Jan,
Thanks for the kind words about TE/AE and the Luray event. As you know the
event was billed as a "Return to Your Rootes" to try to attract more that
just the usual Alpine and Tigers. We advertised on the Alpine, Tiger,
Hillman and Humber mailing lists, in your Hillman newsletter and of course
the TE/AE newsletter. The event had it's own web page, as well as being
listed on the TE/AE page and sunbeamalpine.org page. The sad thing is that
even with all this outside advertising all the attendees were TE/AE members
except one.
Maybe the "younger group of people (20's through 40's)" do need a virtual
club. Maybe it's the only thing they understand. I just hope the people
they contact on the web haven't expressed views such as "existing clubs in
the US have not filled the void that the Alpine owners are wanting
filled. All of these clubs are Tiger based organizations that make the
Alpine park in back and do nothing to promote education for the Alpine
owners, because comments like these don't do the marque any good. I have
been of TE/AE since 1978 and can't remember once when the Alpines were
"parked in back".
If all of the younger group has been swayed with comments like "I've been a
member of many other clubs and I've never received anything." all clubs are
doomed.
The reason I join a club isn't with the expectations of receiving a large
cash prize, but in the hopes that I will meet people with the same interests
as me.
The clubs are based on volunteerism, you get out what you put in. If all
the new members have their hands out expecting money, you've got a problem.
You need a strong base of people willing to donate their time and TE/AE has
that.
TE/AE has been in existents 25 years and will continue to thrive, we do not
feel threatened. We also don't require our members to have internet access.
Only half of our current members have email accounts.
Starting and running a club is hard work and I wish Ian the best. I just
hope he's got a good base of people to help, because if he gets burned out
what would happen to SAOCA.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Eyerman" <jan.eyerman@usa.net>
To: <TIGEROOTES@aol.com>; <ian@sunbeamalpine.org>; <alpines@autox.team.net>;
<armorseal@spiretech.com>
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2001 6:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Re: Announcing the Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club of America]
> As somewhat of an outsider (being a Hillman collector)..... I attended the
> TE/AE meet in Virginia back in September and the Tigers and Alpines were
lined
> up facing each other-as far as I could tell, the Alpines got equal
treatment.
> They even gave us Hillmans a good spot!!!
>
> I fully understand the feeling Alpine owners have.... Hillmans get even
less
> then Alpines! And I can understand the need for an Alpine club, but
please
> don't "klonk" TE/AE! They bare nice people and seem to go out of their way
to
> be friendly and helpful.
>
>
> Jan Eyerman
> 1959 Hillman Minx Series III DeLuxe
> 1973 Hillman Avenger DL
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> TIGEROOTES@aol.com wrote:
> ian@sunbeamalpine.org writes:
>
> << You would clearly see that the existing clubs in the US have not filled
> the void that the Alpine owners are wanting filled. All of these clubs are
> Tiger based organizations that make the Alpine park in back and do nothing
to
>
> promote education for the Alpine owners. >>
>
> Ian,
> I strongly object to what you have written and posted of the Alpine
List,
>
> and I think Pacific Tiger Club and its members deserve a personal apology
> from you.
>
> Our Club of around one hundred members is NOT specifically a Tiger
Club
> other than by name and we DO NOT shun Alpines or other Rootesmobiles, in
fact
>
> we welcome one and all.
>
> Over the 25 years I have been with my Club, we have had almost every
type
>
> of Postwar Rootes car represented, and we have always supported our
members
> hobby cars to the fullest extent and encouraged their participation,
> enthusiastically.
>
> The oldest model was a John Gray's 1947 Hillman Minx convertible and
the
> newest would currently be Kevin Rogers 1969 Alpine Coupe, although we had
a
> 1970 model as a member for one year. We have had Karrier Motorhomes,
Hillman
>
> and Sunbeam Imps, many Rapiers, Singer Gazelles, proper Talbots a proper
> Alpine, and several Huskys, Minx's, and a Hillman Estate (4 door wagon).
We
> even has a 1968 Hillman Hunter. Count two Super Minxs as well.
>
> I can't begin to guess how many Alpines we have had pass thru our Club
> and receive technical advice, parts and expert mechanical repairs from PTC
> members. Most of these cars are still on the road today, because of the
> support from PTC. In many cases a person has joined Pacific Tiger with a
> Hillman or an Alpine and they have become addicted and purchased another
> Rootes car...often "stepping-up" to an Alpine or to a Tiger. Obviously
you
> don't know our Club very well, but you have unfairly painted us in a
negative
>
> tone with a very broad brush.
>
> Jim Leach Pacific Tiger Club Seattle
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________
|