Discouraged with NCRS Membership

[Don B.]

Maybe I am missing something. This is my second year of membership in the NCRS and I reluctantly renewed my national membership. I passed on the state membership. Why?

There are very few events or meets that I can benefit from. The only benefit I have gotten so far out of membership has been this forum and buying the judging guide.

Texas is a big place, yet I have heard of only about 2 local events in the state. I emailed the chapter president of NCRS last year when I joined and asked how I can get involved in the group and he promptly emailed me back and said "get involved."

In what?

There are no meetings, no tech forums (live), no swap meets. If you look on the back of the NCRS magazine this month under "NCRS Calendar of Events" there is exactly one event in Texas. If you have a scheduling conflict for that one event, I guess you are screwed.

Again, maybe I am missing something, but I ain't seeing it. The nearest events besides the one listed seems to be in Ohio a thousand miles away. I have spent a lot of money on my car so far, but it is getting discouraging. Maybe I am just venting, but if the NCRS wants membership in Texas, it has to involve more than getting a magazine and a bill for dues.

I am not trying to offend anyone and again, maybe I am missing something. If so, I apologize in advance, but this is my reality so far.

[Don H.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Don
There are two Spring chapter meets coming up in TX, one in Houston in April, and one in Austin in May. There will likely be late Summer Chapter meets as well, and then the Lone Star Regional in October. Probably tech sessions and judging schools too. Have you contacted the TX chapter? If you don't join the TX chapter you might not hear about the chapter activities. Did you see this calendar on bottom of the main forum page?

1. MLI Chapter Technical Session: March 17th, 2018
2. NW Chapter Judging School: March 17th, 2018
3. Mating Body & Chassis + Judging Sch: March 17th, 2018
4. 63 Spec.Perf.vsStock Judging School: March 17th, 2018
5. Technical Seminar: March 24th, 2018
6. 2018 Miami Valley Chapter Judging: March 24th, 2018
7. Common Errors in NCRS Judging: March 25th, 2018
8. Delaware Valley Membership Meeting: April 4th, 2018
9. Judging a 1973 BB with 76 miles!: April 7th, 2018
10. Oil Filter Canisters 56-67 & Filter: April 8th, 2018
11. Greenville SC Regional: April 12th, 2018
12. SoCAL SPRING CHAPTER MEET: April 13th, 2018
13. Southern California Chapter Flight Judged Meet: April 13th, 2018 to April 14th, 2018
14. 2018 Texas Chapter Meet - Houston: April 14th, 2018
15. 2018 NCC Spring Judging Meet: April 20th, 2018
16. Northern California Chapter Spring Judging Meet: April 20th, 2018 to April 21st, 2018
17. Heartland Chapter's Judging Meet: April 21st, 2018
18. Chapter Flight Judging & School: April 21st, 2018
19. Heart of Ohio Judge Meet: April 21st, 2018
20. Indiana Chapter Spring Meet: April 27th, 2018
21. MAC Klick Lewis Judging Event 2018: April 28th, 2018
22. Northeast Chapter Judging Meet: April 29th, 2018
23. Pittsburgh Tri-State Chapter Mini Judged Meet: April 29th, 2018
24. 2018 Florida Chapter Spring Meet: May 5th, 2018
25. Metro Long Island Chapter Spring Judging School: May 5th, 2018
26. Metro LI NCRS Spring Meet: May 6th, 2018
27. Metro Long Island Spring Chapter Meet: May 6th, 2018
28. Rocky Mountain Spring Chapter Meet: May 6th, 2018
29. Chapter Meet Flight Judging: May 11th, 2018
30. May 2018 New England Chapter Meet: May 11th, 2018
31. Corvette Display: May 12th, 2018
32. Midway USA Chapter Judging Event: May 12th, 2018
33. 2018 Texas Chapter Meet - Austin: May 12th, 2018
34. North Central 2018 Spring Meet: May 12th, 2018
35. Arizona Chapter 2018 Regional: May 17th, 2018
36. Adirondack Chapter Judging School: May 18th, 2018
37. Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter Technical Seminar: May 19th, 2018
38. Adirondack Chapter Flight Judging Meet: May 19th, 2018
39. Chapter Judging School: June 3rd, 2018
40. Del Val Cruise Night Dinner Meeting: June 6th, 2018
41. 2018 Michigan Regional: June 7th, 2018

[Jack M.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Did you happen to miss the LARGEST event during 2017... NCRS had their National Convention in Texas.
The information was posted all over the Driveline magazine and on the Forum... here is what you missed:


















In October of 2017, they had a Regional Meet... just like the ones upcoming in 2018 & 2019 (three days):




If you were to check out the Texas Chapter website (ncrstexas.org), you'd notice even more upcoming events:
Houston Area Chapter Meet
Saturday April 14, 2018

Austin Chapter Meet
May 11 & 12, 2018

Most likely, the Texas Chapter also sends out timely emails & newsletters to their members... announcing activities and events.
There seems to be a lot to get involved with... why not give the local Chapter a try!

[Don B.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Well I was a member last year of the Texas chapter and only heard from them when someone died. I was looking for something in Driveline magazine and it is not listed. I never expected that I need to go to this site to find out about activities. I was not prompted to rejoin the Texas chapter.

I guess someone plans this stuff, but I have no idea who or how that happens.

I am mainly just wondering if this is something of value to me. Again, I hope there is more to the Texas chapter than I think. I just don't see any evidence.

There are many people in Texas that are restoring old Corvettes, I suspect but most of them are not members of the NCRS. I also suspect there is a reason for it.

This website has been helpful.I would be willing to bet there are things of value going on in some chapters. When one activity is listed in Driveline in Texas, it certainly does not seem to be a lot, especially in a state that is 800 miles long and 775 mile wide. Maybe Texas is just too big for only one chapter.

I am sorry if this offends anyone. I am just trying to figure this thing out.

[Don B.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Yes, I was out of the country for this national activity. I am sure it was great.

[Jack M.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

I guess someone plans this stuff, but I have no idea who or how that happens.

Perhaps you can check with the Chapter Officers for the activities/events you're interested in... they're listed on their website and in their newsletter.
As for Ohio being the closest venue for other NCRS events, I believe you are overlooking many closer states.

[Don H.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Don
The Texas Chapter of NCRS is one of the most dynamic chapters with the most engaged members of any in the country. They are one of only two chapters that produce an annual Regional meet, in October of each year, and have done this for years. They host the National Judges Retreat in Dallas approximately every three years. Since the state is so vast, the chapter is broken into three regions, each with a coordinator. I believe each regions hosts a minimum of one judging meet and tech session each year and probably more. The chapter communicates with its members through its quarterly newsletter and its website. They may also have a FB page. Certainly the members of the chapter would welcome and appreciate your involvement in just as many activities as you are able to participate in. It is incumbent on you to get involved as much as your schedule will allow. All the contact information you need can be found in the TX chapter website. Don't be shy. Drop a phone call to any one of the Chapter Officers, or Area Coordinators and let them know who you are, and what activities you are looking to become involved in. They are all great people. You will be amazed how friendly and welcoming they will be to you. I hope to see you out at a TX chapter meet this year.

Area Coordinators

Houston	Paul Diamanti
Dallas/Fort Worth	Ray Kimminau
Austin/San Antonio	Tim Gilmore

[Bob D.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Don

We just had a group of Texas Chapter members set up a display at the Corvette & Chevy show in Galveston. There are two chapter meets one in April in Houston and in May in Austin. The chapter road tour is in April. The chapter swap space at Pate at Texas Motor Speedway in late April. The chapter also has a display at the Lone Star Classic at TMS on May and of course the Regional in October. There will be other tech sessions as well. The chapter newsletter the Talepipe comes out quarterly via email. Is your email correct? If you aren't a chapter member you won't get the Talepipe. We welcome your suggestions to expand our offerings. By the way, the chapter hosted the national and we had over 100 chapter members attend & volunteer.

Respectfully
Bob Demmel
Texas Chapter President

[Don B.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

OK, well I guess I just have not gotten into the loop. This weekend I was able to find out about the chapter meets and I went online and registered for the Austin meet. The other items I have no knowledge of, but I will peruse the website again. I was a chapter member until January of this year. I paid my national dues a couple of weeks ago, and went ahead and rejoined the Texas chapter this weekend. I really want to learn more about getting my 72 judged. Maybe it was my fault. I have now updated my email address on the site, but it was correct already. I will see if I am able to do anything this year. I wish I could get the latest tailpipe sent to me, but I do not know how to do that.

Thanks
Don

Don

We just had a group of Texas Chapter members set up a display at the Corvette & Chevy show in Galveston. There are two chapter meets one in April in Houston and in May in Austin. The chapter road tour is in April. The chapter swap space at Pate at Texas Motor Speedway in late April. The chapter also has a display at the Lone Star Classic at TMS on May and of course the Regional in October. There will be other tech sessions as well. The chapter newsletter the Talepipe comes out quarterly via email. Is your email correct? If you aren't a chapter member you won't get the Talepipe. We welcome your suggestions to expand our offerings. By the way, the chapter hosted the national and we had over 100 chapter members attend & volunteer.

Respectfully
Bob Demmel
Texas Chapter President

[Bob D.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Don

Glad to see you rejoined the chapter. See you in Austin in May. The back issues of the Talepipe can be down loaded from the chapter web site and the next issue will be emailed to all chapter members this month.

Regards

Bob

[Michael J.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

You should come to the Houston judging meet April 14. It is a great event, and then join us for the Texas Chapter Road Trip just after that in Kerrville and through West Texas and the Hill Country. I can only make a few days of it, but it is great fun with almost two dozen members driving our Corvettes all over that area. You will find friends who enjoy Corvettes like you do.

[Don B.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Thanks I would love to do the meet, but unfortunately we have a Corvette club cruise on April 14. Normally I would like to make the hill country cruise but I have a training session to conduct that week that I cannot change it so I cannot schedule a vacation that week.

Thanks for the invitation though.

You should come to the Houston judging meet April 14. It is a great event, and then join us for the Texas Chapter Road Trip just after that in Kerrville and through West Texas and the Hill Country. I can only make a few days of it, but it is great fun with almost two dozen members driving our Corvettes all over that area. You will find friends who enjoy Corvettes like you do.

[Mark E.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Don,

I just saw your thread (I don't go into the Support section often).

I'm also a Texas Chapter member, and I understand your experience. The chapter sponsors or participates in several events each year, including Regional in Frisco, one or two Chapter events, LSCC's annual show in Fort Worth, and the Vette Vues event in Galveston.

With that said, what's missing are monthly local social events throughout the state like get-togethers at member homes, cruise-ins, shade-tree events, etc. I'd like to see these too. For these to happen, individual members need to "get involved" as stated above and host them. But from my experience, this isn't a focus for NCRS members, for whatever reason.

Local clubs, like LSCC and Legends in north Texas, host social events like these, so these may be an option for you.

[Don B.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

Thanks for your reply Mark. I am planning to attend the judging this weekend in Austin, so maybe I will have a better understanding of what I should expect from NCRS membership. The reason I joined NCRS is because I am freshening up a 1972 coupe which is low mileage and very original. I would like to get involved in flight judging so that I will better understand what I need to do with my car or if it is even worth the effort to try and achieve Top Flight Status. I would also like to network with other C3 restorers in order to help each other in the journey. I am involved in a local club (Cowtown) but there are not very many members in the club that own C3s, and the ones that are in the club tend to be modifiers or buy generic parts to keep their cars on the road, whereas I am trying to stay as close to original as possible. We do enjoy our membership in Cowtown, but most of our club activities we participate in revolve around our C7.

Don,

I just saw your thread (I don't go into the Support section often).

I'm also a Texas Chapter member, and I understand your experience. The chapter sponsors or participates in several events each year, including Regional in Frisco, one or two Chapter events, LSCC's annual show in Fort Worth, and the Vette Vues event in Galveston.

With that said, what's missing are monthly local social events throughout the state like get-togethers at member homes, cruise-ins, shade-tree events, etc. I'd like to see these too. For these to happen, individual members need to "get involved" as stated above and host them. But from my experience, this isn't a focus for NCRS members, for whatever reason.

Local clubs, like LSCC and Legends in north Texas, host social events like these, so these may be an option for you.

[Mark E.]

Re: Discouraged with NCRS Membership

See you in Austin this weekend!