ALSO
Had you participated in Fordbarn or Ahooga prior to running for election?
Will you continue to participate?
Bruce, don't you remember when he donated the distributor back when we did the Workshop here and rebuild an engine to be raffled off and the proceeds donated to the Youth Scholarship? He was hanging out here back then too.
You know to a certain extent, what is being said above are great ideas but who says what is out there between both clubs is actually "broken" --or is needing fixed? People are creatures of habit anyway and don't mind change as long as it doesn't change them! Look at all the opposition that Shelly faced when she announced she needed to change the format. It got downright nasty! Then Shelly offered the website to those who would possibly be interested in purchasing it (me included). Although I am a frequent visitor, I did want it and neither did others including a national club!! Ryan comes along, 'forces the change' and even he met huge opposition, ...however here we are 6 months later and most will defend this site as one of the best on the planet. My point is that I feel Mark is writing his obituary if he tries to take ideas & opinions and make change to the MAFCA present direction. Mark, I think the best thing you can be is a "cheerleader" for MAFCA by just going around and offering praise. If it nothing more than picking up the phone and calling a local chapter President and sincerely thanking them for the job they do, --or sending an e-mail to a chapter newsletter Editor or Webmaster commending them for the efforts they do, ...THAT is what both of these clubs need more of.
BTW, I am of the opinion that anywhere there is excitement, new people will join in. You do not need to promote the club to AARP aged people, or 'Generation X' ...or even Youth. If you offer a service or venue that they perceive as FUN, they will come participate. I am not advocating that changes needs to be made but more about adding to the existing. Let me offer an example. There would be mutiny if the National Meet format was changed however many would agree that it is about as predictable as the typical Sunday Morning Church Service. Instead of changing the format, what happens if an alternate venue such as the National Driving Tour was held a few weeks away (during the summer!!) and a week was spent driving and visiting different sights around the country? The logistics doesn't matter whether it is a hub tour or a progressive tour, BUT what does matter is that you take 150-200 Model A families who are spending time
together as a family. IMO, "together" does not mean that Dad is at the swap meet, Mom is lounging at the pool, big Sister is in the hotel room asleep, and little Jr. is on a kids scavenger hunt ...all while at a National Meet. 'Together' is stopping at places that each of the family members participates as a group and makes memories together that they can share at a later time and place! If an event such as this is fun for the entire family, it will be a priority for it to be an annual event for the family.
(BTW, this is not my idea but merely an observation on how another club has kept interest high and attracted new members each year.)
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send out releases, 
get local coverage, 
get national prime time news coverage. Throw in some points for showing the training video to all the members, not just the local board, annually. Make it worthwhile. There should be some really big rewards/prizes for the chapters that do the best every year. Like a data projector for the club, or a rebuilt engine for them to raffle. Whatever lights their fire. Lots of smaller rewards, too. Hats, pins, tools etc.
