Here's a question for discussion. How do we retain the interest of the folks now joining the JCNA as a result of having bought a new Jaguar?

Your suggestions would be appreciated.

Gary Hagopian

Submitted by Janjrigter2@aol.com on Fri, 09/13/2002 - 00:00

Rick

don't forget that JCNA is after all only the national framwework. Most of the work to offer our changing members activities they will enjoy has to be done by the clubs.

Yes JCNA has to play its part, and it's doing that with the Rally and Slalom programs, as well as current attempts to develop on track activities.

But most members are kept by their experience of the local clubs. I know in our case, organizing more monthly dirivng events... tours, drives, etc... does work and we see memebrs coming back time after time and renewing.

Pascal

Submitted by times2@att.net on Thu, 09/12/2002 - 00:00

: I have read all of the messages in this thread and there are no

: solutions yet proposed. It's fine to have lots of varied activities

: at local club meeting and that IS the best way to KEEP members.

: However, the activities don't mean beans to potential members if they

: don't know the national or local club exists.

: It's fine to talk about serving the core JCNA membership but that's a

: dead end. Check the gray or missing hair on your fellow competitors

: at the next JCNA concours. We need new blood, regardless of whether

: it will alter the vintage character of JCNA. It won't be a dilution,

: it will be a transfusion.

: The Porsche Club of America has 55,000 members. The BMW Club has more

: than 30,000. The Mercedes club has around 25,000. The Porsches are

: all sports cars but BMW and M-B have plenty of members who own larger

: sedans, I'm sure. Where is JCNA? Stuck at around 6,000, an increase

: of only about 1,500 members since 1992!

: Knowing that Jaguar doesn't sell as many cars as BMW and M-B, we still

: have a very low membership. JCNA should be at 10,000 or better. What

: are we doing to promote new members?

: Every new Jaguar has a Business Reply card offering JCNA information. It

: is bound into the Passport To Service which even enthusiast owners

: don't read. They trickle in and Jaguar Cars pays for the postage but

: we can't depend on this as a major source.

: We offer information on the website. That is producing new members but

: most new owners don't go searching the web for Jaguar information.

: The website is a key item but it can't do the whole job.

: We don't advertise. With the exception of listings in British Car and a

: couple of other publications which we get free on an exchange basis,

: JCNA does not attempt to make itself known to the readers of car

: publications. Now that we have cash in the bank, advertising such as

: other clubs do would seem to be a useful consideration.

: JCNA needs a national new-member promotional campaign. A number of our

: affiliate clubs are having success in attracting new members through

: their local dealer. The recent Long Island concours pulled in more

: cars than any JCNA national event, in great part by working with the

: local dealer to attract members and entries. We are all aware of the

: success of St. Louis and others in working with dealers.

: What need a national officer, director or appointed chairman, with

: authority, working on a national program which can be used by any or

: all local clubs to atract new members.

: We have to do this ourselves. In the past, discussions have been held

: with Jaguar Cars about their paying for a membership for every new

: Jaguar buyer. Even if we discounted the cost or limited it to certain

: models, the company would be paying out hundreds of thousands of

: dollars. No way in the present Ford cash crisis. Perhaps we could

: persuade them to let us make a mailing to each new buyer but that

: would cost JCNA a bundle in printing and postage.

: So it looks best to do it on a local level, using the experience gained

: by clubs such as St. who are already working with dealers. If the

: dealer pays for a one-year membership for each nerw customer, we

: can't expect to retain more than 5 percent or so. BUT, that's a

: bigger percentage growth than we are showing now.

: I propose this as an agenda item for the fall Board meeting.

: Mike Cook

The times are changeing, JCNA has not, except for the gray or loss of hair from its members.

What is so "fun" about washing and detailing your car till you are blue in the face and then park it with others who try to find things wrong with it?

and if you polished it better than the other guy you get a 10$ plate.

I understand the joy of the "golden age" cars, the xk's and E types ect.

But the new cars are just like alot of other new cars, "nice cars"

Around here, the days of running the car up to speeds that show how nice a car it really is is long gone. You will end up in jail with my neighboor and his porsche for doing 75 in a 45mph.

In order for any club or buisness to grow you need to be selling something that people want to buy, what the right combination for JCNA is I do not know, but I think it will be a bit of a turn in direction for JCNA. Doing some different events that the people who have not joined want to do.

One way to find out is to ask them, Why are you not interested in JCNA and what kinds of things could we do to get you involved.

From my point of view there is to much "show" and not enought "go" in the club cars, it's like they are scared to drive them.

Oh yeah, this cost thing, contacting new members ect.

The dues are to damn cheep. When I was in my buisness it use to cost me $135.00 to have "a chance" at makeing a new customer. You will need to spend some money to make it happen, just spend it wisely and measure your return.

There are lots of people who spend more on dinner that what the membership cost. So give them something for there $ and keep the bickering and politics quiet.

Cheers

Rick

Submitted by stevei35@adelp… on Mon, 08/05/2002 - 00:00

Judith

I think you are right about the AGM, a little more information, experience sharing, etc... would be very beneficial and also help bring more people to the AGM.

I had seen that survey but I think results were flawed because of how few people responded. Such a survey can only work if you have a significant number of responses and find a way to make sure that all type of members participate... not easy.

We had a succesful overnight drive to Key West this week end, which out of 20 cars including 10 moderns ( 90 or newer )... 2 X, 1 S, 3 XK8s, 2 X308s, 2 XJ40s. This is a significantly different sampling that you will find at the average tech session or concours. All those "modern" owners had a blast and will renew their membership just to be able to participate in similar activities in the future.

Talking over a drink watching the Sunset on Sat., we decided to try something new to promote participation in the traditional concours by making another overnight club outing out of the october Sarasata concours. Instead of making formal participation into a Concours the goal, we're going to try to promote it as fun week end drive to the west coast and, along the way, a stop at the Suncoast JC concours. We'll see how that works... Usually, only 4 to 5 members make it to that event, we're hoping to increase that to at least 10... If that works, it could be a good way to increase participation in regional concours

In a way, this what you guys have done with your NE tour and stop at the JANE concours.

From what I've heard from our members, FUN is the key there especially if you want to attract new members and keep the ones we have.

Pascal

Submitted by xk38s@aol.com on Fri, 08/02/2002 - 00:00

Mike,

As you point out, other clubs have more members but not necessarily so when you consider the number of cars they are selling compared to Jaguar who until recently was very much a niche builder with just 2 models.

The fact that sales have gone up in North America because of the newer and more affordable models gives JCNA an opportunity to expand by offering those members an incentive to join AND participate.

For many reasons, we need to cater to new model owners, and not just because they are supporting Jaguar and the dealer but because we are not the Classic Jaguar Club of North America...

Some club shave been very lucky with their local dealers, others no so lucky despite many efforts.

Some support is needed from JCNA for the clubs.

For instance, having an attractive brochure which could be made available to clubs for distribution at dealers and Jaguar specialists would increase club exposure. Local clubs could just add a label with local contact info. whenever I'm at the dealer for service and have to wait, I always take a look at whatever brochures or flyers is sitting in the reception area.

Maybe even an attractive poster could be designed linking the new cars with the heritage and JCNA. All that would be required from Jaguar NA is incentive / recommendation for dealers to display the poster and brochures. Again, it is in theire interest after all. Look how many classic owners have bought X-types... or other new Jaguars.

Advertising might be an option but I can't say that I've really noticed ads for MB, PCA, etc... anywhere althought I haven't been paying much attention to those marques.

On the Jaguar side, JCNA should be mentioned in the publications that Jaguar send to new owners like the magazine. A 1/4 page or something. An active club is good for brand loyalty.

these ideas would require very little costs from Jaguar NA vs paid membership and I think they should be receptive.

Also, do we have any data on who our members are or rather what kind of car to they own. A survey will not yield good info because to few will reply but maybe we should start thinking about including car info into the JCNA roster starting with the 2003 renewals. this will be critical to see where we're getting new members from ( new or classic ) and see how we should adapt our activities. Both locally and nationally.

I recently checked the number of applications filed on the website and then looked at how many resulted in actually paid members. I just looked at the type of cars those new members have and out of 80 new paid members who joined thru the site from March to mid June, 38 are owners of current production models : X, S, XK, X308.

Nealry 50%, that is a surprise, at least to me. How does this compare to the exisitng roster ? is it a new trend or something related to teh website only. Do we have a way of knowing this ? Now those members will want more than an annual concours or tech session on how to service a 120... Yes it's up to the clubs to tailor their activities but some JCNA guidance may be needed.

This is also something that should be taken into account in the planning of the 2003 JCC. I don't have the tentative schedule in front of me but I think a tour of Jaguar Test facility was planned, that's good. The swap meet won't appeal to modern car owners so maybe a scenic tour should be offered as an alternate event that day ?

Pascal

Submitted by JRivera1@starp… on Thu, 08/01/2002 - 00:00

I have read all of the messages in this thread and there are no solutions yet proposed. It's fine to have lots of varied activities at local club meeting and that IS the best way to KEEP members. However, the activities don't mean beans to potential members if they don't know the national or local club exists.

It's fine to talk about serving the core JCNA membership but that's a dead end. Check the gray or missing hair on your fellow competitors at the next JCNA concours. We need new blood, regardless of whether it will alter the vintage character of JCNA. It won't be a dilution, it will be a transfusion.

The Porsche Club of America has 55,000 members. The BMW Club has more than 30,000. The Mercedes club has around 25,000. The Porsches are all sports cars but BMW and M-B have plenty of members who own larger sedans, I'm sure. Where is JCNA? Stuck at around 6,000, an increase of only about 1,500 members since 1992!

Knowing that Jaguar doesn't sell as many cars as BMW and M-B, we still have a very low membership. JCNA should be at 10,000 or better. What are we doing to promote new members?

Every new Jaguar has a Business Reply card offering JCNA information. It is bound into the Passport To Service which even enthusiast owners don't read. They trickle in and Jaguar Cars pays for the postage but we can't depend on this as a major source.

We offer information on the website. That is producing new members but most new owners don't go searching the web for Jaguar information. The website is a key item but it can't do the whole job.

We don't advertise. With the exception of listings in British Car and a couple of other publications which we get free on an exchange basis, JCNA does not attempt to make itself known to the readers of car publications. Now that we have cash in the bank, advertising such as other clubs do would seem to be a useful consideration.

JCNA needs a national new-member promotional campaign. A number of our affiliate clubs are having success in attracting new members through their local dealer. The recent Long Island concours pulled in more cars than any JCNA national event, in great part by working with the local dealer to attract members and entries. We are all aware of the success of St. Louis and others in working with dealers.

What need a national officer, director or appointed chairman, with authority, working on a national program which can be used by any or all local clubs to atract new members.

We have to do this ourselves. In the past, discussions have been held with Jaguar Cars about their paying for a membership for every new Jaguar buyer. Even if we discounted the cost or limited it to certain models, the company would be paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars. No way in the present Ford cash crisis. Perhaps we could persuade them to let us make a mailing to each new buyer but that would cost JCNA a bundle in printing and postage.

So it looks best to do it on a local level, using the experience gained by clubs such as St. who are already working with dealers. If the dealer pays for a one-year membership for each nerw customer, we can't expect to retain more than 5 percent or so. BUT, that's a bigger percentage growth than we are showing now.

I propose this as an agenda item for the fall Board meeting.

Mike Cook

: Here's a question for discussion. How do we retain the interest of the

: folks now joining the JCNA as a result of having bought a new Jaguar?

: Your suggestions would be appreciated.

: Gary Hagopian

Submitted by thecarnut@hotm… on Wed, 07/24/2002 - 00:00

In answering GaryÆs question, it seems that we need to first define the problem. We have ventured past his initial query of how to keep new-car members to one of how to keep ALL members. In a word, the problem is APATHY.

Not to beat a dead horse, we all know the difference between the classic car owner and the new car owner, and the varied activities (social, technical, driving) that appeal to one or the other. And we all know of the limitations of available free time in todayÆs ôhurry upö world. Nonetheless, club officers and chairman are expected to devise activities that appeal to both throughout the year. However, I agree with Warren that a club cannot be all things to all people. But to reach across the boundaries, clubs naturally use a shot-gun approach in their activities. Leaning too far one-way or the other will result in complaints, non-attendance, or non-renewals. The Jag Journal seems to straddle this fence quite nicely.

There are always those within a club who say ôwe ought to do this or do thatö, but when it comes to volunteering to put an event together (or even participating in said event), these people are nowhere to be found.

Undoubtedly, it takes time to build a good active organization, and it requires plenty of social and technical events to appease and interest both types of Jaguar owners. To decrease the number of activities will only hurt a club. But on the other side of the coin, when only 12 members (usually the hard-core officers) out of a club of 110 members show up, do we continue holding that event? Judy has the right idea in surveying the membership, but how many new-car members have experienced enough club activities for their answers to be valid? If the predominant response is from those with classics, shouldnÆt a club have more functions geared towards them? If a new-car member is apathetic, thereÆs absolutely NOTHING we can do to get that horse to drink. Perhaps a certain number of members are content to just be dues-paying (supportive) members; receive their Jag Journal, yet remain inactive in local club functions. Simple as that; no need to try to get inside their minds to ask WHY! The activities are out there; if they choose not to participate or have scheduling conflicts, then thatÆs the way it goesàdonÆt come crying to me. My schedule is just as packed and busy as everyone elseÆs, and free time is at a minimum. The only difference is that I CHOOSE to participate in club activities. The many lines of communication in our club are wide open, yet we never hear from anyone with any concerns or suggestions.

There is always a small group of dedicated individuals who are willing to serve on the board year after year. Of course, without the infusion of some new blood, itÆs very difficult to maintain a vibrant and energetic club. And as the number of officers decreases, the task of many is performed by only a few. Most of you who post on this site know this. IÆve seen many JCNA clubs fall into non-existence due to membership apathy. Given the division between new-car members and classic-car members, perhaps each group should have a ôrepresentativeö on the board to address the diverse issues and activities that each group seeks. Sure, the ultimate future of JCNA depends on new-car owners to become involved, and indirectly, that will be determined on the quality of the product that Ford-Jaguar is putting out there. Local clubs will need to become much more affiliated and cozy with the dealerships. How about NMJCNA? New Model Jaguar Clubs of North America?

Patrick McLoad

Submitted by rberry01@twcny… on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

: it's been a key to keeping newer members interested : offering monthly

: activities. Otherwise, why should they join ? We've had better

: renwing rates on years where we had regular events than years when we

: din't. What we do now is having a different member handling each

: monthly event rather than having a single event chair who gets burned

: out after 3 months...

: Pascal

The Michigan club has 9 scheduled monthly meetings per year, 2nd Wed. of the month, same time and same place ,and our newsletter editor sends out an electronic reminder before each meeting and activity. We have some type of entertainment, speaker, demostration etc at each meeting and average attendence is 35-40 people. Several years ago , for various reasons, there was no meeting entertainment and meeting attendence dropped to 15-18 people and getting people to renew their membership was a real struggle. As Pascal said if nothing is going on, why join or remain a member! We have the same problems that Pascal had as far as activity planners getting burned out and went to the exact same solution,except the entire BOD is expected to plan several activities per year. With an interesting meeting activity that attracts the membership it gives us a chance to announce coming JCNA events and try to get people to involved in outstate JCNA events.

Bob

Submitted by jtzinninger@ho… on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

it's been a key to keeping newer members interested : offering monthly activities. Otherwise, why should they join ? We've had better renwing rates on years where we had regular events than years when we din't. What we do now is having a different member handling each monthly event rather than having a single event chair who gets burned out after 3 months...

As tempting as it is to lower the costs and focus on an Electronic newsletter, I doubt that will be feasible in the near future, too many members still like a hard copies.

Making newsletters avaialable on line like we now do here on the JCNA site is a great tool to recruit new members by showcasing club activities. It's also good as it can replace mailing them to other clubs and reduce cost ( 50 copies + postage... ).

Pascal

Submitted by lcunnin@emory.edu on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

: A number of good points have been made. I tend to agree with Pascal.

: Having events that people can participate in that don't take whole

: weekends or weeks is the key. One day outings -- a drive and lunch or

: dinner, to an interesting place or through great countryside or both

: helps attract and maintain interest.....SNIP......The other thing that seems to get and hold attention of the membership : is a regularly published newsletter. Ours is not the most artistic or : best written, but we try to get it out regularly and keep members up : to date on what is happening. Remember: out of sight, out of mind.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

I couldn't agree more. An active club with plenty going on will generate a lot more interest than a club that holds two or three events a year. If the events are varied enough there will be something for everybody.

I also think a regular newsletter or club magazine is essential. Personally I prefer something through the mail. I think internet only communications tend to exclude those who are infrequent computer users and certainly exclude those who don;t have ready internet access.

Regards, John Walker

Submitted by xk1401954@msn.com on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

: ---------------------------------------------

: Pascal,

: I don't disagree with anything you say. My point is simply that there is

: a very small number of buyers of new cars that will have any interest

: in joining a marque-oriented car club. (Might as well start a Ralph

: Lauren club for people who buy his clothes!) If we focus on the core

: activities that make the club meaningful to enthusiasts the

: organization will be much stronger than if we cast a broad net to

: sign up every boomer who changes from a 3 Series to an X-Type.

: I would never exclude anyone from membership on the basis of the newness

: of his car. I just think there is a vast difference between owners

: (or should we be saying lessees?) and enthusiasts, and that

: difference is the key to having a dynamic JCNA.

: Regards,

: Warren

_______________

This is funny. We have both of these extremes in my household. My pride and joy is a 1971 E-Type, Series 3 2+2 which I love to drive and show. My enthusiasm is well known. My husband, Bill, leases a 2002 X-Type (partly my doing, as you may have guessed). He is not a typical "car lover," and is exactly what was described above: an executive who may drive it to the country club. He is enjoying the X-Type and is proud of it, but that doesn't make him want to go out on the weekend and race around the track, or park and polish it. He's just not the type, and that's okay with me.

I think the true Jaguar lovers will be drawn to the club that has other Jaguar lovers in it. If you are doing things, let the people see you having fun with the Jaguars. That's what attracks people. Advertising helps, but you just have to already be interested, I think, to want to do all this club stuff. Jaguar lovers like me will seek out the activities. Folks like Bill won't get involved even if it looks like fun. It's just not his cup of tea.

Is it about the differences in the car? Is it the personality? Maybe the question is, after we get someone to come to an event, how do we get them involved enough to be a contributing part of the fun next time?

Ginger Corda

Proving opposites attract

Jaguar Club of Florida

71 E-Type 5.3L SIII 2+2 Regency Red

02 X-Type 3.0L Black on black

Submitted by eric-sonia@cox.net on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

I suspect we have all the ingredients but somehow haven't followed through in the most effective way. We need to begin devising a strategy. Here are some suggestions:

1 - survey new car owners who have expressed interest (through the web and the passport apps) but not joined and find out why not. Specific questions to ask:

A. Did they receive a Jaguar Journal? What impression of the club did it give them? Was that an attractive impression to them?

B. Were they contacted by the local association or associations? IF so, how were they contacted, and what was the result?

C. Did they attend any local function? Why or Why not?

2 - survey new car owners who have joined a local organization:

A. What influenced them to join in the first place? (the Journal, local contacts, blind hope ...)

B. How many functions have they attended? What was their opinion of them?

C. Do they receive and read the local newsletter? How does that affect their opinion of the local organization?

D. Do they intend to renew membership in 2003? Why or why not?

3 - Collate the results of the aforementioned surveys and decide what is most effective, where our weakness are, which ones can be acted on in short term and which long term. Discuss it at the next Baord meeting and form a plan of action.

4 - Pay attention to the PR chairman. Find out now where she is on her projects and think about what results we want. Much of what she is planning so far as I know is general housekeeping things. None that I know of are turly strategic.

5. Talk to the Long Island chapter about what they did to get so much attention paid to their concours. I believe they had a better turnout than any of the national gatherings. That may be a function of the economy and geography but there could be lessons to be learned.

That's all I'll say. I erased the rest. -- Judy Ferring

Submitted by hyconcepts@yahoo.com on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

: Here's a question for discussion. How do we retain the interest of the

: folks now joining the JCNA as a result of having bought a new Jaguar?

: Your suggestions would be appreciated.

: Gary Hagopian

A number of good points have been made. I tend to agree with Pascal. Having events that people can participate in that don't take whole weekends or weeks is the key. One day outings -- a drive and lunch or dinner, to an interesting place or through great countryside or both helps attract and maintain interest. Some of the best events JTC runs, and the best attended, at the daytrips. The problem, of course, is getting people to do the work to put them together. Mike and Iris Frank put together a great "Fall Folliage" tour last fall, called "Chaining the Hudson" that included a visit to Bear Mountain, a tour of a wonderful old mansion, and then dinner at a lovely country restaurant overlooking the Hudson River. This year our fall concours is not going to be a full-fledged judging event. Rather, it will be a car show, in conjunction with other British car clubs, at a polo match in eastern Pennsylvania. The idea is to make it a more inclusive event.

The other thing that seems to get and hold attention of the membership is a regularly published newsletter. Ours is not the most artistic or best written, but we try to get it out regularly and keep members up to date on what is happening. Remember: out of sight, out of mind.

Just a few thoughts, my $.02.

Regards,

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ

Editor, "The Cat-a-logue"

Submitted by coates.best@bmts.com on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

: you made some good points Warren but I think it's important to keep an

: open door. While JCNA's core membership is the classic Jaguar owner

: there is room for others as well.

: Staying away from cliches ( the golf player country club XK8 owner ) is

: important and there are some car nuts with newer Jaguars who would be

: valuable additions to our clubs. As I've said we have a few such

: cases in our own club.

: Jaguar is now producing more performance oriented cars, like the X, XK,

: S-Type R, etc which is why I mentioned BMW... :-) Porsche is another

: example, eventhough they are even more performance oriented, I'm sure

: the average "profile" of 911 owners is similar to XKR

: owners. Yet the Porsche clubs are very much alive with newer car

: enthusiasts.

: So while we should obviously make membership more attractive to the

: E-type, XK or XJS owner, speaking from our club's experience, it's

: also nice to have newer car owners involved as well.

: And in many cases, some of our activities appeal to both anyway.

: Pascal

---------------------------------------------

Pascal,

I don't disagree with anything you say. My point is simply that there is a very small number of buyers of new cars that will have any interest in joining a marque-oriented car club. (Might as well start a Ralph Lauren club for people who buy his clothes!) If we focus on the core activities that make the club meaningful to enthusiasts the organization will be much stronger than if we cast a broad net to sign up every boomer who changes from a 3 Series to an X-Type.

I would never exclude anyone from membership on the basis of the newness of his car. I just think there is a vast difference between owners (or should we be saying lessees?) and enthusiasts, and that difference is the key to having a dynamic JCNA.

Regards,

Warren

Submitted by twpruett@us-co… on Tue, 07/23/2002 - 00:00

you made some good points Warren but I think it's important to keep an open door. While JCNA's core membership is the classic Jaguar owner there is room for others as well.

Staying away from cliches ( the golf player country club XK8 owner ) is important and there are some car nuts with newer Jaguars who would be valuable additions to our clubs. As I've said we have a few such cases in our own club.

Jaguar is now producing more performance oriented cars, like the X, XK, S-Type R, etc which is why I mentioned BMW... :-) Porsche is another example, eventhough they are even more performance oriented, I'm sure the average "profile" of 911 owners is similar to XKR owners. Yet the Porsche clubs are very much alive with newer car enthusiasts.

So while we should obviously make membership more attractive to the E-type, XK or XJS owner, speaking from our club's experience, it's also nice to have newer car owners involved as well.

And in many cases, some of our activities appeal to both anyway.

Pascal

Submitted by jeremy-nickers… on Mon, 07/22/2002 - 00:00

: Here's a question for discussion. How do we retain the interest of the

: folks now joining the JCNA as a result of having bought a new Jaguar?

: Your suggestions would be appreciated.

: Gary Hagopian

Gary,

In answer to your question, consider the slogan on the home page of the Jaguar Touring Club, which extends a "A Special Invitation to Anyone Who Knows That a Jaguar is More Than a Car." Right there you eliminate probably 99% of new Jaguar buyers. For most people their car is just a car, even if it is also a status symbol or other indicator that they have "arrived." To raise their interest, JCNA would have to go into the "networking" business, doing lunches and golf tournaments at prestigious clubs, sponsoring fashion shows at "places to be seen," etc.

Those of us who are enthusiasts have a different connection with our cars, and I would venture to suggest that most enthusiasts connect more with older models than with brand new ones. We may come in varied flavors, but the concours brigade and the slalom nuts agree on one important thing: it's the cars themselves that bring us together.

People who can afford high-priced new personal transportation usually have very busy lives, which largely focus on activities peripheral to their business. The buyer of an XK8 most likely takes his car to the club where he plays golf one or more times a week with folks he does business with, or hopes to do business with. He's not likely to give up that important pursuit for the activities offered by JCNA.

Pascal offered the comparison to the BMW club, but let's face it: the Bimmer is perceived as much more of a driver's car than is the Jaguar, despite the Le Mans wins of the early XKs. Therefore the BMW clubs have a lot more younger drivers who actually use their cars for autocross and track days. Jaguar is (unfortunately) much better remembered for its poor build quality and faulty electrics, despite the massive improvements made under Ford's ownership.

Personally, I resist the idea that the club needs to be all things to all people. This is a mindset that developed along with the obsession for bigness which saw all manner of fine organizations and businesses swallowed up and destroyed in the frenzy of mergers and acquisitions over the past 15 to 20 years.

Focus on what makes the club most meaningful to its members, even if that isn't the majority number of Jaguar owners. Having a huge membership list just for the sake of having a huge membership list won't create an incentive for the enthusiasts to get involved. (Spend some time on Jag-Lovers to learn what a low opinion of JCNA large numbers of dedicated enthusiasts have.)

Look for the hot buttons that ignite the flames in the hearts of the enthusiasts and you will have the answers to how to make JCNA a more dynamic organization. Focus on signing up buyers of new cars and you might as well make JCNA a subsidiary of JDPA (J D Powers & Associates).

(BTW, SCCA thought it had a built-in new membership in the buyers of the new WRC. How many of those boy racers do you think actually turn out for Solo II? There are no easy answers.)

Regards,

Warren Hansen

70 E-Type fhc "Silver Bolide"

96 X300 [Nice, but just a car.]

Submitted by harribaldi2@ya… on Mon, 07/22/2002 - 00:00

Show 'em a good time.

Actually, I think the first question should be how do we get them to participate now that they've bought a new Jaguar. I don't think the activity makes a lot of difference, dinner, a drive, something sporting. They actually need to meet the club members.

If they perceive a benefit, be it sharing technical info, learning about Jaguar's heritage, going someplace they've never been before, meeting a bunch of friendly people, or just getting out of the house, they'll rejoin.

You have to have something of value at every meeting.

Mark Stephenson

Jaguar Club of Central Arizona

: Here's a question for discussion. How do we retain the interest of the

: folks now joining the JCNA as a result of having bought a new Jaguar?

: Your suggestions would be appreciated.

: Gary Hagopian

Submitted by mcload@ev1.net on Mon, 07/22/2002 - 00:00

Concours is certainly out...

Rallies, slalom, track days, and tours.

What others clubs with little or no heritage do ? like BMW. Lots of track events which would be appropirate for the X, S and XKs. Owners of the more traditionals larger Saloons would enjoy tour and rallies more.

We have a few "newer cars" in our own club, they've enjoyed drives and lunches type of event and mixing with the classics.

Pascal

: Here's a question for discussion. How do we retain the interest of the

: folks now joining the JCNA as a result of having bought a new Jaguar?

: Your suggestions would be appreciated.

: Gary Hagopian