I am Running for MVCC Office

[John Neuenburg]

This is to announce I am running for a Vice President position and I am asking for your vote. Your ballot should arrive soon. As you may know, MVCC members elect officers every two years. Officers are elected by ALL members. The VPs are not elected only by their districts. VPs therefore represent ALL members plus look out for events and issues related to their districts. This means the voters must consider ALL candidates, and in the case of contested elections make an informed decision. Also what appears as a candidate running unopposed may not turn out that way due to write-in candidates. So if you feel good about a candidate who stepped up early enough to get on the ballot, you should consider voting for him/her rather than leave the space blank which could possibly elect the unknown.

This is for the newly created North Bay-West territory. The Board divided the North Bay area into two VP territories. This is 415 area code, and 707 to the west of the Sonoma/Napa County line and on up the coast. The following is a statement of my background, platform, and opinions that need to be said. Voters ought to know who they are voting for and a little bit of how they think. That way surprises are kept to a minimum. If you think the same, please read on.

My Background
Wife and I are MVCC Members since 1985 and son Jeff too since 1988 right after his birth. I have attended every major Spring rally from Patterson 1986, and the Fall rally since the first Woodson Bridge meet in what - '88? We have the equipment shown below plus collect WW2 US and British Army uniforms and gear.

Real work background is outside sales, sales management, and marketing, mostly in metal processing and auto parts. For four years in the ‘90s I was Director of Sales for Sears Point Raceway. I would have not taken that event marketing position if it were not for four years working on the Wings of Victory Air Shows at Hamilton Field in Novato, where I was commercial vendor coordinator the first year and MV coordinator for the four shows. I guess events got into my blood. Currently I sell diesel turbochargers, fuel injection, and charge-air coolers in CA and NV.

MVCC Positions Held
Elected North Bay VP twice. Tower Park Activities Coordinator for many years. This means I publish articles about upcoming special displays, seminars, anything unusual, plus create the Activities Schedule that goes in the newsletters and online calendar leading up to the Meets, then print the final version for distribution at the KOA office plus I post them by the restrooms. I also use a couple of the G503.com forums plus http://www.SteelSoldiers.com to promote the event in general. I have created activities and been POC for them although I don't believe this is part of that job (FYI in case you’d like to take over!) My preference is to accept volunteers with good ideas and help them run with them. This "job" is mostly focussed around the Spring event because that is where most people's interest is. I do think we can do more special activities in the Fall if people want it. If I am elected VP I will continue to do my thing unless someone else wants to take over or share.

POC at other events to include NIKE Site/Battery Alexander campouts in Marin County and displays at Fleet Week and Travis AFB air shows.

General Vision for the MVCC
I will help steer the Club in the direction it has been heading in for the last 30 years. I am confident the Board will continue to properly guide the MVCC on behalf of members. We will remain the largest regional MV club in the United States and second largest MVPA affiliate only to MVCC-Italia.

Growth and Marketing
We are pretty tapped for space at the Spring meet however I think we should improve the appearance and content of our MV magazine ads so as to continue to generate excitement and new-visitorship by MV hobbyists who are not MVCC members and have not been to Tower Park, OR our regional events. Organizations should gain more members than they lose to all causes. Am not talking about a large new ad expense. The Fall Meet at Tower Park has much potential for growth so I suggest more promotion of that meet. This does not have to be via paid ads however I would vote to spend more if we have the funds. Vendors want traffic and traffic wants vendors. We all want to see more MVs. We have the room in the Fall.

MVPA Convention
I am in favor of us hosting a third MVPA Convention and would consider Alameda Co. Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, and CalExpo. Too long a subject for here, except to say the American Historical Truck Society can tell us all we need to know about dealing with Alameda County.

Public MV/Militaria Show
I would be in favor of us promoting or co-promoting a public, paid display and vendor event in a city where significant paid attendance would net a large increase to our Treasury. We don’t make money at Tower – why not rent a facility like many other clubs do and charge for admission and vendor space? We could partner with another group. Don’t know if we have room on the schedule for it and it would not replace the Spring or Fall swap meets. Consider this "brainstorming."

Electronic Newsletter Option
This is a good thing provided it is timed so members get it at about the same time. The idea is to save printing cost of paper newsletters for people who elect to not get a paper version. For those who are classified ad hounds or want both, they can have them. Anybody can have a paper newsletter if they want one. It is that simple.

MVCC Quartermaster and MVCC Event HQ
The MVCC should continue with the new MVCC Quartermaster committee position and create new fundraising tools to grow the treasury and member excitement. This will help keep membership fees at a minimum. The MVCC needs a high profile booth at the two major swap meets to conduct member business and to communicate event information.

Bylaws
Ours are not bad but have some rough edges. These will no doubt be improved by the Board and submitted to Members for approval soon. Many are likely, to include making certain sections so completely understandable that there will be no doubt that even plain English can be improved.

Policies
I believe we should create and publish a Policies list similar to MVPA covering things not appropriate or too lengthy for insertion in our Bylaws. This can be used to explain details on various subjects. This is not to over-control but it would help make sure people are on the same page. For example I suggest we include our position on dos-and-don’ts related to the wearing of historical uniforms of former enemies of the U.S., plus publicize our firearms rules.

Moving the Tower Park Fall Event
Only if there is a better place than Tower Park for a majority of our members. I don't think it exists because people have looked over the years and that was when we were smaller than we are now. Look at the "Growth" paragraph above. I like the concept of having different locations like we used to before we lost the Woodson Bridge venue and will listen to proposals. I am not in favor of shutting down the Fall Tower Park to force people to go to a smaller and inadequate place.

MVCC Politics and Drama
Members elect officers to represent their interests, similar to our Government. Officers run the club according to the Bylaws and using common sense. They accept member input and feedback along the way. If members don't like an officer they can vote him/her out. The Bylaws are clear in most ways and set certain rules. I believe the Board has been operating properly lately. Let's move forward with an engine running on all six cylinders!

We have been on a positive path for over 30 years. I am willing to listen to and work with all persons toward the future of the best darn MV club in the U.S.! All members elect all officers. I will appreciate your vote. If elected I'd like some feedback and advice. Please return your ballot while you are thinking about it. Thanks.

John Neuenburg
MVPA 7404
415-306-3607 cell, days best

P.S.
I endorse "LK" Viola for Secretary/Treasurer. She and husband Damon are old time MVCCers who have been in LA way too long and are back. I also think Nick Bombini is a heck of an enthusiastic young man along with his CCKW buddies, so I endorse both Nick and John Ince. Your decision. Also the team of Kurt and Jo-Ann Lesser.

[Mac]

Thankyou John, I appreciate you telling us about yourself and how you look at our MVCC. I like the fact you are in metal processing, so you can`t be all bad !! Now if you would join our convoy on you MP motorcycle, like you did at Woodson Bridge, I`m talking about our Alcan Convoy !!--------------------Mac

[John Neuenburg]

Thankyou John, I appreciate you telling us about yourself and how you look at our MVCC. I like the fact you are in metal processing, so you can`t be all bad !! Now if you would join our convoy on you MP motorcycle, like you did at Woodson Bridge, I`m talking about our Alcan Convoy !!--------------------Mac

Thanks Mac, but I know only enough about heat treating and metal finishing to be dangerous! The diesel engine stuff coming in one ear now is pushing those memories out the other ear.

If I was retired I would go with you but would take the M20 if I had enough budget (5.5 mpg + parts + labor). Can't fit the ice chest on the bike.

[Mac]

I`ll haul your stinkin Ice Chest !!