Chairman's Transmission
From MGA!, May/June 2010, Volume 35 No 5
Summertime is nearly here!
Where has 2010 gone? Maybe it disappeared with all that's been happening this Spring. To that end, let me review some of the more prominent points.
The new NAMGAR.com is alive and well. Yeah, I know, you have heard that from me in the past, here in MGA! as well as in my Chairman’s Message. But it is true! Thanks to all of you for your feedback. We all owe our Website Coordinators, Anne and Peter Tilbury, a hearty “Thanks for a job well done! We couldn’t have done it without you.”
This is the first opportunity I have had to let you know what went on in our annual Board of Directors meeting. Maybe it was an omen, but the first day’s meeting was cut a little short by the local Fire Department coming to our hotel. Seems that an air conditioning unit went awry, (proximity to discussions about “Lucas?”) and filled the hotel with smoke. Always exciting times at our meetings!
An item of considerable discussion was the budget. Costs continue to rise, and we actually experienced a very small drop in membership. In order to maintain what services, as well as MGA!, that we currently have, we had no choice but to raise dues. The question became “How much?” Do we raise dues just a little to get us by over the next year, or do we actually plan ahead, and raise dues a bit more, and anticipate future cost increases, and not have to worry about raising dues again in the near future? This is the route we chose. Let’s fix the problem, and fix it right. As a result, you will see on our new website, as well elsewhere in MGA! that we have raised dues effective August 1, 2010. What that means to those of you whose membership is up for renewal after August 1, is that you do not have to wait to renew. You can renew early and beat the dues increase. Go to namgar.com and then to the renewal section. Why wait?
As is always the case at every Board meeting, I ask about the intentions of all current Board and Staff members. Staff members report ahead of time, and Board members are asked while they are at the meeting. While the Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Registrar and Marketing & Communications Managers can remain in position as long as they feel they should, the Chairman’s position actually has a term limit. This is to keep new ideas and personnel moving through the Board. The Chairman’s term is limited to four years. Therefore, it was with a bit of sadness and yet a bit of excitement for what lies ahead for NAMGAR, I gave my one year notice. I will remain Chairman until the next annual Board of Director’s meeting. You will see elsewhere in MGA! as well as the website that we have begun the process of identifying candidates for the Chairman’s position. If you are interested, or believe you know someone who would be interested, please let me know. We will begin the review and interview process immediately. I would like to have all nominations by July 1, 2010.
Another new program we are implementing is simply called “3 for Free.” You may know of MGA, Magnette or Variant owners that are not NAMGAR members. We would like to have them join us. And we will reward you if you help. If you have three new members join, and mention your name when they do, we will automatically renew your membership for an additional year. There is no limit to the number of members that you can refer, the only caveats are that they must either be new members or have been members that have let their memberships expire for at least two years.
Something that is very new to me is the whole concept of “Social Networking,” specifically, Facebook. With the assistance of a NAMGAR member, Melissa Hay, who by the way is documenting her MGA 1600 restoration on her Facebook pages, NAMGAR is now a group within the Facebook community. Go to Facebook.com and take a look. I know the adage about old dogs and new tricks; well, this old dog is going to give it a try!
While I am on the topic of the internet, our website coordinators really would like to have a picture of you and your car on our new site. I realize I should lead by example, so I will get something, hopefully appropriate, posted as soon as possible. And why not join me? There are so many cars, and so many stories to tell, and our new site is just the place to do that.
Many of you are members of NAMGBR. If so, you are probably familiar with their Motorist Assistance Directory. This is a directory of NAMGBR members who are willing to be a resource for fellow MGB owners should they need assistance while travelling. Assistance can be anything from suggesting a repair shop to offering a helpful wrench and anything in between. Sometimes it is just nice to be able to talk to a “local” and get some assistance when you are in a bind. Well, the MG Council is taking this one step farther. The Council is going to take over for NAMGBR and broaden the scope to include members of all five of the MG Registers in North America: The North American MGB Register, the New England MGT Register, the American MGC Register, the North American MMM Register, and of course, the North American MGA Register. As a result, I would like to ask each of you to participate in the Directory. It will be published as a small take along publication. Think about it. If you had mechanical problems in a town unknown by you, would you like to find someone to be able to help? Maybe with just a phone call? It really doesn’t matter which register you may belong to, as we all have an MG heart under the bonnet. To participate is easy. Just send a quick e-mail, or note, to our Registrar, John Drake, registrar@namgar.com, and he will update your membership record to show you want to participate in the Directory. If you do NOT want to participate, you do not need to do anything. This is purely voluntary.
One final note, surely, (yeah, I know!) you have registered for GT-35 by now. It is coming very soon. And what a great time it will be. Far enough north where we have been promised warm days and cool nights. Just perfect for cruising some gorgeous Wisconsin roads. I know I am looking forward to it. You will be sorry if you miss it!
See you there!
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George Merryweather
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