Lots of dialogue on the web and BODREPS on the status of the TLCA. Instead of saying the TLCA is the wrong rock, bring me another, I thought I would take some time while sipin a Crown and smoking a Macanudu to put down my thoughts.
What would I like the TLCA to become?
First and foremost, I think the TLCA should be an all Toyota 4WD club like it claims to be. This can be accomplished and still retain the Land Cruiser Heritage by saying we are the Toyota and Land Cruiser Association. Here are my reasons:
Aren’t we already acting this way with our clubs and events, but not following through at the National level?
· A good percentage of Rising Sun is made up of non Land Cruisers, heck I own two 4runners myself. We make these club members join the TLCA yet they sometimes feel excluded by the Land Cruiser preference. If it wasn’t for the club, these folks would drop out of the TLCA.
· A good percentage of attendants at TLCA events are non Land Cruiser owners
· We are pursuing the large FJ Cruiser contingent and a lot of them are tired of being told its not a Land Cruiser. These FJ Cruisers are quite capable and I have wheeled with them many times. I am glad to have them in the association.
· One of the reasons people don’t stay is they feel excluded without a Land Cruiser. Why does anyone want to stay in a club if they feel like they are the second tier membership.
The TLCA should be about education of Toyota vehicles, 4wheeling and Land Use. How about making some video segments for our new web sites available to members on wheeling techniques. The first one would be on Power Braking, what it is, when to use it and when not to with a demonstration. These could be put together by the chapters and members. We already do a Leader/gunner class before Moab, we could film a few segments of that.
Then when there is enough material, cut these into a DVD with some wheeling footage of some of the TLCA events (make them want to come) and sell it on Mud, TTORA, etc.
Best way to get folks into Land Use is to get them mad. Show them a great trail and responsible wheeling followed by a closed sign and what could have been done along with some success stories. Video and print and the web site would be good here. You could send an e-mail out to members when a new video is posted and give them the option to unsubscribe. Let them know what they individually can do and what the TLCA is doing even if its just donating money or time. We have many examples we could offer up with Rising Sun.
Make it about the family. Let people know their membership includes their family, but an extra membership is required if they want additional issues of TT, maybe make this an option. Highlight families wheeling and enjoying the sport together.
The TLCA membership is also a network. Why don’t we have a database (like woody use to) that allows members to have their name and number in a National list so if your in Oklahoma and you break down, you have a list of people who you can call and at least tell you where to get parts.
The Rising Sun Club has evolved with its membership and is no longer a Land Cruiser Club. We are a Toyota and Land Cruiser Club where all are treated equal. One of our new members had an FJ and wasn’t sure he would be accepted and we quickly changed his mind and put him to work (he he he) we have several FJ owners in our club
Right now the Rising Sun Club has elected volunteers as a Philanthropy committee to decide where to donate the proceeds from Cruise Moab (yes we paid TLCA 10%). This committee then brings back their recommendations for a vote by the club and the decisions are published in the minutes. Members have a say and get to vote and get to know where the money is going. For the TLCA, they could select a cross country committee of volunteers and give them a forum to work out the set number of cash, bring it to the BOD for a vote and then publish where the donations go on the forum or the main page. I have no idea where or if the TLCA donates money. I am sure they do, but I don’t have the information.
As I said, we need to make it inclusive of those we make join and for those we hope will join. There are probably people out there with better ideas on how to make it inclusive.
The TLCA needs to grow with its membership and accept that change is inevitable or the other option is a slow death. All I am suggesting is that the TLCA embrace the change based on its current dues paying card carrying Toyota drivin’ membership. Heck even Tony Twiddy has a mini-truck
Pretty soon if the TLCA doesn’t progress and the Chapters continue to, there will eventually be a point where Chapters may leave and I would hate to see that happen as the Chapters are what puts on the events and contribute most of the material to TT. Like any organization, 20% of the people do 80% of the work.
We need to capture a Vision that embraces what we want the TLCA to be, so here is a suggestion (its too long and needs to be whittled down a bit)
The Toyota and Land Cruiser Association vision is to enhance and expand the knowledge of our Toyota membership for responsible wheeling, environmental awareness, vehicle education and networking among like minded folks to build extended family relationships.
Next thing needed is a strategy. Any good strategy will have three points or its not worth anything
Where we are today
Where we want to be – need to quantify something to measure
And how we are going to get there
So my take on a Strategy is as follows:
Today we are an all Toyota Club with an emphasis on the Land Cruiser without a strong sense of belonging by a lot of our membership
We want to be an inclusive Toyota Club while maintaining the Land Cruiser heritage. We want people to have fun, want to be members and feel they are getting a lot out of the TLCA and as a result want to give back. We want to have a membership of 4000 members that grows by 10% each year.
We will get there by being inclusive, using current technology with e-mails and video, web site and print to provide information for our members. Inform people more about clubs in there areas and have meet and greets so people can learn more about the TLCA, Local Clubs. Wheeling and Land Use
Those are my thoughts and that should be enough to get Kowboy stirred up. Besides my drink is empty and I have to get up to refill it.
What would I like the TLCA to become?
First and foremost, I think the TLCA should be an all Toyota 4WD club like it claims to be. This can be accomplished and still retain the Land Cruiser Heritage by saying we are the Toyota and Land Cruiser Association. Here are my reasons:
Aren’t we already acting this way with our clubs and events, but not following through at the National level?
· A good percentage of Rising Sun is made up of non Land Cruisers, heck I own two 4runners myself. We make these club members join the TLCA yet they sometimes feel excluded by the Land Cruiser preference. If it wasn’t for the club, these folks would drop out of the TLCA.
· A good percentage of attendants at TLCA events are non Land Cruiser owners
· We are pursuing the large FJ Cruiser contingent and a lot of them are tired of being told its not a Land Cruiser. These FJ Cruisers are quite capable and I have wheeled with them many times. I am glad to have them in the association.
· One of the reasons people don’t stay is they feel excluded without a Land Cruiser. Why does anyone want to stay in a club if they feel like they are the second tier membership.
The TLCA should be about education of Toyota vehicles, 4wheeling and Land Use. How about making some video segments for our new web sites available to members on wheeling techniques. The first one would be on Power Braking, what it is, when to use it and when not to with a demonstration. These could be put together by the chapters and members. We already do a Leader/gunner class before Moab, we could film a few segments of that.
Then when there is enough material, cut these into a DVD with some wheeling footage of some of the TLCA events (make them want to come) and sell it on Mud, TTORA, etc.
Best way to get folks into Land Use is to get them mad. Show them a great trail and responsible wheeling followed by a closed sign and what could have been done along with some success stories. Video and print and the web site would be good here. You could send an e-mail out to members when a new video is posted and give them the option to unsubscribe. Let them know what they individually can do and what the TLCA is doing even if its just donating money or time. We have many examples we could offer up with Rising Sun.
Make it about the family. Let people know their membership includes their family, but an extra membership is required if they want additional issues of TT, maybe make this an option. Highlight families wheeling and enjoying the sport together.
The TLCA membership is also a network. Why don’t we have a database (like woody use to) that allows members to have their name and number in a National list so if your in Oklahoma and you break down, you have a list of people who you can call and at least tell you where to get parts.
The Rising Sun Club has evolved with its membership and is no longer a Land Cruiser Club. We are a Toyota and Land Cruiser Club where all are treated equal. One of our new members had an FJ and wasn’t sure he would be accepted and we quickly changed his mind and put him to work (he he he) we have several FJ owners in our club
Right now the Rising Sun Club has elected volunteers as a Philanthropy committee to decide where to donate the proceeds from Cruise Moab (yes we paid TLCA 10%). This committee then brings back their recommendations for a vote by the club and the decisions are published in the minutes. Members have a say and get to vote and get to know where the money is going. For the TLCA, they could select a cross country committee of volunteers and give them a forum to work out the set number of cash, bring it to the BOD for a vote and then publish where the donations go on the forum or the main page. I have no idea where or if the TLCA donates money. I am sure they do, but I don’t have the information.
As I said, we need to make it inclusive of those we make join and for those we hope will join. There are probably people out there with better ideas on how to make it inclusive.
The TLCA needs to grow with its membership and accept that change is inevitable or the other option is a slow death. All I am suggesting is that the TLCA embrace the change based on its current dues paying card carrying Toyota drivin’ membership. Heck even Tony Twiddy has a mini-truck
Pretty soon if the TLCA doesn’t progress and the Chapters continue to, there will eventually be a point where Chapters may leave and I would hate to see that happen as the Chapters are what puts on the events and contribute most of the material to TT. Like any organization, 20% of the people do 80% of the work.
We need to capture a Vision that embraces what we want the TLCA to be, so here is a suggestion (its too long and needs to be whittled down a bit)
The Toyota and Land Cruiser Association vision is to enhance and expand the knowledge of our Toyota membership for responsible wheeling, environmental awareness, vehicle education and networking among like minded folks to build extended family relationships.
Next thing needed is a strategy. Any good strategy will have three points or its not worth anything
Where we are today
Where we want to be – need to quantify something to measure
And how we are going to get there
So my take on a Strategy is as follows:
Today we are an all Toyota Club with an emphasis on the Land Cruiser without a strong sense of belonging by a lot of our membership
We want to be an inclusive Toyota Club while maintaining the Land Cruiser heritage. We want people to have fun, want to be members and feel they are getting a lot out of the TLCA and as a result want to give back. We want to have a membership of 4000 members that grows by 10% each year.
We will get there by being inclusive, using current technology with e-mails and video, web site and print to provide information for our members. Inform people more about clubs in there areas and have meet and greets so people can learn more about the TLCA, Local Clubs. Wheeling and Land Use
Those are my thoughts and that should be enough to get Kowboy stirred up. Besides my drink is empty and I have to get up to refill it.
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