New NCRS Marketing initiative.

[Dan A.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

Jimmy it's a very good thing that you are one of the younger members also that you are willing to step forward with ideas. But respectfully I fear you haven't done your homework.

I do support the life time membership suggestion. Unfortunately I have been asking for it periodically for over 40 years now. To date I have never found any support or interest among the powers that be. Some time has past since I last asked so I'll suggest you put it to your regional director for him to bring to the Board for consideration. Actually that is the appropriate method to bring about change. There is an annual Board meeting coming shortly in March. No time like the present.

Your suggestion "why not look at a different class maybe modified class. Something that encourages creativity in a build not exact nut and bolt restorations." This already exists. Judging has a classification called Concours Judging and has two groups, stock and modified. As built new parts minutia is not considered. In a general sense Concours judging accepts all comers with only some very basic and reasonable requirements.

As for " I's very hard to move forward when the founders and members from long ago who created all of this are still running it." There has not been any founding member/members running things let alone still running things for very a long time. Granted there is one long time member that is still very active and holds office but is just one individual who requires Board approval in their area and doesn't have the authority to run things .

Might I suggest for your benefit and that of the NCRS that you increase your participation while maintaining your desire to participate in positive change, Attend chapter, regional and national events whenever possible. Get involved, volunteer and get to know other members. Let them get to know you. You might like it. I know I do.

[Jon H.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

So I was an NCRS member for a number of years and left, then came back recently. During that time no one ever reached out to me to try and get me back into a membership, which is crazy! I am sure there are a lot of past members in that same boat and there is an opportunity to grow memberships by winning them back.

On a side note I happen to have a sales and marketing software company and have a little background in this stuff. I believe there are a number of marketing channels that could be used to reach new and existing NCRS members. Here are a few things off of the top of my head:
1. Email outreach-New members, existing members and former member email campaigns. You could also use email automation to track their interest and send them only the information they are interested in down the road. So if someone likes c2's send them content on c2's etc. In marketing today personalization is the name of the game..
2. Social media platforms such as facebook, instagram etc-You could use polls to get corvette enthusiasts engaged, highlight new members and their cars and to share their stories. Instagram is a great place to share and like pictures from events, members rides etc.
3. Banner advertising and display re-targeting- Designed to bring members back to the site to engage with discussions etc. when they are on other sites. After all the key to keeping new members is getting them engaged often in the NCRS community.
4. Direct mail to car clubs-
5. Not a marketing channel, but I would revisit the NCRS mission and values and make sure they support future membership growth and then consistently communicate to your potential and current members.

Also, I think it would be cool to have pier to pier judging at shows. For example with every judge or master judge have a youngster shadow and assist. It would help to build more corvette experts in the future but also ensure a way to keep the younger generation engaged in the hobby right now. A few years back I had my cars on display at the muscle car and corvette nationals. ( An great event that gets better every year) Bob Ashton went out of his way to talk with my son, gave him a free shirt and asked him if he wanted to be a Haggerty celebrity judge. To this day my son talks about judging those cars it and he can't wait to go to that show. The truth is corvettes and classic cars aren't irrelevant to the next generation, just the ways in which car clubs, organizations and events try to reach them is.

[Jimmy D.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

Dan,
Thanks for clarifying a few things I have stated incorrectly. I know more than anyone, the best way to have your voice heard is to get involved. Unfortunately I don't have any extra time. I'm a local politician: supervisor of the town board, Chair of the lake board, an educator at the Technical College and president of the literacy council. I teach Metal Fabrication and I see what interest the the younger generation and we have to reach out to them in many different ways. I know one thing, they can't stay off the phones. The students who are most interested in cars are the one's who parents work with them in the shop at home. Not many though. I will support change in the organisation, and hope this conversation keeps the wheels moving. I'll look into some local events this summer and hope to meet some cool cats. Thanks

Jimmy it's a very good thing that you are one of the younger members also that you are willing to step forward with ideas. But respectfully I fear you haven't done your homework.

I do support the life time membership suggestion. Unfortunately I have been asking for it periodically for over 40 years now. To date I have never found any support or interest among the powers that be. Some time has past since I last asked so I'll suggest you put it to your regional director for him to bring to the Board for consideration. Actually that is the appropriate method to bring about change. There is an annual Board meeting coming shortly in March. No time like the present.

Your suggestion "why not look at a different class maybe modified class. Something that encourages creativity in a build not exact nut and bolt restorations." This already exists. Judging has a classification called Concours Judging and has two groups, stock and modified. As built new parts minutia is not considered. In a general sense Concours judging accepts all comers with only some very basic and reasonable requirements.

As for " I's very hard to move forward when the founders and members from long ago who created all of this are still running it." There has not been any founding member/members running things let alone still running things for very a long time. Granted there is one long time member that is still very active and holds office but is just one individual who requires Board approval in their area and doesn't have the authority to run things .

Might I suggest for your benefit and that of the NCRS that you increase your participation while maintaining your desire to participate in positive change, Attend chapter, regional and national events whenever possible. Get involved, volunteer and get to know other members. Let them get to know you. You might like it. I know I do.

[Adam B.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

I have to tell you I am super impressed with the social marketing that Lauren is doing for NCRS. As a younger member (39), she hits my generation and younger (well even older, too). I noticed the engagement just before the Nationals as asked the King's about it. They grinned from ear to ear, and come to find out she is their daughter.

Prior to Lauren coming on board there was a post or so a month, a comment or two, just a couple shares and dismal "likes." Now, a photo of a car have 50+ "like", multiple shares and many comments. This is keeping the NCRS name in-front of an audience that may not know much about NCRS. This is the next generation of NCRS, and we need to embrace it.

Keep up the great work, Lauren!

[Mark L.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

Well said Adam !

[Edward B.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

Host sessions at local meets and shows teaching younger people how to operate vehicles equipped with manual transmissions.

[Tom R.]

Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

Yeah while they are waiting for a four-speed to open up, they can learn how to dial a rotary phone!