Tony or Nick, What is, or was, the purpose of the requirement that all local club members be TLCA members? Just to add numbers to TLCA? I know it's not enforced, and therefore seems silly to have it on the books anyway, but it seems like the local clubs would be better off without that.
Originally, the club was Land Cruisers. Thus the membership requirement (which should not be mixed up with the mission statement) is that members must own land cruisers... later changed to any Toyota with a low range as mini trucks, 4runners and more began rolling out of assembly lines.
TLCA was originally a local club, and began forming other clubs, ie Chapters. All members of the Chapter were TLCA members.
That direction has been maintained over the years. Chapters help TLCA maintain members, that is why all chapter by laws are reviewed by the BOD before becoming a chapter, to ensure the text 'will support TLCA' and 'members must join TLCA' are included.
I have promoted that TLCA does not bird dog chapters on this fact. Lets face it, folks may join a local chapter and yet have no desire to join TLCA. That is up to the local chapter to enforce at their level.
The yearly Roster confirms minimum TLCA members required to maintain chapter status (among other things).
Chapters have a direct vote on the Board. That is why the TLCA membership is required. We would not want chapters voting on TLCA issues where their membership is not comprised of TLCA members.
Same with keeping owning a Toyota with low range as a membership requirement. We would not want our memberhsip to swell to 8K with over 50% driving jeeps. Imagine what would happen when Trails came out with a jeep on the cover? Pure ugly in the Toyota ranks.
Lets also review chapters Toyota ratio as this is often confused. A chapter can have a % of its members be None Toyota owners. All Toyota owners must join TLCA. The 30% rule is for Non Toyota members. If a chapter has 25 toyota owning members, they all must join TLCA. an additional 30% of that 25 can be non Toyota such as Jeeps and Broncos and cornbinders. Often chapters confuse this into 30% of their membership does not need to join. Nope, incorrect. but again, this is for chapters to manage and TLCA does not birddawg.
PMC has Jeeper Ron. Our by laws read must own Toyota and join TLCA, except Jpr Ron. He's special.
Yes we have a member or two that no matter what are not going to join TLCA. Perhaps they got pissed for some trivial reason years ago (they moved and forgot to notify TLCA) and now have a bad taste in their mouth. So be it. We like them, and allow them to stay on but do not report them as part of our membership to TLCA. We do keep hoping that some day, they will join. Patience and persistance work best.
Why do we keep TLCA membership all Toyota? To preserve and protect the history of the land cruiser.
Its in our mission statement. Allowing other makes would dilute and erode that goal.
Why do jeeps and others want to join TLCA? Because they have nothing like.
one final thought. You are TLCA. I am TLCA. I often hear 'why does'nt TLCA do this? or what does TLCA do here? Look in the mirror and ask the same question. Together we form TLCA... It is bigger than all of us together, yet equal only to each one of us individually. It does not take a monetary donation to start a club... it takes a single member who is willing to donate their time and effort.
You cannot force another Rubithon (hosted event) anywhere, not with money or stealing an event... it takes TLCA members and chapters willing to donate their time and effort (volunteers).
sorry I got off topic but I wanted to share these thoughts.