we have a simple form that people can sign, attesting that they ARE members in good standing (well, at least paid up) of PCA?

Something like:

I, driver name , hereby state that I am a current member, family member, or associate member in good standing of the Porsche Club of America (PCA). My membership number is number here .

I understand that only current members, family members, and associate members of PCA may participate in these PCA events.

If family or associate member, the full PCA member under whose membership you are participating is member name , membership number number here .

Signature and date

If we have a pile of these preprinted at the trailer, we can speed up the process and not reject anyone for failing to bring their membership card.

(Of course, like Dan, I carry my PCA card in my wallet.)

[mnettles]

Got it. No autocrosses for me until the info is available at the trailer. I renew for multiple years at a time and throw the cards away.

mj

(Empty threat- no driving of any sports car of any kind for me for at least 8 and maybe 12 weeks due to surgery on my wrist next week to fix a torn tendon... Have fun!)

[kary]

MJ, Sorry to hear you are going to miss some events! Hope everything goes well and you heal up soon!

[Dan Chambers]

Got it. No autocrosses for me until the info is available at the trailer. I renew for multiple years at a time and throw the cards away.

mj

(Empty threat- no driving of any sports car of any kind for me for at least 8 and maybe 12 weeks due to surgery on my wrist next week to fix a torn tendon... Have fun!)

MJ:

Very best wishes on a speedy recovery, and hopes for very little discomfort. (On a positive note, when you're ready to return "full speed" I'm sure all these issues will be resolved ) .

[paul-silver]

What I see is a person at the table who hands out the envelopes, asks to see verification, and gives people their wristband/color sticker envelope.

I thought that what was decided at the board meeting that it would *not* be the registrars at the table and trailer that asked for membership verification, that it would be the tech inspector. It will be just like checking the helmet sticker, but asking to see the membership card. The tech inspector will check the box off on the tech sheet.

Paul

[Curt]

I have a valid PCA membership card AND a valid drivers license (shouldn't we be checking that too?) but, I do have some overdue library books and I can't find my library card. What should I do?

[Steve Grosekemper]

Curt
I have two words for you (and Dan)

Secondary Inspection

[Kim Crosser]

... and please remove your belt, shoes, jacket and place any metal objects in the tray.

Oh yes, and bend over, please.