YOU could be a TLCA VP!!

[timmbuck2]

The TLCA has been missing an MSVP (Marketing and Sales VP) since that member resigned last year. The MSVP has a very important role with the TLCA and we are looking for a good volunteer! The duties are listed below, but basically the MSVP is responsible of Marketing, Public Relations, and Membership. We need a plan for 2010 (yes, it is February, I know...) and we need someone with a good background who would like to come in and hit the ground running and kick some butt! Please contact me and/or Jeff Zepp if you are interested, or talk to your local Chapter Rep. We need you to help the TCLA thrive!

Thanks!

The MARKETING AND SALES VICE PRESIDENT (MSVP) shall be responsible for three (3) general areas of TLCA: 1) Marketing Activities, 2) Public Relations Activities and 3) Member Activities. General marketing activities to the extent necessary to produce revenues such as arranging for event sponsorships and promotional activities like sweepstakes, fund raising, and licensing of TLCA logo usage. General public relations activities with other organizations and the media. Member activities to recruit new members and retain current members which could include the preparation and management of materials, direct mail campaigns and other types of member communications.

 

[NorCalBorn]

Specific entities interacted with as standards?

List available?

Specific entities/persons needing persuasion and embracing?

Proposed activities versus expenses and availability of per-diems or cost reimbursement amounts?





*I not sure or promising anything right now, but I do have ideas, and as some will definitely confirm, I don't/can't necessarily keep my mouth shut.

Sooo with that said, if/when you get the spot filled should you all want any suggestions or someone to bounce ideas off of I'm there for you.

FWIW I just shot Del Albright a message the other day posing a very reliable resource for action and active involvement, ask him about "..what Mr. Overton presented?", as it will easily crossover into our arenas.

 

[packman73]

Is there a budget for this office? I know in 2009 there wasn't. Kind of hard to make lemonade without lemons.

 

[Rzeppa]

Specific entities interacted with as standards?

List available?

Specific entities/persons needing persuasion and embracing?

Proposed activities versus expenses and availability of per-diems or cost reimbursement amounts?

*I not sure or promising anything right now, but I do have ideas, and as some will definitely confirm, I don't/can't necessarily keep my mouth shut.

Sooo with that said, if/when you get the spot filled should you all want any suggestions or someone to bounce ideas off of I'm there for you.

Hi Norcalborn,

What's your name?

Please feel free to contact me direct - my email and phone number are listed right there in Toyota Trails.

Timm listed the general responsibilities, and like all of our positions, it is what the individual makes it. We have had ineffective MSVPs over the years, we have had effective MSVPs, and we have had no MSVP for extended chunks of time over the years, and still managed to get by.

To answer your questions, entities include our chapters, individual members, dealerships, Toyota Corporate, other clubs (like TTORA, FJC forums, land use groups, etc.), businesses and the press.

Budget wise, we have budgeted anywhere from several thousand per year to zero dollars, with little discernable difference in results. We have never had a shortage of ideas, what we had is a shortage of rolling up the sleeves, carving out the time and executing the tasks.

Thanks and happy cruisin'!

 

[packman73]

Cough

 

[NorCalBorn]

No problem calling you but I am asking for someone else interested in the spot.

My concern then is how necessary it is to fill the spot as it appears it isn't a mandatory spot, except that it would take a load off some who may have taken the responsibilities on.

Then there is the unclear budget answer. If I read that right it's been from $0 to (several thousand dollars) $3000? Seriously, and no offense here, how is one to actively pursue even a low level marketing, involvement, and relationship effort to better the association and grow funding and support without a reasonable financial seed?

Reasonable being at the very least $2.50 from every active membership to cover the expenses, travel, etc. You can only market so much from a desk and phone. $8000 minimum to likely achieve a 35-60% ROR. When the budgets been say $2000/yr what has been the ROR?

What about grant funding to support the position then? Basically while you work you support the spot and grow it financially for someone later on and also to back fund and repay the association?

I have read the by laws as well as the description of responsibilities for each general position but unclear as to the general direction this spot needs, as is the person who is interested. It's all very confusing. I see there is a reimbursement level, but there are still ancillary expenses that occur that you simply have to plan ahead for.

Maybe he should have signed up to post on Mud (where this forum is hosted) but I just figured I'd post this all instead to help out.

*As long as it is clear I am not trying to stir the pot here, just clarify what you would be getting into as far as what has been done and what possibilities may lay on the horizon for this spot.

Honestly, I would love to have a go at it myself but I have too many time conflicts at this time with the baby and Father-In-Law commitments. I call it a bonus if I can get to a club meeting or go out of town these days.


As for the name, it is Shane, TLCA member 19772.

 

[packman73]

No problem calling you but I am asking for someone else interested in the spot.

My concern then is how necessary it is to fill the spot as it appears it isn't a mandatory spot, except that it would take a load off some who may have taken the responsibilities on.

Then there is the unclear budget answer. If I read that right it's been from $0 to (several thousand dollars) $3000? Seriously, and no offense here, how is one to actively pursue even a low level marketing, involvement, and relationship effort to better the association and grow funding and support without a financial seed?

That's a fantastic question...and one I think many would like have an answer to.

Can marketing be done for FREE? Sure if someone is willing to volunteer there time and has a team of volunteers to assist with a marketing plan. But, if an organization wishes to truly reach out and market themselves to other organizations in the same "Toyota 4WD" market, then monies ARE needed to put materials, ads, post cards, etc in front of these potential members.

It's amazing how some peoples perceptions become skewed when put into positions of "power"

Marketing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Never mind me, I'm just an IT guy.

 

[Rzeppa]

At last night's board meeting, current M/CIR Justin Ward volunteered to run for MSVP, and he was officially nominated. To backfill his position, Perry Lowery from LSLC DFW volunteered to run for M/CIR, and he was officially nominated. They will both be voted on next meeting at the end of March. Congratulations Justin and Perry!

 

[packman73]

That's great news! And to boot these gents are two very capable, creative, pull up yer sleeves and git r' dun folks.



Congrats Justin and Perry!

 

[ginericLC]

That is good news.

I did the MSVP thing for short stint, to fill in for a vacated position. During that time I reached out to Toyota businesses to help grow the organization. We also relied heavily upon volunteers to help make phone calls to renew memberships.And yes marketing can be done on a shoestring. I think I spent under $900 on postage, fliers, Ebay ads etc... and at the end of the run TLCA had just over 4300 members.

TLCA is not a rich organization. There isn't some corporate headquarters in mid-America. It is much like any other grassroots organization and run mostly by volunteers. The big problem is that with some volunteers you get exactly what you pay for them. Volunteer work gets put to the bottom of the totem pole by many volunteers after work, family, etc.... And I'm not saying this is a wrong perspective. But often volunteers over commit and promise more than they can deliver and that leads to problems with the success rate of anything the organization tries to take on. And this isn't just for TLCA it would be anywhere that people volunteer.

 

[wardfoto]

Thanks, Jeff.
and thanks Art, and thanks Eric. I hope I can make you guys proud of what I try to accomplish. While I have been told I have a budget, my initial ideas are hopefully going to be (mostly) free, and hopefully, have positive long term effects. I am trying to use social media to engage and interact more with our members, and give them some insight and input in to what's going on, and also to give us a quicker way to respond to the needs of Toyota 4x4 enthusiasts everywhere, and show them that we AR the premier Toyota 4x4 organization!
I would love to have you guys share ideas, do's and don'ts, things that worked, and things that didn't. No use wasting time on an idea, if it's been tried, and failed. Unless there is now a new, better way to implement it that may give us a better chance of success.
I came to this with the understanding that I had NO budget, so this not a big deal to me. And while I believe that we all have the interests of the club at heart, unless you personally are willing step up and take the position over ( and we know you are NOT willing, because nobody DID step up), don't moan and cry about what the person who WAS willing to step up is doing, because it falls on deaf ears!!
After all is said and done, with social media, 'Mud, tlca.org, and the internet in general, these are good years to try to do this particular job with little to no budget. If you have ideas, hit me up, and I'll see what can be done.
Like they say on Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs, Please, send us your ideas, so we can keep on keepin' on!!
So, follow us on Twitter : @T_L_C_A
and check out the Facebook page as well: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=59138126718&ref=mf

 

[NorCalBorn]

Sweet, a little "Texas Flavor" to the association! Justin can't just keep away and be satisfied. Always a good thing, right on man! Congrats!

FWIW I have what I believe to be a valuable idea on making use of a great volunteer asset that from what I have seen and experienced largely goes unused. I would love to see if it has merit or not. Feel free to pull my phone number from the files and contact me if you want to hear it either way, just leave me a message if it's during work hours and I'll call you back w/i 24-48 hours.

 

[wardfoto]

norcalborn:
send me a pm with your digits, and I'll hit you up some time next week. Retail job, and weekends, not conducive to gettin' things done!!!

Sweet, a little "Texas Flavor" to the association! Justin can't just keep away and be satisfied. Always a good thing, right on man! Congrats!

FWIW I have what I believe to be a valuable idea on making use of a great volunteer asset that from what I have seen and experienced largely goes unused. I would love to see if it has merit or not. Feel free to pull my phone number from the files and contact me if you want to hear it either way, just leave me a message if it's during work hours and I'll call you back w/i 24-48 hours.

 

[NorCalBorn]

More than 15 years in retail, left it, might end up stuck back in it, little sympathy.

I.O.W. PM Sent.

 

[Rzeppa]

TLCA is not a rich organization. There isn't some corporate headquarters in mid-America. It is much like any other grassroots organization and run mostly by volunteers. The big problem is that with some volunteers you get exactly what you pay for them. Volunteer work gets put to the bottom of the totem pole by many volunteers after work, family, etc.... And I'm not saying this is a wrong perspective. But often volunteers over commit and promise more than they can deliver and that leads to problems with the success rate of anything the organization tries to take on. And this isn't just for TLCA it would be anywhere that people volunteer.

Very well-written, Eric; I totally agree with what you wrote. I would also note that in my observation, Eric was one of the most effective MSVPs we ever had.