The Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC) just concluded a community service trial balloon. Concept was to give something back to the community AND have some Corvette fun. So, we volunteered to lead a blood drive open to any/all other Corvette clubs/owners as well as non-Corvette classic car participants.
Attendance was rather sparce (nothing new for a 'first') with us drawing about ten Corvettes for the trek to the local blood center and a general show & shine get together. What was surprising was the interest/coverage by our local media!
We got a write-up in the Denver papers (about town interest section), had several local radio stations pick up the 'event' and broadcast it and our local ABC affiliate sent a camera crew to cover the action. The camera crew arrived after about half the participants had donated and departed, but they did a real nice job of zooming in on the remaining cars with owners joking & laughing in the afternoon sun.
A few interviews (RMC Chairman on who, why and community blood center director on the interest angle -- Corvettes and blood). Many of us figured this was a 'bomb', but the 5:00 news just aired with a VERY NICE plug for NCRS showing close-up shots of cars, engine compartments, laughing/joking members, a plecebo (non-NCRS lady in the center giving blood) with voice over detailing car clubs care and give back to the community intermixed with a few engine revs here/there for flavor and encouraging more community spirit minded classic car owners to come out next year. The 30-second spot faded to the newscast moderator's desk where the three TV anchors chuckled and made friendly comment on what Corvette they wanted....
Bottom line, looks like it's easy to get a plug for NCRS with a VERY SIMPLE charity effort. Suggest other Chapters consider how this could work for them in their area! Suspect we WILL be back next year and this could snowball....
Many thanks to our Activity Chairman, Bill Bell, (see last Restorer issue on volunteering) for thinking up the activity and presenting it to the RMC Board of Directors. Good luck in your areas, folks!
Attendance was rather sparce (nothing new for a 'first') with us drawing about ten Corvettes for the trek to the local blood center and a general show & shine get together. What was surprising was the interest/coverage by our local media!
We got a write-up in the Denver papers (about town interest section), had several local radio stations pick up the 'event' and broadcast it and our local ABC affiliate sent a camera crew to cover the action. The camera crew arrived after about half the participants had donated and departed, but they did a real nice job of zooming in on the remaining cars with owners joking & laughing in the afternoon sun.
A few interviews (RMC Chairman on who, why and community blood center director on the interest angle -- Corvettes and blood). Many of us figured this was a 'bomb', but the 5:00 news just aired with a VERY NICE plug for NCRS showing close-up shots of cars, engine compartments, laughing/joking members, a plecebo (non-NCRS lady in the center giving blood) with voice over detailing car clubs care and give back to the community intermixed with a few engine revs here/there for flavor and encouraging more community spirit minded classic car owners to come out next year. The 30-second spot faded to the newscast moderator's desk where the three TV anchors chuckled and made friendly comment on what Corvette they wanted....
Bottom line, looks like it's easy to get a plug for NCRS with a VERY SIMPLE charity effort. Suggest other Chapters consider how this could work for them in their area! Suspect we WILL be back next year and this could snowball....
Many thanks to our Activity Chairman, Bill Bell, (see last Restorer issue on volunteering) for thinking up the activity and presenting it to the RMC Board of Directors. Good luck in your areas, folks!
Comment