90 days till the opening bell

Lou
I guess I should share my idea about your post.
I think that part of organizing TRA National Meets, the hosting local center should try to find a mechanics school, vocational training program or contact high schools in local areas to find students interested in winning a $250 prize (or whatever amount seems appropriate). Have interested students to write an essay about why they think learning about British car repair (engine or bodywork) is important to them.

Have them attend the meet to receive their prize and attend a tech session (or work with a TRA member to "fix" a TR.) We positively promote TRA and hopefully we start spreading the word that by knowing British car repair can help their careers in auto repair, or it may create interest in the younger demographic who may not have any idea what a TR or MG is....

I think this would be a great start in educating youngsters in our hobby....who knows where it could lead. Maybe local TV would be interested in following such a story from its start to finish. TV stations run these kind of stories all the time. They could film the student coming to the car show, working on the car at tech session and interview some TRA members and the student.

Any other ideas out there??
JEFF

Just out of curiousity...who would be paying for the $250 prize? A lot of clubs have struggled in recent years to make much profit from a Meet - to give part of it away in such a manner would be, well, an interesting proposal - particularly if the hosting center has selected a Meet venue a few or several hours from their 'base of operations' and has little contact with the indigenous population of the venue.   

In principle I think Jeff's idea has merit.  However, I must agree (especially in these economic times) that a monetary award would be difficult to justify.  To make a point, at a recent meeting of our local TR club, there was a lively discussion about the state of the economy, and the bleak job situation, etc.  What really struck home was the fact that many of us "older", retired TR enthusiasts fore go all but local  events because of the travel costs.  It's just a reality of life today!

When I went to the West Virginia National meet, many of us that won prizes for Gymkhana, Rallye etc, gave back the financial reward. Just to be able to be recognized for placing in any of the events in front of our peers was reward enough. It was said clearly over the microphone that the event organizers had calculated in the prize money and that we should accept it. Could the event organizers take a portion of that money and create the reward for the students?

Monetary prizes are not the norm, and none are being considered for 2011.
Mark

Really? Not even for the cars?

Folks can always put their cars in the auction...

To get back to the original topic:

Lou, perhaps you could jump start this by giving us your answers to the three questions.

1.  What have you done in the last year to promote TRA (better be specific with answer).
2.  How many new members have you introduced to TRA this past year.
3.  What have you done in the last year to bring young people to TRA and our hobby.

Mark

I am guilty for a less than miserable performance on the above questions.

1) What have you done in the last year to promote TRA: I added a mention to my personal website that I am a member. I added a badge to my badge bar so when I am asked what club is that, I promote the organization by telling them about the club and the website/forum.

2.  How many new members have you introduced to TRA this past year. None that I am aware of.

3.  What have you done in the last year to bring young people to TRA and our hobby. Nothing

Summary: So I guess I get a did not meet and I am on the list for the next round of layoffs!!!!!

Sounds so much like being at work.

Since I've been quiet for a while on the forum I'll add my $0.02 worth and then I'll be done for a bit.

1. I make it a point to advertise the National Meeting the best I can and as often as I can at local club meetings and make it a point to report out on the meets afterwards pointing out what a great time it was.  Not quite sure if all this pointing is effective since most new local club members are driving "late iron" (Spits or TR6/7/8), and now as the local event's coordinator (yet again) I can do that even more.
2. Not sure - I pointed between 5-10 folks to the TRA website last year via email as well as several at local British Car Shows - hopefully some of them joined.
3. Today I brought TCF1763LO (I think that's the comm #) back into the fold - I restored this car back in the late 1980's and sold it, and now it's coming back - a bit worse for wear, but still driveable.  Duncan was the one who wanted me to buy it since it's "cool".

So, batting about 333, and now with one less garage space...I also suppose I need to change my forum name since I'm less of an infidel now...

Bruce

Geez, all I want is world peace and baskets of puppies...