Okay, yes, I’ll admit it – I’m President again. Even though I’m an elderly man with a poor memory, you apparently don’t feel you have any better choices available. Sound familiar…? Anyway, at our January club meeting I accepted the continuing Presidency with a few caveats, which I’ll outline below; and which you’ll see unfold over the next few meetings. But, to start, I’d like to give a little report on the health of the club (in my opinion, at least).
When I began acting as President in mid-2019, SoCal TLCA had a small core group of long-term members, including even a couple of Charter Members who were still active after starting the club in the late 1980’s. Unfortunately though, the club wasn’t terribly active by 2019. I set some basic goals to try and bring back a level of club enthusiasm. I wanted to get the word out that the club was still active, and that we would have not only monthly meetings, but also monthly club runs.
By 2022, we were averaging 15-20 club members at each meeting. We had runs scheduled for almost every month (except December, because of the busy holiday period). We’ve had between 6-22 rigs attending each club run over the last couple of years, with an average of 10-12 vehicles. And, most importantly, we were attracting a new generation of Toyota off-road enthusiasts! Our members come from as far away as Long Beach and Pasadena in north Los Angeles County to south Orange County. Based on the above information, we have what I would consider to be about 50 “active” club members (meaning you attend at least a few meetings and/or a few club runs or activities every year, and are current on your annual dues).
I put a lot of energy, thought, and time into making this the same great club that welcomed me as a new member in 2006. I scheduled club runs, and attended most of them, often acting as Trail Leader. I put together and maintained a Club Directory for those interested in sharing their contact information. I collected information to order club t-shirts, ordered them, and then sold them. I planned and organized our annual Holiday parties and Beach parties. I think my efforts paid off, and I hope you agree! Unfortunately, because of some very welcome changes in my life (grandkids!) I can’t sustain that same level of effort into the future. So, the Presidency will have to change.
For 2024, as President I will:
Thanks!
When I began acting as President in mid-2019, SoCal TLCA had a small core group of long-term members, including even a couple of Charter Members who were still active after starting the club in the late 1980’s. Unfortunately though, the club wasn’t terribly active by 2019. I set some basic goals to try and bring back a level of club enthusiasm. I wanted to get the word out that the club was still active, and that we would have not only monthly meetings, but also monthly club runs.
By 2022, we were averaging 15-20 club members at each meeting. We had runs scheduled for almost every month (except December, because of the busy holiday period). We’ve had between 6-22 rigs attending each club run over the last couple of years, with an average of 10-12 vehicles. And, most importantly, we were attracting a new generation of Toyota off-road enthusiasts! Our members come from as far away as Long Beach and Pasadena in north Los Angeles County to south Orange County. Based on the above information, we have what I would consider to be about 50 “active” club members (meaning you attend at least a few meetings and/or a few club runs or activities every year, and are current on your annual dues).
I put a lot of energy, thought, and time into making this the same great club that welcomed me as a new member in 2006. I scheduled club runs, and attended most of them, often acting as Trail Leader. I put together and maintained a Club Directory for those interested in sharing their contact information. I collected information to order club t-shirts, ordered them, and then sold them. I planned and organized our annual Holiday parties and Beach parties. I think my efforts paid off, and I hope you agree! Unfortunately, because of some very welcome changes in my life (grandkids!) I can’t sustain that same level of effort into the future. So, the Presidency will have to change.
For 2024, as President I will:
- Chair the monthly club meetings
- Send out the Club Newsletter with any pertinent information that I receive (run reports, meeting reports, run reminders, etc…) from club members
- Post meeting reminders on our IH8MUD Clubhouse page
- Submit our annual “Club-in-good-standing” form to TLCA.
Thanks!
.
