Just food for thought ...

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Everyone thats posted up an opinion or observation....
you're welcome to a Shiner out of my cooler.

Kowboy's doing a great job of getting folks engaged in TLCA. We need to hear what folks want, what they don't want, and what they really don't care about. Also, I'll be the first to say that most of our members don't read or post anything on the Internet. Their memberships pay for Toyota Trails.

The BOD is working to modernize our club and attract new members. At the same time, we're all trying to keep the members we have.

Keep posting folks, the opinions and observations are a big help to us all. And... I got plenty of Shiner Bock.
Happy Trails! N
 
Mountain Transit Authority submits a budget for Mud N' Yer Eye and gives 10% to TLCA. We use the insurance and sometimes have an ad in TT. We sell out every year regardless of advertising.

Sometimes our members grouse a bit at giving money when we seemingly don't get much in return. But getting something back isn't the only point. We support TLCA, that's the point.

TLCA is not a wheeling club. Get that idea out of your head. MTA is a wheeling club. WTOE, LSLC and Rising Sun are wheeling clubs. The Chapters of TLCA are the wheeling clubs.

TLCA is a membership organization of wheeling clubs and non-wheeling members alike whose preferred vehicle is a Toyota 4WD. Period.

There is no reason at all that there could not be more TLCA Host Events like Rubithon in other parts of the country. Submit your suggestions for an event and a plan for how to make it happen.

It is disappointing to see good people leave just because TLCA doesn't do what they think it ought to. But this is America, God Bless Her, and that's thier right.

I just wish I didn't keep hearing "what's in it for me" all the damn time.

Phil
 
I have a thought. Typed up a page on it, went to post up and puter crashed, so here is short version.

Most cruiser guys and gals are cheap. We are different than most people out there in that our like of cruisers soon turns into an addiction (we don't like to be the norm) Now we are pressured to join the TLCA inorder to hang out with other like minded cruiser people at the chapter level. And 50 bucks or what ever it is to join can buy us a few parts. Would lowering the price of member ship or letting the cruiser dead beats hangout with us untill they pay up cause they feel bad work, to bring up membership and stop people form getting fed up?

I don't know just a thought, cause most people that I see that are fed up say the trails is not worth the membership. So what I see happening is the trails is being watered down to the hard core oldschool guys that are cheap and the cycle continues. There are quite a few well dedicated guys who see without the new school, there is no old school and try and keep a brave face and protect everything and essentially tell the old guys to take off if you don't like it. A lot of the old schools that are quitting, don't say anything, get pissed and don't renew. I don't want to see that happen. You can harp all you want that it is member driven, if the membes are leaving, the TLCA will change, and all the old cheap cruiser guys will be out there wrenching on their junk instead of writing up articles for trails. My 2 cents (and they are canadian at that:hillbilly:)

Cheers,
Deny
 
Part of what I want to do to reach out to our members is going to involve that great magazine, Toyota Trails. I for one love trails, i get to read about some great trips, places, and people that I may never get to take, see, or know. And it helps me feel connected to all the cruiserheads out there.
I've been watching theses discussions happen for a long time now, and I think, so has Jeff. I know what I'd like to accomplish, and I also know that it won't please everybody.
I'd just like to say, be patient, see what happens. There's change coming, and I hope you guys will be this vocal when it does, so we can try to change for the best for everybody. I, for one, think it can be done. And I'm damn sure willing to give it a shot. If I get the nod, and then fail, well then, you can hate me then, by gawd!!! :)
I don't get to attend events much these days, but i sure miss them, and hope to have the time to get back in at some point. Even got new suspension and a rear locker installed, in anticipation of that great day. But, since I can"t make as many events as I used to, Trails is my way of being there. And I think we can use it for some more purposes that just might help us all down the road.
Great discussion. Really gives me much to consider during this upcoming election. Thanks for being so honest, it really makes a difference.
 
tornadoalleycruiser said:
... My clubs wheeling this week, I'm not thus I'm apparently moody ...
Click to expand...

Pretty bummed I'm missin' that one myself ... a good time to be sure. :cool:

Still hopin' to make the Crawl tho in a coupla weeks ... and I'm takin' my Jeep Rubicon. :steer:

After all ... if ya ain't gonna rock the boat ... then ya mize well just stay on shore. :grinpimp:

Good luck with the tow rig Brother. :beer:

:flamingo:
 
Kowboy: thanks for bringing up some active discussion.

Here are some things to consider.
Just as Roundup is a major fundraiser for LoneStar, Rubithon is a major fundraiser for TLCa. They kicked back $10, 527.50 this year. Tony does a great job of managing a huuuuge undertaking, and has for many years. I don't, nor could I, manage such an event from afar. I hope he finds someone as dedicated and capable to take his place.

Toyota Trails: is still the main reason most members join. ~15% of membership belong to chapters. More or less the same percentage actively wheel at events. You know them; you've met them. Repeatedly. At every event. While they are an active, vocal, and valued part of membership, they don't deserve to be catered to *any more than any other sector of membership.*
We are not running a budget deficit. We do not need to go back to black and white.
A color publication, on high quality paper is something that general membership values greatly.
I was on the bod when we made that switch. It generated much positive comment; not just from readers, but from our advertisers, who are willing to *pay more* to advertise in color.

TT content: I hate to "throw out the easy answer to your question," but here it is...if you want different content, please, write it. TT is 100% member content.


Now, as we approach the end of my tenure as President...two things:
If you don't like the direction that TLCA is being managed, step up! The President can't "create a runaway ship" and steer TLCa in a a completely new direction by him/herself...but, you can certainly provide the leadership to help the bod as a whole take TLCA one direction or another.

There are several things coming to fruition here at the end of my term.
New Website! This will hit the web next week. You'll have the oppoturnity to submit lots of your own user content: video, blogs, articles...very cool and much more cutting edge than we've been.
New "e-zine" version of Toyota Trails. We've researched several working softwares that will deliver a weblink to your mailbox, and let you flip pages of a full, virtual magazine.
This will, in part, answer the previous post about "various membership levels."
We won't need to set membership at the same rate for an e-zine member.
We also need to determine ad rates for the e-zine and website...

These efforts, if they are as successful as I hope they can be, should generate significant new revenue streams...that could be used for, well, lots of cool new things.

Hmmmmm.....


cheers;
alan
 
KOWBOY said:
We're paying a full-time salary to an administrator that already has a full-time job. With all due respect to the current employee ... that's ridiculous from a bid'ness viewpoint. The salary should buy us a 9 to 5, Monday to Friday employee.
Click to expand...

funny that everyone has ignored this one....

I agree, from a business standpoint, hiring someone to perform two fulltime positions during the same fulltime hours of the day doesn't make much sense...
 
really good discussion here, and Phil provided an excellent analogy.

I have always stated that chapters and events bring TLCA home. Now I offer its more the fabric that unites the chapters together... much like the Unted States originated, individual states with rights, united together under a common belief.

It makes me smile when I read this thread and realize I know virtually everyone firsthand, have met most all of you via TLCA events, and seen/read your articles in Trails.
 
In summary....

Toyota Trails is successful so let's change it.

Rubithon is successful so let's change it.

The administrator role has been successful so let's change that also.

Toyota Trails is not worth the $.08-$.12 per day that it costs a member and that money is better spent on other magazines and on parts.

If you don't wheel and you don't attend events, you should not be a TLCA member.

TLCA should be doing more to support events.

TLCA should consider loaning startup money to fledgling clubs.

I don't like the content in Toyota Trails but I don't send in content for consideration.

I don't like the way TLCA is operated but I don't run for a TLCA office.

TLCA needs to be more accessible to members.

TLCA should consider hosting a national event in a central location.

I don't need to be a TLCA member because I can attend Open events and crash the other events.

The only benefit to chapters is insurance.

We have good people leave the BOD in frustration.

Nick has a surplus of beer.

That seems to be the gist of this thread.

First, let me compliment Kowboy on his choice of a title for the thread. It is spot-on. "Food for thought" and there's certainly plenty of thought being provoked here, some of which includes items that can and should be acted on by the board. But mostly what I see in response is complaining, with little energy spent toward solutions or, more importantly, becoming part of the solution. I feel like if you're going to complain, you should also have a solution in mind. Otherwise you're just... well... complaining. And honestly, that's fine, it's human nature and part of life. But when the same complaints keep getting thrown out there with no solutions, what's the point?

Kowboy definitely offers some solutions in his initial post so let's take a look at those and see if we get anywhere.

Toyota Trails is the problem and the solution is a black and white flyer that advertises events and provides coverage of those events only. This would accomplish a cost savings for sure. But we'd also need to consider losing 100% of the ad revenue produced by Toyota Trails when we go to this format. Zero advertising money but we still have an expense to produce and mail the flyer. So where we've slashed costs, we've also slashed revenue. This is a zero sum gain and we have a far less interesting publication (in my opinion). So if it doesn't make us a better or more financially stable club, I don't see it as a viable solution.

So what is the solution? Well, we can always scale the magazine back to cut costs and Casey and I have an ongoing discussion about this very idea, have done it in the past and will most likely do it in the future. We're not driving the bus off the cliff with no regard for where we're going. We can print fewer color pages and fewer pages in general. That's where we spend the money -- paper, ink and mailing, all of which are reduced by fewer overall and fewer color pages. Honestly though, I'm not hearing much support for this. It fell on deaf ears at the last BOD meeting and isn't garnering much support here.

OK, if that's not the solution, what is? Sometimes it takes getting to the actual problem to be able to see the solution. Is Toyota Trails the problem? Sometimes but I think that overall revenue is the broader issue and Toyota Trails is only a problem as revenue lags and magazine expenses remain at the same level or increase. The solution? Cost control at Toyota Trails and increased revenue. Casey and I already exercise cost control as needed. How do we increase TLCA revenue? We make ourselves relevant to a wider audience who will support both magazine and web advertising by introducing a much more content-rich website (about to happen) and by offering an electronic version of the magazine (also about to happen). Other ideas? We attract a wider audience to events and be accepting and welcoming to those people when they show up. We give them more opportunities to spend money when they come to events and to tlca.org. And we make the MSVP position accountable for ideas, solutions and progress. Then we have the revenue to support the magazine, the events, the website and the local clubs.

As to Rubithon, Kowboy has some good suggestions there and I think Tony has addressed a lot of the concerns. But who follows up on this? MSVP? I don't know but someone should and that means a volunteer or volunteers. If you want to affect change, you must get involved. That's how a volunteer organization works. Again, good ideas but they require not discussion but action.

The criticism of the administrator position is something that Kowboy and I will just have to agree to disagree on. I try to not criticize someone until I've walked a mile in that person's shoes (and sometimes I fail at this). Having never served as administrator, I don't have any perspective on what's going well, what's not and what should be changed. But I can say that the support I receive from the administrator is exactly what I need and if I needed anything different, I'd ask the administrator, not blast her in an online forum. And there are plenty of people working 2 or 3 job who serve each employer equally well. There are also no specific grievances cited here. What are the problems that need to be addressed? If there are problems, I'm in agreement, they should be solved. I just don't know what they are nor do I encounter problems in my interactions with the administrator. Again, let's get to solutions, not vague mud slinging.

Your final point, be an active member that attends events or get out, I think that's a pretty myopic view. And could easily be modified to say "active members who want to hang with Kowboy need to attend events or get out." Then there could be a category for "active members who serve as TLCA or club officers." And "active members who contribute to the magazine and the website." "Active members who are busy addressing land use issues." Are you catching the common theme here? "Active members." Members who aren't active aren't going to stay engaged and aren't going remain members of TLCA.

So how do we keep them active? We entertain them, something Kowboy knows a lot about. We host first-rate events that are evaluated yearly for improvement and that are fully supported by TLCA. We give them an entertaining magazine and website and constantly work hard to keep fresh content in front of them. We have an active board and active chapter reps and active chapter members who are constantly reaching out to existing and new membership. And we're careful that we don't become such a cozy club that we don't realize that by our actions and more pointedly, lack of actions, we are alienating those who are not yet TLCA members.

Here's an example of a lack of action that I think has an adverse effect: TLCA events that do not feature guided trail rides. This seems like such an obvious thing -- people come to your event, they expect something in return. What better than interacting with them by organizing and leading trail rides? Otherwise, short of the raffle (where most will leave empty handed) and a sticker and a t-shirt, what's the point of the event? So should TLCA require that there be organized and guided trail rides at TLCA events? I think so. And in return, TLCA needs to be there in force with support for the raffle, support for host club and support in any other way that the host club sees fit. There should be an event package offered by TLCA in return for a portion of the proceeds. But TLCA needs to earn that portion of the proceeds by getting involved.

And so we're back to involvement. Is Kowboy being involved by starting this thread? Definitely. Are subsequent posts that offer ideas and solutions seen as positive involvement? You bet. Is complaining being involved? Sure. I just think that it helps sometimes to take a step back and see where you are and how you got there and decide if that's still fitting the model you have set up for your life. Related to TLCA, that does lead to some people quitting. I've never really seen quitting as a solution though. Why not get involved to affect change -- that's the way the United States works. For the people, by the people. That's how TLCA should work also.

Finally, no one should take any of this as personal criticism. I'm as critical of myself in this process as I am of anyone else. So don't get your feathers ruffled. Concentrate that energy on being part of the solution and not part of the problem.

TJK
 
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TJK: nicely done. Agree or not (and I do, others may or may not...); well spoken.

Let me address the admin position again. Todd got some of this...
Our Admin throws waaaay more hours at this than any previous admin. She is more accessable than any other admin. TLCA biz-with members, vendors, and businesses-is much more efficiently addressed than with any of our previous, "full time with no other job" admins. (no slam here!)

The job is much more complicated than it used to be. Mucho database management, paypal management, USPS intervention and tracking.
Admin of the e-store, inventory, sales, etc.
Treasurer and admin and sales work together a lot behind the scenes to streamline and improve business efficiencies, mosat recently of which was to streamline aged accounts recievable and collect past due accounts.

Emails are answered during the business day. Phone calls are answered during the business day. Both are answered well into the night, past a 8-5 workday. Memberships are fullfilled, info packets stuffed, bank business taken care off...all outside an 8-5 business day, but much faster than the 4-6 week cycles we've had in the past.
I've read and heard phone calls from disgruntled members...who moved 2 years ago, left no forwarding address-or even notification...demanding 2 years of back issues, in language that would make a grown sailor cry....whom we fixed up with a smile.
It's a deep, complicated, demanding job.

I multi-task at work a lot. I imagine many of you who a reading this during business hours do as well.
 
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Kaderabek said:
Your final point, be an active member that attends events or get out, I think that's a pretty myopic view. And could easily be modified to say "active members who want to hang with Kowboy need to attend events or get out."
TJK
Click to expand...

Damn.........this would sure be an option....even those of us who love Kowboy like a brother had rather not hang out with him at times.......:eek::eek::D

I personally had not idea Rubithon generated that kind of income, I was under the impression TLCA kicked money in with no return....however I would hate to be the one handling the dollars with no paper trail or over site if that is how it's done..........
Butch
 
Rubithon, maaaaany years ago, was granted a one time cash advance when it was designated the national event.
It has been self-sufficient, and profitable for both themselves-in terms of upgrading facitlities and equipment as they grew and needed such-and for TLCA.
TLCA has waaay more than gotten the seed money back. I'd have to have the books run back as many years as it's been around to determine the Big Figure for that, but it's a lot.

If the BOD determine that there needs to be another national event, somewhere...we could construct a similar situation elsewhere. It would require a ton of work, but we have a good model in Rubithon. As with Rubithon, it would require a lartge, and local management team.

As with Tony, I'm glad to see that I've met pretty much everyone in this thread personally, and enjoyed everyone's thoughts and company over the years.

cheers-alan
 
I think start up money for chapters is not necessary... Having just started a chapter, everything went just fine without outside help. We have stickers on order, and will be ordering shirts soon. This is a Toyota club, not a Porche club.... We don't need gold monogrammed hankies to start a chapter.... :cheers:
 
I have a different perspective as to why I joined TLCA than what has been posted so far on this discussion. I have liked and owned Toyotas for many years but bought a trail rig after one of my friends did. I loved comparing rigs with him and starting looking around for others. I joined TLCA because I wanted to be around other Toyota owners and wheel with them. I went on some runs with a couple of chapters to meet up with more owners. I then started to go to events to meet up with more Toyota owners and rigs. Common thread here is I am a supporter of TLCA because I love Toyota's and want to be around others with a common love. I didnt join to GET a magazine. The Toyota Trails is just a bonus gift that comes with my support. I didnt join for support as is stated cause in this age the Net is much quicker and more accesable. I live withing a couple hours of Flat nasty, Superlift, Disney, Cass AR, and several other places to play and have spent time at all of them but never without a club or Official event going on there. I dont belong to local generic clubs because thats not what excites me. Its not what I get from TLCA, its about memories and experiences I have gained from others with my common love. If your not happy then become more involved at a national level with a with an open mind and wide point of view, or at a regional level with a more specific interest, or at a very local level with as narrow a view as you want with in that small chapter. The charter allows for a percentage of members to be non Toyota owners and if your one of those then that great and you'll be welcome around events but dont be the guy that owns a Toyota and goes to a club or official event with out giving the small token of support that is required to be a TLCA member. I know that there is no reasonable argument that will lend support to the fact that its to expensive when its less than a 1/2 tank of gas. This may be my myopic point of veiw, but if you cant afford $35 a year then you shouldnt be out wheeling somewhere anyway. Dont allow your chapter to not enforce the TLCA membership for eligible members. You join a club that decided to be a TLCA chapter. You were not drafted in and if you dont like the requirement, get out of the club, sell your Toyota and stay in, or get your club to drop it official chapter standing.

Just my point of view. Didnt start out being soap box level but I just got home from a great event and the juices are still flowing.:steer:
 
woody said:
funny that everyone has ignored this one....

I agree, from a business standpoint, hiring someone to perform two fulltime positions during the same fulltime hours of the day doesn't make much sense...
Click to expand...

9 to 5 in what time zone?

9 to 5 EST doesn't cut it for the TLCA.

I know as I've worked in Saudi Arabia on a project for a Japanese client, and had engineering handled in Canada.
 
TLCA Thoughts 2008

Wow, what an interesting and timely thread. Once again my hat is off to Kowboy for stirring the pot. IMO, this was long overdue but, owing to my ‘unique’ situation, I am just not as comfortable putting all my cards on the table when it comes to opining on TLCA and it’s future.

Like Green Lantern, I have no beef with anyone or anything that’s been said here, and y’all are welcome at my campfires anytime. As for the beer, if’n you don’t like what I got, BYO! And after 20 years in the TLCA, Erik, trust me, I know you feel!

I think that it’s gotten to the point where there’s just so many new people on board any more that don’t know how we’ve gotten to where we are, that we should have a mission statement that explains exactly that, AND OFFER EVERY NEW BOD from here on out the chance to re-write that mission statement. SO in all fairness, even though every one of these subjects has been hashed out DOZENS of times before, for TLCA to remain relevant to those who are going to man the helm for the next two years, THEY need to hear and read the arguments today and PARTICIPATE in forming the conclusions and decisions that will shape the organization for tomorrow.

DISCLAIMER: while I wholeheartedly approve of having this discussion, I think that it is unfortunate that it will NOT be a comprehensive one for the simple reason that it is taking place on a public forum, and that a full and frank assessment of our strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement will HAVE TO INCLUDE financial information that is NOT APPROPRIATE for publication in a public forum.

1. Toyota Trails. I think that Alan posted an e-mail to BODreps a couple of years back that very succinctly stated his view, and the view of many that TT was the number one reason for people staying in the TLCA. It’s sad, but probably true. Would cutting it back, changing it’s format, or eliminating it in favor of exclusive web-based content cut our ranks? Probably. Drastically? Maybe. Does the BOD have the right to revisit this decision, take this chance, or any other one? ABSOLUTELY. Debate it and issue a written decision. Those who don’t like it are free to leave.

Is this the only issue regarding TT? No. Are there lower costs alternatives to the our current publishing arrangement we just don’t know about? Possibly. Would Todd [or anyone else on the BOD] mind knowing about lower cost alternatives? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Is it possible that in the face of diminishing print media opportunities, the available printing houses [if that’s what you call them] might be more flexible on minimum quantities NOW vs. LAST YEAR or two years ago. Maybe. Definitely worth investigating. Maybe if we offered someone a ‘finders’ fee to find us a more competitive deal, we’d get some answers real quick. Hmmm.

[If you digest search BODreps, you will see that this issue WAS addressed at length last year, and Todd very rationally explained ‘the numbers’ and that we really had a sweetheart of deal with our print house based on our relatively small size] I wonder what Zartman’s printing costs are?

Of course the other half of the cost of TT is in the layout. Could TT content be organized for less than what we’re paying Todd and his assistant? I don’t know. The last BOD certainly didn’t seem to mind going thru a few different Webmasters in search of ‘value’. I have no beef with the quality Todd’s work, but I wouldn’t pretend to know if it is competitively priced in the marketplace. Is this discussion off limits? I hope not. CAVEAT. Todd is not an outsider; he is one of us. If you feel it is appropriate to discuss his compensation publicly, please keep that in mind. Same with Jenn.

BOTH preceding discussion items have the potential to save a substantial amount of money without changing the quality of our TT.


2. RUBITHON. I agree with Kowboy that nothing should be beyond the review of the BOD, and I don’t think Rubithon is. Rather, I think that the BOD’s approach [mis-perceived by some as hands-off] is more like ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ On this subject, I do feel qualified to speak. I participated in all 5 of the first Rubithons, as well as 3 more of the last 5. I have had the opportunity to witness the strengths and weaknesses of this event. IMO, Rubithon SHOULD be put on the table: to figure out how to replicate it’s enormous success for two or three more national events!

I think it would be interesting for the BOD for 2009 to pick ONE [any one really, I have no preference] of the other current TLCA sanctioned events and politely ask the sponsoring club to consider making it a national event. Find out what the club has to say about it.

Obviously from the TLCA’s side of things, it would be a lot easier than starting another event from scratch. More importantly though, articulating to a local club why it should consider making the commitment to TLCA that Rubithon has would be an excellent exercise in defining why we should even have a TLCA.

As far as TLCA support of sanctioned events, Roger started a good discussion on this last year on our MUD bodreps forum, but the current administration did not consider it cost effective. That does not mean a new BOD cannot revisit the issue. IMO, I like Kowboy’s idea of donating some big ticket item like a winch to EVERY sanctioned event. I consider it ironic that the same bean counters that say we can’t afford it completely overlook the element of goodwill [at the same time they’re pimping it to the Associate members!] Insert shaking head emoticon here.

3. The Administrator. Again, I agree with Kowboy that NOTHING deserves to be beyond discussion, and to be revisited whenever the membership deems it appropriate. Election time certainly seems like an appropriate time.

That said, from everything I’ve read and heard about the string of administrators that preceded Jenn, she has far surpassed them all. While it IS a paid position, it is IMO the single most thankless position in this organization. I personally would not have put up with half the CRAP Jenn has put up with for what she’s paid. Her job description seems to change on a regular basis, and she’s expected to have undertaken her new tasks retroactively [according to those who have a beef with her].

Is she perfect? I doubt it. Could she do a better job for us? Not unless AND until the membership can articulate what it is they expect AND she has an appropriate opportunity to consider whether it is worth adding to her job description for what she is paid.

And FWIW, I wholeheartedly disagree with Kowboy’s 9-5 thing. I will take quality over quantity any day. I’ll agree that Jenn gives us some really weird hours at times, but the fact of the matter is that she pretty much has done everything that has been asked of her, and usually within a reasonable amount of time. On this front, I really don’t think we’re gonna get any more bang for our buck elsewhere.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Algazy, TLCA member #1086
 
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