Anyone Noticed 1953 #72 is for Sale

[Gary C.]

Contact Regional Rep & Voice Concerns *NM*

[Myron Sleeva]

Re: Ok boy and girls.. I've seen this argument

How many members are what can be gently described as inactive and that is why they might not be on line: they have no need to scan the airways searching for the elusive missing pieces of the puzzle. Their cars and ambitions are complete.

"keeping the playing field level". Is this the same as dumbing down so even the slow can keep up ?

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.-Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Rob Dame]

Re: Ok boy and girls.. I've seen this argument

I tend to hope for the best but think the worst...so in that case perhaps any bargains or rare parts that may come to be advertised in the Driveline are scooped up before it ever goes to print....Rob

[Ron Hambrecht]

Re: It's a shame...

Can't they buy computers ?

[Norris W.]

Re: It's a shame...

I can't imagine what the hierarchy who's hangin' onto restricting the content of this website is thinking. Trying hard not to be abrassive, the notion that not allowing certain things here, like buying/selling, searching for parts etc, is in some way being more fair and balanced to all of the membership is pretty much foolishness in my opinion, given the fact that there are often weeks in between the time that some members receive their Driveline, which is already on as much as a couple of month's lead time. In my 25+ (probably over 30 actually) years of NCRS membership, I have never once called about an unusual part in the driveline that wasn't already gone unless it was priced WAY OVER the current market. I suspect it's more of a resistance to change.......... any change that's the driving force. The fact is, it's hard to imagine that anyone who's seriously involved in our chosen hobby, not exactly what you'd call "non-technical" is at the same time ignorant or without access to the internet. Personally I think the question should be posed to the membership whether electronically or as a mail in from the Driveline, rather than bogged down in politics and the prejudices of what appears to be a VERY SMALL circle. It can only be good for the NCRS to have a state of the art internet presence, and anyone who doubts it should possibly pay more attention to the activity on some of the other Car websites. Perhaps access here should require membership, or maybe just be a requirement of buy/sell/wanted type posts, but in any case it's going on daily on other sites, with the result being stuff being bought and sold MONTHS before it could ever hit the print of our Driveline publication, pretty well leaving us behind. Let's fix it and get into modern times. Hell, if we can have the relabeling of Straight Axles and Mid Years to C1's and C2's rammed down our throats, surely we can quit playing petty politics with what's appropriate on the internet and make ourselves look half way progressive as an organization. I can't imagine any REAL downside to the club as a whole, or it's membership, except possibly for the gobblin' of a little more bandwidth or server capacity.

[Rob M.]

Re: It's a shame (business case)

Business Case:

Add a trade (buy/sell) section to the NCRS.org websites.

Pro's:
* Instant availability of ads (both important for seller and buyer)
* All members get an equal chance to react on ads published
* New revenue opportunities due to online advertising
* No printing costs
* Reduced posting cost if members don't need/want to receive the Driveline anymore (international posting fairs!)
* Usage of color without increased costs
* Usage of video/sound/picture without much increased costs (sellable with a provit to sponsors)
* Progressive image for the NCRS (which is at least 5 years behind on this topic)
* No DTP work and costs (if Driveline was discarded in time)
* Attrack new (younger) members (e.g. when available true classified section if you want to have the details on the published ads)

Con's:
* Canabalizing on the income generated by the Driveline (shouldn't be to hard to determine)
* People without internet wouldn't have access (needs investigation on percentage in 2006)
* Build, maintenance and extra hardware/software cost of online facility (needs further cost calculation)

Now if someone close to the board would like to present this to them to get this on the agenda (again)...

greetings,
Rob.

PS I could help setting up a trade section when wanted.

greetings,
rob.

[Andy F.]

Re: Ok boy and girls.. I've seen this argument

I have been an NCRS member for a few years now and post here every once in a while...a hand-ful of times, actually. While I am not a frequesnt post-er, I do read the techboard every day. I get the Driveline like everyone else sometimes a couple weeks late. I skim through it for an hour or so and then never pick it up again...until the new issue comes in the mail. I think the membership would be better served by making the Driveline buy/sell/trade a part of the NCRS.org. If the board is concerned over lost revenue from advertising, I would think a vendor would rather pay to advertise on the web where they will reach a wider audience, in full color, over a bi-monthly B&W publication with limited distribution. Also open up the Restorer to advertisers.

When I am in need of parts, the Driveline is unfortunately my last resource. Outside of the ususal catalog shops and local vendors, I take my chances with Ebay. I have been lucky so far, but would feel more comfortable buying from other like-minded members of the NCRS for my used or NOS parts...

[Clem Z.]

mike i bet it is a case of cost

the new software would cost $20K+ and you would need a full time person to run the board.

[Peter J.]

Re: It's a shame...

I guess I'm missing the need for a seller of a Corvette or parts to use this forum to sell. When selling you want the largest market available, and lets face it - that is ebay. Why limit yourself to a site that has such a small market? As a buyer, I would trust the item I was getting would be as represnted on "our" site more so than on ebay because of all the members and friends I have met over the last ten years or so. But I just don't get the motivation for a seller to limit their market.

[Kent K.]

Re: Electronic Driveline - make a business case

First, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I totally agree with the idea of an electronic Driveline. However, NCRS would have to limit its use to members only ... after all, Driveline is sent only to members and is for members only (unless slowness of delivery and its sometimes rag-tag appearance results from PO workers thumbing through it). The Mortimers have done a GREAT JOB collecting ads and doing the printed Driveline version. But, it's old technology since NCRS 1974 formation.

Gary is correct; it will take someone to present the business case to the Board. Is it possible to have this accomplished during the BOD meeting at 2006 national??? And, if a petition regarding an electronic Driveline becomes available, I'll put my name right after Mike's.

Maybe we should also have a survey for those with and without computers and internet surfing capabilities.

Take just the meat of NCRS mission statement:
"...dedicated to the restoration, preservation, history and enjoyment of Corvettes ..."
Let's make it more enjoyable to restore, preserve and locate the history of our Corvettes with an electronic Driveline.

The economics of it? Rob Musquetier lists pros & cons in his post above -- see https://www.ncrs.org/forum/tech.cgi/frames/read/210096 Loss of revenue from commercial ads may very well be offset by savings from not printing and mailing 6 issues per year. Commercial advertisers linked from our electronic Driveline would help financially if coded properly. As someone mentioned, NCRS would need to employ a "keeper" familiar with the web site technicalities and business sense of operating an online Driveline. John Waggoner does a marvelous job with this TDB site; maybe he will offer some expertise in locating someone to set up and operate an ED.

'Nuf said. I'll get off the soap box.

Kent #6201

PS --- If I knew how to set up web pages, etc, I would happily offer to run the electronic Driveline.

[Mark #28455]

what about the interest $

Doesn't the NCRS donate a fair amount of money to charities because of the interest generated by the bank account with our membership dues? Don't get after me that I hate charities or something, but can't we use that money as a business expense to pay the costs of setting up an online "driveline"? Wouldn't that be a legitimate business expense and still keep us as a non-profit organization.

By the way, doesn't it make more sense that we use any revenue generated by our dues to help advance our organization rather than unilaterally decide to give it away regardless of how noble the cause we are giving it to?

just my 2 cents,
Mark

[John H.]

Re: Ok boy and girls.. I've seen this argument

Our Michigan Chapter has 183 members, and only four don't have e-mail; I think the percentage of members with internet access is LOTS higher than some folks think.

[Clem Z.]

i would think that anyone who is restoring

a corvette has internet service just to look for parts if no other reason.

[Norris W.]

Re: mike i bet it is a case of cost

I don't know what would be required in terms of software, but I help a friend with a high perf boat website, (moderation) and there are NO full time people involved. For the sake of takin' a look at the utter magnitude: WWW.ScreamandFly.com
It has approx 19000 registered members and MANY MORE hits daily than NCRS's website. Team Chevelle is another one that is huge, and this guy has added a Team Nova, Team Camaro, and I think one other one, and far as I know he doesn't do it full time either, but like the S&F has volunteers who help with moderation.

[Randy Jones]

Re: mike i bet it is a case of cost

As a new member, I am very suprised that there is no service to buy and sell cars/parts. Has anyone ever looked at ZR-1 Net? They have a parts and cars for sale section, and I can't believe they have more money that NCRS. I would suggest that the members who do use the message board get this to happen, or this organization will die off as all of the old members do. I am not a computer guy, but I will help in any other way I can.