Does the Ferrari Club still do garage tours?

Its too bad you weren't at last years annual meeting. Bottom Line - The priority is the Newsletter which consumes 2/3 of the annual budget and the leaders that are involved with that have no interest in supporting the drives in any proportional financial sense.

What they didn't and may not now realize is that focusing on the newsletter takes the wind out of everybody's sails to work on group activities such as garage tours etc. Couple that without a sufficient budget to fund the "give aways" for showing up on drives and shop tours/lunchoens.

The budget was restricted to $150 for a 3 day weekend -with all sorts of reporting requirements and bureacracy on which the money is to be spent - just turns off those who would expend the effort to organizer them. You loose the events and you loose the club - that's what has happened.

I voted with my feet and I'm looking forward to the independantly organized drives and may do a day drive or two apart from the formal structure.

 

I enjoyed them too as it was a nice easy day-trip for me to come down from Vancouver B.C.

 

I love the garage tours. The fact that we can do these during the winter months is another reason to have them now. I know this is alot of work for the owner of the garage, but I am sure there are some club members that would help get these on the schedule and plan the drive to the garage. If I am not busy I would love to help

 

Amusing. Over in the Rolls Royce Owners Club there is a seperate dues for national and local. So you pay an extra $35 to $45 for the local section on top of the national to let the local spend as they see fit (i.e. color newsletter, catering at events, whatever, etc.)

But on the online discussion forums the amount of time and energy spend talking about liability issues for the board members and what might be covered by the club and not is astronomical. And this has nothing to do with people who like "spirited drives" it is more to do with a car catching on fire/blowing a tire/getting hit by random people not involved/etc.

Every club is funny in their own way.

Has anyone asked - what if there was no newsletter? For the year I did it - man - it was hard to get people to write articles - I can't imagine that changing. What if we just didn't do it. What if there was simply a calendar of events and you approached people for use of photos that were posted here. And if there was a garage tour the time that would be spent on an article were put into a nice personalized thank you card to the garage owner, etc.

-Dave

 

Hi Folks,
I wanted to chime in here...

First, David - we'd love to have you back

Second, Dave T - things have changed quite significantly since the last annual meeting and more club funding is available for member events. Case in point - the great hoiday parties that were help at a cost of just $10 per person.

The form that we ask event coordinators to complete prior to an event is very simple. The process is not just a great way to ensure that the event costs and charges to members are well thought out but it is an IRS requirement. The board's goal is to make the process of creating and running an event easier not harder. There seems to be a lot of misperception around this topic and I am happy to discuss it in detail with members interested in planning an event.

Regarding events, the truth of the matter is that they do not create themselves - it takes interested members who have an idea and are willing to put in a little effort to make them happen.

Day events like garage tours and tech sessions, the upcoming karting event, Dyno Day and Enzo's Birthday parties are relatively easy. Weekend trips as you well know take a good deal more effort but are very rewarding. (Thanks, Dave H for Vancouver this year)

Our calendar has looked a little light recently and I would love to see that change. Shawn - we'd love to have your help organizing a garage tour in OR. Dave Q - wouldn't it be cool to do a combined RR and Ferrari Club event? Email me, Eric or any of the board members if you'd like to set up something.

Thanks,
Will

 

Will;

I’m sure everyone is as surprised as I am to discover the IRS cares two Indian pennies about what the club does. Could you direct me to the IRS.gov site where I might find this statue requiring a complete and formal accounting by use of said “form” for our non profit club events. Is this an IRS issued form, or a NWRFC board issued IRS compliant form? Could you post a pic or PDF of said form?

Tks

 

Here is the Long IRS Form 990 for most Exempt Organizations:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990.pdf (12 pages)

Here are the instructions:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i990.pdf (89 pages and refers to many other documents)

Any questions? Please consult a tax specialist!

-sc

 

Thanks, SCousineau! Yes, John, we are a not for profit and as such have to report our income and expenses. The regions are an extension of the national club - not independant entities.
- Will

 

Thanks SCousineau, and Will for the long version

Since the club is now requiring such accounting, where did this requirement come from? (IRS, accountant, other). Would you be so kind as point to the page, statue or regulation requiring this accounting from the IRS.pubs?

Tks

JH

 

The club's event expense/budget form is no big deal.

I used it for the upcoming Enzo's B-Day party dinner event that I'm hosting and it was very simple to figure out and submit to the board for approval.

They gave me a $250 budget to work with and I could use the money however I saw fit. I opted for a $5.00 per person meal subsidy (40 person limit) and any money left over for door prizes.

Garage tours/events don't just happen on their own, SOMEONE needs to volunteer to plan them.

There are over 200 members in our club. We shouldn't have to rely on the same old people over and over and over again to plan all of our events.

We need some fresh blood to help out!!

If you want to have more garage tours, driving events, social get togethers, etc-. then volunteer to make them happen.

It's really not that difficult to do. Especially the one day events.

Dave S.- you hosted the Goodman garage tour a few years ago, how about doing it again?

Or, maybe J&L Racing, Dennison International, VRM, etc.., etc... There's lots of shops that would love to have us over for a visit. All it takes is a couple of phone calls and write a newsletter notice about the event.

Like Nike says, JUST DO IT!

 

I organizedt the Goodman/Cotter/McBride garage tours two years ago. Seems a little soon to do it again...no?

 

My mistake. Dave S. hosted the first time tour of that collection many years ago. I don't think two years is too soon to go back though.

I would love to see what cars John has added since then.

We haven't been to over J&L racing recently or Dennison.

 

One aspect of the early get togethers was the door prizes that I really liked because it livened the mood of the dinners when combined with certain characters we have in the club - you know who you are LOL!. The thing I'm looking for is a formal policy change to de-emphasize the newsletter back to no more than 25% of the budget - put another 50% into events - (and that doesn't mean buying everybody all but $10 of a dinner at one or two events) - but rather doing door prizes or helping with track rentals or admissions like on the Loops Road or T-shirts or commorative items) to support the drives financially commensurate with the logistics involved. I would not be opposed to subsidizing those who support the drives - like buying them gas to pre-run the trips or hotel room subsidies to ease the financial burden of the contribution that is being made. This would call upon those directors who attend these events to make a recommendation based on the facts on the ground.

The one thing the Board missed is that while maybe 40 to 50 cars attend a single 3 day drive - sooner or later 200 or 300 members eventually go on a drive. Drives are an especially good venue for NEW members who have just joined the club and want to experience their cars but may not feel comfortable putting their cars on a track right out of the box. I didn't feel welcomed to give this sort of rebuttal at the annual meeting when our Treasurer said drives only benefit 30 members which is a small portion of the membership. I believe that statement was factually in significant error. Maybe someone from the Board might like to clearify the current policy to pursuade those who have left as to whether the policy has changed as outlined above.

 

That couldn't have been two years ago!? I suppose it was though. That was a GREAT day. Absolutely amazing cars!!

 

Dave,

From what I have experienced on the planning of two upcoming events that I am hosting, the board IS spending more money on events/prizes, etc.. and there are positive changes happening.

The new proposed budget for 2011 will be in the March newsletter for everyone to review.

The club also has a new treasurer (Chuck T.), as of a few weeks ago.

Gary

 

March 2010 newsletter:

Bank $13,569.48 + Revenue $12,090.00 = $25,659.48

Total 2010 event subsidies $1,635

Regional Director Eric Hawley
Assistant Regional Director Sonny Underwood
Secretary Shawn Gardner
Membership Will Diefenbach
Activities Janet Schumacher
Treasurer Christie Von Ditter

 

That's pathetic - What is needed is a leadership/policy change:

50% for events - to include hotel subsidies for the organize n no tape or micro management from the Board. An organizer submits a requested budget - its either approved or its not and the drive/event is either held or its not. - simple
No more than 25% for newsletter
25% for Misc. costs of Insurance etc.

 

I founded a "brass era" Horseless Carriage regional club in Snohomish County a number of years ago. We soon found that the newsletter was our biggest expense and headache. We quickly decided to produce our newsletter via our club website. This cut our printing and mailing expense. Those that wished a "hard copy" could just print it off themselves.

We also solved the issue of no help for the editor. We asked our members to email photos and information to the editor. He then did his editing job and we have a very nice color newsletter each month with nearly zero cost. It seemed that we could get members to down load photos and write a quick blurb with little or no effort, eveyone wants to see their car in living color.

Our newsletter was a 1st for HCCA regional groups to try this. In the begining there were those that did not want to get anything electronicly, and those that wanted traditional hard copies. When the expense line was described and the potential savings most everyone signed on.

We use the monies from the savings to offer more benifits to our members on tours and outings. For example we will include some lunches and dinners at our club events including subsidised a Christmas party.

After nearly 12 years now we have a happy editor as his work load is greatly reduced. We have a happy membership getting a timley and color monthly newsletter. It was a win win for all concerned. If any member complains about the newsletter content we just remind them that they need to offer photos and information to be included.

Howard Musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
Maserati Spider
1987 Lotus Esprit Turbo
2 many brass era cars

 

Fresh faces and new ideas are always needed in volunteer organizations. Too often 90% of the work is done by 10% of the members while the inactive 90% complain about the way things are done. Since you are so vocal Dave I expect we will see you running for an officer position at the next opportunity. It would be great to see you help implement these ideas.
So many people wish to criticize but rarely will they roll up their sleeves and help.

 

Thanks Eric H for your endorsement however my personal circumstances are preventing it and I believe there is a better candidate.

 

David S. - didn't recognize your handle.
You know you want to re-join your friends in the NWRFCA, come sign up again!

Not just private Garage tours but our club sponsor too (especially after the club recently doubled advertizing rates).
It has been a long time since the club has been to Ferrari Maserati of Seattle (2007 when Will held the wine tasting there?). FMoS has steadfastly supported us and there are some exciting new cars out too - Have you seen Don's new whip? [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTrXIxLRHR8[/ame]

 

Very nice Don!!!! Congrats on the new "Baby"!!!!

Mike

 

FOS Tech. Session coming up, as well as a tour of Ron Tonkins collection at the annual meeting both are fun even if you have done them before.