The Porsche 356 movement and all 356 Registry Discussion

[LHG]

Yes, the point I'm was trying to make is a forum is very inexpensive to run and letting guest in isn't a burden.

Lets just say it costs $300 per year which would include some software upgrade purchases over a 5 year period and a better hosting plan. That's still only $.04 per user per year.

The Registry actually spends a lot more than that because they have a Carrera Hosting Plan when a VW plan might do. That's because when we first went from the original email talk list to a forum linked with email it was fairly server intensive. That's not the case anymore.

In 1999 356Talk was an email list and it had about 900 users.
In 2007 356Talk grew to about 2500 users. The problem with that number is the email list was never pruned so many were out of date. I estimate they had about 1500- 2000 good email addresses.
We pushed to go to a forum and from 2007 to 2012 the forum membership grew to 8000 while during the same period paying members dropped. This drop in membership caught the trustees off guard and they blame the drop partly on the guest member program, except 356Talk has always been open to all and free.
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Brian O'Kelly
www.centralcoastvwclub.com
Central Coast Chapter, CA - Vintage Volkswagen Club of America

[jjjjack]

Conveniently ignoring that the same timeframe represents a recession....
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Jack Stenner
1967 21 Window WT
1953 Porsche 356 Coupe

[jjjjack]

Now that I think about it, I guess because I was already a member in '07, it never registered with me that they were booting non-members after 6 months. The forum was handicapped from the beginning. Not allowing people to post, now, probably won't make a difference. Oh well...
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Jack Stenner
1967 21 Window WT
1953 Porsche 356 Coupe

[LHG]

[jjjjack]

Ah, so the same user could just renew, or did they have to create a new account?
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Jack Stenner
1967 21 Window WT
1953 Porsche 356 Coupe

[LHG]

They would just re-register so in effect making a new account. They could have the same username and email address though.
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Brian O'Kelly
www.centralcoastvwclub.com
Central Coast Chapter, CA - Vintage Volkswagen Club of America

[jjjjack]

So, kind of a hassle, but not too bad for someone who is persistent.
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Jack Stenner
1967 21 Window WT
1953 Porsche 356 Coupe

[Brian Mathe]

[DanM]

Having become used to the free exchange of information on thesamba (vintage ads, owner's manuals, workshop manuals, brochures, sales figures, etc etc etc) I was SHOCKED at how "closed" a community the Porsche scene is. Try finding scans of Porsche owners manuals for free online. You can't, and that's only ONE small piece of what we take for granted here as VW fans.

I would be thrilled if thesamba became the place for all Porsche people to gather. We could help the cause by sending Everett as much original literature so he can really build out the literature section. That will bring people here, guaranteed.

Build it and they will come.

[EverettB]

If anyone wants to email me scans of a Porsche owner's manual they have, I can add them to the site.
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How to: Post Photos | Search
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My VWs | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"

[Wiggy]

[UZI]

if they are truly a non-profit/tax exempt org their 990 form should be available on the IRS's website for anyone to find if they would like to take the time.
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ﻥ ﺥﻡ‎

[quote="mannys66"]South Philly Van Club, only the most influential and freshest van club in the vw scene[/quote]
[quote="Cuñado"]Chrome will get you home!!!!!!!!!![/quote]

[dawerks]

People as social beings like to be included. Especially now with this thing called the 'internet', we can be heard (even if no one reads our posts) and it feels like you are part of something. That just feels good.

Now, when you go to the Registry, sure you can read, but you can't respond? That's the biggest thing (by thing I mean piss off) for me. It's just this 'feeling' of being excluded just because I didn't do something. Worse it adds money and snobbish elitism into the mix. Feels gross eh?

I'll be attending a 356 meet in LA this summer. Should have alot of FUN conversations with the Trustees (if they are present). By fun I mean not fun at all.
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57 PGSG 'Carpet Bus'

"There is only one sin; disconnection from self."

[Glenn]

[Jennepher]

[dawerks]

[Jacks]

I don't know of a 356 REGISTRY event in So. Cal this summer. What is this event? I also want to say that for the record that I have little interest in responding to folks on any forum that don't reveal their true identity. I'm totally OK with those that don't want to. Here's mine:
Jack Staggs
[email protected]
949 492 9606
Feel free to contact me for any reason.
P.S Unlike many folks, I actually answer my phone. I am here to help. Usual hours (pacific time), please.

[dawerks]

My mistake, I checked the calendar and confused 'Regional events' with Registry events. There is no 'West Coast Holiday' this year?
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57 PGSG 'Carpet Bus'

"There is only one sin; disconnection from self."

[ensys]

The Financial Statement is printed annually in the Registry as required by the State of Ohio. It shows that the most recent numbers provided elsewhere regarding the income and magazine costs are correct. It also shows that the half-million dollar "reserve" (Slush Fund) continues to be eroded by the difference between income and expenses.

It also makes clear to anyone that can add that the expense of the magazine is driving the budget. One might well conclude that: 1) The magazine is the most important thing that the Club does. 2) The drive in the last 10 years to make the magazine the envy of the world has made its current unit cost unsustainable regardless of the number of dues-paying members. 3) Cutting the unit cost by 25% would free up some sixty-six thousand dollars that could be budgeted for say, supporting local Club activities, or gathering and maintaining a comprehensive 356 database, or allowing some measured free access to the forum, or a more complex web presence that is tailored to the needs and goals of the Membership, or even more Trustee Junkets to the far reaches of the globe to hob-nob with Important People.

It all depends on where one's priorities lie.
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Keep 'em flying...

S.J.Szabo

[Unobtanium-inc]

The crux of this whole problem is a generational divide. The older crowd believes "membership has its privlidges" while the younger crowd (many of whom grew up with the internet) finds it offensive to pay for a forum, something that to them is akin to paying to walk down the street, in this case the virtual street. So where does this leave us?
Part of being part of the community is giving back, which we get a lot of in the Registry Brotherhood, but it is also about paying into the community, which in this case is club dues. Club dues keep the club alive, as well as community involvement, I think the fear of the older crowd is that the Registry will migrate to the forum and leave the rest behind. But by bringing it all under one umbrella we can keep the community together, not divided.
I am for keeping the community together, if that means paying my $35, I will gladly do it, as I have for years now.
I think what people who are reluctant to join to be on the forum need to see is that you aren't paying to be on the forum, you are paying to be a part of the Registry Brotherhood, one of the most active, helpful, strong Porsche clubs on the planet, a club which happens to also have a great and active forum. We will miss anyone who decides to walk away from the club over this issue, but I hope those people will realize what a great club this is and that we need them to keep it going and re-consider. We will still be here, I probably have a good 30-40 years left in me, so if anyone wants to come back, you will find a friend and Registry Brother in me.