Open letter to NCRS - Restorer Magazine

[Verle R.]

My original intent for posting my correspondence with Gilbert Scrivner was to encourage more people to write articles for the Restorer.

One outcome was a number of complaints. Complaints about the Restorer here will have minimal effect. The member ship at large have no direct effect on what NCRS does, the regional representatives that you elect do have direct effect.

I suggest that everyone, EVERY member that reads this post, send email to their regional representative about the Restorer Magazine.

If you really want to bring about change send suggestions not complaints. Suggest specific things you want to see. There were complaints about the paper, tell them what type paper you want to see.

If you like what you see tell them that too.

Lets try to make something positive out of this and improve the Restorer.

Verle

[Tom R.]

Re: Open letter to NCRS - Restorer Magazine

Verle:

While your cause is noble...this editor and past editors have fought the "I need more tech articles" dilemma. More members aren't gonna write more tech articles...they prefer to keep their heads ducked under the hood in this organization. And your absolutely right...we've got great talent that contribute in many ways such as this forum, on the judging field, in the boardroom and in chapter meetins. But writing is not their forte.

Which also points to the newest incentive program for those that do write three articles in three years time or something like that. You get a hat and a shirt and pin (something anyway). It was written up in one of the past Restorers. My suggestion...go back through your past editions and read those essays by the President.

There is a publications committee made up of the President, the financial officer (Jeff Cook) and a regional director at-large, who once was Mike Pierce. I'm not sure who has beeng assigned the current tour-of-duty.

The cosmetic issues have been well research and studied and I'm sure if you got into would learn that members wanted a new look and the paper saves $.

Perhaps, those studies could be put online and made available to members to quench their thirst for more change. It's been less than a year under the new editorship...give it a chance. NCRS doesn't like dramatic change and they just complete the cycle with the Restorer so build a bridge and get over as we say in the constipated world of government.

[Rick Gower]

Re: Open letter to NCRS - Restorer Magazine

Tom,

I am not convinced there is a shortage of articles submitted. The Restorer editor has not commented on this. I agree completely that the management of the NCRS is slow and relucant to change. I cite the examples of having the option for first class mailing of the Driveline and the refusal to make members price their merchadise for sale in the Driveline as two of many. There are issues that our managment staff need to address and report to membership on.

An editor of any publicaton should welcome the input of their subscribers. I also want to see more stories on project cars, barn finds, techinical articles and service bulletins related to the corvette. I don't want to see reports on matching charity funds or articles on cars that are not included in our judging groups. I have more than ample opportunities to donate without having the NCRS do it for me. I also feel that judging results should be printed in the Driveline not the Restorer. I agree completely that the C6 article should not have not have been in the Restorer. To address the issue of sponsorship from GM, I feel as if I sponsor them every time I walk into their parts departments. If we continue to advertise for them with this as justification are we going to do it for all of our sponsors? If this occurs, it will not be long before the Restorer will mirror magazines such as Corvette Fever and Corvette Enthusiast. And yes, I do and have communicated my thoughts, comments and concerns with my regional representative.

Rick Gower
NCRS # 6398