What I WILL mention is that it is rather unfortunate that some in this thread are able to disparage members (and/or those member's actions) without fear of censorship or repercussions, while some remain silent for fear of same.
Didn't really see anything that stood out, and it seems that if anybody questioned another they were answered accordingly.
All in all, regardless if for reasons that appear sound to some, our forum is no longer car enthusiast based, but rather a commercial forum that benefits many members; some far more than others.
Curious statement, as the club has worked pretty hard to make the forums less "commercial" and more social. It was one of the reasons that decisions were made to move vendor price quotes to PM's vs. general posts, eliminate ongoing "ads" by replying with phone numbers and websites, etc. The club got complaints about the forums being
too commercial and those changes were made - back in 2009. Certainly you can't be referring to the VCA trying to shore up the treasury with factory/Mopar parts - Viper Parts of America has posted all of 104 times
total in some 15 months on the forums. Some vendors post that much in a week, but maybe that is what you meant.
The club forums are certainly a visible part of the club and its benefits, and the club seeks to continue to improve them. Likewise with other national benefits like the magazine, raffles, and insurance. Where the "rubber meets the road" is with your local clubs and the activities they should be creating. There is a distinctive problem with some "outlaying" areas being neglected - not by intention, but by being focused elsewhere. We are seeing more activity in those areas (Sacramento, Omaha, San Antonio, Quad Cities, etc.) and hopefully the regions can help fund more events away from the "core" locations in a region. To do that those regions need money and the national club is doing what it can to help make that happen.
Of course the club is what you make of it. Want an event in your area? Join your regional club and ask for some help putting it together. Most will not only help you organize it, but also help fund it or show you how to fund it without coming out of your own pocket. Want better content in
VIPER magazine? Submit some. The club wants the magazine to be the best it can be and to feature members like you. But it can't do it by hoping you will walk in front of a nearby camera or have a story write itself.
Support your national club so it can support you. We have had some great raffles and another one ends in just a few short days. We have plenty of folks that bought or continue to buy tickets - thanks! Yet where regional presidents and even vendors would work hard to promote those raffles in the past, today it seems only a handful of people make those same encouragements. If you want an even better club and more benefits, you need to help the club raise funds in ways that you feel comfortable doing. The opportunity to win a brand new Final Edition Viper Roadster seems like a nice way to support the club and possibly make the score of a lifetime - one you will be telling the grand kids about 30 years from now.
The bottom line is that there is always room for improvement in the club and in these very forums - as soon as you set the bar for "perfect" the bar changes. So if you revel in your role as an armchair quarterback, imagine how much fun it could be to actually take the field. The Viper Club of America can be what you make of it, but it's hard to make much of it without actually stepping up and offering.
