Der Gasser- Letter to Editor

[catchacab]

I got home today, and read Mr. O'Connell's letter.  WOW, what a letter.  For my own piece of mind I need to respond to much of the letter that has not yet been commented on here.

Congratuations on being a 20 year member of the E-Board.  You were on the E-Board as Immediate Past President when I joined PCA in 2002.  As a member who at that time, regularly attended membership meetings, thank you for not making any effort to personally introduce yourself to me or any other new member that I know.  In fact, at that time the only members of the Board who made any efforts to welcome  new or previously inactive members were Tom Zaffarano, and the Minkins.  I am happy that they are still highly active in the club, the rest of the board, I am glad they are gone.

As far as der Gasser is concerned, it should be a self supporting publication, with advertising revenue and the National subsidy all  covering of the expenses.  In toady's world with our region's presence on Internet and this forum, the need for dG is decreasing. The trend for dG as well as other chapter's newsletters is to decrease frequency of  publication and possibly ending all hard printing. 

Funding travel expenses for "track folk".  I agree with you. 

Monthly meetings should be held at facilities that will offer a low or no cost option for our club.  There are many businesses in the area that want the business of our members, such as Porsche Dealerships and independent shops.  They should be willing to provide a venue for our meetings, and should be willing to provide appropriate catering.

I agree that a new region should be created.  This new region should consist of members both new and old, who are interested in their Porsches as well welcoming and getting to know all members of the club, just not the same old friends that they have had for the past 20 years.  The amazing thing about a fossil, is when looking up the definition, a fossil is already dead.  Pitting older vs younger members is wrong.  All member, both new and old, have something positive that they can bring to the club.  People, cars, club procedures and activities will change over time.  Embrace the good, and discard the bad.  For the benefit of the club and more for your own personal benefit, at the next RTR event that you attend, walk up to five people who you never talked to before and introduce yourself.  As a long time member of our region as well as being long time Board member and past-President you should act as an ambassador of our region and welcome those unfamiliar faces.