..the first thing you should ask in considering a club is to see their mission statement and a copy of their By-Laws. I'm not saying they are bad if they don't have this but a good purposeful club will have these. How do I know???
I joined a club several years ago and it was ran by some people who's way was "my way or the highway". Well, after about a year the club members decided if we were going to do it we would do it right.
I consider the club I belong to one of the best. An elected group, of which I was a participant, wrote a mission statement, studied lots of clubs and bylaws and wrote our own. We registered as a non-profit orginization.
What have we done in the past?.... and present?
So far this year we have done a cruise in to benefit the Hemophiliac Blood Disorder Roundation which included an auction of stuff from teddy bears to Nascar stuff like fenders,drivers jackets, autograped stuff ect ect. They got ALL proceeds.
Last Saturday we helped the March of Dimes put on a show.....last year we donated $500 to two soup kitchens, $1000 to an after school program for needy children, helped some families at Christmas with cash donations, did several cruise-ins for children, and a couple adults who had lukemia and some other disorders...oh, and we set up a minimun donation of $500 each year to the local Vocational school for a deserving young man to pursue auto mechanics. There are other things we do as well.
How much does it cost...... dues are $25 per year. From the club funds the members eat a Christmas dinner and the club pays for the meats/drinks for a yearly picnic.
We do visit other cruise's/shows as a group. There is no drinking or profanity allowed period...if so we do have a policeman member to help take care of that.... and speaking of law enforcement we have a get together set up for the 17th of this month at the gun club to help them in a cause.
So, am I proud of our club. Yes, I watched the tears flow as checks are delivered to needy families, cancer victims of all kinds and so the list goes. While it may seem like I"m bragging here we do not as a club. When most folks find out what we do they just say "man, I didn't know ya'll do all this". We go about our business in a business kind of way. Just knowing we are making a difference is satisfaction enough.
Sorry if this is so long but hey, a good car club is a good thing for the community and surrounding city/county. I just renewed my membership for the 10th year.
Very few of the members are "well off" We drive show cars, clunkers, originals
hot rods, rat rods. We like oldies music, good food and talk car and truck stuff. Life is good.
Last edited by Achipmunk; 04/13/2010 3:30 AM.
