MARCH/APRIL 2015, VOL 40/NO 4

The Changing of the Guard

I wasn’t quite sure how to title my new column; so thanks to Bruce Woodson for not only being my mentor these past four years and good friend, I now have a title! I guess I have to thank Bruce also for the wonderful trip home after our annual Board meeting. You see he spent two days trying to get to the meeting and I ended up spending two days trying to get home. Just one of the perks of Chairmanship, I guess?

This past fall our members participated in the first membership Survey, and the Board was listening. One item members wanted was a membership identification card that could be used to develop a member discount program. In February, a discount code for the NAMGAR store was introduced in eNews! The same one appears in this issue of MGA! for those who don’t have email. The code will be valid for all store purchases until its expiration date. Additionally, our advertising manager will be working to procure discounts for our members with third parties in the future. Work is being done to enable active members to print their own membership cards. In the past, if we had had membership cards, we could have gotten discounts on admission to different events. Hopefully that will come in the near future.

Along those lines, the Board has approved another incentive program to gain new members; starting April 1st a member who brings in a new member (someone not already in our database) will earn an extra six months on their membership. This program will run for a year; so find a friend who has never joined NAMGAR and get that person to join!

The Survey found that most members thought that NAMGAR was doing a very good job as an organization completely run by volunteers. I am very fortunate to be able to work with such a capable staff. We are now in search of at least a pair of new volunteers to become our new Regalia team. Sandy and Mike Hickman have done a wonderful job these past five years and we thank them as they are ready for a well-deserved break. If you like to work with people and are interested in sales this may be the job for you. Please contact me at chairman@ namgar.com to find out more about this position.

The Board has taken another look at the Chapter Recognition Award because it seemed highly unlikely that most Chapters would be able to attain it. So starting in 2016, it will be drawn from the annual Chapter Reports to NAMGAR; each Chapter will be asked to list their yearly activities along with membership numbers by the end of the year. These reports will establish more dialogue between NAMGAR and its Chapters; you’ll be hearing more details of this from our Chapter Coordinators, Ed Sass and Colleen Quinn.

I would personally like to challenge all of our Chapters to reach out to new members and make them feel welcome and part of the group. I thank Royal Connell for his insightful article in the last issue of MGA! “On the Outside… Looking In” and hope that all of our members will go out of their way to welcome any newcomers to our group. I also hope that Royal will indeed find the time and opportunity to join us at a Regional or upcoming GT. I know we make an effort to welcome our new people; but perhaps we could do an even better job by keeping it foremost in our minds as we come together.

Let’s make NAMGAR a warm and extended family.

As you are getting your car ready for spring driving, keep in mind that Saturday, May 2, 2015 is “Drive Your MGA Day.” So whether you are out on your own or have a group with you, be sure to make plans for that day. You may want to plan on some pictures to send along to our Editor and/or webmaster; so that we can share in your fun.

Lastly, you’ll find a registration form in this issue for GT-40; along with host hotel information. This is a special year as we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the MGA; so be sure to mark your calendar and plan to join us in a few months in Frankenmuth, MI. The town of Frankenmuth will be celebrating their annual “Bavarian Festival” the weekend before the GT, so come early and enjoy the festivities. Hope to see you there. Until then, safe travels!