TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:14 am

First off, I want to thank those members who have expressed their opinions on the 356 talk list vs a 356Registry forum. Both for and against. I feel the club is at a cross roads on this topic. With the Trustee elections coming up I for one will support those individuals who are open minded enough to at least explore a 356 Registry sponsored forum. There have been some great points raised on both sides of the subject. I would like to see a 356Registry member committee formed for exploring the creation of a 356Registry forum.

With that being said, I set up another poll for you to cast you're vote on which you prefer.(Polls -another advantage in creating a 356Registry forum). This Poll should give us a good idea on who is for and against...

To vote you will need to register at the samba.com. Please email me [email protected] or call my cell 904.434.5818 if you need help.

To register: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=register

Feel free to post you comments in the forum as well.

I want to thank Everett Barnes, founder and host of thesamba.com for letting us post this poll.

Mark Pribanic
1958 Coupe
Registry#13617
Neptune Beach, Florida

Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:24 am

I'm for a 356Registry forum.

Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:38 am

I support a forum.

I like organized, easy to search methods for answers to my questions. I don't belong to 356talk due to it being outdated. Did I mention the advantages of real time posting of pictures. Especially, when I need the information now to complete a repair on my '63 Coupe. I do all my own maintenance and think a forum would help expedite answers to my questions.

Here I am working on my coupe soon after I purchased it, May 2007:

Sat Sep 22, 2007 8:42 am

I support evaluation of a forum style communication medium by the trustees and officers in an effort to expand the reach of the Registry and provide a more ready access to information

Further, as part of the evaluation, it should be considered that access be allowed only to the 356 Registry membership. Establishing and supporting a forum style internet presence will cost, and those that need the information should pay on an equal basis for the access.

Roy Smalley 1544 Texas www.eurowerks.com

Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:10 am

I support a Forum Endorsed by The Registry.

Costs are minimal so it should be open to anyone. That is the trend with the internet these days if you want to attract people.

Sat Sep 22, 2007 8:48 pm

LHG wrote: And, ( this is the flame part) I don't think the added value would be worth the effort to get one going and then to try to get the anti forum crowd to support it.

I disagree with that statement. As long as it is a 356Registry based forum I think it will be succesful. Located on the 356 Registry website. If the forum is not supported by the 356Registry, and some individual or non related porsche/vw site creates a 356 forum, I think it will flounder.(as others have) As far as getting the anti-forum crowd involved...I think they will eventually see the value of a 356Registry backed forum. It may take a few years(and upgrades from dial up), but eventually I believe they will see the value. On a lighter note I have a mean cut and paste technique to help share their rich knowledge of 356's :wink:

Thus, if there is a 356 registry backed forum, I feel it will succeed.

My .02

Mark

Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:18 pm

I admit, I am a little pessimistic. We've been shot down so hard in the past.

It's good there is new blood (and calm heads) in the effort to promote a Registry forum.

Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:25 pm

LHG wrote: I admit, I am a little pessimistic. We've been shot down so hard in the past.

It's good there is new blood (and calm heads) in the effort to promote a Registry forum.

Well, I just received my daily digest a few minutes ago. One thing was missing. My post & link to this poll. LHG, you may be right after all. My post was missing...

Oh well, atleast the Georgia Bulldogs beat Alabama tonight.

In case you're interested or bored here is the missing email:

First off, I want to thank those members who have expressed their opinions on the 356 talk list vs a 356Registry forum. Both for and against. I feel the club is at a cross roads on this topic. With the Trustee elections coming up I for one will support those individuals who are open minded enough to at least explore a 356 Registry sponsored forum. There have been some great points raised on both sides of the subject. I would like to see a 356Registry member committee formed for exploring the creation of a 356Registry forum.

With that being said, I set up another poll for you to cast you're vote on which you prefer.(Polls -another advantage in creating a 356Registry forum). This Poll should give us a good idea on who is for and against...

There will be 3 choices:

1) I support a 356Registry forum
2) I support a 356 talk list
3) I support a co-existence of a 356Registry forum and a 356 talk list

To vote you will need to register at the samba.com. Please email me [email protected] or call my cell 904.434.5818 if you need help.

To register: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=register
To vote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2510235#2510235

Please post your comments as well.

I want to thank Everett Barnes , founder and host for letting us post this poll on thesamba.com

Mark Pribanic
1958 Coupe
Registry#13617
Neptune Beach, Florida

Mon Sep 24, 2007 4:58 pm

I have posted to the 356 Registry years ago and gave up because all I got were no replies or purist reply s. Either way they were no good. The thing I like about samba is there is less ego's here. There are many times I am embarrassed to own a Porsche. I am also restoring/building an offroad Thing and the people here at Samba are friendlier with the advice. If there were a way to marry the thoughts of Samba into the Registry I am for it, but if it goes the other way no thanks.

Regards
saddlesore

Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:13 pm

saddlesore1 wrote: I have posted to the 356 Registry years ago and gave up because all I got were no replies or purist reply s. Either way they were no good. The thing I like about samba is there is less ego's here. There are many times I am embarrassed to own a Porsche. I am also restoring/building an offroad Thing and the people here at Samba are friendlier with the advice. If there were a way to marry the thoughts of Samba into the Registry I am for it, but if it goes the other way no thanks.

Regards
saddlesore

Be patient there are some things in the works...I agree with you by the way. There is alot more ego on the 356talk...

Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:23 pm

The 356List should have gone to a Forum format years ago.

I support the Forum format and can help in any way needed.

Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:35 pm

Forum Forum Forum

Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:47 am

I support the forum format as well

356 Talk needs this change.

Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:43 am

Thank you Mark, for taking the initiative. The 356 list is simply not an efficient way for users to communicate. Roy has it right, there will be resistance because of some minor costs, but we should share those for the good of the community... isn't that what any club does? Once a forum has been established and the ease of use is demonstrated to some older-less-computer-comfortable members, the resistance will go away. Nobody likes change until the benefits are demonstrated. Only the Luddites will continue to complain.

Russell Hibbard
'62 356S Hardtop
'68 911 Targa Sporto
'64 Microbus Deluxe
'64 BMW 700CS Cabriolet
'62 BMW 700CS Sport

Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:24 am

I would support a 356registry based forum. I think it would help spread interest and ownership of the cars, and isn't this what the registry was originally set up for? And think of all those great pics we would see!

Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:11 am

The costs involved are very minimal and I would call any decision involving cost an excuse.

Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:12 am

Registry members know how much the club has in the coffers. A couple of issues back, they had the club finances listed. Something like 450K with 250K operating expenses for 2006. There are no financial excuses not to set up a forum.

Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:18 am

Maybe Everett could set up a Registy Outlaws section on the Samba. A kinder, more gentle way of getting the job done. Once the word got out, I have a feeling that a lot of the old timers would see the light and migrate towards it. Then Everett could sell a legit version to the Registry for BIG BUCKS and buy one of those 150K Speedsters!

Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:36 am

I do know they are looking into setting up a forum. There is a small group of people looking at the options. Not sure which type of forum they will go with.

I hope similar to one of these. They are visually easy to read, navigate & follow:

914world: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=72683
Pelican Parts: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=368489
thesamba.com: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21573

Forums I find more difficult to read:

912 registry: http://www.912bbs.org/index.php?a=forum&f=8
Porsche 356 Club: http://www.356clubbbs.org/index.php?a=forum&f=5

Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:08 am

COBussmuggler wrote: Maybe Everett could set up a Registy Outlaws section on the Samba. A kinder, more gentle way of getting the job done. Once the word got out, I have a feeling that a lot of the old timers would see the light and migrate towards it. Then Everett could sell a legit version to the Registry for BIG BUCKS and buy one of those 150K Speedsters!

Stuff like that has already been done. What we've been trying to do for about 5 years is get the Registry to officially endorse a forum. There are so many restrictions with the talklist it makes it very limited. Money and security issues should not really be an issue, most every organization in America has a forum and they do just fine.

Also, the Registry board may want to make it a members only thing which IMO would be a huge mistake. The whole shift on the internet is free access which increases users, which will in turn increase dues paying members in the long run.