Please read very interesting

[Lights]

Marketing/Promoting are sport

Yes, We need to market SO racing. Now how do we go about it on a National level????? I think are sanctioning body would need to be apart of it.

I just called APBA about getting a copy of the promotional DVD. They don't have a clue about the promotional DVD. They said to try Ed. Ed where or when will these be available?

Mark

[HRTV]

Wrong Mark, the Stock Outboard commission might look into this but the position must be covered with private funding from outside of APBA.

Have you ever watch the show on NBC called the Aprentice ? the whole show is based on the very thing we are looking for but dont have the money to produce. Each episode of the show team members are given a project that they must market and sell from the ground up and the first thing they are given is a budget and thats where we fall short.

In the case of Stock Outboard racing we have no start up cash, and we all know how bad the local clubs are hurting for cash.

[RacerX]

Dan,

That is excellent information. I guess if I was in the position to make a difference in the sport in a "for profit" organization I WOULD. I would have done the research and found out the information you just posted and by the second month of my term as the President of APBA there would have been a plan of action in place and the sport would have a marketing plan. As you gathered from my numbers I crunched 500 members makes about a $100,000 difference per year in APBA "budget money". The sport would be marketable if it was larger etc..etc...etc.........There isn't a bigger priority in my opinion! This needs to be addressed and fixed first. Before anything. There is franky no point in talking about motors if there are no drivers for the motors!!!

I understand that as things are your description of what you define APBA's job as is exactly what they do. I agree but I don't think other organizations are like that. I don't mean to bring up NASCAR again but I would think there marketing, admin etc..etc...is all from within. AMA does there own and isn't on a private outside promotion basis either. Even if they do maybe we need to be different? Maybe APBA needs to copy and follow a more successful "racing" business model that works? Maybe the answer is so different from other sports because of the position the sport is in that we have to develop a totally different plan. But something needs to happen as you can see. Maybe the answer isn't all the APBA but you and I both know money makes the world go around. I am not in a financial positon to help I don't know about you. I would think that with the current membership APBA has and a "budget" that quite possibly some things could be trimmed or eliminated to free up money for a promoter like you speak of to promote on a local level as well as a national level. Taking your point further you mention outsourcing. Does there need to be an National Headquarters with the current membership APBA has or can the cards, propeller magazine and the rest of the admin work be outsourced and free up money for marketing and the promotion of the sport? That would eliminate a lot of overhead and salaries. Is there something that could be done differently is my point. Quite possibly there are several things..... Hopefully somebody that can make a difference does something positive with your bit of information!! Thanks for taking the time to respond to me.

Michael Barrett

[Steve Johnson]

I have the plan

Read a new perspective.

[acr924]

Interesting you mentioned this, Mike!

What has to be done to get this topic discussed and looked into at the National Meeting? Further.......Between now and then can there be a group organized to discuss and develop ideas. A group that made sure that if this topic did get to the level of the National Meeting that it was a well thought out, researched and discussed topic. A group that would come up with better solutions within a budget so this didn't get put off another year or another national meeting.
Michael Barrett

There was a proposal brought up by John Runne (aka Dad) at this past National Meeting about organizing an Advisory Board. This was the Proposal (in red):


Many of us have been involved in the political side of APBA for a number of years. Yet the problems that we face now are the same problems we faced thirty years ago. The only difference is that thirty years ago we had three times the number of members. Thirty years ago every active region in Stock Outboard could sustain it’s own race without having to draw from other regions. Unfortunately at the time we did not expect or prepare for a dramatic decline in membership.

I believe that we should treat our sport more like a business. Every successful business has a business plan. Most business plans are a five year plan to set goals, and define the means by which they should be achieved. We have no such plan. I have put together a proposal that I believe is long overdue.

I would like to see this commission create a Stock Outboard Advisory Board. The purpose of this Board is to guide and advise the SORC through the process of making decisions that will shape the future of our sport, and make specific proposals and recommendations to accomplish these goals. It will consist of six members, and one facilitator. They should be well respected members of the Stock Outboard community. No commissioners would be allowed on the Advisory Board. The SORC will appoint the members of the Advisory Board to a five year term.

The primary function over the coming year will be to draw up proposals to be submitted to the SORC for approval. These proposals should be specifically geared towards achieving the goals that have been laid out for them.


GOALS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD

-Create a strategy for the growth and promotion of Stock Outboard

-Create a philosophy for Stock Outboard

-Lay out short term and long term class structures

-Create a finite system for the phasing in and out of motors

-Determine some sort of class standard. Not necessarily for elimination, but evaluation

-Look into finding ways to reduce the cost of racing

-Get the SORC on track to becoming a pro-active decision making body, at which point the need and purpose of the Advisory Board will be re-evaluated.


BOARD STRUCTURE

The Advisory Board will consist of six members, and one facilitator.

Facilitators Responsibilities

-Co-ordinate all Board activities

-Create agenda for Board meetings

-Run Board meetings

-Moderate discussions

-Evoke and participate in discussion on goal-oriented issues

-Represent the Board to the SORC, giving updated reports on all Board progress

-The facilitator would only vote if needed as tie-breaker

The SORC cannot approve any revised version of a Board proposal without approval of the Board. This is to ensure that the original intent of the proposal remains intact.

The Board will have veto power. The purpose of this is to keep the SORC from passing rules that are in conflict with the long term plans of the Board. A unanimous vote is needed for a veto.

If approved at this meeting the Board should stay intact for five years, then be re-evaluated. Board members can be replaced at their own request.

This Board must be focused solely on APBA Stock Outboard. The Board must not be concerned with how their decisions may affect other categories or sanctioning bodies. We must do what is best for us, otherwise we will fail.


PURPOSE/MISSION STATEMENT

To guide and advise the SORC through the process of making decisions that will shape the future of our sport, and make specific proposals and recommendations to accomplish these goals.

Apparently, the proposal was "tabled".

Allie Runne

[Steve Johnson]

Good stuff

But the fate of ALL boat racing relys on this. A broader veiw is needed.
All organiztions need to develop this coheisive plan. AOF/ NBRA/ APBA
we stand together or hang separate.

[Steve Johnson]

Good stuff

But the fate of ALL boat racing relys on this. A broader veiw is needed.
All organiztions need to develop this coheisive plan. AOF/ NBRA/ APBA /USTS/CHAMP/ ECT none of these has the benifit of general public knowledge or residual corprate marketing.
we stand together or hang separate.

[HRTV]

Dan,

That is excellent information. I guess if I was in the position to make a difference in the sport in a "for profit" organization I WOULD. I would have done the research and found out the information you just posted and by the second month of my term as the President of APBA there would have been a plan of action in place and the sport would have a marketing plan. As you gathered from my numbers I crunched 500 members makes about a $100,000 difference per year in APBA "budget money". The sport would be marketable if it was larger etc..etc...etc.........There isn't a bigger priority in my opinion! This needs to be addressed and fixed first. Before anything. There is franky no point in talking about motors if there are no drivers for the motors!!!

I understand that as things are your description of what you define APBA's job as is exactly what they do. I agree but I don't think other organizations are like that. I don't mean to bring up NASCAR again but I would think there marketing, admin etc..etc...is all from within. AMA does there own and isn't on a private outside promotion basis either. Even if they do maybe we need to be different? Maybe APBA needs to copy and follow a more successful "racing" business model that works? Maybe the answer is so different from other sports because of the position the sport is in that we have to develop a totally different plan. But something needs to happen as you can see. Maybe the answer isn't all the APBA but you and I both know money makes the world go around. I am not in a financial positon to help I don't know about you. I would think that with the current membership APBA has and a "budget" that quite possibly some things could be trimmed or eliminated to free up money for a promoter like you speak of to promote on a local level as well as a national level. Taking your point further you mention outsourcing. Does there need to be an National Headquarters with the current membership APBA has or can the cards, propeller magazine and the rest of the admin work be outsourced and free up money for marketing and the promotion of the sport? That would eliminate a lot of overhead and salaries. Is there something that could be done differently is my point. Quite possibly there are several things..... Hopefully somebody that can make a difference does something positive with your bit of information!! Thanks for taking the time to respond to me.

Michael Barrett

Good post Mike.

[RacerX]

There was a proposal brought up by John Runne (aka Dad) at this past National Meeting about organizing an Advisory Board.

Apparently, the proposal was "tabled".

Allie Runne

Allie,

Your Dad should have broken the "table"! We need someone like your Dad that can make a difference in the sport to run for president! I would vote for him! He has great ideas and cares and doesn't have a problem speeking up when he is right!

Mike

[Lights]

Allie,

Your Dad should have broken the "table"! We need someone like your Dad that can make a difference in the sport to run for president! I would vote for him! He has great ideas and cares and doesn't have a problem speeking up when he is right!

Mike

I will second what Mike just said.

[HRTV]

Unless I am mistaken there is quite a bit of money set aside for promoting Stock ... it isn't being used because there is no plan, not no money

I've honestly been trying to figure out if you (Dan) have a plan or if this thread is just rambling along without direction. If you have a plan, I am very interested in hearing it and if not, it clarifies the point of this thread (to me at least).

No Sam I do not have a plan but what you fail to realize is that this thread speaks the truth. Its not rambling. Ths thread speaks about what people dont want to hear so yes if you dont want to hear it its rambling, truth hurts ! dont be afraid to speak up ! dont just go along to fit in.

[Steve Warnock]

Mission Statement

Stock Outboard Mission Statement

Stock Outboard is a form of affordable, amateur, outboard powered boat racing, achieving maximum recognition and reasonable rewards for successful competitors. Our object is to have competitive equipment, commercially available to all competitors on an equal basis. We wish to promote this sport on a national level and support it on a local level, giving safety a foremost consideration.
We will achieve this mission by:
· Having a clearly defined set of rules. However, the General Racing Rules shall prevail in all situations not specifically covered in the Stock Outboard Rules.
· Legislating up-to-date safety equipment, requirements, rules, and standardized interpretation.
· Having fair, impartial, and trained judges and officials.
· Cooperating with the engine manufactures to meet our mutual goals and needs.
· Effecting a competent inspection procedure to avoid any unfair advantages.
· Promoting the sport to encourage new competitors to join.
· Promoting responsibility and participation of all members.

This mission statement was created in 1988 for the then VP Racer Allen at the Seattle meeting and has been in the stock rule book up until 2003 where the rules where combined for SO/MO/Pro/J and was deleted.

As a VP shortly after this was generated, this was the guideline that was used to attempt/template to legislate the SO Category for the 4 year as its leader/facilitator.

I personally think this still applies today.

This is the total package!
If we lose at any one of these goals or objectives, then we stand to lose members whether they are new members vs. lifers or young vs. old.
To gain and retain members we have to complete this package annually to sustain growth.

If the SORC were to use these G&O’s as guidelines for committee structure and legislative influence we might be able to promote/market better. The one thing we are lacking is the basic promotional hand out in case there is a hot lead at a race/show/wherever. The last promo brochures were done by the Bowman administration and they are gone. We at BSOA are still using what is left of the brochures that were created during my chairmanship back in the early 90’s. Fortunately the classes still apply except for the J classes. Now we have a new racer, which has developed a brochure for us to use in Region 7. Personally this should be done at a national level by the SORC.

I here what Steve of the Nort, Racer X, and others are saying. There have been couple of attempts to hire APBA marketing types and they have failed which caused great financial losses for APBA, thus “Once bitten twice shy”. The primary reason for failure is that each category (back then) already had their own inroads to sponsors and any attempts to simplify/standardize sponsorships among the categories and improve sponsor-buying power were met with resistance by the categories. Now you must understand this was in the days when Unlimited and Offshore were under the APBA banner (not LLC’s ) and that’s where the bang for the buck sponsor buying power was.

Now if the SO/MO/PRO/J teams were to join promotional forces with a plan to promote ALL, I think we have a chance at real sustained growth for membership and marketing. But keep in mind, you might find people to be interested in racing, but you have to have the equipment available for them to participate.

Also, as Steve of the Nort did not specifically say in his message, “Quality of services rendered also sells by word of mouth”.

Again, back to the mission statement and the total package.

There is no quick fix.

If any one wants to know what the APBA 2006 budget is, call HQ.
Or PM me with a fax number.

Warbs

[Steve Johnson]

Thank you all

The Calm well thought out responses are great.
A good dialog starting now can lead to a great plan. I believe everyracer among us will step up given the tools and knowledge. I was looking less at sponsers for indiviual race sites as at least getting us back on the map of public awareness. 2. members . 3 events.
We have most of the equiptment issuse dealt with for now IE hotrod soon Merc. Bass.
I think job 1 is to let people know about us first.
Passive ads would be best as we are streached thin already.
Give me 2 billboards .bold colorfull billboards
Placed on I 35 N I94 E you would be seen by what 300000 per month? imagine the impact if you rotated these things around the various metros
HOT, WET, FRIENDLY- FOLKS WANT YOU TO JOIN THE FUN.
JOIN US AT APBA.ORG ect

The boat show crowd don't get the job done.
we have marketed to the same group of consumers year after year.
NEW MARKETS need explored.

BOLD Colorfull bumperstickers with contact info on them.Something people would want to pay $ for and stick on cars. could be sold at races to spectators. They can be a source of promotion for us as well.

Did you Know, corperations have suckered the general population into, spending $ to buy and wear advertising for them?

O.K. If I were a marking guy I send you a bill for all the ideas here
Let's keep talking. more ideas.
Warbs, I would be interested to see the budget as well as membership stats
Word of mouth for quaility work can only go so far. If you target the same group long enough eventually you have reached through your circle.
Steve

[BP125V]

Steve W. is right

There is no quick fix. But how about we start doing the simple little things while we figure out the bigger picture things.

For example. last year at Burlington I announced at driver's meeting that I had plenty of copies of the midwest schedule with contact info printed up. I asked every driver to take a few so they could hand them out when spectators walked by as we get a lot of spectators at Burlington. Only a few drivers took them and most of the ones that did where the new guys . There have been many statements made recently on Hydroracer about us needing new blood. No kidding.

Bill III

[ryan_4z]

Mike makes a very good point as far as who should be responsible for promoting the sport. The first question that must be answered when figuring this out is--Is the job of our elected officials simply one of administration and procedure, or should they also be looking for ways to advance the sport? I would like to think that they should be doing some of both. Not to put undue stress on volunteer officials, but it seems like very little is done on the upper levels to advance the sport. Now I am not saying that the wrong people are in place necessarily, but perhaps their jobs are not as clearly defined as they should be. With APBA now having "for profit" status, I would think that they would be in a position to advertise the sport. If I remember correctly, about 6-7 years ago I remember hearing that the position of Category VP was going to become a paying position. This may have even been part of Plan 2000. This would be the person, a boat racer, whose job is to be SO chairman, and promoter.