Something to debate, perhaps hotly...

[Al N.]

Folks-

 

Since there haven't been many nominees for the open officers slots, I want people to consider a few other options for helping perpetuate the club and keeping it healthy:

 

A) Perhaps folding the club into another larger US club, as a "special interest group"

 

B) Considering aligning with the UK "mothership" club as the US chapter

 

This last option was considered when we first started knocking around the need for a national Se7ens club, but was not pursued, mainly because we don't live in the UK and the dues for that club are pretty steep in light of the number of events they have here in the US.

 

I'm not saying that either one is going to happen if we don't elect some new officers, but just wanted to get some feedback from the forum and event registrants. It's something that's been on my mind and I just wanted to put it out there.

 

-Al

 

 

[slngsht]

which larger US club?

[Al N.]

One that you've heard of...

 

All kidding aside, I do want to think of the future of the club beyond 777 and PNW. Remaining independent would be fine, but the options above could also make sense.

 

Would love to hear other opinions, even dissenting ones.

[slomove]

Folks-

 

Since there haven't been many nominees for the open officers slots, I want people to consider a few other options for helping perpetuate the club and keeping it healthy:

 

A) Perhaps folding the club into another larger US club, as a "special interest group"

 

B) Considering aligning with the UK "mothership" club as the US chapter

 

This last option was considered when we first started knocking around the need for a national Se7ens club, but was not pursued, mainly because we don't live in the UK and the dues for that club are pretty steep in light of the number of events they have here in the US.

 

I'm not saying that either one is going to happen if we don't elect some new officers, but just wanted to get some feedback from the forum and event registrants. It's something that's been on my mind and I just wanted to put it out there.

 

-Al

 

 

Not sure what A) is about but why not if it helps and the Sevens community stays together. I am skeptical about B)...do we know if the mother ship would even appreciate a US dinghy? And, while they tolerate non-Caterham paying members to a degree they usually don't even allow them to participate in club activities. At the end, we would anyway need some US based area organizers and where would then be the difference?

 

So, I don't have a silver bullet but honestly I am O.K. to leave it on the current low-key level of activities, i.e. providing a communication forum for all interested folks and helping organize occasional activities like tours, racing etc. We are anyway too far spread out for a normal club life with regular meets etc.

 

Gert

[Al N.]

Thanks for chiming in Gert...

 

I think there are probably others who would feel the same way about B). So let's just toss that out.

 

I guess my fantasy is that we get some regional organizers to come out of the woodwork between now and the end of the year. Even 2 car meet ups are fun and worth publicizing...like your drive with Stan recently.

 

I have to say that i like receiving Low Flying despite the focus on UK events/cars. Good production values. And the new Remarque from the US Lotus Club is developing into a nice publication too - though a bit shy on Se7en-centric content.

 

Would be nice to have an online pub (to save on printing) that was US-Se7en centric. Maybe we can do it as a wiki/blog type deal.

[stevet]

Did someone mention an 'online pub'? :cheers:

[slngsht]

 

Would be nice to have an online pub (to save on printing) that was US-Se7en centric. Maybe we can do it as a wiki/blog type deal.

 

I think that is a cool idea.

 

Through luck or will power or whatever, I think we have collectively formed a pretty nice open minded community of members who are generally accepting of sevens as a class of cars, and I think that's the most important thing to preserve and grow.

[powderbrake]

 

I think that is a cool idea.

 

Through luck or will power or whatever, I think we have collectively formed a pretty nice open minded community of members who are generally accepting of sevens as a class of cars, and I think that's the most important thing to preserve and grow.

 

I agree, this is the whole concept of the club, let's not lose it. So far the events have been the incentive for people to join the club, and the event organizers, Al and Gert have done an incredible amount of work to pull off these two events. It is difficult to find people who will go to that much effort with no reward except to meet other se7en owners, however, someone will step forward to host the next event.

 

An electronic publication would be a nice feature for the membership. I believe we can get floor nominations for the officer positions at the meeting, as well as a "editor" for a newsletter.

 

Mazda's incredible efforts to keep up the website should not be lost. The USA7s Forum is the "glue" that keeps this group together. Yes, there will be forums or email lists that will cater to specific brands, and they will serve the purpose of exchanging the details of that specific brand ( "where do I get a left handed, BST pipe thread for the oil line on a 1600cc crossflow ?"), but I believe this forum can become the First place to go to get info on se7ens activity in the USA.

[BusaLoco]

I don't have a green card, and (Hell) I don't even have a passport (yet) so I don't know if it's fair for me (a Canuck) to offer an opinion.

Notwithstanding my lack of qalification I will humbly submit that "Sevens" are a movement and this forum is just that. ... A FORUM where (obsessed) people come together to discuss their "disfunctional" obsession with this crazy "SeVeN" thing!

It really doesn't matter (to me ) whether it's USA7s or Scottish Sevens or Blat Chat ot Locost Builders or every other stinking blog that maintains and perpetuates the stream of endorphines that feed our frenzie. ... Just give us the Damn Drugs Man!

[Boxologist]

having a blog like Al does, or even a small column on a front page directing occasional viewers to threads of note can handle such items.

 

this issue occupies a small part of the whole Se7ens in America debate. The way Magnus has the CCC siteup is an excellent part of whole bunch of little items that go into the knowledge base, even if the wiki has not been enthusiastically adopted. as long as information is discussed in a thread, and the applicable search words are correclty speeled:ack: i do't see a giant need for a disseminated publication, online or print.

edit: and Gert and ELV15's respective build and mod pages stay online to resource.

 

and no Al, u'll still be el presidente. Because u've done such a wonderful job, there is no debate (especially since i'm tactless prat)

 

as for being under some other club. Outside of general sports car club, F no! the core spiritual essence of a se7en is its individuality and its stark minimalism. We will be short changed under Lotus. The Elise the marquee and bread winner for them now, and rightly so. Uncle Atwell (Carbuff) seems to have done an excellent job here in NY metro keeping the Espirit camp active, but as a Se7en owner i will get bored looking at makes that I do not have an interest in. I have no problem calling myself a guest when I attend a local Lotus event, because I do not contribute to that community to any extent that I should be called a member.

 

YMMV, but i don't care.:smash:

[Al N.]

Busa, you are loco.

 

Besides the forum (which Mazda started and continues to maintain), there is the Club, which was necessary to establish in order to host the 7-7-7 and PNW events in a way that protected the organizers from liability.

 

And of course, it costs money to host the forum and pay insurance for the Club. The actual ncorporation of the Club was sponsored by 9 individual owners a while back.

 

I would never advocate getting rid of this forum in favor of a magazine, whether online or in print...as has been noted, it's a great resource — and arguably the ONLY marque-inclusive, North American (thanks our Canadian friends here) forum dedicated to LSiS vehicles.

 

[Al N.]

I guess one of the things that kind of triggered this thread is a desire to meet more of the folks from the forum...including those from more Westerly parts of North America...

 

(So maybe Drew can install some of those backup lights on all our cars! )

 

This whole thing's been really fun for me, btw. Watching the forum that Mazda started and the 7-7-7 event grow is really rewarding.

 

-Al

[solder_guy]

I don't get excited about other cars .. so in being a sub-member of a grander club I would feel lost.

 

This whole thing's been really fun for me, btw. Watching the forum that Mazda started and the 7-7-7 event grow is really rewarding.

 

This is the spirit that I am enjoying! :cheers:

 

Rob