Chapter, yes or no

Hudsonrules
Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
:):(Our Silver State Chapter is having a meet this coming sunday the 18th. It is planned as an election meet and to discuss various topics. There has been mention of disolving our chapter which I do not agree with. However my wife has health issues and I soend a lot of time tendung to her needs. Therefore she can no longer be treasurer or my self president of the chapter. Nevada is a large state, we have counties bigger than some eastern states and there is a distance greater than 400 miles between the north and the south. Hopefully in time we can have a joint meet half way. Now my question: Why have a chapter? someone asked me that and will bring it up at our meeting. I have a couple answers, but I need more. Please help with ideas and reasons. Thanks, Arnie in Nevada

Comments

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    I certainly understand the logistics. In Texas, we have two chapters. The North Texas Chapter (NTC) and the South Texas Chapter (STC). The North Texas Chapter has been quite active, has a good membership, puts out a newsletter, etc. The Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding area has enough members alone to support a chapter.

    The STC (chapter I belong to) is a different ball game. It's often held in South Eastern Texas and probably anywhere from 150-200 miles from me. Could be as much as 150 miles (one way, by the way) for someone like DJ Kava who lives in Beaumont. On the flip side, It could be anywhere from 400- 500 miles for someone close to the border to down in the valley (southern Texas). When we first came home (back to TX), the STC was all but non-existent and some of the others and myself worked at getting it started again. We now have a meeting once a month, but it's often difficult to get to as it is usually so far away. Add in a few problems at home, or two small children, or the waning economy and we're lucky to get 5-10 people at a meeting.

    Sounds as though the Silver State Chapter suffers from some of the same situations. If you, as President cannot continue the support and function as the chapter's leader, it is up to someone else (Vice-President, assumedly) to step up and take the reins.

    Arguments for keeping the chapter alive, first and foremost is that without a strong chapter following, and local (and regional) involvement will soon disintegrate on the National level. People will start to drop out or drift away, as nothing local on their scene happens if the Chapter is dissolved.

    I would certainly contact Mike Cherry and your Director and express your concerns. Perhaps one of them can make a presence at your next meeting. The situation would certainly warrant such an action.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    The mention of meeting frequency brings up an element not often thought about. If there are too many meetings, the attitude of many members, is to "skip this one and maybe make the next one". Of course, the "next one" becomes the "next one" and on and on It's been my experience, that you get more attendance when there are fewer meets to attend. Spreading the meets about the state helps a little in those long or wide states. Meets are agreat place to meet and help keep the Chapter "cemented", but in my estimation, the greatest asset is a good news letter. JMHO

    Hope y'all can keep it together.

    Dave W. Orange Blossom Chapter
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    Arnie, This is a comon issue across the club. That along with aging membership, economy, and several others. I contend that the local chapter is key to the enjoyment of our cars and our Hudson friends. Even when the chapter is struggling it brings members closer. The key to success is the newsletter. I have always stated that the individual that does the newsletter controls the chapter. During the year locally you might be the only HET member at a show, or with advertisement you might have as many as ten at a local show. My comment for years has been if there were three Hudsons at a meet we would call it a national. It has been my experience that the chapter introduces members and from there friendships develop. The closest friend I have today, I met at a chapter meeting. A few of us locally plan to be somewhere and from there we contact other chapter members and things happen. As we tour as a chapter we build friendships and have a good time. We encourage each other, we organize and attend outings based on our interests that build friendships/new experiences and we provide knowledge and help to each other. The chapter level is where the planning starts. It is where the ideas come from. It is where the fun starts. By the way, Nevada is a neighboring state to Utah. Let's work to spend a weekend with our Hudsons and looking at some of the sights in your state. I expect that you will be at Laughlin this month. Let's talk. I'll be the happy one because I just retired....
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I concur with Brownie & Dave, the "glue" of a Chapter is the newsletter, ergo the capability, of the Editor.

    A president only officiates at meetings, which may have strong or weak attendance, whereas the newsletter all members get & read. I speak from experience - when I took over as Editor of the SWB Chapter "Electric Hand", we were able to more than double the membership in just a few years.

    I'm semi-planning on making it to Laughlin this year too - perhaps we can get together & b.s. about chapter strengths, weaknesses, how to keep them going (which can be hard to do with older ones who've "lost their punch".
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    I also agree with most of the above; certainly chapters are the life-blood of the National organization. Chapter meets can attract, if held in public venue's where people can see them, new members and interest. Unfortunately all to many chapter members host meets in their back yards where they can hide the cars from the great unwashed.



    A good news letter is a draw, for sure. I get several "guest" newsletters and to be perfectly frank one or two are not all that great. I certainly cannot compare the newsletters I did for the New England Chapter with other chapters - I had enough material to do news-letters for years. Material is the life-blood of a newsletter. I used a lot of material (fill-in) from my files and from stuff I found on the internet. Did New England Chapter membership take an upturn - well, I did notice several new members from as far away as California. You figure it out.



    I mentioned to Russell that Texas was certainly big enough for up to as many as 5 chapters - look at California. Nevada has a population density problem, I realize. I don't think the National organization would accept 9 people, several dogs and cats and a couple of armadillos as membership. :D



    I'm another who's on the fringe area - I belong to the Mid-South chapter and in the two years I've been on board I've been able to make one area meet - and that one was 110 miles east of Memphis. But, when I lived in Maine most meets, for me, were 100 to 125 miles - one way. But most Mid-South Chapter meets are to far for me to consider - staying overnight in a motel is not an option, living on retirement funds. Being in Memphis does have an advantage over Maine - it's easier to get to the mid-American meets, like Pontiac and Oklahoma City from Memphis than Maine.



    That's my take on it.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Jon B. : No offense but shouldn't this be moved since it is "club business"
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Just a suggestion, the newsletter editor has a much easier job if the members will contribute info, articles, pics, recommendations, calendar items, and etc. Our editor, Nell Owen, does a wonderful job and uses our articles when appropriate. Good job Nell, a satisfied club member. Bob
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I hate to think of a Hudson chapter dieing due to distance and lack of volunteers. It makes me think of the two redundant chapters here in So Cal and I 've said it before but it makes absolutely no sense to me. I've heard the "reasoning" that one So Cal chapter would be too big (heaven forbid that a 75 member chapter be allowed to exist) or that 50 miles is too far for someone to drive every couple months.

    One would think that with the aging population of the club and the economic conditions the way they are, that members would want to solidify activities and ensure strength. Sorry, but IMHO, some of these "old" guys need to rethink things. A meet with 3 cars just doesn't cut it.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Brad: good point (about moving the thread), except we seem to have lost our Members-Only forum, here. So, for the moment, I'm stumped and we'll leave it where it is!
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    According to the 2005-2007 Roster you have 52 cars in Nevada. (cars NOT members) big state though it may be, I think it could support a chapter.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Arnie, I hope the voices to get rid of the chapter aren't too vocal. It sounds like certain members were happy to have you do all the work, and now that someone else has to step up to the plate they want to give up.

    I'm happy to be doing the newsletter, but someone from up north needs to step to the plate to take over the leadership role from you.

    My 2 cents
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion