Bob,
I have to agree about the articles. If my next issue of British Car shows up
with coverage of that car, I'll scream. I realize it must be tough to get a
good article (It was a fairly good one), and I'm sure the two editors don't
talk to each other. But it was still kind of maddening.
My other beef is that there must be no one that owns a Sprite or Midget that
wants to write articles. Neither magazine seems to be able to get much
content for this part of the hobby. I know Chatter was looking for someone,
and in this month's Austin Healey Magazine they combined two columns because
they covered PDLJMPR. Did they do that when they covered Roger Los' Web
page.
I don't feel that the two clubs serve the same purpose though. AHCA seems to
concentrate on being a club of clubs and reporting on the activities of
those clubs. If you're like me and there is no regional club, you accept
that your dues pays for the subscription of the magazine. AHCUSA pretty much
focuses on the cars and things associated with the cars (history, DMH,
maintenance). I only recently joined because I like the magazine. They sent
me a free one, remember that offer. Well it netted them one new member
anyways.
To end this, I do look forward to receiving the magazines and the
duplication did sour this months offering.
Bill Schickling
2 Sprites and 2 memberships.
-----Original Message-----
From: b-evans@ix.netcom.com <b-evans@ix.netcom.com>
To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>;
healeys@autox.team.net <healeys@autox.team.net>
Date: Sunday, June 07, 1998 1:13 PM
Subject: The time has come....
>The latest issues of "Austin Healey Magazine" and "Chatter" have brought
>me to my senses and made me realize how stupid I am when it comes to
>money. They also serve as monumental examples of the foolishness of
>having two major Austin-Healey organizations in America.
>
>First, I received "Chatter" with a three-page article, "Healey
>Heritage", by Jeff Knudsen. A couple of weeks later, I received "Austin
>Healey Magazine" with word for word exactly the same article, as well
>as three of the same photographs, but entitled "Old Racers Never Die".
>
>It all made me begin looking more closely at both magazines. The
>duplication of commercial advertising, duplication of classified
>advertising, their own "house ads", and overly generous use of "white
>space" makes me wonder at why I am spending the money.
>
>I suspect that like the overwhelming majority of "members" of both
>organizations, I am really just a subscriber to their magazines. But
>the preponderance of material relating to social events or gatherings of
>an overwhelming minority of "members" does not interest me. The amount
>of space devoted to the continued lionization of members of the Healey
>family neither educates nor entertains me. As a former newspaper
>editor, the costs of white space filler offends me.
>
>Why, then, have I been sending in my "dues" to be a "member"? What IS
>being done with my dues? Beats me. Certainly, I would like to know how
>the dues are being spent--not as budgeted, but as expended.
>
>It would seem to me that there really needs to be some serious thought
>to consolidating the two organizations. Or explain to me why I should
>continue to give both my money. Or why I should give it to one, but not
>the other. There is absolutely no reason I should have to pay for such
>duplication.
>
>Bob Evans
>Anaheim, California
>Frogeyes AN 5L/762, AN 5L/26893
>
>
>
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