Chairman's Transmission
From MGA!, Mar/Apr 2010, Volume 35 No 4
Surprises! I received a very pleasant surprise when I read the last issue of MGA! Yes, Steve Mazurek had done another outstanding job of editing and publishing the magazine, but it was something more than that. In nearly every issue, I ask for, and sometimes not too subtly, input and feedback concerning all sorts of topics; anything from asking for Mac Spears Award nominees to more controversial topics like the Certificate of Originality.
The last issue asked you to consider an electronic edition of MGA! I believe we got more feedback on that topic than on any other that I can recall. The NAMGAR Board of Directors meeting is still a few weeks away, and while the topic of an e-MGA! is still on the agenda, I believe it is safe to say that we will not be messing with a good thing. MGA! will remain in its printed format.
While on the topic of MGA! you should note that our Editor, Steve Mazurek, is letting us know that he has plans to step down as Editor in the future. (See the Editor column of March/April 2010 MGA! magazine). While we may consider that bad news, the good news is that Steve is giving us ample warning.
So, I want to ask if you, or anyone that you know, may have interest in editing MGA! It is an important job. Steve will be leaving some big shoes to fill. The good news here is that there is time to try on those shoes. There is time to work with Steve to understand what is entailed in being Editor, to determine what tools and skills are needed as well as time to think about changes that you might like to make to the magazine. Is this something that interests you? Or perhaps you feel that the Editor of your Chapter or local club’s newsletter may have the interest in becoming MGA! Editor? If you think so, let either Steve or myself know. If we can identify a candidate early, then the transition is easier for everyone.
My thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions for our annual Board of Directors meeting. I also received a number of nominations for candidates for the Mac Spears Award. As always, the nominees are all excellent candidates, from all aspects of the NAMGAR and MGA world, and each nomination is seriously reviewed and discussed by the Board.
The meeting always covers a wide range of topics. It is always good to get input from our members. As the Board, we may like to think we have a handle on what we believe the membership and NAMGAR as an organization need. Hearing issues, suggestions and feedback directly from you gives us a good reality check. That being said, anytime you come up with something for the Board to consider, please fell free to pass it on to me, or any member of the Board of Directors. Our contact info is on the Masthead of MGA! (and on the website).
So, last time I jumped the gun about the new website and was appropriately chastised. But that was last time. Have you seen it yet? It is still www.namgar.com, but there is a whole new look, feel and functionality. Please take a look. Browse through what is there. While the Board might like to take credit, it is there due to the hard work of our Website Coordinators, Anne and Peter Tilbury. Please tell us what you like, as well as what you don’t. Is there something missing? What could we do better? NAMGAR is striving to make our website an excellent resource to not only our members but the whole MGA worldwide community. There is no sense in re-creating the wheel if it is already out there. And if it is out there, we will provide a link to it. We want NAMGAR.com to be the place you go for everything MGA. If you can’t find what you are looking for there, then we will point you in the proper direction. Many thanks to Anne and Peter for all of their hard work, particularly in putting up with all of the inane questions and inept responses they received from the Board. One last thing. Have you uploaded a picture of your car for our gallery? Come on, don’t be shy. We want them all: the good, the bad, and the ugly!
I just have to ask. Have you registered for GT-35 yet? It will be a great one! Possibly the largest gathering of Magnettes ever. While you are cruising through the new NAMGAR.com website, download the GT-35 registration form. See how easy that was?
A summer trip to Wisconsin? What a wonderful place to go. It will sure beat Texas. Fill out and mail in your form now. It will be fun!
See you there!
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George Merryweather
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