APBA members it is time to get answers!!

[hshawwpba]

So, what are your plans to keep the existing and foster new membership?

Well it is not what the current so called leaders are doing!
1. You have to reduce cost and lower expenses. this = lower membership fees.
2. Maximise your income oppertunities = reduced overhead expense that allows you to reduce the need for higher membership cost and allows funds to be redistributed to support local display and take a ride programs and other events that create interest and willingness to get involved.
3. Produce the propeller magazine using creative production methods avaialble at reduced cost and add a box to the membership form. Members can request it mailed, or online in PDF printable form.( this allows the non computer group to continue to enjoy the propeller magazine also).
4. Control the propeller magazine mailing cost by mail merge by address rather than name. I for 1 get 4 propeller magazines when they are mailed! If ABPA simply mailed 1 per address they would lower production#/mail cost (in my simple minded think tank) 38% or more.
5. Continue to encourage local take a ride events, and work with insurance group to make this part of the 2 day insurance package as long as NO TESTING is allowed.
6. Encourage all clubs to attend, show and shine car shows, festivals, and boat shows with displays and handouts about and local racing events. Provide contacts for current clubs who are successfully doing these activies and take a ride programs to create intrest and build memebership from the bottom up. Ask clubs to create a "how to booklet" for clubs wanting to do these events.
7. Don't try to reinvent the internet by paying(asking memebers to pay additional $) to support the next great idea for social marketing group/s. Use the internet to send info as most racing clubs do already.
8. Reduce the # of regions and cut all moines paid as budgets and saleries by 3 % each year until memberships increase. Provide incentive to regions that increase membership at years end.
(1 free sanction, reduced insurance for take a ride programs and get out of the boat and motor owning business).

I am sure there are many members with other great ideas on how to improve the membership and reduce cost, I encourage all of them to run for the board, organize an effort from the masses to get a voice for change. 1 person cannot effect change, it takes the silent majority to stand up for change and get involved. I am just 1 person that has seen the good and the bad at APBA over the years. Boat racing will survive at some level as all sports do if there is a group that wishes to participate. The real question is will APBA??
R10 #1487

[mdaspit]

Why is he against putting it in writing for all to read, this flies in the face of what is going on with the so called great communication tool we are paying for. No current officer will publish the facts, they will supposibly tell you if you call ever wonder why????
If they put it in writing they may have to actually be responsible and no be able to say " that's not what I said".
????????????????????????????
r10 # 1487

So let me see if I understand this.

You may be able to get the answers you're looking for by picking up a phone and making a call, but you won't do that because you think he will lie to you?

That is incredibly insulting, but maybe that's your goal?

(And 14-H gets the red "Reputation Box"?)

Recruit someone everybody trusts, and who doesn't have a dog in this fight, and have him make the call.

You have shown that you can throw grenades, why don't you try to show that you can arbitrate this thing.

[thepiranhabros]

Well it is not what the current so called leaders are doing!
1. You have to reduce cost and lower expenses. this = lower membership fees.

Great. I'd love to pay lower membership dues. But just HOW are you planning to do this? This is easier said than done. What costs are you going to lower? What expenses are you going to cut? Specifically.

2. Maximise your income oppertunities = reduced overhead expense that allows you to reduce the need for higher membership cost and allows funds to be redistributed to support local display and take a ride programs and other events that create interest and willingness to get involved.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you want to gut A.P.B.A. H.Q? Are you proposing to lower membership dues, reduce overhead expenditures (i.e., eliminate office staff, cut office resources, etc.), and distribute funds to local clubs and lay the onus upon them to generate interest, produce promotional materials, and produce races?

3. Produce the propeller magazine using creative production methods avaialble at reduced cost and add a box to the membership form. Members can request it mailed, or online in PDF printable form.( this allows the non computer group to continue to enjoy the propeller magazine also).

Not a bad idea. An "opt out" of the printed Propeller magazine. Except from what I've been reading, nearly everyone prefers the magazine printed and delivered to their door, and are willing to pay extra in their annual dues to get it. I'm not really sure what you mean by "creative production methods" to reduce the cost though. It's a four-color, standard-sized, saddle-stitched book on relatively inexpensive paper (save for the cover). Aside from putting the job out to three or four printers for competitive quotes, I don't know how else to reduce the production costs and would love to hear your ideas.

4. Control the propeller magazine mailing cost by mail merge by address rather than name. I for 1 get 4 propeller magazines when they are mailed! If ABPA simply mailed 1 per address they would lower production#/mail cost (in my simple minded think tank) 38% or more.

I'm afraid I respectfully disagree with you flat out. If receiving the printed magazine is part of what membership dues pay for, then every member should be entitled to receive his or her magazine (unless they opt out). My household receives two printed magazines (my oldest son and I are A.P.B.A. members), and it is nice not having to fight him for the book, and know where my copy is whenever I want to lay my hands on it. This to me is not a viable cost saving/reduction method.

5. Continue to encourage local take a ride events, and work with insurance group to make this part of the 2 day insurance package as long as NO TESTING is allowed.

Our two local R7 clubs (Marine Racing Club and Badger State Outboard Association) already do this. We receive a break from A.P.B.A. on the sanction cost when we run a Driving School, and we work the students' "races" in our regular racing schedule as Special Events. It works quite well. If you would like more details on how we do it, I would be happy to share.

6. Encourage all clubs to attend, show and shine car shows, festivals, and boat shows with displays and handouts about and local racing events. Provide contacts for current clubs who are successfully doing these activies and take a ride programs to create intrest and build memebership from the bottom up. Ask clubs to create a "how to booklet" for clubs wanting to do these events.

Again, our two local clubs already do this, and have been successful at pulling in several new members over time we've been doing it. However, to rely upon the local clubs to do this solo is a huge responsibility that requires time and talent that not every club has. (And I do not meant this as a put-down to other clubs.) This is where backing from the National organization (in terms of printed materials, posters, promotional material, etc.) come in very handy and helps spread an even, consistent message.

7. Don't try to reinvent the internet by paying(asking memebers to pay additional $) to support the next great idea for social marketing group/s. Use the internet to send info as most racing clubs do already.

I do not think anybody is trying to reinvent the Internet. Crown Partners, however, are trying to reinvent the A.P.B.A. website and set in motion a branding campaign that will make A.P.B.A. the recognized organization for all things related to power boating. A.P.B.A. needed help, and Crown are undertaking a huge endeavor. National branding campaigns do not happen overnight, nor do they happen for free. And from what I've been hearing, Crown Partners are doing this for way below the actual cost (i.e., they are losing money on this deal). A lot of the changes Crown Partners are making will not be immediately visible as they are also rebuilding the infrastructure of the organization itself. However, those changes will be noticed down the road in increased productivity and a better-running, more efficient H.Q. office.

8. Reduce the # of regions and cut all moines paid as budgets and saleries by 3 % each year until memberships increase. Provide incentive to regions that increase membership at years end.
(1 free sanction, reduced insurance for take a ride programs and get out of the boat and motor owning business).

Wow. There is a lot going on here with this one. I'm going to try to break it down into sizable chunks.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but won't reducing the number of regions make it even more difficult for clubs to host races? I am fortunate; R7 has many races to choose from that are not obscenely far for me to travel. But what about the clubs in the west. Ask our humble host (Montana Mike) how far he has to travel to go to a race.

I don't see how reducing the regions will help. As far as budget cuts; not bad. Everybody has to do more with less. I'm not a fan of cutting salaries, I'll just tell you that straight away.

A.P.B.A. already provides an incentive to host a Driving School; a reduction in the sanction cost.

If anything, A.P.B.A. needs to get MORE into the boat and engine business, or at least partner with manufacturers who are willing to sell a very small number of specialized race rigs to a very small niche market. Finding a race rig is probably the biggest barrier to entry into this sport, but this is topic for another thread.

I am sure there are many members with other great ideas on how to improve the membership and reduce cost, I encourage all of them to run for the board, organize an effort from the masses to get a voice for change. 1 person cannot effect change, it takes the silent majority to stand up for change and get involved. I am just 1 person that has seen the good and the bad at APBA over the years. Boat racing will survive at some level as all sports do if there is a group that wishes to participate. The real question is will APBA??
R10 #1487

[G pa 10racer]

My question to the board is why isn't our insurance put out for bid every yr? So that we can get the best possible price ?

[csh2z]

I would like to see our insurance premiums prorated based on the number of classes on the sanction. Why should a 10 class sanction cost the same as a 24 class sanction? Fewer classes should cost less. That would also encourage clubs to reduce the number of classes on the schedule to shorten the day to a reasonable length. We could then afford to streamline our program to something more marketable. Maybe we'd even have time to put newcomers on the water at every race, or have the larger classes run extra heats. All kinds of possibilities.

[Dave M]

In Defence

Just a point as to the possible reason the Crown Agreement is not public. APBA contracted Crown Partners to accomplish some business goals. Crown Partners is an established company. Crown also is still conducting business as usual in day to day operations. This does not include the APBA. I am betting there was a confidentality agreement signed to prevent the actual cost Crown was charging APBA to complete job. You see, if Crown did agree to take on the APBA job at a significant reduction in cost, Crown would not want this information leaking out to it's normal day to day customers. It would not be good business. It could comprimise Crown's reputation in the industry. Imagine if you were paying Crown 3.5 million to turn your firm around, develope new advertising, gain social acceptance, etc, etc. And then you hear they are doing the same thing for another company for $500,000. I do believe it would put a piss off on you something fierce.

So before you crucify them or the leadership, think about this. I also think the leaders within the organizations should simply state this should it prove to be the reason. It would certainly be a step in the right direction for a more transparent APBA. And this seems to be a major concern of APBA's current members.

[bill van steenwyk]

Just a point as to the possible reason the Crown Agreement is not public. APBA contracted Crown Partners to accomplish some business goals. Crown Partners is an established company. Crown also is still conducting business as usual in day to day operations. This does not include the APBA. I am betting there was a confidentality agreement signed to prevent the actual cost Crown was charging APBA to complete job. You see, if Crown did agree to take on the APBA job at a significant reduction in cost, Crown would not want this information leaking out to it's normal day to day customers. It would not be good business. It could comprimise Crown's reputation in the industry. Imagine if you were paying Crown 3.5 million to turn your firm around, develope new advertising, gain social acceptance, etc, etc. And then you hear they are doing the same thing for another company for $500,000. I do believe it would put a piss off on you something fierce.

So before you crucify them or the leadership, think about this. I also think the leaders within the organizations should simply state this should it prove to be the reason. It would certainly be a step in the right direction for a more transparent APBA. And this seems to be a major concern of APBA's current members.

Dave:

The post above is admirable on your part, and certainly indicates an effort to give the "leaders" and Crown the benefit of the doubt.

Unfortunately, "Benefit of the doubt" time is long gone, at least in my estimation and others, who have followed this whole episode from the start One and a half years ago when it was first made public a contract with Crown had been signed.

As a small business owner, I recognize the efforts that have to be made to not publicize pricing for specific items and services, but all business owners have a very close idea of what the competition charges for those services, and I am sure Crown's competitors know what the market will bear, and also prospective customers can be convinced that the job done for them, or proposed, varies enough that exact comparisons are difficult. Business's of all types deal with this everyday.

And lastly, if this (what your post suggests) was actually was the case, I can't imagine for one second that as many folks that are involved in the contract, APBA leadership, BOD members, and Richard Hearn himself, would not have put this excuse out there long ago to try to rid themselves of the heat that has come from this from many directions, although it will be interesting now to see if that is given as an excuse/explanation.

Even if those folks had not thought of this before as an excuse for the lack of information, I can't imagine the sharp legal mind of Chairman Eddie would not have put this out long ago.

Nope, I just can't buy it, although it says good things about you to offer it as an excuse for them. If the principals in this were as concerned and well meaning as you, we would be way beyond this by now.

[raceright]

Well it is not what the current so called leaders are doing!
1. You have to reduce cost and lower expenses. this = lower membership fees.
2. Maximise your income oppertunities = reduced overhead expense that allows you to reduce the need for higher membership cost and allows funds to be redistributed to support local display and take a ride programs and other events that create interest and willingness to get involved.
3. Produce the propeller magazine using creative production methods avaialble at reduced cost and add a box to the membership form. Members can request it mailed, or online in PDF printable form.( this allows the non computer group to continue to enjoy the propeller magazine also).
4. Control the propeller magazine mailing cost by mail merge by address rather than name. I for 1 get 4 propeller magazines when they are mailed! If ABPA simply mailed 1 per address they would lower production#/mail cost (in my simple minded think tank) 38% or more.
5. Continue to encourage local take a ride events, and work with insurance group to make this part of the 2 day insurance package as long as NO TESTING is allowed.
6. Encourage all clubs to attend, show and shine car shows, festivals, and boat shows with displays and handouts about and local racing events. Provide contacts for current clubs who are successfully doing these activies and take a ride programs to create intrest and build memebership from the bottom up. Ask clubs to create a "how to booklet" for clubs wanting to do these events.
7. Don't try to reinvent the internet by paying(asking memebers to pay additional $) to support the next great idea for social marketing group/s. Use the internet to send info as most racing clubs do already.
8. Reduce the # of regions and cut all moines paid as budgets and saleries by 3 % each year until memberships increase. Provide incentive to regions that increase membership at years end.
(1 free sanction, reduced insurance for take a ride programs and get out of the boat and motor owning business).

I am sure there are many members with other great ideas on how to improve the membership and reduce cost, I encourage all of them to run for the board, organize an effort from the masses to get a voice for change. 1 person cannot effect change, it takes the silent majority to stand up for change and get involved. I am just 1 person that has seen the good and the bad at APBA over the years. Boat racing will survive at some level as all sports do if there is a group that wishes to participate. The real question is will APBA??
R10 #1487

At this time in boatracing history we are nothing more than a CLUB and this as i have said before is what most of you want. So find little bodies of water in off the beatin path and race without a sanctioning body and no entry fee as well as insurance. Drink alot of beer ,have barn fires and let me know
what swamp your at and I'll bring a barbecue if its only about 100 miles from my home. Sounds like 1950 all over again.
Wait this is 2012 nuts can't do this they want us to be a SPORT dam.

Pat Wright

[hshawwpba]

Dave:

The post above is admirable on your part, and certainly indicates an effort to give the "leaders" and Crown the benefit of the doubt.

Unfortunately, "Benefit of the doubt" time is long gone, at least in my estimation and others, who have followed this whole episode from the start One and a half years ago when it was first made public a contract with Crown had been signed.

As a small business owner, I recognize the efforts that have to be made to not publicize pricing for specific items and services, but all business owners have a very close idea of what the competition charges for those services, and I am sure Crown's competitors know what the market will bear, and also prospective customers can be convinced that the job done for them, or proposed, varies enough that exact comparisons are difficult. Business's of all types deal with this everyday.

And lastly, if this (what your post suggests) was actually was the case, I can't imagine for one second that as many folks that are involved in the contract, APBA leadership, BOD members, and Richard Hearn himself, would not have put this excuse out there long ago to try to rid themselves of the heat that has come from this from many directions, although it will be interesting now to see if that is given as an excuse/explanation.

Even if those folks had not thought of this before as an excuse for the lack of information, I can't imagine the sharp legal mind of Chairman Eddie would not have put this out long ago.

Nope, I just can't buy it, although it says good things about you to offer it as an excuse for them. If the principals in this were as concerned and well meaning as you, we would be way beyond this by now.

Right on Bill, good to know there are others that care and see through this inside self serving group that refuses to let the REAL OWNERS OF APBA (us the members) get the facts on where our money is going and whom are really benifiting.
R10 #1487